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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Central Iowa | Needing some suggestions.
I have a 4yr old son and a 7yr old son. It hit me really hard last year about a month after Christmas when I was cleaning out my boys toy room that we spend so much money, time and STRESS out every Christmas over buying toys and THINGS for them that they don't even play with. It made me really mad actually and think to myself WHY???? WHY do we do this, its taking away from the real meaning of Christmas and spending time with our family.
Then I lost my dad suddenly in October and then my husband lost his dad in June so needless to say this year has been a VERY hard year on our family. Looking back on my childhood all I can think about are memories made, not the toys or things that we got. Looking at my two boys and thinking of their grandfathers, I think of the times we shared together and the things we did with them.
Sooooo long story short we are starting a new family tradition
We are not buying 100 toys and things for our kids, we are asking grandparents not to buy tons of things. Instead we are going to go on a big family vacation. We are planning on leaving the day after Christmas and coming home around New Years Eve. We are having everyone that is going put down on a piece of paper one or two places they would like to visit on a Holiday vacation. We are then going to put those all in a jar and randomly pick one.
We want to make memories that last a life time not buy stuff that last 30 minutes. What I need is your suggestions of places you have visited on Christmas Break with you family that you would recommend to us. Some of the places I have down right now are:
Has to be in the USA
Branson MO
Gulfport Mississippi
Santa Fe NM
Sanibel Island FL
Wisconsin Dells
Pensacola FL
Flagstaff Arizona |
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 Veteran
Posts: 214
| We also love the experience kind of gifts vs things. We switched to a $50 limit white elephant kind of thing for all the adults and doing a vacation as well! While we haven't been there over Christmas I strongly vote Maui. We took our young girls there in April for the first time this year and already cannot wait to go back. Everyone had an absolute blast and learned island time is a real thing! Vacation didn't fly by but it really felt like we enjoyed every single moment there. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Central Iowa | kj11 - 2018-09-17 11:39 AM
We also love the experience kind of gifts vs things. We switched to a $50 limit white elephant kind of thing for all the adults and doing a vacation as well! While we haven't been there over Christmas I strongly vote Maui. We took our young girls there in April for the first time this year and already cannot wait to go back. Everyone had an absolute blast and learned island time is a real thing! Vacation didn't fly by but it really felt like we enjoyed every single moment there.
Oh WoW, that sounds amazing! I will have to add that to my list for sure! Thank You! |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
  
Location: CTX | Can't help you on the destinations for Christmas, but just wanted to tell you I love the idea!!!
Those memories will stay with then for a long time to come!! |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Branson at Christmas is absolutely magical. What about NYC? Or Bozeman, MT; you could take the kids skiing if that's your jam? You could also do Jackson, WY for that matter. |
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 Popped
Posts: 20421
Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana | Nashville TN, the opry hotel is fabulous at christmas. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | My parents did that one year. We did a two week tour of the South. We saw some family. Went to the beach. Went to Disney World. Went to Memphis, TN and saw Graceland. We went through Nashville and saw the The Grand Ol Opry. We went through Oklahoma City and saw the memorial there. It was a great trip. Lots of fun memories. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| This has been what we started a few years ago. Us girls (3 sisters) draw names and we each get our parents something but then we go on vacation. For 2 years we rented a big house in Fort Myers beach and its always been amazing. Tons of activities for the kids and some nightlife for us adults if we wanted to go. Last year we did a cruise, I don't love cruises come to find out but it was still amazing to make memories.
I agree, the memories mean more to me than anything I have gotten as a gift. |
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Veteran
Posts: 242
| Disney but go as soon as kids get out from school or a day or 2 before. We love Disney but you want to let Christmas Eve be your last day. We left Christmas Day. Not near as crowded, weather is great & all their Christmas stuff is up so you won't miss anything. We could definitely tell by mid afternoon on Christmas Eve the crowds were huge.
We've been skiing also- crested butte, Breckinridge , vail colorado.
