A lot of the most fun places to vacation also have pretty big down sides, which is what I mean by "opposite extremes." A theme park, for example, has a few minutes of extreme fun, followed by being kicked off the ride, out into the heat and the crowds.
One of our daughters is especially sensitive to this due to her cerebral palsy. When she finds something fun she latches onto it. She would be perfectly content riding the same ride all day. Crowds are also extra stressful for her. If you think it's hard walking through a crowd, try driving a wheelchair through one sometime. The other kids deal with the ups and downs somewhat better, but also take cues from their older sister. When she cries they all cry.
What ideas do people have for still letting children enjoy the highlights, but minimizing the trauma in between?