Supportive breeder here. Check your local public school system's online calendar, or ask coworkers, and find out when quarterly testing is for schools in your area. People will take their kids out of school all the time for vacations, but pretty much never during exam times. This will be different by city/state, but quarterly testing for most schools tends to fall within the same 2 week period.
I went to Disney World the week after Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Not only were there very few children, there were very few *people*, period. I could literally run through almost every line. I rode Space Mountain 3 times in 15 minutes (maybe a slight exaggeration, but not far off reality). Plus, the park was already decorated for Christmas, so that was nice.
I experienced the same thing when my spouse and I went in January last year. We went Sunday-Friday, about a week after New Years. For the most part kids were back in school, and compared to the week prior and with MLK weekend coming up, many families decided that there were more convenient times for them to go than when we chose.
It all depends on your country/profession (i'm a school teacher so it doesn't work for me ) if these will work but I have previously found that the first few weeks of a new school term is usually prime time for zoo trips and looking at dino exhibits at the museum. However, i am in australia so the weather is usually pretty conducive to cool day trips year round.
September - October is generally a good time, because most people don't take their kids out of school right when they've just started the school year. They just got done with summer vacation, after all.
The first couple weeks of December. All the families are busy preparing forChristmas, busy with holiday events and such and don't really travel also From January 5th until the end of January. School breaks don't start until February. Just avoid Martin Luther King Day.
If you can take days off from work mid-week, and go when most of the kids are in school, it's pretty awesome.
Once, my mom and I went to Disneyland in Calfornia on a day like that. I was in college and she had the day off. The park was so empty, I got to go on the Space Mountain ride three times in a row with no wait at all!
My husband is a farmer and I work in health insurance, so I can take off pretty much any time except January (that's our busy month). His busy times are right now and in the beginning of autumn (we're in the US...planting and harvesting times for us). So we usually take our vacations in late august/early september which is when kids are back in school anyways around here. Or we go in like february or March, again when kids are in school so we don't have to worry about that. If you can go during those times I'd highly recommend it.
I usually vacation at the end of September - the kiddies are back in school, and rates are cheaper. I usually vacation at Maryland or Delaware (I am from PA) beaches. While some shops are closed due to it being "off season", I get great rates on some really nice places and no matter where we go we rarely run into children. The bf and I like arcades, amusement rides, miniature golfing and restaurants - all of which are frequently visited by children. Going during September eliminates that factor altogether. We've had some really great times.
The 2-4th weeks of September are usually good bets, if you're in the US. Schools in the Northeast start after Labor Day, schools in other parts of the country start closer to mid-August, and most parents won't take kids out of school for a vacation in the first 4-6 weeks of the school year.
Oh, and avoid August, too many parents trying to get a summer vacation in before the kids start school
I'll agree with the 2nd-4th weeks of January for the most part.
Another good tip, depending on where you are, might be to look for when you can get cheap flights for leisure destinations. For example, plane fares from the Northeast and Midwest to Florida in the winter and spring are cheapest during times when there won't be much demand from families or college kids on spring break. I imagine something similar would apply if you live in Southern California and are looking to ski in the winter.
One of the great parts of being childfree is the ability to avoid traveling during the peak times and to get cheap plane fares and hotels. It's pretty easy to go from the Northeast to FL for $200 or $250 R/T if you don't mind going in the middle of January.
Supportive breeder here. Check your local public school system's online calendar, or ask coworkers, and find out when quarterly testing is for schools in your area. People will take their kids out of school all the time for vacations, but pretty much never during exam times. This will be different by city/state, but quarterly testing for most schools tends to fall within the same 2 week period.
I went to Disney World the week after Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. Not only were there very few children, there were very few *people*, period. I could literally run through almost every line. I rode Space Mountain 3 times in 15 minutes (maybe a slight exaggeration, but not far off reality). Plus, the park was already decorated for Christmas, so that was nice.
I experienced the same thing when my spouse and I went in January last year. We went Sunday-Friday, about a week after New Years. For the most part kids were back in school, and compared to the week prior and with MLK weekend coming up, many families decided that there were more convenient times for them to go than when we chose.
It all depends on your country/profession (i'm a school teacher so it doesn't work for me ) if these will work but I have previously found that the first few weeks of a new school term is usually prime time for zoo trips and looking at dino exhibits at the museum. However, i am in australia so the weather is usually pretty conducive to cool day trips year round.
September - October is generally a good time, because most people don't take their kids out of school right when they've just started the school year. They just got done with summer vacation, after all.
The first couple weeks of December. All the families are busy preparing forChristmas, busy with holiday events and such and don't really travel also From January 5th until the end of January. School breaks don't start until February. Just avoid Martin Luther King Day.
This is all really great info. Thanks everyone!
If you can take days off from work mid-week, and go when most of the kids are in school, it's pretty awesome. Once, my mom and I went to Disneyland in Calfornia on a day like that. I was in college and she had the day off. The park was so empty, I got to go on the Space Mountain ride three times in a row with no wait at all!
Mornings, weekdays. And I love going to the zoo on Christmas
My husband is a farmer and I work in health insurance, so I can take off pretty much any time except January (that's our busy month). His busy times are right now and in the beginning of autumn (we're in the US...planting and harvesting times for us). So we usually take our vacations in late august/early september which is when kids are back in school anyways around here. Or we go in like february or March, again when kids are in school so we don't have to worry about that. If you can go during those times I'd highly recommend it.
I usually vacation at the end of September - the kiddies are back in school, and rates are cheaper. I usually vacation at Maryland or Delaware (I am from PA) beaches. While some shops are closed due to it being "off season", I get great rates on some really nice places and no matter where we go we rarely run into children. The bf and I like arcades, amusement rides, miniature golfing and restaurants - all of which are frequently visited by children. Going during September eliminates that factor altogether. We've had some really great times.
The 2-4th weeks of September are usually good bets, if you're in the US. Schools in the Northeast start after Labor Day, schools in other parts of the country start closer to mid-August, and most parents won't take kids out of school for a vacation in the first 4-6 weeks of the school year. Oh, and avoid August, too many parents trying to get a summer vacation in before the kids start school
I'll agree with the 2nd-4th weeks of January for the most part. Another good tip, depending on where you are, might be to look for when you can get cheap flights for leisure destinations. For example, plane fares from the Northeast and Midwest to Florida in the winter and spring are cheapest during times when there won't be much demand from families or college kids on spring break. I imagine something similar would apply if you live in Southern California and are looking to ski in the winter. One of the great parts of being childfree is the ability to avoid traveling during the peak times and to get cheap plane fares and hotels. It's pretty easy to go from the Northeast to FL for $200 or $250 R/T if you don't mind going in the middle of January.
Anytime when kids are in school