Need help using this SWA credit

[Anonymous]

We bought flights for Xmas, then couldn't use them, so now we have all this credit in the kids' names that have to be used before any of the holidays. (I thought we could use w/in 1 year of the planned trip, but apparently it has to be w/in one year of the booking.) Because of various things, I don't think both parents can travel with the kids at the same time. So I'm looking for someplace that Southwest flies, where one parent could take multiple children of elementary school age, during the summer break (or maybe during spring break, although that doesn't leave a lot of time).
Any thoughts? I'm not crazy about driving in rough terrain or in foreign countries, so I think if it was me taking them, I'd want something with no driving unless it was really easy driving (like am American suburb, although I can't think of an American suburb where I'd want to vacation).
I'm very unexcited about the whole thing, but I hate to let Southwest keep so much of our money.

[Anonymous]

Orlando. Take kids to Disney and use Disney transport while there. Easy enough for one parent of ES kids.

[Anonymous]

I had a similar situation though it was just me - no kids. I went with a girlfriend to Chicago. We also considered New Orleans and Tampa or fort Myers, FL. Orlando is a great idea though.

[Anonymous]

Given the cost of Disney, that would be throwing more money at the problem rather than eating the ticket loss.

Do you have family elsewhere who would enjoy a visit with the kids?

[Anonymous]

Rough terrain? You can go almost anywhere and not encounter that. So weird to only want to do suburban driving.

[Anonymous]

95% of Southwest's flights are within the US, so low chance you'll need to rough it.

Try Nashville or Louisville. Direct daily flights from BWI. Louisville has a great zoo, and downtown is nice too.

[Anonymous]

Take them to Manchester, NH and drive to Boston for a weekend trip. Or go now and enjoy some skiing.

[Anonymous]

I went to Atlanta and was pleasantly surprised. Lots to do with a kid. Aquarium is great. Coca cola. Zoo. Great food too.

[Anonymous]

We just did Disney, and the thought of Orlando and theme parks in the summer is a little daunting to me. (So hot! So crowded!).

By rough driving, I was thinking like Costa Rica. I loved it, but the driving totally terrified me (crazy winding mountain roads) -- so I think someplace like Colorado might also be out. The kids fight a lot in the car, so I think I wouldn't want to do a lot of highway driving by myself, which probably also knocks out stuff like flying to PHX and hitting the Grand Canyon (plus, again, hot and crowded over the summer).

I was thinking maybe someplace in the Caribbean where we could just do an all-inclusive and take a cab from the airport?

Would Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans all be miserable during the summer? I guess they all have lots of indoor attractions, though, right?

I was also sort of thinking San Francisco, but not sure exactly what I'd do with kids that age. The science museum and Alcatraz and the pier? It's three kids and I don't know if I'm crazy to try to manage 3 little kids in a real city -- I do it in DC, but at least I know where I'm generally going and how to get them home if it breaks down!

The perfect solution would be to send them as unaccompanied minors to visit family but, sadly, we don't have any family that would/could take them.

[Anonymous]

Chicago could be fun!
Fireworks at Navy Pier in the evening, Science and Industry Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo (which is free), easy to navigate

[Anonymous]

Go someplace where you won't need a car. I personally would go to Florida and stay at a resort for a few days. Just take a cab to and from the airport. Most kids love the pool and/or beach. My second choice would be a city where you don't need a car like Chicago or Boston.

[Anonymous]

pp here, just saw you would consider Caribbean. Aruba is a great choice as it is a nonstop flight and short cab ride to hotels. If you stay in the main hotel strip there are tons of restaurants to walk to. We've stayed a week and not needed a car. Very safe too.

[Anonymous]

Look into the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL. There is enough walkable in Clearwater that you don't need a car, but you can take a cab or Uber to other areas if you'd want to.

[Anonymous]

SWA flies from DCA to Tampa (and BWI to Tampa). Go hang out at St. Pete Beach. Easy driving. Kid friendly.

[Anonymous]

Chicago is great! Seattle. LA. San Francisco. How about throwing a little more money at it and have both parents go. If you plan in advance, you can get a decent priced flight almost anywhere. Maybe even fly on a different carrier to get the cheapest flight. Sounds like a fun vacation opportunity.