Where to Go on Vacation During Easter Break!?

Always an issue with taking an Easter vacation from Michigan is the weather, as you know. Driving to get to a warmer climate is going to be a 15 hour drive. Staying close to home will be a cold vacation, likely.

Last year we flew to Charleston after a no flying vacation break from before our DD was born. It was lovely. Shorts weather, walking on the beach and getting the toes wet, but cool nights.

We've driven to the Smoky Mountains. Avoid Gatlinberg; go to Pigeon Forge instead. It could still snow in April, though. You can camp or get a cabin or hotel room. Or go to the caves in Kentucky.

Go to Chicago on the train. It is amazingly inexpensive. Just be sure to return a day early in case you are forced to bus it home instead. While in town, take buses to all the points of interest. Very kid-friendly town. Get a hotel with a pool to have a low-key day.

We've also driven to Virginia, which is also a 15-hour jaunt. There's a lot of history there, so there is something for everyone. Monticello; Blue Ridge Mountains; Civil War sites; Revolutionary War sites; presidential homes; spring flowers; the ocean, if you go far enough.

West Virginia is closer and beautiful. We went white water rafting there on the way back from Virginia, but it is worth the visit itself. There are cabins you can rent in the state parks.

If you need to get away and don't want to spend a lot of time in the car or money, you could go to Toledo for a few days. Get a hotel near the Cosi science center (I think it is the Windemere). One day Cosi; one day the zoo; one day the art museum.

Or Ann Arbor :)! One day the Natural History Museum (dinosaurs); one day U-M art museum and archeology building (Ancient Egyptian pieces); one day the Hands-on museum; another day the Botanical Garden (indoor garden--very warm and relaxing); Leslie science Center (birds of prey to view--all incapable of living on own in nature--beautiful animals);

Greenfield Village will have an exhibit on the Titanic that begins in
March or April. It's the 100th anniversary of the sinking.

Have fun with whatever you decide to do.

I have always heard that Michigan has many wonderful things in it! Why not explore some of your own state? It could be a lot more fun that driving long distances within a week's time.

Oh, and remember that children have different takes on what's interesting than adults do - at least, sometimes. One of my favorite memories is when we were driving back west from an extended trip to visit relatives, and we stopped in St. Louis, Missouri. We'd only driven through St. Louis before, so we all hopped on a tourist trolley. My husband and I enjoyed seeing the old architecture and hearing about the history of the city. Meanwhile, the kids were saying, "Look, there's a dog! Look, there's a man sleeping on a park bench! Look, there's a Walgreen's!"

Easter break? A million college kids (many their first time away from mom and dad)....Stay home, plan a nice (BBQ, dinner, picnic, Easter Egg Hunt) for your kids and perhaps close family/friends. Don't know why you would be "scared" of a long drive with children that are the age of your kids under other circumstances....but Easter break is not a good time for going far from home.

Want "low key"....stay close to home.

Nickie:

Since you haven't told us what you like to do - very hard to recommend something.

Google Family Resorts in Macomb, Michigan and see what pops up. If you just want to chill - but have kids - you will need something for them to do during the day or you won't be able to relax.

Have you considered hiring a nanny and take 3 days and just the two of you go? Or leaving the kids with a family member and let them be...you two just sleep or do whatever you need to do to relax!

Good luck on the drive. Ever think of taking a river boat ride down the mississippi. You can camp out by the river and they have these boat rides. Lots of kid stuff.

I've been dying for a beach vacation too. Until now, I've been getting by with summer vacations to the beaches on Holland, MI and spots along the inside of the thumb, but I'd really like some ocean. Being Michiganders, we just need to suck it up and do the drive to get some ocean or pay for airfare. If I'm wrong on that assumption and you find something, please let me know. I'm still trying to find a way.

Kalahari give them each cards to run the arcade you two go to a couples massage meet back in an hr than u all go down the water park u n hubbie go in jacuzzi n kids go do hat ever n the water park?