Look into Colorado for the summer, especially the mountain towns. It’s surprisingly affordable in my opinion, especially compared to many of the beach destinations and there’s nothing cheesy or gross about it. The weather is always incredible so everything is more enjoyable. Some activities my kids enjoy are mountain biking or riding bikes, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, fishing, the ski mountain adventure parks which have “gold panning”, rock climbing walls, trampoline bungees, coasters through the mountains, going in the hot tub, making s’mores, getting hot cocoa at the coffee shops and the towns are usually great with family friendly restaurants and toy and ice cream shops. There’s a lot of options if things to do for children and my husband and I enjoy many of the activities myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

My kids love both of those places -- the beach and the city. My philosophy is to bring the kids on your vacation, not go on the kids' vacation. They don't "need" a gross amusement park or grody trash boardwalk beach to have fun.
My kids have fun if there is 1) water or nature (a pool, a beach, forest, parks) 2) good food and 3) an internet connection. If we are in the city, they need outings like museums (more science or kid based than art) or public parks.

We will never go on a cruise or go to six flags because I don't want to. But will I take them to Bar Harbor, the Italian Riviera and New York City? Yes.

I feel sad for your kid. No 11 year old prefers the French Riviera to 6 Flags.

Depends on the kids. My kids are as typical as they come and they prefer trips to the mountains or a nicer beach than amusements parks. They don’t like lines.

+1 My very typical kids loved our trip to the French/italian riviera. Way more than any amusement park we’ve been to (we too hate lines). Playing on the beach, fun family dinners, gelato, exploring a new town, etc. It’s not like we go clubbing and eat escargot.

OP - my husband took our boys on annual trips to amusement parks - just them. It was their bonding time. I got quiet time at home. Then we always planned a second, nice beach or European/Int’l vacation. Best of all worlds. Dad loved it, mom loved it, kids loved it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

My kids love both of those places -- the beach and the city. My philosophy is to bring the kids on your vacation, not go on the kids' vacation. They don't "need" a gross amusement park or grody trash boardwalk beach to have fun.
My kids have fun if there is 1) water or nature (a pool, a beach, forest, parks) 2) good food and 3) an internet connection. If we are in the city, they need outings like museums (more science or kid based than art) or public parks.

We will never go on a cruise or go to six flags because I don't want to. But will I take them to Bar Harbor, the Italian Riviera and New York City? Yes.

I feel sad for your kid. No 11 year old prefers the French Riviera to 6 Flags.

Depends on the kids. My kids are as typical as they come and they prefer trips to the mountains or a nicer beach than amusements parks. They don’t like lines.

Anonymous wrote:Go to Hershey and stay in the Hershey Hotel. Do the park early, usually short or fast moving lines for kiddie rides. Long lines later in the afternoon and evening for rollercoasters fr older kids. The extra money to stay in the hotel vs lodge is so worth it. Kids always loved the Sunday brunch. Tennis, outdoor pool with water slide and poolside service, spa is nice.

Go to Colorado and stay in the Broadmoor. Great resort, lots to do for active kids.

Go to Yosemite and stay in the Ahwahnee!

Go to Lake Tahoe Incline Village stay in the Hyatt.

Go to Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur and Carmel.

Go to Disneyland spend a few days in the Grand Calafornian and then go to Newport or Huntington Beach.

Go to Sedona , Jackson Hole WY or Montana. Lots of resorts and things to do.

San Diego Hotel Coronnado , near Legoland, San Diego zoo, etc

These are all excellent suggestions, another nice one in San Diego is Park Hyatt Aviara

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

My kids love both of those places -- the beach and the city. My philosophy is to bring the kids on your vacation, not go on the kids' vacation. They don't "need" a gross amusement park or grody trash boardwalk beach to have fun.
My kids have fun if there is 1) water or nature (a pool, a beach, forest, parks) 2) good food and 3) an internet connection. If we are in the city, they need outings like museums (more science or kid based than art) or public parks.

We will never go on a cruise or go to six flags because I don't want to. But will I take them to Bar Harbor, the Italian Riviera and New York City? Yes.

Ah, yes, New York is famously known for its cleanliness. It will be perfect for OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

Nantucket is very kid/family friendly. So is London. Plus there is a Harry Potter studio and a Legoland in London so you can mix it with amusement parks. If those are places you want to go then book it. My kids went to both places at a young age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

My kids love both of those places -- the beach and the city. My philosophy is to bring the kids on your vacation, not go on the kids' vacation. They don't "need" a gross amusement park or grody trash boardwalk beach to have fun.
My kids have fun if there is 1) water or nature (a pool, a beach, forest, parks) 2) good food and 3) an internet connection. If we are in the city, they need outings like museums (more science or kid based than art) or public parks.

We will never go on a cruise or go to six flags because I don't want to. But will I take them to Bar Harbor, the Italian Riviera and New York City? Yes.

I feel sad for your kid. No 11 year old prefers the French Riviera to 6 Flags.

Anonymous wrote:Ocean City is gross. Find a place with no fried dough for sale.
Sounds like a price point problem. Or a cheapskate planner.
Find a place that kids will enjoy and that also has a nice hotel and spa nearby. Does it have to have rides?

About the only good thing Ocean City has going for it is that the boardwalk food is actually good compared to the hell of amusement park food. The fries, soft serve, funnel cake, real lemonade…

One of the most horrible places I’ve been was Seaside Oregon which was full of junkies and giant dystopian filthy arcades. I wished ferverently for it to be swallowed by a tsunami sooner rather than later. But it was my son’s favorite place on an epic NW roadtrip that included some of the most amazing natural sights (Mt Ranier, Olympic beaches). Kids don’t care.

I can relate somewhat. This is why I insist on planning trips. The rare times my husband has booked something, it's been affordable, which is nice, but dirty. Actually dirty, not imaginary dirty. But money doesn't solve everything - some out of the way places don't really have high quality accommodations, let alone food, and some very touristy places don't have any off-times where visits are less crowded and bathrooms are cleaner.

I'm from Paris. The one time I actually enjoyed an empty Louvre with clean bathrooms and open tables on the balcony cafe was during the pandemic, when we returned with the kids on our French passports, but Americans couldn't yet travel to the EU. Told the kids this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and to make the most of it! We walked right up to the Mona Lisa! There was no one else!!!

The other solution is to be so stinking rich that people are willing to close castles and museums for your personal private visit during business hours, or at least open early or late just for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

My kids love both of those places -- the beach and the city. My philosophy is to bring the kids on your vacation, not go on the kids' vacation. They don't "need" a gross amusement park or grody trash boardwalk beach to have fun.
My kids have fun if there is 1) water or nature (a pool, a beach, forest, parks) 2) good food and 3) an internet connection. If we are in the city, they need outings like museums (more science or kid based than art) or public parks.

We will never go on a cruise or go to six flags because I don't want to. But will I take them to Bar Harbor, the Italian Riviera and New York City? Yes.

Anonymous wrote:OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.

What age do they outgrow this? I just want to take them to Nantucket or London but it feels like it’s a long time off that they’d enjoy that.

Ocean City is gross. Find a place with no fried dough for sale.
Sounds like a price point problem. Or a cheapskate planner.
Find a place that kids will enjoy and that also has a nice hotel and spa nearby. Does it have to have rides?

OP- I was you. Hang in there. Kids love tacky places. They just do. Chuck E Cheese, disney, those trampoline places, those indoor game places.

I promise you they will grow out of it and you can go back to standards.