Gulf shores is still fun but water is too cold so we do other stuff
New York would be fun too
Think your kids will enjoy this more |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 545
Location: Texas | I know you said in the US, but maybe a Christmas cruise. We did one a few years ago over Christmas and it was so much fun. They had an ugly Christmas sweater contest, Christmas show, Christmas caroling, and then some non-traditional stuff, but it was amazing. They had snowmen made from towels all over the Lido deck which was awesome, the weather was great. As far as for you kids, they have all kinds of kids' activties. You can do as much as you want or as little as you want, no cooking or cleaning. Other than that, I say Branson would be fun, maybe Dollywood and Pigeon Forge, TN, or maybe Sea World San Antonio and the River Walk, Alamo, Fiesta Texas, etc. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Sanibel would be a great place to take your family but I would avoid the Gulf right now due to the red tide. The beaches are cluttered with dead fish and what not due to it. Super sad.
St. Simon's Island and Tybee Island are places where my mom took us all the time. Both great for families. Both on the Atlantic side and beautiful! Perfect for families :)
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| we took our daughter last year to the North Pole Experience in Flagstaff last year. It’s whete the convert a building into Santa’s workshop. It’s really cute and great memories. You have to get tickets pretty far in advance, but if are considering going to Flagstaff I would really recommend it.
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 Expert
Posts: 1304
| Great idea. My SO took me to Gatlinburg, TN around the holidays last year for my first time and I loved it. We wanna go again this year! Lots of things for the family to do and great, beautiful cabins on AirBnB! |
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Veteran
Posts: 286
| There are some really affordable and nice warm weather vacation spots in less fortunate countries that could teach your children a lot and make them appreciate all the things they have here in America. One of my faves is San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. (SJDS is in Southern Nicaragua and it is outside the political chaos that is going on in and around Managua right now.).
There are awesome modern homes for rent right on the ocean (warm water) and they are very affordable. Eating out is dirt cheap.....great surfing and whale watching opportunities... just a great cultural experience. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Not sure if everything there will be back open by Christmas, but the North Carolina Brunswick Islands are gorgeous. Matt and I went to Ocean Isle Beach to get married earlier this year and are planning to go back in the next year or two. There are lots of neat places in southern North Carolina and we didn't even really have to fight crowds. Ocean Isle was lucky and escaped Florence with what looks like minimal damage, though I know north of Wilmington wasn't so fortunate. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 206
Location: Downsouth | ropinbuzz - 2018-09-17 11:24 AM
Needing some suggestions.
I have a 4yr old son and a 7yr old son. It hit me really hard last year about a month after Christmas when I was cleaning out my boys toy room that we spend so much money, time and STRESS out every Christmas over buying toys and THINGS for them that they don't even play with. It made me really mad actually and think to myself WHY???? WHY do we do this, its taking away from the real meaning of Christmas and spending time with our family.
Then I lost my dad suddenly in October and then my husband lost his dad in June so needless to say this year has been a VERY hard year on our family. Looking back on my childhood all I can think about are memories made, not the toys or things that we got. Looking at my two boys and thinking of their grandfathers, I think of the times we shared together and the things we did with them.
Sooooo long story short we are starting a new family tradition
We are not buying 100 toys and things for our kids, we are asking grandparents not to buy tons of things. Instead we are going to go on a big family vacation. We are planning on leaving the day after Christmas and coming home around New Years Eve. We are having everyone that is going put down on a piece of paper one or two places they would like to visit on a Holiday vacation. We are then going to put those all in a jar and randomly pick one.
