My husband and I would like to plan a vacation this spring with our 6-year old son. We plan on being gone a week, so we don't want someplace so far away that 2 of those days will be eaten up by travel. We're thinking somewhere in the Western US.
Our son gets bored easily, so we'd like somewhere with lots of activities to keep him entertained. Lying by the pool at a resort won't work. My husband would like to be able to swim and play in natural water (lake, river, stream, etc.).
This is a big step for us. We've never gone away for more than 2 days at a time with our son because it's just too stressful trying to keep him happy and still enjoy ourselves. He gets bored and tired easily (saying his legs are tired while walking, for example)and can really put a damper on an otherwise fun day.
We talked last night about trying to toughen him up and teach him to be a little more self-sufficient and less dependent on us for his entertainment. I know we coddle him a bit, and I think we're doing him a disservice. I don't want him growing up soft and whiny!
Any good suggestions about fun places to go?
Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone. Half my family lives in the San Diego area, so we actually go there quite a bit. We're looking for something different...someplace we've never been. I think Yellowstone or one of the other national parks might be a great idea. We're not big on camping, but I'm sure there are hotels nearby.
When I was 9 I went to a camp on the Couer de Lane River. Perhaps you can find a camping area around there. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been (and that is saying a lot, coming from Minnesota.)
Another vote for San Diego. With Legoland, the zoo, SeaWorld and plenty of beaches, it would make a good choice with a six-year-old.
We just did Legoland with our eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter and liked it even more than Disneyland -- less crowded, better organized, more bathrooms and variety of places to eat. There's also a nice little aquarium next door.
Have you looked into a kid- friendly cruise? They are amazing I hear. I have been on several cruises before having my baby and they are so much fun. The kid friendly ones have all sorts of things for children- rock climbing walls, for example. I would look into it. You can go somewhere with natural water for swimming, or just stick to the cruise pool =)
With a 6 year old I'm wondering if you considered Disneyland/California Adventure with the coastal beaches easily accessible, or San Diego with the Zoo and Sea World with beaches also accessible? Flights to and from SoCal take only a few hours, and the weather is usually not cold any longer and beginning to warm up, spring is beautiful!
I understand about wanting to teach your son to be a little more self-sufficient, which will be an on-going effort on everyone's part, and totally agree that in doing too much for a child we do them a disservice. There's loads of different attractions for all of you to enjoy in either of the locations I mentioned, with lots of walking that I'm guessing he'd be willing to do to get from fun activity to the next ; ) You're wise to start planning now, and you can involve your son in the planning for what you'll do once you arrive in wherever you ultimately decide to vacation.
Playing in the water?? Now?? Yikes, I think it'd be pretty cold. I am not too familiar with the attractions near you but I was going to suggest that where ever you go look into getting a hotel that has a pool or water resort. We just stayed in a Great Wolf Lodge for the first time a few weeks ago and it was amazing! My kids are only (almost) 2 and 4 and they had a major blast! There is so much fun stuff to do just in the hotel. If there was one nearby you or nearby some other things you were interested in I bet it would be a good compromise. Other than that you could check into places near an amusement park or something...I know that doesn't really fulfil your outdoorsy example, but they are fun places to go! ;)
Go to Yosemite for the hiking and the sheer physical beauty. You can find nearby hotels on Travelzoo. They are a good site for ideas.
In Oregon you can go to Lane County for the best coastal scenery. The drive isn't long and the sea is ever changing. You can also go to Newport which has a full city with movie houses and a wonderful wharf. I take my dog and stay in hotels or rent a Yurt from the campgrounds along the coast. You have to dial 800 452-5687 for Oregon State Parks and book it asap. I often camp in Yurts as rain is unpredictable and in case you want to be warm they are heated.
I would drive down Hwy 5 and take 126 across to Florence as that is quicker than driving the coast road.
Our six yr old is great about short hikes and long bike rides especially if the destination is fun (playground, ice cream shop, waterfall) I suggest taking walks and bike rides whenever weather permits to increase his stamina before the spring, make it fun!
Our son loves camping and will spend down time exploring the bugs and frogs nearby at the campsites. If camping isnt your thing how bout a dude ranch or farm vacation? Some places have organized activities for kids which would give you a chance to go out on your own for a little while.
sorry cant help with destinations in the west.
since you don't like camping too much, you could take the middle ground and stay at a KOA. we liked the one in santa cruz. you could go to the monterey bay aquarium, the beach boardwalk, the mystery spot. check it out: http://koa.com/campgrounds/santa-cruz/snapshot/#activities
perhaps you've already done an OR coast trip but here it is anyway. there's a KOA in astoria right across the street from the fort stevens state park. and on the way there, you can go to the forestry museum and tillamook cheese factory.
If you want more adult oriented fun (living in So Ca not a huge fan of Disney) I like the idea of a cruise or Hawaii. My reason is that there are so many activities for children on a cruise or all-inclusive resort and you can have a bit of alone time with your husband.
If you do want So Ca, from San Diego to Santa Barbara, camping really would be an incredible way to go. There are so many camp sites right along the beaches (with showers) and if you're a camping type family, you son will have plenty to do when he helps with the setting up and taking down, playing in the water, building a fire, etc. etc.
Unless you go south, won't most of the natural water still be pretty cold in the spring? Just thinking!
I'd suggest the Rapid City and nearby areas of South Dakota. Not sure how far that is from you or whether your intent is to drive or fly, but there are several things to do there just depends on your time going!
Can you plan the trip with family or friends with kids the same age? Sometimes this really reduces boredom. Oh, or take the train there... Takes longer but the adventure if sleeping on a train is so exciting.
I was going to say the Oregon coast, but you are from Oregon, so you probably have already done that. I find it so fun. So many fun little towns and great beaches with some kind of activities at each place.
I think places like Glacier and Yellowstone are fun and beautiful, but I think you have to be an adult to appreciate them. My parents took us there when we were young and then again as teenagers and it wasn't until I went as an adult that I really saw the beauty and amazement of those places. And there is nothing worse than being at a place like that and having a bored child.
My next suggestion was San Diego, but sounds like you have already been there too.
We are planning a Disney cruise next year. Lots of activities for both adults and children - separately. :-) Imagine that! :-) We are so excited and so is our daughter - she will be 5.We normally go to Hawaii each year, but want to try something without great travel distance. But my daughter loves Hawaii because she can swim in a pool every day. We love it because there are other activities such as small hikes and beaches to explore. So we find a good balance. Maybe a resort is a good idea if you can find things around there that you can go do for short periods. What about Arizona? Especially beautiful and nice in the early spring.
I think to find the balance you are going to have to pick a spot a research it. Map out a plan before you go and find a balance that can everyone can enjoy.
It's not the western U.S., but we did a Disney Cruise this past February and it was phenomenal. They have a kids club on board with tons of activities where they can just hang out all day if they want, as well as swimming pools, mini golf, basketball courts, movies. We could leave our daughter at the kids club and go enjoy ourselves in the adult only-pool, the spa, etc. We only did 3 days and the ship stopped 1 day in the Bahamas (Nassau) and 1 day on Disney's own private island, Castaway Cay. There we spent the day just hanging out on the beach but there were kids activities we could have signed DD up for, like beginner snorkling.
You could also consider a cruise with another cruise line like to Hawaii or Mexico. Or what about Grand Canyon, Yosemite, or Yellowstone?
