Property Recommendations... Family with two kids, off the beaten path.
Apr 13, 2021, 2:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
Property Recommendations... Family with two kids, off the beaten path.
We're looking for somewhere to spend a long weekend mid-summer. Geographically, somewhere within a day's drive of Mobile, AL.
We've done Disney, we don't want a W-A since rates are insane. We'd like a good mix of things to do in the city and things to do on-property (pool, lazy river, etc.)
We've done Disney, we don't want a W-A since rates are insane. We'd like a good mix of things to do in the city and things to do on-property (pool, lazy river, etc.)
- We thoroughly enjoyed the Embassy Suites St. Augustine Beach.
- Hilton Sandestin has been done dozens of times and is fine, but we want something new.
- Thoughts on Hilton Anatole in Dallas?
- Anything that fits our needs between Clearwater and Fort Myers?
- Atlanta isn't really high on our list. I wish the McElmore was open but no ETA yet.
- Any pseudo-resort style properties in Chattanooga or Nashville?
Last edited by aww3583; Apr 14, 2021 at 12:25 pm Reason: Spell Check
Apr 13, 2021, 3:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
When I was growing up in Florida, we used our summer trips to get *away* from the heat and humidity...most of the places you list don't really strike me as materially different from staying in Mobile (hot air, hot water, bugs, and lightning storms).
Your last suggestion (TN) is in the right direction. How about one of my childhood throwback favorites - the North Georgia mountains? Plenty to do around Dahlonega, Helen, etc. Lots of activities for the kids - who needs a lazy river when you can tube and raft?!
Your last suggestion (TN) is in the right direction. How about one of my childhood throwback favorites - the North Georgia mountains? Plenty to do around Dahlonega, Helen, etc. Lots of activities for the kids - who needs a lazy river when you can tube and raft?!
Apr 13, 2021, 4:23 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
When I was growing up in Florida, we used our summer trips to get *away* from the heat and humidity...most of the places you list don't really strike me as materially different from staying in Mobile (hot air, hot water, bugs, and lightning storms).
Your last suggestion (TN) is in the right direction. How about one of my childhood throwback favorites - the North Georgia mountains? Plenty to do around Dahlonega, Helen, etc. Lots of activities for the kids - who needs a lazy river when you can tube and raft?!
Your last suggestion (TN) is in the right direction. How about one of my childhood throwback favorites - the North Georgia mountains? Plenty to do around Dahlonega, Helen, etc. Lots of activities for the kids - who needs a lazy river when you can tube and raft?!
Apr 13, 2021, 5:03 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
No property recs! I'd just take whatever I could get and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Looks like Helen has a Hampton (which is more than I'd ever expected back when I used to go; it was only mom and pop places). As you know if you've lived there, it's not a part of the country where you're going to find big resort properties, but that's a good thing in my book. I think the tubing folks do run a modest water park, but I always preferred the river.
Apr 14, 2021, 8:22 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
Apr 14, 2021, 12:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,200
I think you meant Hilton Anatole in *Dallas*, not Destin. I've heard bad reviews about that, though. I'd also suggest something like Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Or, since you're Mobile, have you been to the Lodge at Gulf St Park? Lots of outdoors things to do and we love the facility (though it may not be far enough away for you).
Apr 14, 2021, 12:26 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
I think you meant Hilton Anatole in *Dallas*, not Destin. I've heard bad reviews about that, though. I'd also suggest something like Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Or, since you're Mobile, have you been to the Lodge at Gulf St Park? Lots of outdoors things to do and we love the facility (though it may not be far enough away for you).
We've visited the Lodge @ Gulf State Park several times. It's not very kid friendly. Great for a couples getaway, but they have very limited pool seating and have, on occasion, required pool chair reservations. There are no family suites other than bunk bed rooms which are prohibitively expensive right now.
I like the idea of East Tennessee though. The DT Suites is very nice.
Apr 14, 2021, 2:00 pm
#10
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
New Orleans for a city vacation, although it will have the same hot weather as Mobile. That’s all city and no resort though, although the Roosevelt does have a nice rooftop pool. One of the casino hotels in Biloxi had a lazy river and nice pool area, although I haven’t been in years
Apr 14, 2021, 2:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,411
This Hampton has a lazy river. It was a nice property (especially for a Hampton) when I stayed there, but it's been at least 5 years. It's a very long one-day drive from Mobile (14.5 hours), probably too long.
Hampton Inn and Suites Outer Banks, NC Oceanfront Hotel (hilton.com)
Hampton Inn and Suites Outer Banks, NC Oceanfront Hotel (hilton.com)
Apr 15, 2021, 6:50 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Trenton NJ
Programs: UA Gold MM, Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz President’s Circle
Posts: 3,668
Chattanooga is one of my favorite places in which I lived. The Chattanooga is part of the Hilton family but there are also a lot of other Hilton family brands in the area. Lots of stuff to do too especially with kiddos.
Lived in NWGA as well. Thought there was also a resort near Cloudland that was supposed to become part of the Hilton family but can’t find anything about the announcement. Seemed that it would be pretty remote though.
Lived in NWGA as well. Thought there was also a resort near Cloudland that was supposed to become part of the Hilton family but can’t find anything about the announcement. Seemed that it would be pretty remote though.
Apr 15, 2021, 7:41 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
This Hampton has a lazy river. It was a nice property (especially for a Hampton) when I stayed there, but it's been at least 5 years. It's a very long one-day drive from Mobile (14.5 hours), probably too long.
Hampton Inn and Suites Outer Banks, NC Oceanfront Hotel (hilton.com)
Hampton Inn and Suites Outer Banks, NC Oceanfront Hotel (hilton.com)
