Best Places in the U.S. for Family Vacations?

[birdsfan5]

Saratoga Springs, NY. You can take a hike in the mountains, you can take a swim in many clean lakes, they have great fishing, and the best part IMO is the racetrack. I feel it is the nicest track in the world with great racing. I cant wait for 8/25 I am going for Travers Day. They should have a great field this year.:beerbang:

[BUNK MORELAND]

The Outerbanks (OBX) in North Carolina....:beerbang:
Lot's of sand, sea, quaint bars and seafood.....its slower paced and not as touristy as Myrtle Beach, Kitty and the likes.

I also like Bradenton, FL on the gulf side....Anna Maria Island and it's natural white sand beaches; Ohio-Pile and the Youghigheny River....(YAWK-UH-GAY-KNEE) is pretty cool in PA southeast of Pittsburgh area....tons of hiking, riding and biking trails....camping, cabins, fishing, etc. Very picturesque! And Presque Isle in Erie, PA on Eria Lake.....lots to do there.....but one of my favorites and the favorite of alot of fishermen and the social elites in this area is Chatauqua and Lake Chatauqua in New York.....the Chatauqua Insititute has a concert series and even classes and workshops for those who want to be enlightened about the arts, etc. and it's in wine country...lot's of bed and breakfasts to stay and vineyards to go a sampling for the fruit of the vine....

:sm:

I went to Ohio Pile for the first time last year. Very nice place. Especially if you like kayaking and white water rafting. Lake Chataquau in New York is a place my parents really enjoy .. I believe they just built a casino there.

[Jerbeek]

So you don't want to visit Lincoln, Nebraska? HA HA, there is nothing to do here.

We are going to Denver (Rockies game, Alpine Slides, River Rafting) this week and then going to hit Mt. Rushmore/Blackhills. The kids won't let me relax since they have high expectations during vacation - LOL. I will let you know how it is when we get back.

I would still vote Hawaii as #1!

[Jerbeek]

BTW, has anyone driven from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon? Is it worth the drive. Is it a 1 day trip or 2 days?

[BUNK MORELAND]

BTW, has anyone driven from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon? Is it worth the drive. Is it a 1 day trip or 2 days?

2 days well worth the trip. Hoover Dam !!!!

I used to live in Phoenix which was about a 5 hour drive from Vegas. Never actually went to GRAND CANYON but i've been to Sedona,AZ and it is very nice.

[rjp]

My wife's favorite place is Disney World! Seriously!

As Fish said, you should come down to the Charleston area. :thumbs:

[Silver & Black]

BTW, has anyone driven from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon? Is it worth the drive. Is it a 1 day trip or 2 days?

Better yet, Rent a houseboat at Lake Meade....you've got the Hoover Dam at one end and tow a speedboat and cruise up the Grand Canyon. You can get to the Grand Canyon in probably 4 hours, but I'd make it a 2 day trip..

[Silver & Black]

2 days well worth the trip. Hoover Dam !!!!

I used to live in Phoenix which was about a 5 hour drive from Vegas. Never actually went to GRAND CANYON but i've been to Sedona,AZ and it is very nice.

I was going to go with Sedona, AZ myself...if you like off-roading and hiking it's great...

Cambria CA, right on the beach, about 30 minutes south of San Simeon (Hearst Castle) about an hour north of Morro Bay, and if you like wine tasting about 30 - 40 minutes west of Paso Robles. Better wine than Napa / Sonoma and not as commercial

[Queen]

I like to drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA/NC. Wonderful relaxing drive with lots of great veiws. Full of wildlife, old fashion shops, Hillbilly food whole nine yards. Ends at the Smokey Mts of TN. Lots of stuff to when you to the Smokey Mts. My favorite thing to do is take the skylift across the mountain valley's. There are two one will scare the crap out of you. LOL Hike the mountains and just relax. Most relaxing vacation I have ever been on.

[Thor24]

My Patents took Us..Brother and Me on a Trip like this when I was 12 Yrs Old..So I wanted to Do Kinda the Same for My Mom,Dad and Kids..

