Finding a family vacation destination

I need help. We haven't been on a vacation (meaning - the whole family somewhere not intended to visit relatives) since our honeymoon. We'd like to do something this summer, but it still needs to be small scale / low key. I figure we'll drive to our destination and rent a place so we can do our own cooking, etc.

I'm leaning towards a family-orientated park type-place. Cabins or cottages, lakes for canoeing - activities available - but not REAL camping or roughing it.

How on earth do I find something like this? If I were still in Cleveland I'd be okay b/c I know all sorts of places w/in a day or two drive .... but from KC I have no idea where to even start! I'm not a great internet searcher ... does anyone have suggestions of what to search for?

How far of a drive to Colorado? All of the resorts are nice in the summer and you could easily rent a condo at Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, etc. Unless you want something more "campy". How far a drive to Mt. Rushmore? That might be fun.

It can be overwhelming, but http://www.vrbo.net has a lot of rentals.

Come to Wisconsin, see the Dells!

[PrincessFiona]

http://www.campjellystone.com/

in MO

http://www.eurekajellystone.com/

We love it...we always stay in the most rustic cabin...the kids have a blast.

kris

I just clicked on that link, Kris. Both my kids came running when the heard the music. Maybe we should have an iMSN Jellystone meeting!

[PrincessFiona]

We LOVE jellystone! We go to Warrens Wisconsin every year and look forward to returning from the moment we pull out and start heading home. I don't know about the other parks, but Warrnes has an outdoor movie theater that runs family movies at night..and we go every single night. It's such a fabulous tradition for our family that I hope we're still going with our grandkids! I've already warned Andrew, Alex and Amanda that they WILL be using part of their summer breaks from college to come back and go with Zoe and Aidan.'


It would be a fund iMSN meeting if we wanted to all get together with our kiddos.

[Rapunzel]

Oh

My

Goodness

!!!

Kris, you are the best. THIS is why I keep you around!

Thank you for posting those links.

:ra:

[DCJenn]

If you want to come to the East- we have plenty of those kinds of places- Williamsburg is great- you can do the historic stuff one or more days, and then hit Busch Gardens and the other big parks.

Jenn

OH MY MAUDE if there was a meet up at Warrens I would actually be able to go to it!!! :=

http://www.cityofbranson.org/

http://www.funlake.com/

http://www.grandlake.com/

These are just some of the links to things that are within about a half day or so drive...if you want to ride in a car with the whole family for half a day! DW residency program had the third year party, paid for by us of course, at Lake of the Ozarks, very pretty and fun. The other places we have been to as well, just information...and of course, if you want to wait until this early fall....

http://www.peacetreaty.org/
...had to plug the hometown, they put on this pageant and there are parades every day, rodeo everyday, ranch rodeo everyday(VERY big deal!), street dances every night- Martina McBride played a few times with her brother's band- The Schifter's- in case anyone needs some useless trivia information for later reference. It is a very neat experience as the whole local community comes together to put on a show, the town grows from about 2000 people to near 100000 for the whole weekend.

Anyway, they are all about 4-6 hours of drive time...depending on how fast you drive!

You guys rock! I've never gotten a list of useful resources that quickly. I haven't checked any of them out yet (the kids have REALLY taken it out of me today), but I really appreciate all of the feedback.

http://www.funlake.com/

These are just some of the links to things that are within about a half day or so drive...if you want to ride in a car with the whole family for half a day! DW residency program had the third year party, paid for by us of course, at Lake of the Ozarks, very pretty and fun. The other places we have been to as well, just information...and of course, if you want to wait until this early fall....

Matt - I stumbled across the Lake of the Ozarks page on my own this morning and was checking it out. Is there a particular area that is better than another? More family friendly than another? We want some activities -- we're not into "roughing it", but I'm not paying for a disney cruise. I'm wondering if we should wait until later in the summer / early fall to go to avoid the crazy heat.

The Medicine Lodge thing looks cool ... the boys would love it!

Thanks for your help.

Lake of the Ozarks goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. You could camp or you could stay at the Four Season's Hotel there....not the same as Four Seasons in a "real city", BTW. I think that we stayed at the condo's there, actually.

There is lots of family stuff around the lake itself, and then into the close town, whatever the name of it is....We did some "Mountain-side mini-golf", if you can call it a mountain in Missouri! There are rentals of all kinds, paddle-boats to power-boats, I think that there is a guided horse ride too.


The Peace Treaty only happens every three years in Medicine Lodge... just for your information....I really don't work for the Travel Commission of Middle-of-Nowhere Kansas, honest.