Where Else Do You Travel?

[5thGenTexan]

We used to travel from Texas to Colorado or New Mexico for family trip to camp. Then gas was cheap and my grandmother's "vacation book" shows less than $40 a day. Recent searches for cruises have led me to believe we are going to have to do something else. My daughter started Kindergarten this year, so it really limits when we can go now. Galveston really was a benefit to us because we didn't have to worry about airfare. I priced an Alaska cruise on the Wonder and it was more than $10K for the 4 of us. The Dream and the Fantasy with airfare are over $6K for 4 of us. Cruises on the Wonder and Magic when they are in Florida aren't too bad, but those dates don't seem to work out for the school schedule.

So, where else do you go on vacations?

 

[ChuckElias]

Disney World? (Sorry, but it's true)

 

[jme]

I'm on the Mid-Atlantic coast, so within a 3-4 hour drive there are many major cities (NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Pittsburg, etc.) and the DelMarVa beaches. Those are all daytrips or weekend getaways. For travel, its WDW and DCL. I've also gone to Niagara Falls (Canada side), and a few other places, but our trips these past 5 years are all to the Mouse, with little chance for a change.
I know Texas is a big place and kind of far from...everything. But nearby (relatively) places to visit would be DLR, Vegas, Lake Tahoe, etc. But it kind of sounds like you are more eastern-texas, so I dunno. Have you ever been to a Great Wolf Lodge? There's one near Dallas/Ft Worth - its a resort that is build around an indoor water park - so it's good year round. Good for a day or two.

 

[Bolna]

I guess my non-cruise vacation spots won't be any help to you as Cornwall (UK), Southern France, Scandinavia, Austria all are easy to reach from my home, but pretty far away for you...

 

[5thGenTexan]

Disney World? (Sorry, but it's true)

Its on the list. 7 days at Port Orleans Riverside with airfare doesn't cost as much as a 4 day cruise with air.

 

[5thGenTexan]

I'm on the Mid-Atlantic coast, so within a 3-4 hour drive there are many major cities (NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Pittsburg, etc.) and the DelMarVa beaches. Those are all daytrips or weekend getaways. For travel, its WDW and DCL. I've also gone to Niagara Falls (Canada side), and a few other places, but our trips these past 5 years are all to the Mouse, with little chance for a change.
I know Texas is a big place and kind of far from...everything. But nearby (relatively) places to visit would be DLR, Vegas, Lake Tahoe, etc. But it kind of sounds like you are more eastern-texas, so I dunno. Have you ever been to a Great Wolf Lodge? There's one near Dallas/Ft Worth - its a resort that is build around an indoor water park - so it's good year round. Good for a day or two.

The big problem is... I think we have already "ruined" the two kids. At this point they don't know anything but cruising. I think I am spoiled too... Cruising is just too fun.

Great Wolf Lodge is about 40 minutes away for us. It just doesn't see right to me anyway to pay to stay in a place where I can drive to in less time than it takes to eat dinner.

 

[Phonedave]

As a kid, my grandparents had a cabin on a lake in Canada, right on the Vermont border (the US/Canada border ran down the middle of the lake). We spent two weeks, every summer, from my birth to maybe 14 at that cabin.

When I was divorced my kids and I would cruise every other year, and on the off years go to WDW for a year (yeah, rough - but I was renting a condo (heat and H/W included), single, and had very little in the way of expenses, and it was just the 3 of us.

Now I am married again, so with my step-daughter it makes a family of 5. Plus with a house, associated upkeep, utilities, and my wifes condo still on the market (or up for rent again - it's nice if anyone wants it) there is less free cash flow.

We all did WDW once so far.
Great Wolf Lodge a few times (its just over an hour away, and we go when they have specials)
The Poconos (Damn near as expensive as a cruise if you ask me)
We are a short drive to the Jersey Shore - so that comes up as day trips most of the time

Comming up
Weekend trip to my parents second house in Vermont in Oct
Just my wife and I for F&W in Nov
Big family adventure to WDW in June (all of us, plus the in-laws, in a SSR Treehouse for a week).

We are looking at doing WDW every other year or so. Maybe in another 3 years we will do a DCL cruise.

-dave