hi everyone--
we are interested in going on vacation during the winter to someplace warm. our daughter will be three by then. we are fine with flying (it would be her first time), but we don't know a good place for all of us. we are not theme park people, and our daughter doesn't know the characters, so disney would be out. we love cities more than lying on the beach, but we are open to all suggestions, including islands, etc. we just don't know about three-year-old friendly hot spots.
edited to add: thank you for the cruise suggestions, but we are landlubbers :). happy to fly to a beach destination, though.
any thoughts?
thanks!
I took my daughter to San Diego at about that age had a blast! Its kid friendly, lots to do, plus a beach. I went in January and it was plenty warm!
New Orleans! Believe it or not, it isn't just Canal and Bourbon. It is so much fun w/a kid and definitely NOT Disney. I was there for a month when my kid was 2 and we found plenty of things to do. NOLA is VERY kid friendly.
The Aquarium is one of the best in the country. It is HUGE and very well laid out and they have a whole wing just for toddlers including under the sea structures and a tank to pet underwater animals. Plan on spending at least an hour in just that wing alone.
Mardi Gras museum - this is in Jackson Square, where the big cathedral is. Very interesting and full of costumes and decorations and even a float.
The Zoo isn't very big but its so old, historic and well maintained that its easy to go strolling while your kid runs around. There is this huge dancing fountain area by the elephants that is just gorgeous - old gargoyle looking statues all around.
Across the street is Audubon Park - one of the oldest parks in the world and the biggest oak trees. Bridges, birds and a play area will make for a nice relaxing time there.
Storybook Land - I haven't seen anything like this in all my travels. It is a park where all the climbing structures are taken from Old Mother Goose nursery rhymes and favorite children's story. All the rhymes are all there. You walk along a path and all of a sudden Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother's house is there which kids can walk up to and go in. There is a hill that you climb w/a well at the top and you "tumble" (slide) down the hill like Jack & Jill. There is huge half story shoe you can climb (the old woman in the shoe who had so many kids). My favorite are the 3 pigs houses - 3 different structures - one made of straw, one of wood and one of brick - that you can actually walk in.
Across Storybook Land is the art museum, which is awesome, but outside of it is NOLA's sculpture garden - a huge area of just sculptures. Kids can actually go up to them and play around in them.
The children's museum - this is the best children's museum ever. Its 2 stories, very interactive. Upstairs has an awesome play area for smaller kids where they have a HUGE book corner, several climbing structures (wooden and foam) and several built in kitchen areas. There is a cute little grocery store kids can go play shopping in and the science area is my favorite. They have these long tables - one of just legos, one of just Lincoln Logs, one of just these rubber building things - there's alot in this area actually.
Don't even get me started on the food there. You will gain at least 5 lbs if you spend more than 3 days there. It is the best eating ever. They have everything and some places the portions are ridiculously huge. Look for places you can get favorite NOLA dishes like gumbo, crawfish po-boys (french bread sandwhiches w/dressing), mufelattas and pralines (pronounced prah-leen, not pray-leen). If you want to splurge, I recommend the chargrilled oysters at Dragos - oysters dipped in garlic butter and thrown on a firegrill and while its grilling they spoon more butter over it. Its not all cajun and fried food but what's the point of going to NOLA if you don't have it at least once a day?
I'm sure there is more I just can't think of anything else right now. PM if you want more info and stuff about getting around w/a small child, areas to stay, streetcars. NOLA is one of my favorite cities to take my kid on vacation :)
When my kids were 2 and 4 months we went to Ft. Lauderdale in Feb. We got a great condo right on the beach and stayed all week. There was a grocery store and Dunkin' Donuts within walking distance so we were set! ;) We did need to rent a car though b/c there was a ton of stuff to do. There was an awesome Butterfly World museum that my daughter went crazy over. My son is now 2 and we just went to another butterfly place and he loved it too. It was an unseasonably cold winter there so the beach was a little chilly but we still had tons of fun digging in the sand.
I've never been to Destin, but I've heard it's nice. I'd recommend someplace that your 3 y/o can chill in the sand. It will be a good way to spend your time but won't last all day so you can explore the other things in the city.
San Diego is also very kid friendly although I don't think it will be all that warm during the winter, warmer than the east coast for sure though! :)
We did a Disney cruise this past Feb with our then-3-year-old (plus my 2 teen stepsons) and it was PHENOMENAL - we all had a blast and the service and overall experience was top-notch. Their Kids Club is for kids ages 3 to 10 and our daughter had so much fun there she didn't want to do anything else (even swim in the pool!) and it gave us a chance to really relax and have some time to ourselves. The only thing is that for the swimming pools and the Kids Club they have to be potty trained so that might be something to take into consideration. But if you do go, you won't be disappointed!
ETA: They have 3-night, 4-night, and 7-night cruises and sometimes they have "kids sail free" specials that you can get lucky and take advantage of. All of the Caribbean cruises spend at least one day on Castaway Cay, their own private island, and you can get some nice beach time in then.
How about San Fran or something like that?
I have been to Maya Beach resort in Mayan Riviera in Mexico, They had an awesome resort for kids :)... The food was basic, but resort was amazing for kids....:) hope this helps
We love this place in Destin, FL. Your daughter is the perfect age for it. You get the beach/swimming, but also get to enjoy this awesome place which is totally geared to families. Check out their site. Just be aware that some of the condos are across the street from the beach...so if you want something right on the beach be sure to let them know.
Also I think it's nice not having to go through customs with little kids, so staying continental is always my preference. We fly into Ft. Walton and rent a car.
Have you looked at any of the "Beaches: chain? I understand those to be family friendly….I presume for when couples who have been to "Sandals" on their honeymoon have kids, this is where they go to. :o)