We want to make memories that last a life time not buy stuff that last 30 minutes. What I need is your suggestions of places you have visited on Christmas Break with you family that you would recommend to us. Some of the places I have down right now are:
Has to be in the USA
Branson MO
Gulfport Mississippi
Santa Fe NM
Sanibel Island FL
Wisconsin Dells
Pensacola FL
Flagstaff Arizona
I live about 60 miles from Gulfport. I cant think of anything there a family would enjoy. They have a couple of good places to eat, but not many. The casinos will have super pretty Christmas decorations, but I don't think the city of Gulfport even hangs wreaths from the street lights. Pensacola is one of my favorite places in the summer but I've never been during winter. Have you thought about Gatlinburg? It's beautiful that time of year. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| I just got a text from my niece yesterday with this same issue in it. Her solution is that she want gift cards for museum trips, swimming lessons, soccer, softball etc. This was actually started by my nephew when his son was born last summer he wanted shower gifts for the future. I think you will be very happy you have made this decision. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I adore this idea.
I would definitely add Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge to your list. DollyWood at Christmas time is wonderful.
I agree with taking Gulfport off the list. Unless you have a special reason like visiting family or something. There is nothing to do there.
Pensacola is good, but the Destin/FWB area is better in my opinion for the same type of experience and not much further or higher in price.
My family really enjoys cruises and it is by far the easiest and most cost efficient way to travel outside the US if you change your mind about that. We've done Bahamas, Jamaica and Mexico. Loved everyone of them!
A place that is on my list is the Florida Keys. I've heard so many wonderful things about it as a vacation spot. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Central Iowa | lazytdickens - 2018-09-18 2:37 PM
ropinbuzz - 2018-09-17 11:24 AM
Needing some suggestions.
I have a 4yr old son and a 7yr old son. It hit me really hard last year about a month after Christmas when I was cleaning out my boys toy room that we spend so much money, time and STRESS out every Christmas over buying toys and THINGS for them that they don't even play with. It made me really mad actually and think to myself WHY???? WHY do we do this, its taking away from the real meaning of Christmas and spending time with our family.
Then I lost my dad suddenly in October and then my husband lost his dad in June so needless to say this year has been a VERY hard year on our family. Looking back on my childhood all I can think about are memories made, not the toys or things that we got. Looking at my two boys and thinking of their grandfathers, I think of the times we shared together and the things we did with them.
Sooooo long story short we are starting a new family tradition
We are not buying 100 toys and things for our kids, we are asking grandparents not to buy tons of things. Instead we are going to go on a big family vacation. We are planning on leaving the day after Christmas and coming home around New Years Eve. We are having everyone that is going put down on a piece of paper one or two places they would like to visit on a Holiday vacation. We are then going to put those all in a jar and randomly pick one.
We want to make memories that last a life time not buy stuff that last 30 minutes. What I need is your suggestions of places you have visited on Christmas Break with you family that you would recommend to us. Some of the places I have down right now are:
Has to be in the USA
Branson MO
Gulfport Mississippi
Santa Fe NM
Sanibel Island FL
Wisconsin Dells
Pensacola FL
Flagstaff Arizona
I live about 60 miles from Gulfport. I cant think of anything there a family would enjoy. They have a couple of good places to eat, but not many. The casinos will have super pretty Christmas decorations, but I don't think the city of Gulfport even hangs wreaths from the street lights. Pensacola is one of my favorite places in the summer but I've never been during winter. Have you thought about Gatlinburg? It's beautiful that time of year.
Thank you so much for this information. I will be taking Gulfport off of my list! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Central Iowa | BamaCanChaser - 2018-09-19 8:55 AM
I adore this idea.
I would definitely add Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge to your list. DollyWood at Christmas time is wonderful.
I agree with taking Gulfport off the list. Unless you have a special reason like visiting family or something. There is nothing to do there.
Pensacola is good, but the Destin/FWB area is better in my opinion for the same type of experience and not much further or higher in price.
My family really enjoys cruises and it is by far the easiest and most cost efficient way to travel outside the US if you change your mind about that. We've done Bahamas, Jamaica and Mexico. Loved everyone of them!
A place that is on my list is the Florida Keys. I've heard so many wonderful things about it as a vacation spot.
Very Very helpful. I will be defiantly looking into the Gatlinburg area and taking Gulfport off of my list! Thank you again! |
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