Tell me about someplace you visited in the US that was surprisingly fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Louis is a great town too - especially with kids.

Go up in the arch, the Cardinals ballpark is great, Forest Park (has a zoo, catch a musical at the outdoor "Muni" theatre, art museum), planetarium.

Just outside the city are the Magic House, a train museum in the western suburbs.

Visit the Hill for Italian food (stop at Missouri Bakery), O'Connell's for burgers.

St. Louis is fantastic. It is probably one of the best cities for kids in the country.

The zoo (Free!) is hands down the best traditional zoo in the US. It is better than San Diego (The main zoo, of course not the animal sanctuary).

I agree with all of this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Louis is a great town too - especially with kids.

Go up in the arch, the Cardinals ballpark is great, Forest Park (has a zoo, catch a musical at the outdoor "Muni" theatre, art museum), planetarium.

Just outside the city are the Magic House, a train museum in the western suburbs.

Visit the Hill for Italian food (stop at Missouri Bakery), O'Connell's for burgers.

St. Louis is fantastic. It is probably one of the best cities for kids in the country.

The zoo (Free!) is hands down the best traditional zoo in the US. It is better than San Diego (The main zoo, of course not the animal sanctuary).

I agree with all of this!

If you are going to St. Louis, you have to go to the City Museum. There's nothing like it anywhere.

http://www.citymuseum.org/

And you have to get BBQ in St. Louis, Pappy's is most people's favorite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asheville NC and Biltmore Estate. Expected my kids to hate it but they had a blast. Lots of great fun public art to look at in Asheville, lots of hippies playing music on the street, etc. We had some awesome pizza at a little outdoor joint. They also found the Biltmore estate to be really interesting -- has a bowling alley inside, etc.

We're going to Asheville in a couple of weeks -- do you think the Biltmore is worth it with a toddler (20 mo)? Would also love the name of the pizza joint! Thanks

Mellow Mushroom Pizza. It's a chain in the South, who knew? I think the Biltmore Estate also has a farm with a little petting zoo which your toddler might enjoy. We had a 5 year old who enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Title says it all. Tell me about someplace that isn't a popular destination that you would recommend.

Great idea for a thread! Ohio - Cleveland area, state parks are gorgeous including cabins and inns. Went there on business and will be returning for summer vacation with kiddos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Louis is a great town too - especially with kids.

Go up in the arch, the Cardinals ballpark is great, Forest Park (has a zoo, catch a musical at the outdoor "Muni" theatre, art museum), planetarium.

Just outside the city are the Magic House, a train museum in the western suburbs.

Visit the Hill for Italian food (stop at Missouri Bakery), O'Connell's for burgers.

St. Louis is fantastic. It is probably one of the best cities for kids in the country.

The zoo (Free!) is hands down the best traditional zoo in the US. It is better than San Diego (The main zoo, of course not the animal sanctuary).

I agree with all of this!

If you are going to St. Louis, you have to go to the City Museum. There's nothing like it anywhere.

http://www.citymuseum.org/

And you have to get BBQ in St. Louis, Pappy's is most people's favorite.

Cahokia Mounds is a world heritage site and has a nice small museum. It's the largest mound/pyramid site in the US.
http://cahokiamounds.org/

The Great River Road from Alton to Pere Marquette State Park is the prettiest drive on the Mississippi, hands down. There's a small museum at a lock and dam in Alton, where you can watch the river barges go through the lock. There are places to eat in Grafton and a restaurant at Pere Marquette State Park. There's a small waterpark on the river, near Grafton, called Raging Rivers. The kids can play all day and you can sit on a recliner, drink a beer, and watch the river go by. Alton is a very old river town, and has some great antique stores.

http://www.visitalton.com/feature-stories/detail/25/great-river-road-getaway

http://www.ragingrivers.com/

http://www.visitalton.com/feature-stories/detail/161/historic-downtown-alton%E2%80%99s-antique-row

[Anonymous]

The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio. They work w/endangered species, especially Rhinos. It's a 10,000 acre animal preserve. The animals roam freely. Stay in a yurt.

