<p>This isn’t “my” thread either. Just looking for those trips parents take their adult kids on…and maybe I will get a great idea along the way too!</p>
<p>Thumper-- we’d love any of this stuff. I think the key to pulling off a good vacation with adult kids in tow is having some options. When we go to stay with my parents at the condo in FL, we enjoy ourselves but by the end of the week we are really ready to go home… there is NOTHING to do but sit on the beach, and there is basically ONE restaurant, and we are with my parents almost every second of every day. It probably would not be fun for us if we didn’t rent our own car and take drives in the evenings just to have some breathing room. We all love each other and get along, but now that we are used to living alone there can be too much togetherness. </p>
<p>My fiance has never been to disney and it is my DREAM to take him before we have kids… I’m sure we’ll take our kids someday but I’d love to take him and go ourselves as adults, I went as an older child with my parents and loved it. If our parents wanted to join us on that trip, I’d love it! I think a cruise or AI would be fun, too, I think as long as you’re not all trapped in one hotel room for a week spending every waking minute together, the kids will have fun. </p>
<p>They desire to recreate the beach trips that were so dear to them. So, we oblige. We can’t get rid of them! LOL.</p>
<p>Vacations with adult children…I would get their imput and see what type of vacation they want…active, touring, city, beach, combo…Disney World is Very far away from Key West. However, a nice vacation could be Miami, Key Largo and Key West. Miami has a lot of history, culture, scenery, beaches, boating, shopping, South Beach activities and people watching (topless bathers too), a big Bayside Marketplace for music, shopping, restaurants, etc. Key Largo has some of the best snorkeling around, in some cases, better than the Caribbean and/or Hawaii. You could also swim with Sea Lions there, fun! And then make the drive to Key West…@3 - 3 1/2 hours from Miami. Or, go to Disney World and then drive to Cape Canaveral one day, Daytona Beach…not sure how far that is…there are literally thousands of combinations. Really depends on what you all want out of a vacation.</p>
<p>Not sure how far a drive but we went to Crystal River and swam with manatees. An overnight doable from Disneyworld.
With my kids I have found it better to get some general ideas and just plan it. Otherwise I end up with someone not happy. You know your children best. I have also finally learned that it is better if we go somewhere with some set excursions planned and even dining planned. Two of mine can’t seem to agree on much and it saves a lot of headaches.</p>
<p>South Africa!!! My dad (whose 77th birthday is today) is still a professor and has traveled all over the world for the past 49 years. His and Mom’s favorite place is SA. They have been at least eight times. In 2005, they took me and my two sons. In 2008, my daughter and I got to go with them. This August, I get to go with them WITH NO KIDS!! That will be heaven.</p>
<p>To go on a safari in Kruger National Park is beyond description. You see lions, elephants, zebras, monkeys, etc., etc. a few yards or even a few feet away. There are hundreds of species of birds. You drive around with a guide for hours. Every time you go around a corner, you don’t know what amazing things you’re going to see.</p>
<p>Cape Town, on the southern tip of the continent, is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I went for a 10-mile run right next to the water on a paved path. There were huge mountains to my left.</p>
<p>We went down to the Cape of Good Hope and saw ostriches on the beach. We went to Simons Town and saw a colony of penguins. There were even penguins in the woods! </p>
<p>I could write a novel, but you get the idea. Some friends from church will be visiting the country in December. I told them that the only problem with going to Africa is that once you go, you HAVE to go back. I’m not kidding!</p>
<p>If your kids love Disney, then go back during the wine and food festival.
<a href=“https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/”>https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/</a></p>
<p>We have been there in October, with almost adult children, and had a blast at the wine and food festival! Between the festival, the parks, some of the restaurants at the onsite resorts, and maybe a day at Universal Harry Potter you could have a wonderful time. </p>
<p>And take my family with you!</p>
<p>5 days is not long. From CA, I can think of Hawaii, Caribbean, Oregon, Vancouver/British Columbia, Lake Tahoe, San Diego. Amusement park is out of the question because parents are OLD, we have not interested in Disneyland for a long time. So kid #1 will be travelling with her friends to Disneyworld.</p>
<p>Let me throw out the idea of a river rafting trip. You can find trips for whatever length you like. We’ve done Hell’s Canyon on the Snake River in Idaho, the Rogue River in Oregon, and the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. It is very common to have family groups with two or three generations on the trips.</p>
<p>River rafting is a great way to experience wilderness, and a lot more comfortable than backpacking. The outfitters typically provide all the gear you need and the boats can carry heavy things like coolers so the food and drink is very good. Many of the guides pride themselves on their cooking skills. </p>
<p>White water rafting down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon was on my bucket list, but I’m reconsidering. There are several “active vacation” companies that do hiking, biking, etc. trips. We went to the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon a couple of years ago and there was a family with three adult children and a father adult son combo and a father adult daughter combo. It was awesome for all involved. </p>
<p>White water rafting is on my bucket list with kid #2, but she wants the more thrill riding one where the chance that the float could be tipped over, she was not sure I could handle that.</p>
<p>I think the ideal vacation would be one where you each can go off on your own and meet up. For example, Disneyworld will allow my DD to sleep in and us to get on rides early. She can easily catch up with us.
