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Vacation Ideas
Posted on 5/6/16 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 12:54 pm
So, I was looking to take a vacation that is within driving distance of Pensacola area of Florida. I was looking at Alabama, Florida, Georgia and possibly Louisiana or Tennessee however I would prefer not to drive that far.
We have taken vacations to Disney and Gatlinburg recently so I was looking at doing something different. We have also taken trips to New Orleans and Atlanta.
I was looking at something that would be fun for kids mostly. I have 2 little boys and the vacation is more for them anyway. I was looking into possibly just getting a cabin on a lake somewhere...maybe Eufaula or Seminole and renting a boat but I am not sure how kid friendly those areas are and if there is much to do for them.
Any ideas would be appreciated so that I can research and make a decision. Thanks
We have taken vacations to Disney and Gatlinburg recently so I was looking at doing something different. We have also taken trips to New Orleans and Atlanta.
I was looking at something that would be fun for kids mostly. I have 2 little boys and the vacation is more for them anyway. I was looking into possibly just getting a cabin on a lake somewhere...maybe Eufaula or Seminole and renting a boat but I am not sure how kid friendly those areas are and if there is much to do for them.
Any ideas would be appreciated so that I can research and make a decision. Thanks
7
Posted on 5/6/16 at 1:14 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
quote:
I was looking into possibly just getting a cabin on a lake somewhere
quote:
within driving distance of Pensacola
Sounds like you've already made the call. Just pick one. Eufala is probably the closest big one.
ETA - If it's me, I'd probably go up to Little River Canyon or Cloudland, but they're farther.
This post was edited on 5/6/16 at 1:16 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 1:14 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
DP
This post was edited on 5/6/16 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 1:57 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
How old are the kids, what's their idea of a good time, and what constitutes driving distance?
I like Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula. It has really nice waterfront cabins and it is a great fishing/outdoors lake but outside of a couple of playgrounds there's not a whole lot for smaller kids at the park or in town.
If you're really thinking about something on the water, you might want to check out Lake Guntersville. Like Eufaula, the state park has cabins available. It also has great fishing and outdoor activities (bonus - unlike Eufaula they're mostly alligator free). The difference is that Guntersville is pretty close (45 minutes or less) to things like Cathedral Caverns and the Space and Rocket center in Huntsville. If you'll be taking a significant other that likes to shop, there's the Unclaimed Baggage place in Scottsboro. The downside is you're looking at about a 5 hour drive from Pensacola.
I like Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula. It has really nice waterfront cabins and it is a great fishing/outdoors lake but outside of a couple of playgrounds there's not a whole lot for smaller kids at the park or in town.
If you're really thinking about something on the water, you might want to check out Lake Guntersville. Like Eufaula, the state park has cabins available. It also has great fishing and outdoor activities (bonus - unlike Eufaula they're mostly alligator free). The difference is that Guntersville is pretty close (45 minutes or less) to things like Cathedral Caverns and the Space and Rocket center in Huntsville. If you'll be taking a significant other that likes to shop, there's the Unclaimed Baggage place in Scottsboro. The downside is you're looking at about a 5 hour drive from Pensacola.
This post was edited on 5/6/16 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:02 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
I propose a place you've probably never been but is considered by travel experts to be one of the best kept secrets in the United States: Table Rock Lake/Big Cedar Lodge/Top of the Rock (all located in SW Missouri):
Top of the Rock (Big Cedar Lodge):
Big Cedar Lodge (same property as Top of the Rock):
Table Rock Lake:
Top of the Rock (Big Cedar Lodge):
Big Cedar Lodge (same property as Top of the Rock):
Table Rock Lake:
This post was edited on 5/6/16 at 2:03 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:10 pm to mizzoukills
quote:
Top of the Rock (Big Cedar Lodge):
That looks beautiful but that is probably too far to drive. I have a 3 year old who doesn't take kindly to long trips.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:12 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
If you're really thinking about something on the water, you might want to check out Lake Guntersville. Like Eufaula, the state park has cabins available. It also has great fishing and outdoor activities (bonus - unlike Eufaula they're mostly alligator free). The difference is that Guntersville is pretty close (45 minutes or less) to things like Cathedral Caverns and the Space and Rocket center in Huntsville. If you'll be taking a significant other that likes to shop, there's the Unclaimed Baggage place in Scottsboro. The downside is you're looking at about a 5 hour drive from Pensacola.
5 hours is doable. I'm going to look that up. This is the kind of info I was looking for. More stuff that the kids might enjoy. My kids are 3 and 7 at the moment. Is the rocket center fun? What kind of cavens are the Cathedral caverns? Are they standard or no shite tight spaces and wear a helmet caverns. Im wondering how kid friendly that stuff would be.
Thanks for the advice. I do kind of have an idea but I wanted to find some multipurpose places for the kids so we can do more than just chill at the cabin and fish.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:14 pm to Evolved Simian
quote:
ETA - If it's me, I'd probably go up to Little River Canyon or Cloudland, but they're farther.
