TOP 20 FAMILY VACATIONS IN THE U.S.
Thinking about taking the family on vacation, but aren't sure where to go? I've got you covered with 20 amazing family vacation ideas for the contiguous United States. These vacation ideas range from 3 to 14 days in length, and include a variety of activities and attractions. For each of the 20 locations, I've also included suggestions on top-rated experiences and attractions.
Before we get started with the list, now is probably a good time to note that most children seem to carry a 'tried and true' mentality. They don't necessarily enjoy the thrill and excitement of a new place as much as adults do. For that reason, I recommend repeating some of your favorite vacations between trying some of the new destinations found on this list.
That's exactly what we do with our daughter, and she seems quite pleased with that approach.
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK & BAR HARBOR, MAINE
|
Duration: 4-5 days | When to Go: July to mid-October | Airport: Portland (ME) or Boston (MA); Bangor (ME) is another potential option
✮ explore downtown Bar Harbor's many restaurants, bars, and shops
✮ catch a sunrise or sunset by either driving or hiking to the top of Cadillac Mountain (a vehicle reservation may be required)
✮ bring or rent a bike to cycle along some of the Acadia National Park's 50-plus miles of wonderfully-maintained carriage roads
✮ explore Sand Beach and then experience some exhilarating scrambling up the Beehive Trail (not recommended for young children)
✮ spend a half-day driving the scenic Park Loop Road, stopping to see at least Thunder Hole, the Otter Cliffs, and Jordan Pond along the way
✮ take some sort of guided boat tour out of Bar Harbor (e.g. scenic boat ride, lobster boat, sailing, kayaking, etc.)
✮ visit the Bass Harbor Head Light Station, preferably at sunrise or sunset
✮ eat a buttery popover and enjoy scenic views from the Jordan Pond House
✮ challenge yourself with a family rock-climbing session with Acadia Mountain Guides
✮ take a scenic drive along the Schoodic Peninsula
✮ go mini-golfing at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
✮ walk along some of the scenic Ocean Path
✮ for an exhilarating experience, climb the ladders and runs of the famous Precipice Trail (typically opens in mid-August)
|
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: May to October | Airport: Redmond (OR) or Portland (OR); Sacramento (CA) is another potential option
✮ Bring or rent a flashlight to go underground at the Lava River Cave (timed entry may be required)
✮ Visit one or several of the more than 20 breweries in Bend (e.g. Deschutes Brewery)
✮ Let nostalgia flow by visiting the last remaining Blockbuster Store in the U.S.
✮ Go whitewater rafting on the Deschutes River (e.g. Seventh Mountain River Company)
✮ Enjoy a deserty hike at Smith Rock State Park
✮ Take a river tube down the Deschutes River in downtown Bend
✮ explore downtown Bend's many restaurants, bars, and shops
✮ Visit the nearby town of Sisters, which has many restaurants and boutique/gift shops
✮ Go for a hike in Newbury National Volcanic Monument (e.g. Paulina Peak, Big Obsidian Flow, Paulina Falls, etc.)
✮ Take a moderate hike to the scenic, 97-foot tall Tumalo Falls
✮ Ride the ATV/ORV trails around Bend
✮ Visit the High Desert Museum, an excellent history museum with live animal demonstrations
✮ Head east on a day trip to visit the colorful rock formations of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
✮ Take a scenic drive along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway
✮ Go skiing at the world-class Mount Bachelor
|
BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA |
Duration: 7-10 days | When to Go: May to October | Airport: Rapid City (SD), Cheyenne (WY), or Denver (CO)
✮ Visit Bear Country USA, one of the best drive-through zoos in the U.S.
✮ Drive some of the scenic roads of the Black Hills (e.g. Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Spearfish Canyon, etc.)
✮ Take a moderately difficult hike to the summit of Black Elk Peak, which is the highpoint of South Dakota
✮ Visit Mount Rushmore and hike the Presidential Trail to get closer to the presidential carvings
✮ Take some photos at Dahl's Chainsaw Art, the most famous chainsaw-art store in the country
✮ Eat and drink in the restaurants and breweries of downtown Rapid City
✮ Let the wine flow at Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City
✮ Take the kiddos to the Rush Mountain Adventure Park for a mountain coaster ride and/or zip-lining
✮ Enjoy a scenic drive and hike within Custer State Park (e.g. Black Elk Peak, Cathedral Spires Trail, Sunday Gulch Trail)
✮ Go underground on a guided tour of Wind Cave National Park
✮ Take a day trip to visit the colorful scenery of Badlands National Park and visit the famous tourist trap known as Wall Drug
✮ Visit the Reptile Gardens, one of the premier reptile zoos of the U.S.
