Where to vacation???

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where my family and I should vacation at for a week in Sept. 2009?

We just returned from a beautiful trip to upstate New York and I am already brainstorming for next years trip away. We live in Michigan (metro-Detroit area), so I am trying to get some brainstorms from the surrounding states within driving distance (max. drive time 6-7 hours) from us.

We will be traveling with about a group of eight. A variety of activity levels and interests. So, I am open to any suggestions. I just don%26#39;t know where to get started!

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Where to vacation???

Funny that I am the one replying to this about Indiana. I am actually a Michigander, but have been Indiana for 11 years now. If you are looking for a nice city atmosphere - I am really impressed with downtown Indianapolis. Is this a family or adults? There is the Indy Speedway Museum, The Children%26#39;s Museum, great shopping and dining Downtown. Also catch a Colts game or the Minor League Baseball team - the Indianapolis Indians. It is a clean, family friendly and very economical park! Also there is the NCAA Museum, State Museum, Zoo and White River Gardens %26amp; Duck Pin Bowling downtown. Suburbs have all of your typical things - Parks, Movies, Climbing Wall/Laser Tag Arenas, Malls, Hayrides, Corn Mazes, petting farms %26amp; Hotel with Water Park (Holiday Inn at the Pyramids). Also in the suburbs is Connor Prairie (not as great as Greenfield Village - or at least how it used to be,) but still nice. Also there is a Ampitheater like Pine Knob or I guess it is called Verizon now, for concerts. Non City adventure I suggest checking into Nashville, Indiana. I have not been, but it sounds great! Good Luck

Where to vacation???

Thanks for the reply.

Most likely the group will consist of 7 adults and an almost 2 year old. We definitely would want to rent a house for our week vacationing. Is there any place that you would suggest. It is an added bonus if there is a swimming area as well.

Thanks again!

I agree with the previous poster-Indy is great. My extended family has stayed there as well.

Some other places we%26#39;ve enjoyed:

Nashville Indiana-relaxed atmosphere and very quaint

Brown county-gorgeous in September!

Fort Wayne-tons to do: fabulous zoo (better than indianapolis in my opinion), Science central, downtown activities, shopping, great restaurants.

Pokagon State Park/Potawatomi Inn-not far from the Michigan state line. State park, shopping close by.

Enjoy!

I agree - Indy is fabulous! We love to visit Indy.

Another thought is eastern Indiana - around Richmond. There is lots to do . . . The area is know as Indiana%26#39;s Antique Alley. I believe they have around 1,000 antique dealers in the area. At the Huddleston Farmhouse Inn Museum, your family can participate in preparing an 1850s hearth dinner. The meal is fabulous! There is a new winery call J %26amp; J Winery, unique shopping opportunities, abundant of outdoor recreation like golf, skydiving, public rose garden, arboretum, hiking and biking along the Whitewater Gorge.

Whatever you decide on, have a great vacation.

If you decide on the Richmond area, be sure to check out the Levi Coffin house. It was a stop on The Underground Railroad %26amp; very interesting.

I agree with the previous suggestions!

Here are some websites that will help with those:

www.browncounty.com

www.visitrichmond.org

There are several other things in the general Richmond area that I think you%26#39;d enjoy. Just south of there (maybe 15-20 minutes?) is a very peaceful 16 mile lake where you can rent a cabin, go boating, go horseback riding in season, etc. (If you go to my pictures and look for ';View from Ainsley%26#39;s Cafe'; you can see a picture of it.) It%26#39;s Brookville Lake in Whitewater Memorial State Park.

The Levi Coffin House is definitely worth visiting!

A few miles north of that are several things that I like to visit too. If you like cars/racing Winchester has the ';Fastest 1/2 Mile Track in the World.'; There%26#39;s also Silver Towne Mint that makes coins on the premises. Wick%26#39;s Pies is also a great place to visit if you like pie. Ghyslain has some of the most delicious and prettiest chocolate I%26#39;ve ever had. I also like nearby Farmland%26#39;s general store, old fashioned soda fountain and quaint shops.

www.roamrandolph.org

I just checked the website and on September 19th there is a ';Local Food Festival'; as well as the ';Tour de Wine Bicycle Tour'; with everything from a family fun ride to a 60 mile ride. (That would help work off the pie and chocolate!)

The following weekend is the ';Free Fall Follies at Wilson Wines--Blue Grass band, magicians, ham and beans, cornbread contest, and the follies.'; www.wilsonwines.com

Just to the east of Randolph County, Indiana is Darke County, Ohio. Annie Oakley grew up there, the Treaty of Greenville was signed there and they have an old mill that%26#39;s fun to visit. They also seem to have several things going on in September.

www.visitdarkecounty.org

All of the above are great if you are looking for relaxing activities in quaint small towns and rolling countryside.

If you%26#39;re more in the mood to visit cities, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago are all a lot of fun and should fit into your maximum driving distance.

www.indy.org

www.choosechicago.com

www.cincinnatiusa.com

The people on the Chicago and Cincinnati forums are very helpful and should give you great ideas about those cities.

I hope you have a wonderful time wherever you decide to go!

There%26#39;s also Amish Country. Pennsylvania%26#39;s is more well-known, but Ohio has the largest settlement in the world, and of course Indiana has our own Amish Country too!

www.visitamishcountry.com

www.amishcountry.org

I agree with all of these things about Indiana. Indy is great, lots to do in Ft. Wayne, Brown County, Pokagon/Angola area as well. You can go to the official Indiana travel website at www.visitindiana.com and search for places in your taste, perhaps historic sites, or entertainment for example. Hope this helps. Enjoy your vacation!