I'm looking for ideas for our summer vacation. The price of airfare is just crazy, so it needs to be somewhere within driving distance, we live in Kansas City. I would love to go to Colorado, and I don't think my husband is opposed, but he's one of those people that thinks a big theme park needs to be a part of every vacation.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
M.
Thanks for all the ideas so far. Our boys will defiantely be with us, they are 14 and 11.
I think the Denver area has a Six Flags. What about Chicago? Six Flags north of Chicago plus tons of stuff to do downtown. We had a great family vacation in St. Louis once. A little hot and humid, but otherwise good.
We love to go to Branson. Silver Dollar City is a theme park, but also educational and super fun. It's historical, has an awesome cave, and roller coasters (I love watching the glass blowers). Plus there's pretty much something in Branson for everyone. There's a Butterfly Palace (how much fun is it to go somewhere butterflies might land on your head?), a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, and lots of other fun stuff.
Hi M.,
I agree with Branson Mo. I have not been there yet. I have been to Pigeon Forge TN. and Myrtle Beach SC. These are places where Dolly Parton has her Dixie Stampede. This is one great dinner show. My kid ages 19, 13, and 4 at the time loved it. You get a pre-show and then a full course meal that you eat with your hands no utensils fun for all kids.The show pits the north against the south in fun filled funny games. Our family just loves it. The next real vacation is going to be to Branson. Hope this helps and have a great time wherever you go. H.
How old are your kids? Colorado is awesome. You could do a day or two in Denver and then go to Colorado Springs. (You can take Hwy 24 home if you want a leisurly trip...Not much to see in Eastern CO, Western KS though). You could come home thru Dodge City. Anyways, the Springs has all kinds of tourist stuff...Pikes Peak, Santa's Workshop, Royal Gorge....all kinds of stuff. St Louis is also cool too, it has the zoo, arch, childrens museum. If you want super close to home, Omaha is a quick trip. Zoo is awesome and they have a fun plex which is cool. Good luck!
How far are you wanting to drive? You didnt mention if any kids were going? Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina is cute. The mountains are amazing and so forth. The gulf of Florida is great as well by Tampa and you have Busch Gardens. Going the other way Colorado is nice by Pike's Peak.
I went to Branson in September and I can honestly say it was perfect. The weather was not too hot, it was perfect for sitting down and visiting and riding the water rides and just everything. No lines at all! Some of the rides we rode time after time after time without getting out.
So if you're considering a theme park of any sort consider going in the early fall.
I went to Colorado for my senior trip and had a great time. I still have dreams about standing on top of Pike's Peak looking down at the clouds from a shear cliff. I don't think I'd ever do anything like that again. If it made such an impact on my mind from all those many many many years ago...I also remember going across the Royal Gorge Bridge. Looking down a mile into the gulch below!!!! I can honestly say it was amazing!
So there are wonderful things to do and see in Colorado but not the exciting adventure of Silver Dollar City or some exciting non western/hill billy type theme park.
If you google the state's travel site and get their state booklet it will often divide the state up into sections and give day trip, scenic drives, routes from history, all sorts of different adventures you can go on.
Like Nebraska. In the east there is Lincoln/Omaha. The SAS museum is amazing and fun for all ages of people. If someone has not been in the service and has no interest in space or airplanes it might be boring but as for everyone else, well, it's just mind boggling to look up and be standing under the wings of a B-47...it just goes forever!
Then if you're more in to history and life's trials and tribulations there are so many different routes and paths that the pioneers took where there are still wagon ruts or museums/monuments to their story's that are there for one to visit and experience.
If you go a different highway you get a totally different aspect of that state.
So by getting a state's travel guide you get a lot of different ideas about what you want to see and do.
I love Colorado and no there are no theme parks but just the scenery and things to do outdoors is awesome !! Royal gorge is awesome to see - just seeing the mountains and the outdoors is beautiful for me. Good luck in your vacation search
If you are an outdoor family, colorado will be awesome. I went to UT for a summer vacation and we had the best time. Lots of outdoor activities, alpine slides - you name it.
If you want to drive - what about going to the Wisconsin Dells. I hear it's fabulous and there is so much to do.
I was only there once, for a weekend years ago, but Durango Colorado was awesome!!
I have not been to Colorado, but if you are up to driving a bit further, I have some recommendations.
Utah is a great place to vacation if you like the outdoors. There are about a zillion national parks and campgrounds. Here is what we like-
Bear Lake (Utah/Idaho border); a large, beautiful turquoise lake, great beaches, very clean. Can camp at KOA, rent a condo or a cabin. The condos at Ideal Beach are reasonable and there is a ton to do there- tennis, pools, mini golf, bbq grills, lots of grass for sports like frisbee and volleyball. Golf nearby. Boating, waterskiing, fishing, ATVs. Bear Lake is my heaven on earth :) Utah does have an amusement park, called Lagoon, it is about 20 min north of SLC.
In Park City, Utah there are tons of fabulous restaurants, the alpine slide, olympic training center, bobsledding, hiking. We stayed at the Newpark Hotel recently and it was wonderful- hot tub on the deck, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 2 suites (would be great for your teenagers).
We also love vacationing in Island Park, ID ) near Wyoming and MOntana, its a bit of a drive) but we go every year and just love it. We camp next to the river and float the river on tubes all day, go canoeing, visit Yellowstone, and just relax. Last year i floated right by a moose in my tube! :)
Branson, MO
Pigeon Forge, TN
Who needs Disney when you have Worlds of Fun?!?!? Lol. We also live outside KC and have enjoyed trips to Branson (Silver Dollar City) and Des Moines (Adventureland), if you want to do theme park-type vacations. We have only lived here a couple of years (military), so you may have already done those places.
What about the Gulf Coast area...Destin, FL or Gulf Shores, AL? It's about a 15 hour drive from KC.
Chicago?
