We like Outer Banks, NC (mostly Corolla, and then drive for other activities nearby). We usually take the truck for the 4x4 beach to get up early to see the horses. Go see the lighthouses. Hang out on the beach. Head back to the main land and go to the aquarium and the outlets. Play tennis, bike, fish, etc.
Camping (either tent or Cabins) -- mostly local/within an hour or two drive of us, so like Letchworth, Finger Lakes, and other NYS state parks these days. When I was younger, I used to go in a 5th wheel with a friend of mine, places like Gettysburg PA (fun night time "ghost tours", battlefield stuff, etc), and Cherrystone Virginia.
Indoor water parks are good for quick weekend trips -- Great Wolf Lodge in Ontario, Canada, but it's pricey, so we also have done Splash Lagoon in Erie PA.
Growing up, we went to Ocean City, MD pretty much every summer. Very built up and I prefer the pace in Outer Banks more these days, but I miss Thrasher's fries and Dumser's ice cream.
There's also Bethany Beach DE and Rehobeth DE nearby. Cape May NJ was also nice but I haven't been there in eons and don't remember a ton.
I also grew up visiting Colonial Williamsburg -- plenty to do there, I enjoy historic tours, and there's also theme parks nearby like Busch Gardens and King's Dominion. Also the Shenadoah Valley area of Virginia, Lurray Caverns, etc.
I also enjoy "staycations".... I think we tend to overlook sights and activities in our own backyard -- so for me I have a few backyards including Baltimore (Inner Harbor, Poe's grave, the zoo, the aquarium, etc), Niagara Falls (NY and Ontario), and Buffalo NY.
I liked all of our vacations both growing up as well as with my own family now, but for different reasons since they are all so different.
And of course WDW, but I don't go there every year (absence makes the heart grow fonder), plus we may be out-priced eventually so... Would love to get out to the western US (Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, California), and also Europe -- Italy and get back to England again, but probably not until the kids are older. And in a more pipe dream sense, would like to visit Japan and Australia, but unsure I could handle the long flights.