Vacation advice needed

[Stein]

I am in a pretty good spot in that we have a ton of airline, hotel and rental car miles.  Thus, we can swing a pretty awesome vacation next year for the same price as a normal week at Wally World.

It will be myself, my wife and our two kids (7 and 13 next year).  We were originally thinking Hawaii, but I am now thinking about aiming higher for a place that will really be something they will always remember.  I would also like to expose them to something other than the US.  I have thought about spending a week in Europe, Caribbean, Tahiti or several other places.

I think Europe would be great, but am not sure how much the kids will appreciate it.

Any ideas?  We're pretty much open to anything.

[jay.sharkbait]

New Zealand

[ghosthunter]

Look into a cruise. My wife and I took one. It was a blast. Lots of kids on board too.
If you want Europe there are princess line cruise in the Baltics. Different port every day.

And anything you want at your finger tips. Pool and movies for the kids on board.
I think the Regal Princess just moved to the Baltics.

Or Alaska.

Could not pay me to take my family to Mexico now days too much unrest.

[ghosthunter]

Don't over Canada either. some nice National Parks up there.

[Rider]

Our last family vacation was a road trip. From Washington to Ogden, Utah via Little Rock Arkansas. We were headed for the annual Patriot Guard Riders Gathering of the Guard. We hit Nine Mile, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, Deadwood, Sturgis, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer Emergency Room, Wounded Knee, Oklahoma City, Grand Canyon, Four Corners, etc. We hit little out of the way national monuments as well as the popular ones. Kids were 13 & 16 at the time. Now they are both college students. They still talk about that month we spent on the road. Hands down best family vacation ever.

At Wounded Knee... they got to bear witness to true poverty. They watch a girl their age pump heroin into her veins outside the visitor center. They got to go inside the visitor center as read for themselves the amount of hate and loathing the tribe still has for the "white man".

At Little Rock, we got to take a tour of Central High School. Our tour leader was a 17yo junior, a beautiful black girl. She described the history of the school and its features. Everything was going smooth until the girls started talking. They never really knew what racism was until the girls started talking about lunch and classes. Talking like how teenage girls do. They learned something that day.

When we were in the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial one of my girls asked me "Why did this happen Daddy?". There was a group of school kids around us at the time. I told her that this is what hate does. A little voice behind us said so that is why my Mom says not to hate. It was a pivotal moment. My daughters got to see the small child sized chairs at the memorial - one for each child murdered.

Our daughters learned more about history, Americana, and our Country that month than they did in school. And they had fun.

There are not many places in this world that can hold a handle to the beauty, wonder, and hospitality found right here in our Country.

[Seahawk12]

I know you said outside the US, but they are at an age where Disneyworld would be pretty awesome.
If you're determined to go outside the US where they would still have a great time there then there's the Siam water park in Spain:
Siam Park - The Water Kingdom
Or Caribe Aquatic Park, Port Aventura, Costa Dorada, Spain
Caribe Aquatic Park (@ Port Avenura)
and of course theres Alton Towers, Alton, Staffordshire
The Smiler front seat on-ride HD POV Alton Towers

[mburrows]

Check out some of the all inclusive options in the Dominican. Ive heard they are pretty awesome and there are different options for different budgets and demographics.

[Miles]

We are in Maui right now and while it's nice, our trip to st John and st Thomas last year had far better beaches.  Hawaii is great don't get me wrong, but the Caribbean is where it's at...

[Pnwrider]

With how strong the dollar is, Europe would be hard to pass up. Not sure kids of that age would appreciate it is all.

[mfswallace]

Australia or New Zealand or Ireland or Denmark

[ribka]

If you have the miles would do Croatia ( mountains and Adriatic Sea) , Czech Republic, Turkey are a few of my favorite friendly countries to visit. Fly in, rent a car or by train> Both wife and kids will enjoy

or I would check out Costa Rica, Peru or Belize

[JimmyHoffa]

Israel has always seemed kind of interesting.

[Stein]

If you have the miles would do Croatia ( mountains and Adriatic Sea) , Czech Republic, Turkey are a few of my favorite friendly countries to visit. Fly in, rent a car or by train> Both wife and kids will enjoy

or I would check out Costa Rica, Peru or Belize

Is Croatia pretty easy to get around in?  My grandparents came from there and I have always wanted to check it out someday.