Family vacation planning is my gig.
And I have a pair of them to plan.
1) my wife and I for our anniversary
2) 3-5 night vacation for the 5 of us
For #1, I'm looking at a couple options: Galena-Dubuque-Clinton (IA); Tennessee (probably Nashville)
For #2, I'm also looking at a couple options: Michigan and Northern Indiana; Ozarks (maybe Branson?)
I am finding it much easier to plan #1 than #2.
Part of that is because my wife and I just like to get away, spend time together, and do pretty much anything. (other than museums..... I've been told that the number of museums must be kept to a minimum..... a bare minimum)
But with the family, we must find things that the girls like to do. Kid-friendly stuff. And time spent in the vehicle at any one time must be kept to a minimum. Chunks of 2-3 hour driving (length of a movie) works best.
There is a push for going to the beach and to Disneyland.
Definitely not going to drive to Disneyland. That would be a plane ride, and I'm not sure my little travelers are ready for that.
As for the request for "beach"..... Lake Shelbyville anyone? ;)
Out for now.....
Matt