Vacation Planning

I love traveling. My parents were great about taking us lots of fun places growing up. Each year we did some kind of "big vacation". Out west, the mid-west, Europe, and every few years, the beach. Most of the vacations (except the beach!) had some kind of redeeming educational value. It could have been history (like visiting all of the Lincoln sites in the mid-west), art and architecture (throughout Europe), or Americana (the Grand Canyon). I am lucky to have been so many places.

Now I'm the parent. And I want my kids to have vacations to remember as well. They are not quite old enough to appreciate history, art, or architecture. But I certainly don't just want lazy beach-potato weeks every year until they are older. I want us to be active... doing things... experiencing something.

Greg suggested Disney World.

We were last there when Michael was about 9 months old. Greg had training for his new job in Orlando, and we decided to extend the trip and enjoy a couple of the parks. And Michael got his first haircut at the barber shop at the Magic Kingdom. Even at that young age, Michael had a blast. Especially meeting all the furry characters!

And so now we are in the midst of planning a week at Disney. Being a one-day drive from Orlando is a big plus! We'll plan to hit the Disney parks, and probably Sea World too. Michael just loves animals. (Will Sea World and Animal Kingdom qualify as having some redeeming educational value?) We will also spend a day on the coast, visiting Kennedy Space Center. (Definite redeeming educational value!)

We even plan for Matthew to get his first haircut at the same barber shop at the Magic Kingdom.

For those of you who have been to Disney World in the past few years, or with preschoolers, feel free to share your tips and suggestions!