Vegas or other warm US spot w/kids

[lawmax]

Hi,

Looking for a vacation spot with kids for a trip in February. I''d like them to see something "educational"/"environmental" and have some fun and I''d like to be warm. Any recommendations? I don''t like all the adult entertainment in Vegas, but it seems easy to get to. I''m tired of Disney and not really wanting to spend $8000 on a trip to the caribbean.

Anyone here have a good experience to share?

Thanks,

lawmax

 

[dani13]

Certain parts of Mexico are really pretty- and in some areas there is a lot of history- ruins, etc. Have you ever been to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? It is beautiful and safe...beaches are gorgeous, and you can still go into town and enjoy all the ethnicities of the area without feeling completely out of place...we just love it there.

 

[ephemery1]

The Grand Canyon? That''s about 4-5 hours away from Vegas, I believe, but definitely the most memorable vacation my fiance ever took as a child... he still talks about it. Or maybe spend some time in California... there is always lots to see there, history-wise... especially in San Francisco... though I doubt that will be as warm as you''d like. Or if you like the idea of the Caribbean, there are some up-and-coming places like the Dominican Republic that aren''t quite as expensive as the rest. Hmmm, what else.... we spend time in Hilton Head once in a while, and it''s always a nice place for families, though the educational stuff would probably all be closer to Savannah.

Good luck!

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 10/9/2006 8:02:23 AM
Author:lawmax
Hi,

Looking for a vacation spot with kids for a trip in February. I''d like them to see something ''educational''/''environmental'' and have some fun and I''d like to be warm. Any recommendations? I don''t like all the adult entertainment in Vegas, but it seems easy to get to. I''m tired of Disney and not really wanting to spend $8000 on a trip to the caribbean.

Anyone here have a good experience to share?

Thanks,

lawmax

Honestly, I think there''s a lot more to Vegas than adult entertainment.

The Mirage has a dolphin habitat as well as a Tiger exhibit. The MGM has a cub exhibit, too. The Mandalay Bay has the Shark Reef aquarium. Hoover Dam is about 45 min away by car, and the Grand Canyon is a 4 (or 5?) hour drive away.

 

[Mara]

Vegas is not really ''warm'' in Feb...I was there in late Jan for a show one year and it was FREEZING COLD...WAY colder than in California...and whipping biting winds. I was miserable. Greg said ''well it is the desert''. haha. I would only ever go during about April to October weather-wise.

What about LA...Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios. Are those even still cool? Or am I showing my age? hahaa.

 

[codex57]

Theme parks in SoCal would be my choice too. Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios have gotten better than since I was a kid. Don''t forget Sea World in San Diego.

Vegas has a lot of adult entertainment, but it''s still got enough family friendly stuff. However, like Mara said, Vegas is COLD!!! I went golfing in, I think, January, and there was ice on the putting greens.

 

[KimberlyH]

I am not a fan of vacationing in Vegas with children. Every time I''ve been there I see parents dragging their children through smoke-filled casinos with suggestive pictures everywhere, people handing out cards on the street to assist tourists in finding prostitutes, etc. The last time I was there was less than a year ago, and I was furious with parents who brought their kids into such an environment and call it "vacation." Yes I know they see worse on TV, but I say turn the TV off! Sorry, it''s the conservative in me coming out. There are so many fantastic places to visit in this country and abroad I just can''t fathom choosing to take children to Vegas. There was a time when the city was more geared towards children, but they have headed back the other direction in recent years.

San Diego has the Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Balboa Park, etc. The Grand Canyon is beautiful. A drive through the California coast, or a visit to Yosemite, The Redwoods, etc. So much to see and do!

 

[oshinbreez]

Florida. Orlando area has alot of theme parks (Disney, Epcot, Animal park, Cypress Gardens). Then St Augustine is the oldest city with the fort, Ripley''s Believe it or Not, lots of quaint little shops, horse drawn carriages. Plus the Atlantic Ocean. Then, there''s also Cape Canaveral that''s only a few hour drive from either Orlando or St Augustine. In Feb, it''s still a little chilly for shorts for most Floridians, but usually don''t need a coat. Having lived in FL for 9 yrs now, anything below 70 is cold to me.....lol

 

[lawmax]

Thanks everyone. It''s hard to find a good warm weather spot in the states in February. My kids have done Orlando including the space center alot, but maybe not Universal so much. I didn''t realize vegas was so cold, but I don''t really like the idea for kids if it''s too cold to enjoy the things outside it like the canyon and dam. I had been thinking along AlJ''s lines.

Hmm.....

 

[ladykemma]

how about the "redneck riviera"? denton, florida panhandle, getting a condo on the beach?

key west?

ditto on puerto vallarta

 

[lawmax]

definitely looking into the keys. I went when I was expecting my daughter 11 years ago! It may well be time to go back. I like the idea of the nature to explore, the dolphins, turtles, etc.

 

[akw94]

I recently went to Tampa w/kids and we all had a great time. There''s a great zoo, busch gardens, we went on a dolphin cruise--saw dolphins and other water animals, minature golf in the area, movie theaters, plenty of family friendly restaurants, science and industry museum, fed the pelicans, etc...
It was a lot of fun and there was always something to do. We stayed a week and found plenty to do while there.

 

[reader]

How about Puerto Rico?

 

[VegasAngel]

I can tell you Jan/February isnt warm in Vegas Unless you consider 50 during the day 30 at night warm. Florida & Puerto Rico sound nice what about Hawaii?

 

[lawmax]

I have been looking at puerto rico...hawaii is too far for us for a week (east coasters). I was trying to keep the expense to a reasonable limit and puerto rico flights/good hotels were getting really pricey. There was like one flight on one airline from newark to puerto rico when we want to go and tickets were expensive.

Still working on it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[pspaniac]

We went to Phoenix (Point South Mountain Resort) last march. It had a great water park, warm weather, nature walks etc. It was warm, inexpensive, easy to get to and the kids had a blast!