[Dmitry'smom]

Hi, we are on vacation next week and have decided to try some little trips since we are going to the beach in October.

What are some cool attractions in your town or towns that you love. I live in Indiana so we would like to keep it with in reason distance wise. We considered Chicago but were just there last year.

My son LOVES history so anything history related would be great!!

Thanks!

[Aveasmom]

Michigan here. Something that is near by us, is Frankenmueth. It is funny, it is about a 45 min away from where we live, and I don't know what is there. Usually in the winter we go see the ice sculptures, they are amazing. But just the other day we were out somewhere and these people who are about 4 hrs away from there, said they go there every year, and that is a awesome place to go. I think we might try it this summer. But anyways google it, and see what it has to offer.

[robandjulie]

I lived in St Louis for years and years and LOVED it. Super kid/family friendly town. Catch a show at the Muny, a ball game, go to the zoo, science center, history museum(s), city museum, raging rivers, paddleboat around the little ponds in Forest Park, etc. Many of these are free (zoo, science center, history museum) and most are reasonable if you don't mind some cheap seat.

Also, check out holiday world in Santa Claus Indiana. Excellent park, fun campground (and hotels), great water park, incredibly clean.

Oh, and the Great Dunes park (?) near Chicago is great, if you're into camping. We were there years ago and loved it, although there were a gazillion dead fish on the beach that week due to some specific issue in their life cycle that was a total fluke.

I'm in central NY state...not exactly in the neighborhood and most of our entertainment is limited to state parks which is great, but not worth the drive considering the ones in IN.

[Devora]

I'm in the Rochester, NY area. It's a 9 hour drive from Indianapolis -- easy driving; we do it in 1 day when we go to visit my parents but you could also stay overnight in Cleveland if you wanted to break it up.

TONS to do here or nearby including lots of history sites:
* Strong Museum of Play & National Toy Hall of Fame
* Rochester Museum and Science Center
* Visitor Center at High Falls with local history displays
* Ganondagon Long House and Iroquois Cultural Center
* Genessee County Historical Farm
* Old Ft. Niagara is a nice day trip (they do historical reenactments)
* Seneca Falls historical sites
* great beaches on Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes
* Letchworth State Park with good hiking and the largest canyon east of the Mississippi
* Susan B. Anthony home/museum
* mid-sized amusement park and waterpark
* boat rides on the Erie Canal
* free music on Wednesday nights at Ontario Beach
* free music on Friday nights on the Erie Canal in Pittsford
* free movies in one of the city parks on Friday(?) nights
* lots of live theatre + the philharmonic orchestra + opera
* usually somewhere there's a kids' concert on the weekends
* Niagara Falls is an easy day trip away (you could stop there first on your way to Rochester) and there is TONS to do there -- the falls, IMAX theater, butterfly conservatory, zoo, etc.
* Eastman House mansion and gardens
* Sonnenberg mansion and gardens
* art museum + lots of art galleries of local artists (especially lots of potters)

[ana-mom]

Originally Posted by Dmitry'smom

Hi, we are on vacation next week and have decided to try some little trips since we are going to the beach in October.

What are some cool attractions in your town or towns that you love. I live in Indiana so we would like to keep it with in reason distance wise. We considered Chicago but were just there last year.

My son LOVES history so anything history related would be great!!

Thanks!

We've got history here in Philadelphia - it's a shame we're so far away.

[jules17]

This might surprise you, but we have TONS to do here in Kansas City.

-Kaleidoscope (owned by Hallmark- awesome!!)
-Steamboat Arabia museum
-Plaza
-Deanna Rose Farmstead
-Science City
-Power & Light district
-awesome (awesome!) BBQ
-Crown Center (also Hallmark) - tons of neat stuff

and lots and lots more!!

We may be too far for you, but people always think, "Ugh - cowtown Kansas City" and then they come here and love it!!