Also when we went to Isla Morada (Florida Keys) at the Postcard Inn…I could get up and read on the patio while she slept in. But our trip to Europe was annoying because we had to leave in the morning and European hotel rooms don’t have 2 double beds as a norm and we had to get going early and if she was in a different room it was an ordeal to get her going.</p>
<p>Bopper - you hit the issue for us. We need a vacation where there are things to do, but you would also have the freedom to not do them. I don’t want to force anyone into a group thing. We’ve done Disney a few times so that is out. I need a place where my daughter can be on the beach, my son and husband can come and go, interesting things to do at night or on a rainy day. I know those places exist, I’m just struggling to find them.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle, rafts on commercial trips very rarely flip. We were on one trip where a particular rapid was iffy, so they made us all get out and walk around it. On the other hand, many companies take along inflatable kayaks for people who want a little more adventure–and people definitely flip these–both because kayaks are a lot less stable than a raft, and due to the lack of experience and skill. So you could stay in the raft, while your daughter tries the kayak. (But ask about kayaks when you book). Also, unless it is a very short trip, make sure the rafts have oars that are rowed by a guide rather than a paddle raft where everyone in the boat is expected to paddle.</p>
<p>Our kids also enjoyed Atlantis in the Bahamas. Beach, pool, casino, etc. Lots to do and everyone can do their own thing. And the restaurants are great, if pricey. </p>
<p>I know families that frequent Atlantis often. I haven’t been there, but have been to Key West many times. I try to stay as close to Duvall St and Mallory Sq as possible. Pricey, but the Ocean Key is right on Mallory Sq. The rooms are brightly colored and interesting. The Hyatt on Front St is next door. You can eat and watch the sunsets from their outdoor dining room. Usually, I stay at bed & breakfasts. I like Huron House, Blue Parrot, Simonton Court, Paradise Inn, Merlin House, … The Gardens Hotel is too pricey for me, but lovely. Some of these offer cocktail hours and breakfast.</p>
<p>Besides the Hemingway House & the Maritime Museum, there is the Harry Truman Little White House & the Flagler Museum. Lots of people rent bikes or take canoe trips. My favorite spot is the Secret Garden. One needs to take a catamaran to snorkel or a boat to nearby islands. </p>
<p>Shopping along Duvall St is a mix now of chain stores and t-shirts places. There are great finds at the Coach & Lily Pulitzer outlets. I like the Cuban shop and those run by artisans. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>@motherbear, great to know, I forgot all about this thread.</p>
<p>We are planning a cruise with D and her boyfriend next summer. Cruising is my perfect vacation, a combination of lots of activities and excursions for those who want them, and utter relaxation for me! :D. Also plenty of opportunities for togetherness when we all want it, but also for going our separate ways for a day or an evening. </p>
<p>I am one of those rare folks that never had any desire to go to WDW or WDL - finally took the kids when they were early elementary school and late middle school - they weren’t too impressed either. Youngest went back to march w/ HS band at DW and college band at DL. Maybe they’ll go back when they have kids but not with mom and dad. </p>
<p>Hawaii - 10 days, 2 islands one of the best family vacations - you can guess what you can do (it is expensive from east coast).</p>
<p>Yellowstone/Jackson Hole - great family vacation with young children, middle school children, parents, grandparents - all flew in (actually to Salt Lake City and drove from there) and met at JH and based our vacation out of there. Each family had own car. My mother was probably in her early 80’s at the time and while my husband, kids and I went on a white water rafting trip on the Snake River, my mom and MIL went on a “breakfast float” down the Snake River. Lots of history too.</p>
<p>One of our longest recent trips was a college grad road trip. We caught train from LA to Seattle, stayed there a few nights, then stayed at national parks as we made our way down back to LA over 3 weeks. It was great–relaxing and beautiful. In SF and Reedsport we visited family briefly as well. </p>