Well we did this as a Family of 3 Generations..My Mom and Dad, the Wife and 3 Kids..3 Generations back in April..Flew to Phoenix drove Sedonna Az for 1st Night..Great Mts and Rock Strucures..Drove 2nd Day to Tusagan went to some Musuems and Ate at Native American Theme Rest with Dinner Show on Indian Dances..Easter Sunday Morning on Day 3 went to Grand Cayon and had Easter morning Service Overlooking Grand Caynon and Took Tour Most of Day around areas of Canyon..then Drove to Bryce Canyon..Day 4 Saw Bryce Canyon (One of the Prettiest Places that I've Seen)..Been used in lot of Wesrern Movies with HooDoos in Background..Drove to Salt Lake City saw Dinansour Muesums..ect...Day 5 Drove by Bear Lake with Lake in Utah and Idaho..Saw Great Tetons (Yellowstone was Closed until end of April so we Missed that)Had to Drive Around a Half Cicrle in Wyoming to get bak toward Cody..made it through Jackson Hole and Stoped in Riverton Wyoming for Nite Day 6 Drove to Cody Wy to see 5 Museums about History of West and Buffalo Bill..Not going to list all there But Great place to Stop and Spend a Day..Drove over Big Horn Mnt and Still had 4ft of Snow on it..around 1300 to 1400 ft I Think...Still had Snow on it (Went from 95 Degrees Day 1 at Phoenix to 27 Degrees in 5 days..LOL)...Stayed at Gillette Wy..Day 7 drove to see Devil's Tower (In Move Close Enc. of 3rd Kind) has Indian Legand that Bear was Chasing 7 Indians Girls and they Prayed for Rock to Rise up and Protect them from Bear..that is why Bear Claw marks look like they are on the Sides..??..Stopped at Deadwwod SD..at Adams Museum and went to Boot hill were Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are Buried..then to Mt Rushmore then to Rapid City for Nite..Day 8 went to see Wall Drug Store (All of this was in Black Hills)..Wonder Site Seeing Place(s)..Then Badlands..WOW..Bryce and Badlands are my 2 Favorite Sites then Grand Canyon and Yellowstone (But no see this Time)...Saw Custer State Park..Needles Highway..Crazy Hourse Memorial and Stayed at Hot Springs SD...Day 9 Stopped at Muesum were Mammoth have been found and Dig is still going on..Drive to Cheyenne Wyoming and Saw a Museum were Fontier Days are held and the World's Largest Rodeo on Frontier days..then to Denver..Day 10 Caught Flight back Home.....Great Trip that I Hope My Kids will Remember Forever that Covered 2600 Miles and Saw these Animals (Roadrunner,Gopher Snake,Mule Deer,Calf Condors,Big Horned Sheep,Coyote,Elk,Antelope,Praire dogs,Buffalo,wild Burrows and Some others I Missed) and having My Mom and Dad made it a Special Trip...Now Kevin Don't Know if that Helps But that was a Great One for Us that Everyone Really Surprisingly Got Along..LOL..Good Luck to Ya...Thor24

[Thor24]

My Patents took Us..Brother and Me on a Trip like this when I was 12 Yrs Old.. This was Our Trip this Year

Well we did this as a Family of 3 Generations..My Mom and Dad, the Wife and 3 Kids..3 Generations back in April..Flew to Phoenix drove Sedonna Az for 1st Night..Great Mts and Rock Strucures..Drove 2nd Day to Tusagan went to some Musuems and Ate at Native American Theme Rest with Dinner Show on Indian Dances..Easter Sunday Morning on Day 3 went to Grand Cayon and had Easter morning Service Overlooking Grand Caynon and Took Tour Most of Day around areas of Canyon..then Drove to Bryce Canyon..Day 4 Saw Bryce Canyon (One of the Prettiest Places that I've Seen)..Been used in lot of Wesrern Movies with HooDoos in Background..Drove to Salt Lake City saw Dinansour Muesums..ect...Day 5 Drove by Bear Lake with Lake in Utah and Idaho..Saw Great Tetons (Yellowstone was Closed until end of April so we Missed that)Had to Drive Around a Half Cicrle in Wyoming to get bak toward Cody..made it through Jackson Hole and Stoped in Riverton Wyoming for Nite Day 6 Drove to Cody Wy to see 5 Museums about History of West and Buffalo Bill..Not going to list all there But Great place to Stop and Spend a Day..Drove over Big Horn Mnt and Still had 4ft of Snow on it..around 1300 to 1400 ft I Think...Still had Snow on it (Went from 95 Degrees Day 1 at Phoenix to 27 Degrees in 5 days..LOL)...Stayed at Gillette Wy..Day 7 drove to see Devil's Tower (In Move Close Enc. of 3rd Kind) has Indian Legand that Bear was Chasing 7 Indians Girls and they Prayed for Rock to Rise up and Protect them from Bear..that is why Bear Claw marks look like they are on the Sides..??..Stopped at Deadwwod SD..at Adams Museum and went to Boot hill were Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are Buried..then to Mt Rushmore then to Rapid City for Nite..Day 8 went to see Wall Drug Store (All of this was in Black Hills)..Wonder Site Seeing Place(s)..Then Badlands..WOW..Bryce and Badlands are my 2 Favorite Sites then Grand Canyon and Yellowstone (But no see this Time)...Saw Custer State Park..Needles Highway..Crazy Hourse Memorial and Stayed at Hot Springs SD...Day 9 Stopped at Muesum were Mammoth have been found and Dig is still going on..Drive to Cheyenne Wyoming and Saw a Museum were Fontier Days are held and the World's Largest Rodeo on Frontier days..then to Denver..Day 10 Caught Fhight back Home.....Great Trip that I Hope My Kids will Remember Forever that Covered 2600 Miles and Saw these Animals (Roadrunner,Gopher Snake,Mule Deer,Calf Condors,Big Horned Sheep,Coyote,Elk,Antelope,Praire dogs,Buffalo,wild Burrows and Some others I Missed) and having My Mom and Dad made it a Special Trip...Now Kevin Don't Know if that Helps But that was a Great One for Us that Everyone Really Surpizingly Got Along..LOL..Good Luck to Ya...Thor24