“Nature” vacation where there are other things to do too?

[Anonymous]

We went to CA when the kids were 6 and 8, and spent a few days in San Francisco, and five days in Yosemite. It was our first "big" trip with the kids, and we have done at least one, sometimes several big NP trips every year since (they are now 10 and 13), but the Yosemite trip was truly awesome and we really enjoyed the SF leg of it as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first place that popped into my mind was Banff National Park in Canada. There's a gorgeous downtown Banff area with lots of great restaurants, shops, a town centre with lots of events, a museum, and more. And of course, there's so much to do in the park itself. There's plenty of hiking of course, but they also have a gondola, evening wildlife safari (with native animals, not zoo animals), a Lake Minnewanka cruise, glacier exploring, and more.

Would Banff be possible over spring break (mid April), or is it too snowy? A little snow would be fun, but we're not big skiiers.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at the rocky mountain ymca - so we had the national park along with the activities in the town and at the ymca (pool, mini golf, arts and crafts etc). Then we tacked on a few days in Denver - science museum, aquarium etc.

As others have mentioned, smoky mountain and acadia are good.

A little more ambitious, Iceland. They're at a great age for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first place that popped into my mind was Banff National Park in Canada. There's a gorgeous downtown Banff area with lots of great restaurants, shops, a town centre with lots of events, a museum, and more. And of course, there's so much to do in the park itself. There's plenty of hiking of course, but they also have a gondola, evening wildlife safari (with native animals, not zoo animals), a Lake Minnewanka cruise, glacier exploring, and more.

Would Banff be possible over spring break (mid April), or is it too snowy? A little snow would be fun, but we're not big skiiers.

April seems iffy. See this link.
http://banffandbeyond.com/pros-and-cons-of-banff-and-jasper-national-parks-in-the-shouder-season-of-april-and-may/

[Anonymous]

We have done Acadia twice and its fine. What was even better was the summer we went to Olympic National Park and then spent a few days in Seattle. Great urban/National Park mix.

[Anonymous]

Provence.
Tuscany
Greek isles
Croatia
Switzerland is beautiful for nature
Alaska is too!

[Anonymous]

White Mountains, NH

Great hiking, swimming in streams and rivers, lots of little restaurants. Easy 1 hour drives to a bunch of towns, other non-hiking activities. A fraction of the number of people in Acadia.

[Anonymous]

The Hudson Valley was great. Solid hiking, some water activities, lots of artsy towns to explore and really good food throughout.

[Anonymous]

Amangiri

[Anonymous]

Niagara Falls?
Northern Michigan--Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City

[Anonymous]

I guess the question is how much do your kids like nature, and what else do they like.

A lot of posters have suggested places because they are really beautiful, and have things like nice restaurants and shopping. My kids have zero interest in restaurants and shopping and "beautiful" only gets me about 10 minutes. They can spend a day or so scrambling over rocks, but don't want to do that for more than one day.

We had a good time in Tetons/Yellowstone/Jackson, because we also did things like white water rafting, viewing of animal wildlife, rented a boat, did some NPS ranger programs, did stuff like swimming in pools and alpine coaster, etc.

Alaska also had a good mix of animals and active stuff (ziplining, dog sledding, etc.) to mix in with the natural beauty.

I'm not OP, but I'd love more suggestions like that.

[Anonymous]

A Yellowstone and Grand Teton week vacation is perfect for those ages.

Also the first place that came to mind was Costa Rica. Easy direct flights on Southwest from BWI. Lots to do and lots of animals. We went in June and even though it was rainy season it was still fantastic.

[Anonymous]

A Yellowstone and Grand Teton week vacation is perfect for those ages.

Also the first place that came to mind was Costa Rica. Easy direct flights on Southwest from BWI. Lots to do and lots of animals. We went in June and even though it was rainy season it was still fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Colorado Springs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White Mountains, NH

Great hiking, swimming in streams and rivers, lots of little restaurants. Easy 1 hour drives to a bunch of towns, other non-hiking activities. A fraction of the number of people in Acadia.

I was also going to say White Mountains -- we just did this this summer and my 7 and 9 year old loved. Also love Acadia, that's where we went the year before.

I've never been to either in April though. With weather what it is this year, NE in the spring might not be great for non-skiiers.