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View Full Version : Need help with non-WDW vacation ideas!



Figment78
04-16-2007, 04:20 PM
Okay, so we did our WDW trip early this year (Feb), and took both our parents with us. Although it was a blast, now we are thinking we'd still like to get away this summer just the two of us. The problem??? We rarely do a non-Disney trip and don't know where to go. Here are our criteria:

Time: June, July, August

Who: just me and DH (twenty-somethings with no kids yet)

Weather pref: We want to avoid sweltering heat. We did a cruise last spring and Mexico in May was ridiculously hot! So if we are doing outdoor touristy/theme park type things, we avoid summer months. Beaches and pools are okay to be hot.

Budget: Limited! (Spent most of it on WDW!) Would prefer somewhere we could drive (from Pittsburgh, PA), but would also fly if cheap.

Preferred activites/amenities: Basically, we like to be entertained (shows, theme parks, etc), but we're not huge night-club people. We love to go to nice restaurants. We just want to relax and unwind for a few days together.

Does anyone have any ideas?!?!? I'm stumped! I personally vote for a long weekend return trip to WDW, to hit the summer things we didn't do in Feb (like water parks, pools, and maybe some new restaurants or the Flower/Garden festival) but I don't think DH would go back right away.

Signed,
It's-still-snowing-in-April! :(

castlegirl
04-16-2007, 06:54 PM
How about Williamsburg VA?

We live near Phila, PA and drove to VA over Easter break. We visited Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown (400th anniversary), and Busch Gardens Europe.

My DS13 and DD6 had a blast! They even enjoyed the "somewhat educational" history lessons. Busch Gardens Europe is like a theme park of World Showcase in Epcot. There is a brand new roller coaster opening on May 25. If you are going over the summer, there is also a water park called Water Country USA.

We booked a package through BG website that included room and park tickets.

IMHO, BG was very clean, beautiful, with lots of rides, but it's not WDW.

Let us know what you eventually decide. Planning is part of the fun of vacation!

SBETigg
04-16-2007, 07:13 PM
The Wells/Ogunquit Maine coast area is beautiful in the summer months. Some gorgeous coastline, not too hot. Summer is a great time to visit New York City or Boston, both great cities to get to know. Newport NH, coastal CT, or Cape May, NJ, also great options. Mystic Ct has a great aquarium, historic seaport, beaches, and Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos in driving distance. Do some internet searches and see what appeals. All of these areas should be driveable from you, but some further than others, obviously.

Jeff
04-16-2007, 07:28 PM
My second favorite vacation spot in the world - The Smoky Mountains. Stay in Pigeon Forge or Sievierville (sp?) much cheaper than in Gatlinburg.

Mountains and short hikes
Shows
Dollywood
Mini golf till you drop
outlet shopping
Great Food

In June the heat is not bad yet. Even in July and August it's not bad because of the Mountains.

Figment78
04-17-2007, 12:34 PM
Thanks for the suggestions! I will start looking into some of them right away. I was at Williamsburg/Busch Gardens with my family maybe 15-20 years ago and by looking at the websites I can already tell much has changed since then! A few follow-up questions for you all so far.... Does anyone know the avg weather for the VA or Cape May areas during June?

luvdiznee
04-17-2007, 07:01 PM
Niagara Falls!

SBETigg
04-17-2007, 09:41 PM
Cape May's weather in June will probably run in the 70s and 80s, fairly mild, generally not a big rainy season or high humidity, though rain or sticky weather is always possible. VA about the same but probably about ten degrees or so warmer.

Touchdown
04-18-2007, 12:19 AM
I also recomend Williamsburg, VA as a choice. As for other destinations: New England (Boston then up the Maine Coast,) Washington DC. As for amusement parks near you I would reccomend (and by reccomend I mean I believe these to be must sees at some point for an amusement park fan: )

-Kennywood (assume youve been to the hometown favorite but I put it here anyways)
-Knobbles Resort
-Cedar Point
-Hersheypark
-Busch Gardens Europe
-Kings Dominion (now owned by Cedar Fair the company that runs Cedar Point and Dorney)

kakn7294
04-19-2007, 07:28 AM
I live near Pittsburgh too and we've been to Williamsburg, Pigeon Forge, and Hershey within in the 14 years we've been married. Our favorite place was Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. We went in July and the weather was hot - in the upper 80's everyday. If you love Disney, I think you would like Busch Gardens.

Touchdown
04-19-2007, 07:26 PM
^If you love Disney youll love BGE, if you love roller coasters youll love BGE, if you love history you will love Colonial Williamsburg (revoutionary war era living history park,) Yorktown and Jamestown, and if you like water parks youll love Water Country USA. If you love all those things (like I do) you will adore Williamsburg, outside of Orlando thats my favorite spot to vacation in.

celestesmommie
04-20-2007, 11:42 AM
Being from Cape May, the weather in June is not really that bad. It may hit 80 if you are lucky. The ocean breeze always keeps it a lil bit cooler.

CPT Trips
04-21-2007, 12:53 PM
Williamsburg can have extremely high humidity in the summer months. Cape May's weather can be very nice, but it may also be chilly and rainy . . . can't plan on always having good weather.

MsMin
04-21-2007, 04:41 PM
I know you're real close to DC, have you done it lately? Since so much is free it makes a great trip and most things (except parking) are reasonable. I also like the Smokies yes, Sevierville is less expensive but Pigeon Forge is closer to the park. They have some very nice hiking trails and Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge.
For beaches I love the Gulf Coast of Florida but Orange or Gulf Shores Ala is cheaper. They have some little amusement parks and mini golf around, great shopping at the outlet mall in Foley. Food is so so not the best but you can find some nice fresh seafood. Casinos are close in MS and have more food and "nightclub" style entertainment (which you mentioned your weren't a fan).

NJGIRL
04-23-2007, 03:42 PM
Although there are no theme parks involved a vacation we really enjoyed and you can easily drive to is:

Newport Rhode Island....tour the mansions for a couple of days. They were unbeivlable. Alot a good restaurants and boating. A nice trolley to carry you around. Cliff Walk. Just a nice seaside town.

Then onto

Salem Mass....Such a fun town. Alot of "witch" museums and different tours, a pirate museum,
fun witch related shops, great food. A great trolley that took you through town but easily walked also, the House of the Seven Gables.

This was such a pleasant trip. I highly recommend it.

If you just can't live without a Theme Park try this.

A couple of days at Niagra Falls. This is a sight that can only be appriecated in person. Just wonderful! The Hilton is a great choice, they have a very good restaurant with a view of the falls! There is also a Great Wolf Lodge there which is a destination in itself.

Then on to Toronto. Much to do in this town but they also have a Paramount Theme Park called Wonderland. It's clean and alot of fun. I would compare it to Hershey Park but only bigger.

Both trip alot of fun and drivable.

NJGIRL
04-23-2007, 03:54 PM
I also sent you a PM abouth the weather in Cape May and Williamsburg. If you don't like hot you may want to skip Colonial Williamsburg.