Family Vacation Ideas...

[HILLCYD]

Here's the deal. I have a 3 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. (I am accepting sanity donations) and the wife and I are trying to come up with a good first family vacation. Want it to be something within a one state radius that has swimming, boats, fishing, type activities.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CyGuy33]

There is a new indoor waterpark/Hotel right next to the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Great place for vaction with the little ones. You can take them there while your wife shops, she can take them to the water park while you go to a Twins game.

As well there are plenty of lakes for fishing, boating, and swimming around the Twin Cities.

 

[HILLCYD]

There is a new indoor waterpark/Hotel right next to the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Great place for vaction with the little ones. You can take them there while your wife shops, she can take them to the water park while you go to a Twins game.

As well there are plenty of lakes for fishing, boating, and swimming around the Twin Cities.

Is that place called something Lodge???

 

[CyGuy33]

I believe so

 

[Cyclone06]

The bad lands in South Dakota has all those things. Been there a couple of times and had a blast. I'd reccomend Custer State Park.

 

[CyGuy33]

Valley Fair in Shakopee is another attraction, bigger then Adventureland, with an outdoor water park and quite a few rides. I haven't taken any youngsters there so I am not sure what it has to offer on that regard.

 

[Wx4Cy]

Disney world. Our kids were 4 and 2 the first time we went and they had a ball.

 

[BigSkyCy2]

I think the Wisconsin Dells have alot of stuff like that. I've never been there before, but never really heard anything bad about it.

 

[clone2011]

I believe there's a place in KC called The Great Wolf Lodge, sounds similar to the one described above--indoor waterpark, hotel, restaurants, etc. Of course you'll also have Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun in the KC area too.

Also recommend St Louis--6 Flags Amusement Park and Water Park. You must get some frozen custard at Ted Drewes if you go to STL. Seriously. They also have an awesome City Museum, not sure if the kids would be old enough though. I was fascinated when I first went when I was 17--it's 100% interactive, with things to climb on or through, puzzles, games, funhouse, and most of the displays are fully recycled products. I remember going outside on one of the top levels and crossing a bridge made completely out of old wire farm fence, and in the middle was a gutted-out old helicopter. You have to be there to believe it and do it. Just checked the website, ages 3+ are $12.

Ozarks?
6 Flags Chicago?
Black Hills?

 

[mwitt]

I think the Wisconsin Dells have alot of stuff like that. I've never been there before, but never really heard anything bad about it.

The Dells got hit really hard with flooding.

 

[CyGuy33]

The Dells got hit really hard with flooding.

I think the Dells are gone.

 

[BigSkyCy2]

The Dells got hit really hard with flooding.

I think the Dells are gone.

Unless they haven't been able to update their website, this is what it says.

While a small number of businesses were adversely affected by last week's severe weather, and we do wish those properties well this summer and hope you'll support them too, some 94% of Wisconsin Dells' tourism businesses were never affected and currently over 99% are open and accessible. We encourage you to keep your travel plans, and look forward to hosting you in Wisconsin Dells.
If you are planning a stay on Lake Delton, click on the "Lake Delton Details" button below for more information. Or, simply call one of our Visitor Services Representatives at 1-800-223-3557 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., daily.

 

[CyGuy33]

Unless they haven't been able to update their website, this is what it says.

Thanks for the update, I guess I thought it was alot worse from the reports I heard.

 

[C.John]

Lake Delton is gone, but the majority of the Dells were spared.

 

[psycln11]

We're renting a cabin for a week near Leach Lake. We'll be there in about a week and a half.

 

[Wesley]

I think the Wisconsin Dells have alot of stuff like that. I've never been there before, but never really heard anything bad about it.

The two highest rated waterparks are currently at the Dells: Noah's Ark and Kalihari. Mt Olympus is my favorte (7 roller coasters, indoor, outdoor, go kart rides, etc - motel room for one night gives you park passes for two days which saves lots of money. The Ho Chunk Casino is nerby. You have the Ducks, House on the Rock, 8 major mini golf places, jet boats, Bartlett water Show, magic place, ghost places, Paul Bunyan eats, buffets, real golf, fishing, real golf courses, nightspots, Circus World, etc. Probably second biggest tourist spot in nationbwhind Disnet. Chicago supports it. Next year the country's largest park will be built in KC.

 

[HILLCYD]

We're renting a cabin for a week near Leach Lake. We'll be there in about a week and a half.

Used to go to Cass Lake when I was a kid. I LOVE it up there.

 

[zeke]

You might want to try Omaha. Holiday Inn on 72nd and Dodge has a new water park in it. Also there's a very good zoo. Lots of good restaurants also. Plenty of shopping.

 

[CyGal]

Can you fly your family somewhere? If so, I suggest Minocqua, Wisconsin. Nice outdoor tourist trap, plenty of mini-golf and lakes for water sports. I'd love to go back, but the 9 hour drive is a deterant.

 

[Wx4Cy]

how about branson or the lake of the ozarks?