Where are you vactioning this year?

I went to the Grand Canyon a couple of years ago. I think that was the best vacattion to date. We camped, it was amazing. There is so much to do there.

I THINK THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS IS A GREAT PLACE TO VACATION. THE PARKS ARE GREAT. THERE IS BEAUTIFUL WATER, HIKING, RAFTING, LOTS OF OUTDOOR STUFF. WE ALWAYS STAY IN GATLINBURG AND YOU WALK UP AND DOWN THE STREETS SHOPPING AND HANGING OUT AND IT IS SAFE. WE LOVE IT

Ok This thread is getting me really excited for summer. I was looking at the Yosemite website and we love to camp so I was checking into camping there. Anyhow they mentioned bears. Im petrified of camping where bears are. Anyone ever camp in a bear area and if so was it a big deal?

LuAnn seems like the national park thing is winning over. I must admit when I saw you were in Ohio I thought about you heading north to Canada. Has your family been there yet? I guess if they have not shown a preferance to you then I would say go where you want to go. If your into the beaches then go there. Its a vacation, the kids will love it no matter where you go.

Cheryl, I can't believe how amazing the Grand Canyon is. I have a 9 year old so she was 7 and 8 (we went 2 years in a row) when we went. By far the best vacation Ive ever had. And we camped!

We've always loved the Grand Canyon, but not too far away from it is Zion National Park. We absolutely LOVED it! My sister was a ranger at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. It is also pretty cool.

If you are looking for a national park close to home then I recommend the New River Gorge National River. There is great white water rafting, hiking, mountainbiking, climbing. There are some great cabins for rent and the people are friendly. If you are looking for the coolest national park, wow... there are just so many. The badlands are pretty cool but then again so is Zion, Canyonlands, Glacier, Yellowstone, the Smokies, Bryce, Great Sand Dunes(now that is pretty cool, kayaking in the sand).

Whatever you do, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dw and I are going kayaking with the orca whales! Then we're going to a "forest playground" and zipline through the trees! I can't wait!

P

Gwenn--We've camped at Yosemite. There's always the precautions about keeping food in the car out of sight. Never saw a bear, but I made dh wake up and be "lookout" in the middle of the night when I went to the restroom!

LuAnn--We've hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon--that's something you have to do before school out--while it's still cool.

The Rocky Mountains are closer than the western states to Ohio and are beautiful. Rocky Mountain National Park has all kinds of wonderful hikes of varying length and difficulty. Go over Trail Ridge Road to the west side and you're sure to see moose and big horn sheep if you keep your eyes open. Would you be about as close to the Adirondacks--another pretty spot.

I'm going to Las Vegas in July, but that's probably not a place you'd want to take kids that age, although Hoover Dam nearby is fascinating. After that I'm taking my kids (two 12-year olds) on a trip to visit the family, in Indiana. Not very exciting for most people, but it's wonderful to re-connect with family. Do you have family somewhere that would be nice to visit? One year I went to Ohiopyle state park in Pennsylvania, where they have camping, white-water rafting, and Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Water" house you can visit. Estes Park in Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains, is beautiful and I think there is rafting on the Colorado river there, too. What about Cedar Crest north of you? There is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, if your kids like rock music. Chicago has fantastic museums (the Field Museum of natural history and the Science and Industry Museum) and also a wonderful historic aquarium. It's a beautiful city. San Antonio is a good vacation destination, with the River Walk, Sea World, Six Flags, the Alamo, and a world-class water park in New Braunfels up north of there called the Schlitterbahn. Another idea is Mount Rushmore, maybe on your way out west to see Yellowstone park? Like someone else said, there are so many fabulous travel destinations all over the country. I am not that well-traveled but I've enjoyed all these places. And, I have always wanted to take my kids to New York City sometime to see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc. I guess you might want to throw some different ideas out there (city, country, camping, roughing it, luxury, etc.) and see what excites the kids the most, and then go from there. Good luck!

Hi Karilynn: and all listening in:

You are right re packing the bag
I have to carry mine down 4 flights
and then kitty sitter.. SO...

I wont be going away
can not afford it
and have been on many lovely holidays
but
for anyone coming up to Toronto
there are lovely day trips

I might do one to Niagara Falls
$l50.00 takes you there
lovely buffet, Maid of the Mist
raincoats and all and
Niagara on the Lake
I love the falls.. awesome

Our city offers lovely..
harbourfront areas
to dine and take boat cruises

I love US.. but just
cant afford it right now

Grand Canyon
was superb..
years ago

Don't forget
you American pick up
on the currency exchange
in Canada.. so not so pricey

)


)

My daughters (28, 24, 21) and we just returned from a week at the Jersey shore. We lived in Philly for years and years so nothing says vacation like "down the shore". We had to fly in from all over and ship the sheets and towels back and forth, but it was all worth while.

This week a year ago I started my chemo. This summer I danced in my flip flops at the shore bars with beer in hand and a snappy little hair cut. It was wonderful

Enaid, by all means go, you will be fine. I always did stuff on my "good week" and it helped the chemo go by.

~Dorie

Gwen, if you ever get the opportunity, go to Burney Falls by Redding. Remember the movie Stand By Me with the overhead train track? That part was filmed at Burney. They call it the 8th Wonder of the World. It's the type of place that families come to for years. One of my girlfriends has been going for about 30 years and as their families have grown, they've brought their families back. I met a lot of people up there who did the same thing. We went with them for several years. It is red dirt though but a beautiful area.

Margaret

iodine.. are you lookinfg in Fl, Ms, or La? Mississippi is looking very good after the past few years of hurricanes. But I am prefer Fl coast better. I know of someone renting a condo in Pananma City Beach if you are interested. PM me