I will research both. Eufala didn't seem to have as much kid friendly stuff from what I could find. Im a short drive from Eufala which makes it easier but I don't mind going a little further for a better vacay.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:29 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
Cathedral Caverns isn't a spelunking cave. You won't be crawling around tight spaces. With kids, it would be more of a good way do spend a few hours in the afternoon. Here's the state park info.
The Space and Rocket Center is the cat's meow if you're into that sort of stuff. Lots of rockets on display, simulators, IMAX, etc. As my 6 year old daughter would say "Boy stuff".
The Space and Rocket Center is the cat's meow if you're into that sort of stuff. Lots of rockets on display, simulators, IMAX, etc. As my 6 year old daughter would say "Boy stuff".
This post was edited on 5/6/16 at 2:30 pm
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:48 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
quote:
That looks beautiful but that is probably too far to drive. I have a 3 year old who doesn't take kindly to long trips.
My children are 5 and 2 years old. We take long trips often, a mixture of very long drives and flying.
What is my advice for long trips? Give each kid half of a children's Dramamine pill.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 2:57 pm to mizzoukills
quote:
My children are 5 and 2 years old. We take long trips often, a mixture of very long drives and flying. What is my advice for long trips? Give each kid half of a children's Dramamine pill.
It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a ginger. My red headed kid is a handful. Flat out miserable to travel far with. My 7 year old can handle anything but the 3 year old is a damn drama queen. lol
Posted on 5/6/16 at 3:04 pm to JustGetItRight
quote:
Cathedral Caverns isn't a spelunking cave. You won't be crawling around tight spaces. With kids, it would be more of a good way do spend a few hours in the afternoon. Here's the state park info. The Space and Rocket Center is the cat's meow if you're into that sort of stuff. Lots of rockets on display, simulators, IMAX, etc. As my 6 year old daughter would say "Boy stuff".
My boys would probably love the rocket stuff. My 7 year old is a true nerd braniac. Im going to look into that. Sounds like a fun place to visit and he would love it.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 3:11 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
My almost 3 year old is a fiery red head, so I can sympathize.
This is what I find myself doing in the car if they aren't asleep or focused on a movie:
This is what I find myself doing in the car if they aren't asleep or focused on a movie:
Posted on 5/6/16 at 3:36 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
If you've already done the Disney with them, you can still go to Orlando and do Universal Studios and theme parks. They'll love that stuff.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 6:06 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
Eufaula is good for fishing but the gators... If you want a really big lake for boating go further up to Lake Martin. Clean water and no gators, fishing not so good unless you are a pro.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 9:15 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
quote:
My boys would probably love the rocket stuff. My 7 year old is a true nerd braniac. Im going to look into that. Sounds like a fun place to visit and he would love it.
If you visit the Space and Rocket Center check to see of the still offer a tour bus ride out to the actual Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) testing area....that's where NASA a tested the Saturn Rocket engines back in the day... and also where the new test stands are being constructed for rocket engines that are going to take U.S. to Mars....or something like that.
Also as a side note... MSFC was the original HQ for NASA.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 10:44 pm to partsman103
quote:
If you visit the Space and Rocket Center check to see of the still offer a tour bus ride out to the actual Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) testing area....that's where NASA a tested the Saturn Rocket engines back in the day... and also where the new test stands are being constructed for rocket engines that are going to take U.S. to Mars....or something like that. Also as a side note... MSFC was the original HQ for NASA.
We are researching stuff to do in Guntersville state park and the Huntsville area. I've already found quite a few things to do but I am really excited to try out the space and rocket center. I know my oldest will love that. Just have to sit down and plan it out. I think that's where we have decided to go. Seems like a great place to spend 4 or 5 days and relax and let the boys have fun. I'll look into the tour and see if they still offer it.
One thing I liked is the rooms were affordable. Rooms in the lodge go as low as 105 a night and cabin rentals are like 150. Not bad at all.
Posted on 5/6/16 at 10:48 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
Lake Lainer, hr north of ATL
Posted on 5/6/16 at 10:48 pm to CockInYourEar
quote:
If you've already done the Disney with them, you can still go to Orlando and do Universal Studios and theme parks. They'll love that stuff
We go to Orlando quite a bit. My wife goes about twice a year and I normally go about every other year. They get year passes to Disney. It's actually better to hit those in the off-season because the crowds and the heat are miserable and the kids are out of school. They do love it but it's just not a good summer activity. We typically go in either November or February when it's cooler. My 7 year old has been to Disney no less than 10 times.
Posted on 5/8/16 at 8:36 pm to Prettyboy Floyd
Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah. Great campground on a marsh, and Tybee Island is less than half an hour away. Plus, Skidaway has the UGA Aquarium at the Marine Institute. Plus, cool hiking trails along the Intracoastal Waterway. Oatland Island Wildlife Center is a cool place for kids... Wild animals in the heart of Savannah on a marshy reserve. Great restaurants in Savannah.
This post was edited on 5/8/16 at 8:47 pm
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