Help choose a location for a trip with friends and their families

[Anonymous]

Me and three other college friends are kicking around a trip with our husbands and kids for next summer. Here's where everyone is coming from and the ages of kids involved:


- LA area with three kids (9 yr, 6 yr, 2 yr) and her husband. She's fine with going somewhere on the east coast as long as it's within an hour drive to an airport with a direct flight to LAX.
- Albany, NY with one kid (3 yr) and her husband. Hasn't said any specifics, other than that she wouldn't want to fly to the west coast, and doesn't want to go to Florida.
- Boston area. Just her (no husband or kids). She's fine with going anywhere that we decide.
- DC area (this is me). Two kids (5 yr, 18 mos) and husband. I'd be fine with going up to an 8 hour drive, or up to a three hour flight, as long as the location was within an hour of an airport with direct flights to one of the DC airports.


We'd want somewhere with a good amount of ammenities easily accessible where we can relax and hang out. Access to a pool is a requirement given the ages of the kids involved. We'd also want somewhere close to a small town that has kid appropriate activities in case the weather is bad, and potentially with a nice restaurant or two where just us friends could go out for dinner one night while the husbands stay back with the kids.

[Anonymous]

With those ages, I'd do something very kid friendly like Disney or another similar place.

[Anonymous]

That's a big range. I would look for an all-inclusive or cruise.

[Anonymous]

Maybe one of the lake towns near Chicago? Could probably rent a big house with a pool. Indoor activities not so much, but summer weather there is relatively consistent- usually don't have full days of rain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe one of the lake towns near Chicago? Could probably rent a big house with a pool. Indoor activities not so much, but summer weather there is relatively consistent- usually don't have full days of rain.

I would not rent a house with a pool. Too much of a drowning risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe one of the lake towns near Chicago? Could probably rent a big house with a pool. Indoor activities not so much, but summer weather there is relatively consistent- usually don't have full days of rain.

I would not rent a house with a pool. Too much of a drowning risk.

OP said a pool is a requirement.

[Anonymous]

Atlanta - funded aquarium visit for kids. Nashville or New Orleans

[Anonymous]

Hilton Head Island

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hilton Head Island

Ahh read the OP. Said within an hour of an airport with nonstop service to LAX.

[Anonymous]

We did this many years ago with four families and ended up renting a large historic farmhouse near New Hope, PA. I looked to see if it was still available, but it looks like they sold it to someone who uses it as a residence now.

https://www.vrbo.com/2795505?chkin=2025-08-08&chkout=2025-08-14&d1=2025-08-08&d2=2025-08-14&startDate=2025-08-08&endDate=2025-08-14&flexibility=1_WEEK&searchRange=2025-07-01_2025-07-31&searchRange=2025-08-01_2025-08-31&flexibleSearchRequirement=INCLUDE_WEEKEND&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1751833446020&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnJiby5jb20vSG90ZWwtU2VhcmNo&useRewards=false&adults=2®ionId=6307791&destination=Bucks%20County%2C%20Pennsylvania%2C%20United%20States%20of%20America&destType=MARKET&latLong=40.410797%2C-75.247909&bedroom_count_gt=6&privacyTrackingState=CAN_TRACK&productOffersId=c2ac7799-c4f3-4778-bc3b-bc251353a083&searchId=7968e022-f3bf-4723-91ae-a0fd72aafdc3&us_bathroom_count_gt=4&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=1923&top_cur=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrcHd84epjgMVhUhHAR2RDjCQEAAYASAAEgJPUvD_BwE&semcid=VRBO-US.UB.GOOGLE.DT-c-EN.VR&semdtl=a112250888485.b1114657228382.g1kwd-333298435897.e1c.m1EAIaIQobChMIrcHd84epjgMVhUhHAR2RDjCQEAAYASAAEgJPUvD_BwE.r1.c1CD33eZEpan1g3cXjLasY0g.j19004077.k1.d1496316457086.h1b.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&userIntent=&selectedRoomType=78170798&selectedRatePlan=00045caf9831c69349d9af9b6dfbb4279be2&expediaPropertyId=78170798

I did a bit of googling, and this is has a very similar set up although it's in a slightly different location. It's not far from Newark Airport, and you can venture to a couple of cute towns if you want (Princeton, Lambertville/New Hope, Frenchtown Stockton, Clinton) for a day trip.

That was a magical vacation for us. The kids had a blast running around the farm and playing in the pool, and the adults had plenty of space to gather and relax.

[Anonymous]

Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island, SC - about 45 min from Charleston airport

Kiawah has the resort, both have homes for rent. Calm ocean, not crowded, v pretty





quote=Anonymous]Me and three other college friends are kicking around a trip with our husbands and kids for next summer. Here's where everyone is coming from and the ages of kids involved:


- LA area with three kids (9 yr, 6 yr, 2 yr) and her husband. She's fine with going somewhere on the east coast as long as it's within an hour drive to an airport with a direct flight to LAX.
- Albany, NY with one kid (3 yr) and her husband. Hasn't said any specifics, other than that she wouldn't want to fly to the west coast, and doesn't want to go to Florida.
- Boston area. Just her (no husband or kids). She's fine with going anywhere that we decide.
- DC area (this is me). Two kids (5 yr, 18 mos) and husband. I'd be fine with going up to an 8 hour drive, or up to a three hour flight, as long as the location was within an hour of an airport with direct flights to one of the DC airports.


We'd want somewhere with a good amount of ammenities easily accessible where we can relax and hang out. Access to a pool is a requirement given the ages of the kids involved. We'd also want somewhere close to a small town that has kid appropriate activities in case the weather is bad, and potentially with a nice restaurant or two where just us friends could go out for dinner one night while the husbands stay back with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like hell for a lot of reasons, but if you are really on board with this, I'd just go to Disney.

[Anonymous]

A Caribbean cruise allows everyone to secure their own cabin/s at their preferred price point. It gives the dads and kids something to do when the moms go out dancing/drinking/whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island, SC - about 45 min from Charleston airport

Kiawah has the resort, both have homes for rent. Calm ocean, not crowded, v pretty





quote=Anonymous]Me and three other college friends are kicking around a trip with our husbands and kids for next summer. Here's where everyone is coming from and the ages of kids involved:


- LA area with three kids (9 yr, 6 yr, 2 yr) and her husband. She's fine with going somewhere on the east coast as long as it's within an hour drive to an airport with a direct flight to LAX.
- Albany, NY with one kid (3 yr) and her husband. Hasn't said any specifics, other than that she wouldn't want to fly to the west coast, and doesn't want to go to Florida.
- Boston area. Just her (no husband or kids). She's fine with going anywhere that we decide.
- DC area (this is me). Two kids (5 yr, 18 mos) and husband. I'd be fine with going up to an 8 hour drive, or up to a three hour flight, as long as the location was within an hour of an airport with direct flights to one of the DC airports.


We'd want somewhere with a good amount of ammenities easily accessible where we can relax and hang out. Access to a pool is a requirement given the ages of the kids involved. We'd also want somewhere close to a small town that has kid appropriate activities in case the weather is bad, and potentially with a nice restaurant or two where just us friends could go out for dinner one night while the husbands stay back with the kids.

PP (again)- dear god people the prompt from OP was VERY specific. Charleston does not have nonstop flights from Los Angeles.

[Anonymous]

House rental on Long Beach Island with a pool?