Summer vacations

[TJ8869]

One place you might consider is the northern Outer Banks. We rented a beach house for a week there when my kids were about that age. They absolutely loved it. If you stay in Carova you will have to have a 4WD vehicle but the benefit is that the place is not crowded at all. You will have plenty of space at the beach. The houses are huge and have everything you could need - full kitchens, several bedrooms, barbecue grills, hot tubs, fishing gear, wifi, satellite, kayaks, etc. There are wild horses roaming the island (my kids' favorite part of the trip) and you can always fight your way through traffic down to the rest of OBX if you get bored.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

San Diego

I 'll see your San Diego and raise with-
Ottumwa and lake Wapello

 

[joelbc1]

O-K-O-B-O-J-I is beach enough for me.......

 

[bhawk24bob]

Rent a house on North Captiva

 

[jellyfish10]

Disney World.

Especially over New Year's! Oh it's just magic! I long to go back!

 

[N_fuego]

Note to self, must look into Ottawa and Lake Wapello. How often is there an OIT sighting?

I 'll see your San Diego and raise with-
Ottumwa and lake Wapello

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Note to self, must look into Ottawa and Lake Wapello. How often is there an OIT sighting?

Have never met the OIT but I think he makes it back about once a year.

 

[PCBHAWK]

Screw Tampa. White trash. Stay on the Gulf side but go farther south. Fly into Punta Gorda/Ft Myers. You have Naples just a short drive from there too. Fly direct from Des Moines. Good kids Museums, small amusement park, and you said something about beaches........

Tampa is white trash? You must have been hangin in the wrong areas. Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach are nice areas. Further South in Sarasota is nice.

Where do you live where there is not a white trash problem?

 

[shank hawk]

This could possibly be the biggest fail of all time for HROT.

I think the OP's real problem is that his wife is dumb; he referred to that twice for emphasis.

He would like to, ummmmm, solve his little dilemma. As in forever.

Though Florida has potential, it also has the death penalty, thus a place to avoid just in case he is he's caught 'solving' his vacation problem.

Honduras may be just what he's looking for.

 

[hawkssox1]

San Diego

In the summer would definitely be my choice.Sea World and many other options.

 

[jellyfish10]

This could possibly be the biggest fail of all time for HROT.

I think the OP's real problem is that his wife is dumb; he referred to that twice for emphasis.

He would like to, ummmmm, solve his little dilemma. As in forever.

Though Florida has potential, it also has the death penalty, thus a place to avoid just in case he is he's caught 'solving' his vacation problem.

Honduras may be just what he's looking for.

Florida 86'd the death penalty if I can trust NPR.

 

[ANYCHawk]

pic of wife in beach attire?

You know to properly answer the question.

 

[UKGrad93]

Clearwater Beach. Rent a condo (it's as cheap as a hotel room). Direct flight from Cedar Rapids to Tampa/St. Pete. Take the kids on the pirate boat and go see the dolphin without a tail.

 

[h-hawk]

(We love the Outer Banks too.)

Last summer we spent some time on the St Joseph Peninsula campground on the Florida panhandle. We went in June and due to the size of the beaches you could pretty much be alone if you wanted.

 

[The Tradition]

Florida 86'd the death penalty if I can trust NPR.

Florida's current death penalty process was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. They're putting a new process in place that should meet constitutional muster. I don't know what's going to happen to the people on death row who received an unconstitutional death sentence.

 

[jellyfish10]

Florida's current death penalty process was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. They're putting a new process in place that should meet constitutional muster. I don't know what's going to happen to the people on death row who received an unconstitutional death sentence.

That's right. Thanks Trad.

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Delaware. Rehoboth Beach is fun.

Delaware county?

 

[Wendy79]

 

[hawklandish]

I like Hilton Head much more than Florida.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I like Hilton Head much more than Florida.

I can see why

 

[Rustys Dad]

Fly into Southern Oregon (Medford). It's about an 1.5 to the coast ... and about 25 miles North of California and the great Redwoods ... Scenic drive along Pacific Coast Highway ... Lots of great seafood along the way ... Hiking ... Medford is close to Ashland, Oregon ... neat little town ... Lots to see and do ... Weather will be comfortable that time of year ... You can stay in the valley or drive up into the mountains ... Grants Pass is another neat town about 45 minute drive from Medford ...

I loved in Medford for about 6 years ... Absolutely beautiful area ... and something different than the standard Florida trip ...

 

[moral_victory]

Work to convince her that sandbars are actually beaches. Then you can take her to any Iowa river you want.

 

[The Tradition]

I can see why

Paris is a skank. Florida is an upstanding respectable woman.

 

[The_Joker13]

I'll second the OBX suggestion, really cool area. I'll also second the Tampa area as well, as I now live here. There are a lot of great beaches along the gulf coast, and as far as having a white trash problem? I haven't noticed a disproportionate ratio compared to the great state of Iowa.

