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Thread: Looking for mini family vacation ideas in the NY/PA/OH/MI/IN/Ont area

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  1. #1
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    Dec 2005
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    Looking for mini family vacation ideas in the NY/PA/OH/MI/IN/Ont area

    There are a lot of family-oriented folks here, and a lot of great down to earth advice, so...

    I live in Southwestern Ontario, in London. The winter blahs are setting in, and we would dearly love to find a 3-day mini vacation. The downside is that we have four kids, aged 7 - 13, so affordable is key.

    Here is a map, showing the area that's on the table -- anything an easy one day drive.
    oneday.gif
    (ie: the 400-500km distance is the practical max)

    We've been to The Great Wolf Lodge, and Kalahari. Both are great indoor waterpark hotels, but they're also on the pricey side (when you add on the 3rd and 4th child...). I grew up near Niagara Falls, so that is old hat.

    Thoughts?
    "It's Not About You."

  2. #2
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    Art, Along the lines of the Great Wolf and Kalahari is Avalanch Bay in Boyne, MI. Indoor water park at a ski resort. Swimming and Skiing all in one area. Also close to Traverse City and Macinac City. Not to mention you could get in touch with Larry Edgerton and help him keep his sanity. He lives close to that area I believe.

  3. #3
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    We're just across the lake from you in Erie and we have an indoor water park, skiing (down hill and cross country) nearby and tax free shopping on clothing. You can stop by the falls and see them with the ice as you come around the end of the lake.
    Lee Schierer
    USNA '71
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  4. #4
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    What about Ann Arbor? There's a number of museum, including the Hands On Museum and a number of museums at UofM. There's plenty of shopping and food downtown as well as in the suburban areas surrounding. As long as there no major UofM event that weekend prices shouldn't be too bad. 45 minutes away in metro Detroit there's The Henry Ford (the museum, IMAX, and Rouge tour are open but the village is closed for the winter.) All-in-all a pretty well rounded place to visit.

    http://www.visitannarbor.org


  5. #5
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    If any of your kids are baseball fans, Cooperstown (MLB HoF) is great. I have only been there in summer, so I don't know how it is in winter. If you spend a day there, you could go on to the VT/NH ski areas which are within pretty easy driving distance. The drive home would be pretty long, though.

  6. #6
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    Way too early for this but:
    http://www.tecumsehdrama.com/

    The show is nothing short of incredible.
    I took my kids to it when they were 5 and 6.
    They sat through the entire show wide eyed and with gaping jaws!
    I did too!!!!!

    You sit in a semi circular amphitheater & the play takes place all around you. There's one particular scence where,,,,,oh heck I'm not going to spoil it for anyone.
    Let's just say that at one point, the whole audience is part of a Shawnee raiding party. The actors & action take place on the stage, in the woods surrounding the theater and even in among the audience itself.

  7. #7
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    Rock and roll hall of fame Cleveland, inventors hall of fame Akron, and football hall of fame Canton all about 1 hour apart. also Hartville kitchen and Hartville Hardware. Keim lumber in Amish country down in Charm, Ohio with a lot of tourist attractions and places to eat down there.

  8. #8
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    I'm a 'summer' guy, and after hunting season I go into hibernation.
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  9. #9
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    Art:

    Depending on when you will be travelling you might pass me going in the other direction.

    We are renting a condo on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls in early August.

    I really can't add anything to your itinerary though. Cheers

    Jim

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Mattheiss View Post
    We are renting a condo on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls in early August.
    That's the time to do it!

    When you want to see the falls themselves, I recommend getting up "early" and heading there about 9am. Quietest time of the day, and easiest to wander right up at the brink of the Horseshoe falls. Later on you can browse all the tourist trap stores. I also recommend heading north along the river and go hiking at the Niagara Glen (if you like outdoors + hiking) Most restaurants right at the falls are pricey, but a 10 minute ride on the highway puts you in St.Catharines where things are cheaper. If you're bringing kids along, then a day at Marineland would be fun also - see the dolphin show + great white shark show, and ride some rides as well.

    Have fun!
    "It's Not About You."

  11. #11
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    I'll second Matt's suggestion of Ann Arbor. I lived there for five years, and it is really just a great little city with lots to see and do.
    If you only took one trip to the hardware store, you didn't do it right.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael O'Sullivan View Post
    If any of your kids are baseball fans, Cooperstown (MLB HoF) is great. I have only been there in summer, so I don't know how it is in winter. If you spend a day there, you could go on to the VT/NH ski areas which are within pretty easy driving distance. The drive home would be pretty long, though.
    Also if you or your kids are baseball fans, try the Slugger Museum in Louisville, KY. It has incredible history and the tour is pretty cool, especially for a woodworker. We went the last time in the summer and took in a Bats game (triple A for the Reds) at the same time. Obviously that part won't work for a winter trip, but if you were to go later in the year...

  13. #13
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    Well, to plug "local", the Philadelphia area offers a ton of interesting and educational things...
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  14. #14
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    A little more info on the Air museum: Plan on spending a very full day to quickly browse through the exhibits. If you are the kind of person who reads the sign for each item then it will take 2 days to get through everything. With kids you'll have to plan accordingly (i.e. just visit the rockets and jets, etc.).

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