Trying to Plan a Great Vacation

We go to Myrtle Beach the last week of Sept into the first week of Oct every year. Its still plenty warm enough to enjoy the beach, the pools, etc. without being miserably hot. Also, since its considered "off season" rates are low.

We go through www.grandstrandvacations.com and rent a 4 bd 3 ba condo on the beach for under $1000 (there are 6 adults and two children total). They have smaller condos for less money. There is TONS to do there!

Love, love, love Lancaster, PA for very young children. Dutch Wonderland has a lot of fun rides for the entire family, that are fun for preschoolers. There's also visiting an Amish farm, Sight and Sound theatre productions--all very family-oriented. There's also great shopping and food for the adults in the family. Never been to Sesame Place, also in PA, but heard it's great for preschoolers. And, Hershey Park looked very attractive, but I missed out on the discounted rates. If you're looking for later in the year, you might have better luck, but the Hershey Lodge looked fabulous. These are all within driving distance of the greater Washington metropolitan area. I didn't see where you lived, but have you thought about being a tourist in Washington, DC, which is always a treat for all ages. There's Six Flags in Largo, MD, the Smithsonian museums on the mall (Free Admission), the National Zoo, Rock Creek Park, etc., and stay at the National Harbor in Ft. Washington which is breathtaking, and offers so much to do and see. You could even take a boat ride over to Alexandria and take a walking tour of Old Town Alexandria.

My husband and I stayed at the StarCrest Resort in TN - http://www.starrcrestresort.com/. You can get a 4 night stay during that time for under $900, and you could make it a road trip - spend some quality time with your husband on the drive and not have to worry about baggage, etc - and you would have a car to drive around and check out the area. May be a bit far though...so you could always check out a Bed and Breakfast in VA or MD and drive there...or go to Virginia Beach - be spontaneous and get a hotel when you arrive...

I second the Lancaster, PA suggestion. The lodging is cheap and I love the relaxing country side. Great buffets too.

Kent Island, Ocean City and Assateague Island on the eastern part of MD is great too during that time. I think it's off season but you can get great views of the ocean for cheaper. A friend just told me that you can get really nice cabins near the water in some state parks for a good price there. If you like camping, camping on Assateague Island with the wild horses is a great adventure.

Toward the other direction, there's Williamsburg, VA is also fun with the historic sites and other fun activities. I think they are opening a Sesame theme park there this summer. If you like hiking and the mountains, there's the Shenandoah Valley area.

I would certainly be happy to help you out. You can visit my website at www.aquafiretravel.com to see the great deals that you can pull up; and you can even email me at ____@____.com with more details of the trip that you'd like, and I can see if I can help you further!

Have a great day!

I've heard that Maine and Vermont are gorgeous.

Hi, D. - We use Bon Voyage Travel. They are really great! Tell them what you are thinking, your budget, etc. and they will help you explore your options. ###-###-####. Have fun! N.

Hi D. Don't know where you live but have you considered the Outer Banks of North Carolina.It's a beautiful place and a great family vacation if you're looking for a beach area.Let me know if you're interested.I have contacts.My name is W. and I have a son who is now in college so am always looking for things to keep me busy.I just joined mamasource through my cousin and your message is the first I read.Would love to hear from you.