https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:25:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923366 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 10:46:36 +0000 hellobeeboston 2923366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rent an RV! It's super fun and its like luxury camping. If you can find a great campsite near lots of outdoor activities that would be fun for little kids. We've done it the last two summers, once when we flew across the country to Oregon, and once in Maine. My boys loved it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923314 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 04:48:03 +0000 Anagram 2923314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krispi: Gatlinburg and Pigeon’s Forge is a good idea, although I imagine mask wearing isn’t very adhered-to there. We just drove from NJ to mid Georgia and there was a BIG difference the further south we got, in terms of mask wearing. We didn’t take our kids anywhere in public as a result of that—but we are also very cautious. </p> <p>Having said that, at least Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have some outdoor activities—there’s hiking and we did the skylift and swinging bridge. There are also mountain coasters and Pigeon Forge had that outdoor mall area with all the rides. So if you stay mostly outside, that would cut down on risk. So many of the hotels have water slides and stuff, too. </p> <p>We went the summer before Covid on our way to see my family in Georgia, and the kids had a blast.</p> <p>[attach=2976/21/qrcdw4.600x450.85D22682-08D3-4797-807F-7AEAD7096569.jpeg] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923312 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:52:08 +0000 Bailiebee 2923312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in Atlanta and remember going to Chattanooga all the time. We went to a wedding in Nashville a few years ago and drove from there to Atlanta, staying overnight in Chattanooga. The aquarium is awesome, great river walk, amazing hiking trails, and Rock City would be so magical for a 5 year old. There's alot of areas around there too that have beautiful mountain rentals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923295 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 10:16:34 +0000 bhbee 2923295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: I know, I’m worried too, I had an aunt and uncle go over spring break and said it was terrible! :shocked: </p> <p>Maybe by summer more people will be flying after their shots and that will help, but not counting on it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923294 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 09:47:36 +0000 josina 2923294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: We're headed to Gatlinburg in June with my SIL/BIL. I'm a little nervous about how busy it will be though. I'm on a couple Gatlinburg facebook sites and they say town is insane right now since cruises/flights are mostly out.<br /> I'm hoping we can do the Aquarium and either Ober or Anakeesta but spend the majority in SMNP. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923275 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:48:29 +0000 krispi 2923275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: Asheville is a gorgeous area! DH and I went there for our 1 year dating anniversary. Sorry it didn't work out so well with the kids. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923274 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:45:31 +0000 krispi 2923274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the ideas! I'll look into them and see what I can find. </p> <p>@JennyPenny: I've been skiing in Banner Elk before. I stayed in a really cute B&amp;B with an ex. I have no idea what it's like in summer though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923255 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 19:58:21 +0000 ChitownRo 2923255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last night I was trying to convince my husband on WDW in spring 2022. He was resistant.. “isn’t there anywhere cooler to go? I didn’t imagine being a Disney family!” After lots of thought, we basically were like, nope either lake/camping, ski, beach vacations or amusement parks. We tried to take them to a waterfall in Asheville and any amount of hiking was a no go 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 After a year at home, they also hate any cooking aside from mine so restaurants are out. And tbh, they hate my cooking 50% of the time. Ugh.</p> <p>ETA: I think choosing a cool Vrbo could be fun enough for kids. There are a ton of awesome kid oriented houses in the Orlando area. Look at Reunion Resort - many of them have special kid bunk rooms, arcades, pools, home theaters and then the resort itself has a water park, tennis etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923252 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:53:23 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2923252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know much about the Smoky Mountains but I wonder if you can stay somewhere that isn't camping but enjoy hiking and other nature activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923248 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:49:33 +0000 JennyPenny 2923248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My in-laws love staying in the Highlands mountains on the border of NC and GA. We haven't been with them yet, but I was looking around at AirBnB's in the area and there were a lot of cute, affordable options. We did the NC mountains (Banner Elk) last summer with our kids and it was so much fun! There it was about 10-15 degrees cooler than it was at home so it was a nice break in the peak of the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923241 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:07:10 +0000 bhbee 2923241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re going to drive to a cabin outside of Gatlinburg, TN this summer. I love the mountains and the Airbnb prices were more affordable than I expected. I figure at a minimum we stay somewhere new, see mountains, hike easy trails in the Smoky Mountains, eat outside. Depending on how we feel about covid then there are lots of kid friendly options in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge (though I’m not counting on those ..: we’ll see!).</p> <p>Our kids are 9, 6 and 2 which isn’t always an easy spread for activities, so hoping we can just have a lot of downtime together in a new place. In 2022 or 2023 I really want to take my oldest to the Harry Potter theme park! (We’d all go but she is HP obsessed) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923239 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:18:03 +0000 yellowbeach 2923239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a Farm stay last fall in Virginia... found it on AirBnB... was great for our 4 yearold... there's a lake for fishing with kayaks and canoes that are open for your use free or charge. You can go to the barn (one of the rentals is even above the barn) and feed the goats peanuts, and get fresh eggs from the hen house then take them to cook for breakfast. There were tons of grounds to explore, plus it's located close to Lurray Caverns which is stroller friendly. The owners were awesome.</p> <p><a href="https://cardinalspringsfarm.com/" rel="nofollow">https://cardinalspringsfarm.com/</a></p> <p>ETA: They have vegetable gardens you can help yourself to.. DD enjoyed picking and eating fresh string beans </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kid-friendly-vacations-that-arent-the-beach#post-2923238 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:04:34 +0000 krispi 2923238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a summer vacation kids would enjoy that aren't the beach. We (parents) will be fully vaccinated by that time, but I'm not sure we're ready to fly yet, so ideal would be driving distance from Atlanta. </p> <p>We've done beach vacations for the last several years, including renting a socially distant beach house last year, and my husband is tired of the beach. Our daughter is 5, so I'm not sure she's up for too many historical sights or heavy sight seeing yet. And aside from maybe camping, I can't think of too many alternatives.</p> <p>Obviously case numbers and health requirements at that time will factor into the decision. I'm hoping that with the current pace of vaccines we can find something over the summer that isn't super risky.</p> <p>We're probably looking at a week in July. We'll have our daughter and maybe 1-2 other kids with us, all in the under 5 age range. (We're foster parents, so it's a little hard predicting the future state of placements.) Any suggestions are welcome! What have your kids enjoyed?</p> <p>PS. We're thinking Disney for spring break 2022 after things are hopefully a bit more "normal". I'm pretty sure my husband would complain constantly about the Disney heat if we went this summer. :) </p>