 

[artradley]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

If you're open to other places, you could consider Cape Cod. It's particularly good for summer vacations because it's not nearly as hot as most beach destinations. We used to go there every year when the kids were little, and after they were in bed we would put on fleeces and sit on the deck with a cup of hot tea. There's a place called "Green Harbor" which is on the bay, so no waves (which is good when you have little ones). They have big lawns and all of the kids gather around and play games in the early evening each night.

There are a lot of kid-friendly activities, but very few trashy people so all of the kids are well-behaved and it's still an enjoyable time for the parents.

 

[ankyhawk]

Florida's best kept secret for families is Navarre Beach. Its between Pensacola and Destin. Very laid back and not a lot of people.

I would go in October. The Gulf is still warm and the temps are in the upper 70's.

This. The wife and I will be in that area mid April. Love the area and beaches

 

[ChrisVarick]

I took tbw and the three kids 15, 11 and 6 to San Juan last year. It can be hard to find accommodations for a large family. We found a b&b that had a 1 bedroom unit with full kitchen and two futons in the living room. One block to the beach and one block to a grocery store. It had a commons area with a gas grill and hot tub. It all worked out nicely.

 

[3boysmom]

Lots of great suggestions here except do not fly Allegiant. Well, unless you don't like your wife and kids. Up their insurance and send them alone.
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/98130709-story

 

[Funky Bunch]

Delaware. Rehoboth Beach is fun.

We go to Bethany each year and venture up to Rehoboth to buy overpriced outlet crap. More people coming down from the north now after Hurricane Sandy.

 

[jellyfish10]

Paris is a skank. Florida is an upstanding respectable woman.

I prefer skanks.

 

[naturalmwa]

This could possibly be the biggest fail of all time for HROT.

I think the OP's real problem is that his wife is dumb; he referred to that twice for emphasis.

He would like to, ummmmm, solve his little dilemma. As in forever.

Though Florida has potential, it also has the death penalty, thus a place to avoid just in case he is he's caught 'solving' his vacation problem.

Honduras may be just what he's looking for.

I hear cruise ships are good for this.

 

[Jakeleg Jake]

So, my dumb wife has it in her dumb head that we need to go on a summer vacation somewhere with a beach. So far I have managed to limit vacations to midwest locales. She seems to think we should go to Florida. She doesn't read HROT so she has no idea the kinds of people that inhabit the state.

But, if I had to go to Florida for a family vacation, where would I want to go? Kids are 7/5/3 so all activities would be geared to them, which means fine dining and bars do not matter. Thinking it would be nice to find a location that Allegiant flies direct t0 from Des Moines.

Any alternate destinations I should consider so I can avoid Florida?

Babu...you and your lovely bride can come to Tarpon Springs to visit me...I'll grill up some road kill...in your honor.

 

[N_fuego]

 

[shank hawk]

I hear cruise ships are good for this.

Too many surveillance cameras.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

I'll second the OBX suggestion, really cool area. I'll also second the Tampa area as well, as I now live here. There are a lot of great beaches along the gulf coast, and as far as having a white trash problem? I haven't noticed a disproportionate ratio compared to the great state of Iowa.

Heading to the Tampa area next week. We'll be staying on Anna Maria island/Bradenton Beach in a house. Suggestions on things to do/places to see?

 

[Smalls4IA]

We are taking a vacation to Florida this summer as well. Booked a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house with a 40 foot pool for $128 a night. We've stayed there before and it's really nice. Comes with free golf. Did this through airbnb. We have family in Ocala so we stay near there, but it's nice because it's only an about an hour to Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach or you can just go to the gulf. You can rent a lot of houses on resorts near Orlando for just as cheap and they usually come with kid friendly areas.

 

[naturalmwa]

Too many surveillance cameras.

Good point. I've been binging Person of Interest on Netflix. There are apparently cameras most everywhere.

 

[naturalmwa]

We are taking a vacation to Florida this summer as well. Booked a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house with a 40 foot pool for $128 a night. We've stayed there before and it's really nice. Comes with free golf. Did this through airbnb. We have family in Ocala so we stay near there, but it's nice because it's only an about an hour to Tampa, Orlando, Daytona Beach or you can just go to the gulf. You can rent a lot of houses on resorts near Orlando for just as cheap and they usually come with kid friendly areas.

That seems like a fantastic deal. If its through ABNB does that mean it's someone's personal home that you are crashing in for a week?

 

[Smalls4IA]

That seems like a fantastic deal. If its through ABNB does that mean it's someone's personal home that you are crashing in for a week?

Yes, it's technically someone's personal home but the guy we get it through owns a few homes so it's really more of an investment deal. I think they lease them out to all the old people that go south for several months at a time or the old people own them and lease when they aren't there. Wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[naturalmwa]

Yes, it's technically someone's personal home but the guy we get it through owns a few homes so it's really more of an investment deal. I think they lease them out to all the old people that go south for several months at a time or the old people own them and lease when they aren't there. Wouldn't do it any other way.

OK, so there aren't personal possessions all over?