[akasohappy]

St. Louis is great and not that far from you guys.
They have the zoo, Gateway Arch, Grant's Farm and the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.
Grant's Farm has a website to check out and they have a historical cabin on site. The Clydesdale horses are there.
At the arch is info. on how the arch was built, old photos, etc. I have to admit the ride to the top of the arch was really fun. I felt like a kid.
We had a good time there.
You guys have probably already been to these places, but Holiday World, Indy Zoo (dolphin show!!) and the Indy science center/children's museum is really awesome.
Our son also enjoys history and he LOVED the little Abraham Lincoln Nat'l Park (south of Louisville) if you are looking for a little day trip sometime.

[alreadylove2005]

Hi!

I live in Chesterton Indiana and there are tons of fun things to do in the area -

Indiana Dunes State Park, voted one of the best beaches in the US

Deep River Waterpark

Fair Oaks Farms

Michigan City or South Bend Zoo

Notre Dame Campus

Lighthouse Place Outlet Mall

Shipshewanna - Amish Acres

Albanese Chocolate Factory

Winery Tours

South Bend Chocolate Company

49er Drive In Movie Theatre

Have fun!

Janet

[AdoptAmiga]

Any lover of history would enjoy Greenfield Village and Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Lots of live demos, etc. Also, you can sign up for an auto factory tour via the Village. And nearby is the Motown Museum for music buffs. And a little further west, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University in East Lansing have wonderful museums and other activities for families throughout the summer. Have fun planning!

[dawnrenee58]

Don't come to Kalamazoo, MI. There is nothing to do here.

I second the vote for Frankenmuth. Very family friendly and nothing like it elsewhere. Also, the Birch Run Outlets nearby are pretty nice!

Up the coast of Lake Michigan there is a lot to do. Grand Haven is super duper awesome. My mom and dad live in Muskegon, I would either go north or south of there. Ludington is also nice.

[chrisa]

we are in Ohio (near Dayton). Wright Patterson AFB has the huge Air Force Museum (its free) and it has tons of history.
We are pretty new here too (last summer/fall) but, about 1hr away there is also Kings Island (check website) and it has the Dora/Diego land.

good luck and have a great vacation,
Chris

[LJR1974]

Originally Posted by dawnrenee58

Don't come to Kalamazoo, MI. There is nothing to do here.

I second the vote for Frankenmuth. Very family friendly and nothing like it elsewhere. Also, the Birch Run Outlets nearby are pretty nice!

Up the coast of Lake Michigan there is a lot to do. Grand Haven is super duper awesome. My mom and dad live in Muskegon, I would either go north or south of there. Ludington is also nice.

BWA HA HA! LOL about Kalamazoo. Grand Rapids is relatively near Grand Haven (I second that it is GORGEOUS. Beautiful beach and lighthouse).

In GR there's the Gerald R Ford Museum (a big deal now that Ford died recently). And I hear the children's museum is nice too (haven't been yet since my kiddos are super young). A GH/GR trip might be nice! ETA: Nearby Holland has an annual Latino Festival: Seventh Annual Tulipanes Latino Art & Film Festival, August 30 - September 2, 2007

My inlaws are from Birch Run near Frankenmuth. There's a lot in Frankenmuth (sort of Bavarian themed and Christmas themed town!) and the outlet mall is in Birch Run.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by dawnrenee58

Don't come to Kalamazoo, MI. There is nothing to do here.

LOL! There is the Kalamazoo Air Zoo! That's something!

[skiouro]

Don't know what part of IN you are in but there is alot to do in Louisville KY.
*River Bats Games
*Science Center
*Bat Factory Louisville Slugger
*Joe Huber's Family Rest. (New Albany IN)
*KY Derby Museum

Lexington
*Horse Park

Kentucky (other places)
*Mammoth Cave
*Cave City
*Gun Town Mountain
*Kentucky Down Under
*Corvette Factory (Bowling Green)
*Fort Knox
*(There's another Army Place in FT Knox,k but I can't remember the name)

[2xaround]

We haven't been in a few years now, but had a lot of fun at the Wisconsin Dells. Lots of family friendly things to do there.