I think farm visit in Lancaster for 3 nights visit Dutch Wonderland and do a buggy ride, choo choo barn, maybe a trip on the Strasburg Railroad, then to Philly for 2 nights (parking is like $25 per day), visit Please Touch Museum, there is a children's museum in NJ just across the river. There is the zoo.

Philly?

You could do Hershey Park (Dutch Wonderland is nearby and even more age appropriate for a 3 y.o.) for two days and then drive to Philly for the remainder. The Please Touch Museum is great, you can tour the aquarium, take a Duck tour, hang around the waterfront, see the Liberty Bell, etc.

Lancaster farm visit? You can stay at a working farm, then go to Dutch Wonderland, Choo Choo Barn, etc.

A cruise.

Anonymous wrote:$200/day doesn't get you very far, but luckily toddlers are easily impressed: a hotel pool, pancakes for dinner, a children's museum, mommy's undivided attention -- you're set.

Richmond? Science museum, children's museum, Louis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Quite true about this. Disney would be a huge waste at this age, in my opinion.
My kids remembered stuff on our trips like the make your waffles at the hotel, indoor pool, etc.

$200/day doesn't get you very far, but luckily toddlers are easily impressed: a hotel pool, pancakes for dinner, a children's museum, mommy's undivided attention -- you're set.

Richmond? Science museum, children's museum, Louis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Anonymous wrote:You'll need to drive.

Maybe OBX? Your accommodations won't be upscale on that budget but your 5 year old won't care. Or Deep Creek. Or colonial Williamsburg + water country/Busch gardens.

Honestly, Disney is out of reach on that budget.

OBX will be a challenge to find a place for 5 days -- the majority of decent places to stay are rental properties, and they're on a weekly basis. Deep Creek is similar (well other than general being kind of gross, but...that's a different post) in that the daily lodging options are not especially broad.

Williamsburg/B.G. is much better! That might be a great choice.

I think that budget means you drive somewhere.
Maybe do Williamsburg- go to the beach for a day, Busch Gardens for a day, Colonial Williamsburg for a day, hotel pool lounging for a day...You could probably find a good deal on a hotel that includes breakfast, make your lunches and have some casual dinners out. Search out some stay and play packages..

Hilton Head might be doable, and there a plenty of fun things for little ones to do there.

You'll need to drive.

Maybe OBX? Your accommodations won't be upscale on that budget but your 5 year old won't care. Or Deep Creek. Or colonial Williamsburg + water country/Busch gardens.

Honestly, Disney is out of reach on that budget.

Oh, and I agree with the suggestion to find somewhere you can drive. What about somewhere with a Children's Museum, and then renting a cheap cottage/condo and bringing a small inflatable pool?

Sesame place? Hershey Park? Does she like to swim? You could do a nice waterpark for that price.
Have you looked at Groupon?

Disney World... sorry, no. Not realistic on $1000. If you found a friend with a child who also wanted to go and split an off-site hotel room, and found VERY cheap airfare... maybe. MAYBE. Still very tight.

If you want to go to Disney, try a travel agent - e.g., Magical Vacations. They usually have good deals, though not sure you can do Disney on that budget.

Hilton Head is nice and you could meet that budget for a 1 week vacation if you drive.

I am a single parent of a 3 yo and would like to go on a nice vacation. I have $1000 to spend. Would like to go for five days. Someplace that will have fun things to do with a toddler. Any suggestions/recommendations? What about Disney World? Thanks