[Anonymous]

I have very simple tastes and am easily entertained;

Bedford, PA: stay at the historic four star Bedford Springs resort (stay there the whole time with lots to do) or drive about 1/2 hour to see a minor league game in a cool stadium (Altoona Curve), visit two amusement parks (delgrosso and shabbier Lakemont), Meadows for ice cream, Texas Hot Dogs, no traffic, no lines for anything

Cincinnati - river stadium, great food like Cinci chili, river walk area, lots of concerts in summer

North Georgia mountains - gorgeous! Lake vacations, tubing, fresh air, hiking, parks, cabins

Kansas City area - Plaza, shops, bars, lots to see and do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asheville NC and Biltmore Estate. Expected my kids to hate it but they had a blast. Lots of great fun public art to look at in Asheville, lots of hippies playing music on the street, etc. We had some awesome pizza at a little outdoor joint. They also found the Biltmore estate to be really interesting -- has a bowling alley inside, etc.

We're going to Asheville in a couple of weeks -- do you think the Biltmore is worth it with a toddler (20 mo)? Would also love the name of the pizza joint! Thanks

Mellow Mushroom Pizza. It's a chain in the South, who knew? I think the Biltmore Estate also has a farm with a little petting zoo which your toddler might enjoy. We had a 5 year old who enjoyed it.[/quote

I've spent a significant amount of time in Asheville. There are way way better places to eat than mellow mushroom! A recent ny times article featured a pizza place they recommend. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to is the admiral in the river arts district. Curate is good downtown but touristy. The Indian restaurant nearby is also good. Check out the breweries. Also bbq!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asheville NC and Biltmore Estate. Expected my kids to hate it but they had a blast. Lots of great fun public art to look at in Asheville, lots of hippies playing music on the street, etc. We had some awesome pizza at a little outdoor joint. They also found the Biltmore estate to be really interesting -- has a bowling alley inside, etc.

We're going to Asheville in a couple of weeks -- do you think the Biltmore is worth it with a toddler (20 mo)? Would also love the name of the pizza joint! Thanks

Mellow Mushroom Pizza. It's a chain in the South, who knew? I think the Biltmore Estate also has a farm with a little petting zoo which your toddler might enjoy. We had a 5 year old who enjoyed it.

I've spent a significant amount of time in Asheville. There are way way better places to eat than mellow mushroom! A recent ny times article featured a pizza place they recommend. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to is the admiral in the river arts district. Curate is good downtown but touristy. The Indian restaurant nearby is also good. Check out the breweries. Also bbq!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says it all. Tell me about someplace that isn't a popular destination that you would recommend.

Milwaukee. For real.

+1. Agree, was pleasantly surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Louis is a great town too - especially with kids.

Go up in the arch, the Cardinals ballpark is great, Forest Park (has a zoo, catch a musical at the outdoor "Muni" theatre, art museum), planetarium.

Just outside the city are the Magic House, a train museum in the western suburbs.

Visit the Hill for Italian food (stop at Missouri Bakery), O'Connell's for burgers.

St. Louis is fantastic. It is probably one of the best cities for kids in the country.

The zoo (Free!) is hands down the best traditional zoo in the US. It is better than San Diego (The main zoo, of course not the animal sanctuary).

I agree with all of this!

If you are going to St. Louis, you have to go to the City Museum. There's nothing like it anywhere.

http://www.citymuseum.org/

And you have to get BBQ in St. Louis, Pappy's is most people's favorite.

And Ted Drewes frozen custard -- best concretes in country. http://teddrewes.com/

[Anonymous]

I was dragged kicking and screaming to Pittsburgh with some family friends. I'm very snobby and thought it was going to be the worst trip ever (I mean...PITTSBURGH).

It was....actually nice. I can say this anonymously. I would never admit it publicly.

[Anonymous]

For the people going to Asheville NC, the city has a huge craft beer scene.

[Anonymous]

South Dakota has a lot to offer if your kids like dinosaurs. There is a small dinosaur museum in Hill City and the Mammoth Dig site in Hot Springs.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Pittburgh. We stayed at the Rennaissance downtown and walked everywhere.

Chicago is also a lot of fun.