Sometimes with little ones, it isn’t very easy to travel so Dayton Parent Magazine put together a great list of places that are road trip worthy of your time and effort. Did you know that there is a beach in Indiana? And did you know that you can feel the world away within just a couple hours? These road trips are sometimes just what the family needs to get a break, unwind and make memories.
Get the family in the car to start making some fun memories without breaking the bank on gas money. All of these Family Friendly Road Trips from Dayton are within 5 hours of home. Happy Road Tripping!
Indiana Beach- Monticello, IN
Indiana Beach is located in Monticello, Indiana on Lake Shafer. This peninsula and resort was founded in 1926. The resort features a Boardwalk Funway, six roller coasters, 41 rides, the Shafer Queen Paddlewheel boat, two campgrounds, rental accommodations, and an on-property hotel. Ideal Beach, the water park, includes the original swimming pool with sand beach, water slides, an action river, and kid’s spray area. You can also rent jet skis, boat, and golf around the area. And don’t forget the board walk style food including elephant ears and taffy. Indiana Beach is good old fashioned fun and only about 3 hours from Dayton.
Indiana Beach
Mammoth Cave, KY
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, with more then 400 miles explored, and one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. While cave tours of the 10 miles in the cave are the park’s big attraction, there is plenty to do and explore while visiting this beautiful wilderness area, such as hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing and kayaking. This road trip is about 4 hours from Dayton. “The Trog Tour is only open to kids ages 8-12, and it alone is reason enough to make the trip to Mammoth Cave! Kids don caving jumpsuits with knee pads, bandanas, helmets, and headlamps and head out for a two hour adventure led by guides. Once inside the cave, the kids head “off trail” for a true caving adventure! They get to squeeze through narrow passageways and army-crawl through low tunnels- all by the light of their headlamps. They can try to climb the cave walls and scramble over boulders, and basically get a sense of what real cave exploring is like.” Sharon Rowley, mom blogger.
Sandusky, OH
Are you a thrill seeking family? Stay at the Kalahari Waterpark hotel and your children won’t want to leave but so make sure you plan at least a full day or two so they can just relax and play in the amazing indoor wave pool and lazy rivers. Once they dry off they will want to enjoy the zip line, glow mini golf, movie theatre, and climbing wall. If you are finally able to talk them into venturing out- visit Cedar Point Amusement Park. Known as the roller coaster capital of the world, this park has something for everyone. With 17 world-class roller coasters to three areas filled with rides for kids and families, Cedar Point will keep your family busy making memories. When you are looking to chill out then visit Cedar Point Beach. You can rent a wave runner, fly high above on a parasail or relax making sand castles. Sandusky is just a little over 3 hours from Dayton.
Cedar Point
Amish Country
“Holmes County, Ohio contains the world’s largest Amish population. Situated almost equidistant from both Columbus and Cleveland, Amish Country seems worlds away from the typical city life. Amish children peer at passing cars from rear buggy windows and Amish businesses use Skylights and generators to provide enough light and power to open shop. With this old world charm, Amish Country is a great place to visit with kids, particularly because it introduces a lifestyle they probably know little about. There’s culture and great food for the adults, but farm animals and tasty sweets for the children.” Leah Yoder, mom blogger. From wineries to shop tours, theatres to animal farms, fairs and festivals to museums to canoeing—there truly is something for everyone. Riding in a horse and buggy (typically April-October) would definitely be a memorable experience for your whole family. Ohio Amish Country is about 2 hours and 45 minutes from the Dayton, OH area.
Amish Country
Hocking Hills, OH
Does your family love adventure? The Hocking Hills region of Southeastern Ohio offers great getaways with plenty of adventurous things to do. Take a leisurely train ride through the Hocking Hills in a historic train called the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway. Watch the epic outdoor historical drama, TECUMSEH. This is educational as well as moving for all ages. Play mini golf, laser tag, ride ATVs and of course hike. Some of the more popular hiking trails include Old Man Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, Conkle’s Hollow and Cedar Falls which boasts a beautiful waterfall. Stay in a beautiful log cabin and let the family soak in the hot tub or build a fire to roast marsh mellows. Hocking Hills comes in just under 2 hours from Dayton.
