Best family vacation you've ever taken within the US?

[Anonymous]

2 and 4? Tyler Family Place or the beach.

[Anonymous]

"For the other adventure type posters with older kids, we took our elem/middle school age kids to Banff this summer and it was absolutely breathtaking and fabulous. Easily our family's favorite adventure trip - whitewater rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, etc. Also, it is less expensive than any of the trips we've taken in the US, the food is great and everyone is so friendly in Canada!"

Would love to hear more - where did you fly into and did you rent a car? Where'd you stay?

[Anonymous]

Mackinac Island in Michigan. No cars allowed. You drive there and then take a ferry over. Or you can fly to a mainland airport and then take a shuttle to the ferry. The Grand Hotel is the quintessential historic hotel of days of old. It is absolutely idyllic. Lots of other hotels and bed and breakfasts. It is a great place to go with little ones because you walk or ride a bike or take a carriage everywhere. The kids will love wading in the water. It is a 3 or 4 square mile island in Lake Heron between the lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

P.S. You pronounce it mack-in-aw, not mack-in-ack.

[Anonymous]

Disney. Seriously. We went when older kids all head school (late april after spring breaks are done). Weather was perfect. My kids woke up early so it was no problem getting to the parks at opening. We went to one park per day and didn't overdo it. Would come back to our hotel after lunch for nap/rest and then hang out at the pool. We didn't try to see everything or do everything. We did a mix of kiddie rides, shows and parades. It was a great time.

[Anonymous]

PP Disney lover. We also had a great time in Scottsdale, San Diego, Tampa/Clearwater Beach, Lancaster, Philadelphia and Williamsburg/VA Beach. All very kid friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"For the other adventure type posters with older kids, we took our elem/middle school age kids to Banff this summer and it was absolutely breathtaking and fabulous. Easily our family's favorite adventure trip - whitewater rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, etc. Also, it is less expensive than any of the trips we've taken in the US, the food is great and everyone is so friendly in Canada!"

Would love to hear more - where did you fly into and did you rent a car? Where'd you stay?

This is the poster you are quoting. We flew into Calgary and rented a car. The drive is a straight shot on Canada's Hwy 1 in about 1.5 hours. Based upon recommendations on TripAdvisor, we stayed in the town of Canmore, which is the town before you get to Banff. Still a ski/bike/hike town but not as touristy and less expensive. We stayed at the Blackstone Mountain Lodge, which is a typical ski resort type place. Great big 1BR condo-type accommodations with full kitchen, dining room, jacuzzi tub and balcony overlooking the mountains. 6 nights for $1200! It is amazingly inexpensive up there with the great exchange rate. Some cute shops/restaurants in town and the drive to Banff from there is 30 mins. Highly, highly recommended. We have been all around the world and Banff and the surrounding area has absolutely some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth.