Kid Friendly Vacations

So it is that time of year again (at least in our household) in planning where in the world we are going to vacation to this year. My husband and I love to go to new places and experience new things. Sometimes we do repeat vacations to places we have grown to love, but this year we want to try something new. We just have not decided where yet. In any case, I decided to post some of our research that may help you out a bit on your vacation plans.



1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area

From the Northern Virginia area, this is about a three hour trip. Perfect for extended weekend vacations or if you don't want to travel too far. There are tons of things to do in the area for very small children and older children. Here they are.

Sesame Place
This is a 30 minute commute from the city and is located in Langhorne, PA. I have seen special rates where you can buy a two day pass for the price of a one day pass. Tickets are $50.95 per person. Children under 2 are free! This park is geared to smaller children, but kids as young as two can enjoy some of the rides. Plus there is a water park! Be sure if you go to book either breakfast or lunch with some of your favorite Sesame Street characters!



Please Touch Museum
Now this looks like a great place for children to just have fun and play in an educational atmosphere. It is located right in Philadelphia. The price for admission is $15.00 per person.

Philadelphia Zoo
This year the Philadelphia Zoo is celebrating its 150th anniversary! The zoo really does look amazing with rare animal exhibits, train rides, camel rides, a petting zoo and more. Unfortunately it is not free like the D.C. Zoo. The admission cost is $18.00



Peddlers Village
This looks like a fun place to check out. It is located in Bucks county (thirty minutes from Philly) and has beautiful little shops, dining areas and a great kids fun zone.


Crayola Factory
This is a fun place where kids can see how crayons are made and get to also do some arts and crafts! It is about an hour and a half away from downtown Philadelphia. The price of admission for three and up is $9.98.



Downtown Philadelphia
This is a great historical place to visit. They have the Liberty Bell as well as many other historical places to visit.

Dutch Wonderland
This theme park is really beautiful (at least from the pictures) and looks fantastic for kids to have a full day of fun. The admission price per person is $30.95. It is about an hour and a half from downtown Philadelphia.




2. Cruise to the Bahamas



Instead of having to travel down to Florida to catch a cruise, you can take a seven day cruise by leaving from Baltimore. The Carnival Pride is a really fantastic cruise ship that provides a fantastic atmosphere, food, and fun in an all inclusive price. They even provide free child care if you and your spouse want to go to a quiet dinner or take some time for yourself. The price per person varies depending on the time of year you want to go.

3. Outer Banks, North Carolina (OBX)

I went to OBX last year with a few friends and had a fantastic time. It was the perfect vacation for my one year old because we could do things around his napping/sleep schedule. OBX does not have a whole lot of things to do like going bowling or going to movie theaters. Basically you spend your day at the beach, exploring a local light house, fish, etc., I highly recommend that if you do rent a house, then rent one with a pool. It was great for when you just did not want to go to the ocean and because I had a small child it was much easier to clean him off in the pool vs. the very cold showers that had a bit too much pressure for his liking.

4. Miami, Florida

Now you may want to raise your eyebrow on this one, but really it is a fun place to take your kids. There are a lot of things to do in the area such as going to the local beaches, visit the everglades and visit Jungle. Island. The price of Jungle Island for adults is $29.91 and for children (3-10)is $23.49. Be sure to visit their website for online discounts and coupons. Last time I was there my husband and I were able to hold a baby tiger and a baby orangutan. They also had a liger there as well. Not sure if it is still there, but that is pretty cool. Be sure to also visit Jaxson's to eat some great ice cream. If you are brave enough you can order the "kitchen sink".




5. Maine

I keep hearing from so many people that visiting Maine is just gorgeous and so laid back. The beaches are beautiful and Maine also has some great festivals during the year. I am still doing my research on this one!