Where to take 9 year old for long weekend

[Anonymous]

One parent is taking one sibling on a ski trip out west. The doesn’t love to ski 9 year old is staying home with the other parent but has a long weekend that skiing siblibg doesn’t have in May. we’d like one parent to take the 9 year old someplace fun but she doesn’t have any ideas of what she’d like to do. NY is not a draw as we go there frequently to see family. She’s into basketball but unfortunately she’s off the weekend before the WNBA season starts. Ideas of a fun long weekend for a 9 year old? Driving or short flight is fine.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? If you are in DMV I'd recommend a road trip to the triangle area in NC, if you haven't been there before. It's a 4.5hr drive.

[Anonymous]

Is your nine year old a 4th grader? Ideas and special perks here: https://www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm

Indianapolis, home of NCAA and one of the best children's museums which happens to include huge sports area
https://ncaahallofchampions.org/visiting-information/
https://www.childrensmuseum.org/exhibits

St. Louis, for a combination of history/national park experience at the Arch and the City Museum which is unique and super fun
https://citymuseum.org/

Blue Ridge Parkway/Asheville - hiking, biking, ziplining and the Biltmore, arts districts

Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, and Busch Gardens

Chincoteague and Wallops Island

Are you off-season beach people? Ocean City and Assateague, DE beaches, or Virginia Beach/Hampton/Norfolk

[Anonymous]

Great Wolf Lodge?
Williamsburg?

[Anonymous]

If you’re willing to fly, Montreal, Boston or Chicago could be fun and special.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of these ideas, especially the ones in the Midwest. They aren’t things I would have come up with on my own!

[Anonymous]

Colonial Williamsburg
Boston
Virginia Beach/Norfolk
Assateague or Chincoteague

[Anonymous]

I visited St Louis recently on a work trip. It was depressing. I would not do a family trip there.

Charleston, Asheville, Boston, Chicago? Yes. St Louis? No.

[Anonymous]

Hershey Park
Busch Gardens & Williamsburg

[Anonymous]

If it's just a 3-4 day weekend I'd consider whether you, and especially your 9 yo, want to spend time at the airport and flying. We tried this once (3-day weekend trip to Chicago) and our departing flight was delayed 4 hours, and our return flight was delayed 2 hours last minute. Adding in the advance time required to be at the airport, it was a real lesson for us.

But it certainly can be done.

[Anonymous]

On that note...

What about Philly? Take the train (or drive). They have great art museums plus I heard the Franklin Institute is great. Great food in Philly You could make an afternoon of wandering through South Philly, eating, if s/he is adventurous.