✮ Enjoy a dinner theatre at Fort Hays Old West Town & Dinner Show
✮ Ride a bike along some of the George Michaelson Rail Trail, one of the finest rail trails in the country
✮ See the various waterfalls along Spearfish Canyon
✮ Experience wild west buildings and culture in the town of Deadwood
|
Duration: 4-5 days | When to Go: May to October | Airport: Boston (MA); Manchester (NH) and Providence (RI) are other potential options
✮ Walk the entire 2.5-mile long Freedom Trail as it passes many of Boston and Charleston's most historic sites
✮ Explore Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden on foot (don't miss the various statues, playgrounds, and the swan boat rides)
✮ Hop aboard a duck boat with Boston Duck Tours
✮ Catch a baseball game at the storied Fenway Park
✮ Take a boat ride out to Fort Warren on George's Island (part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area)
✮ Visit the excellent Museum of Science and/or Museum of Fine Arts
✮ Go shopping at the boutique shops along Newbury Street
✮ Take the kids to the Boston Children's Museum
✮ Grab dinner and dessert at one of the fine Italian restaurants of the North End (e.g. Hanover Street)
✮ Visit the New England Aquarium and consider taking a whale-watching boat tour
✮ Catch a performance by the Blue Man Group at the Charles Playhouse
✮ Walk or cycle along some of the Charles River Bike Path
✮ Visit the tourist magnets of Boston: Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market
✮ Hop aboard 'Old Ironsides' at the U.S.S. Constitution Museum
✮ See dinosaur fossils, gemstones, and animals at the Harvard Museum of Natural History
|
Duration: 4-5 days | When to Go: May to September | Airport: Bentonville (AR), Springfield (MO), Kansas City (MO), or Tulsa (OK)
✮ Catch some rides and thrills at the beloved Silver Dollar City theme park
✮ Take an 2.5-mile journey on an electric golf cart cart at Top of the Rock at Big Cedar Lodge
✮ Visit one of the best zoos in the Midwest: Branson's Promised Land Zoo
✮ Ride a zipline or mountain coaster (e.g. Runaway Mountain Coaster)
✮ Enjoy a show (or several) at one of the many live performance theatres in town
✮ Go shopping and see the water fountain show at Branson Landing
✮ Take a swim at Moonshine Beach Recreation Area
✮ See real artifacts from the Titanic ship at the Titanic Museum
✮ Witness decades worth of toys at the World's Largest Toy Museum
✮ Encourage the kids to burn all their energy climbing and jumping at Fritz's Adventure
✮ Take a hike or tram tour at the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in nearby Lampe
✮ Score some scenic views from the Branson Scenic Overlook on MO-165
|
DISNEYLAND & ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA |
Duration: 3-4 days | When to Go: Year-Round | Airport: John Wayne (CA), Long Beach (CA), or Los Angeles (CA)
✮ Spend 2 days (or perhaps even 3) enjoying the two main parks of Disneyland: Disney California Adventure Park and Disneyland Park
✮ Head to Downtown Disney for shopping, dining and entertainment (this is admission free as it is location outside of the two parks)
✮ Spend a day at the nearby Knott's Berry Farm amusement park and water park
✮ Enjoy a dinner theater experience at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
✮ Have some more fun at the Adventure City amusement park (best for younger children)
In addition to what is described above, you could also consider adding more days to visit any of the following: Hollywood (including Universal Studios), Los Angeles, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and/or the southern beaches of California
|
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE |
Duration: 7-10 days | When to Go: April to November | Airport: Knoxville (TN), Asheville (NC), or Greenville-Spartanburg (SC)
✮ Drive up Newfound Gap Road (US-441) and Clingmans Dome Road and then take a short walk to the highpoint of TN (Clingman's Dome)
✮ Enjoy a show (or several) at one of many live performance theatres in Pigeon Forge (e.g. Dixie Stampede, Hatfield & McCoy)
✮ Visit Dollywood, one of America's best theme parks
✮ Take a day hike within Great Smoky Mountains National Park (e.g. Alum Cave, Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Rainbow Falls, Charlies Bunion)
✮ Enjoy one of the great water parks that are located in the region (e.g. Dollywood Splash Country, Soaky Mountain Waterpark, etc.)
✮ Go underground on a guided cave tour at Forbidden Caverns
✮ Seek some thrills with one of the many zip-lining tours in the area (e.g. Adventure Park, CLIMB Works, Wahoo, etc.)
✮ Enjoy the shops and amusements found within 'The Island' tourist area of Pigeon Forge
✮ Try zorbing at the Outdoor Gravity Park
✮ See real artifacts from the Titanic ship at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge
✮ Drive some of the paved scenic roads in the Smokies (e.g. Cades Cove, Newfound Gap, Roaring Fork Motor Trail, etc.)
✮ Enjoy a few of the dozens of family-fun centers found in Pigeon Forge (e.g. go-karting centers, mini-golf, amusement parks, etc.)
✮ Watch lumberjacks at the Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud
✮ Take some sips at some of the many moonshine distilleries and wineries in the area
✮ Explore the downtown area of Gatlinburg, which is packed with shops, restaurants, museums, and other attractions
✮ Zoom down one of the area's mountain coasters (e.g. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster)
|
HERSHEYPARK & LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: April to November | Airport: Harrisburg (PA), Philadelphia (PA), or Baltimore (MD)
✮ Ride the famous rollercoasters of Hersheypark
✮ Immerse yourself in chocolate at Hershey Chocolate World
✮ Take the younger children to Dutch Wonderland, one of the finest children's amusement parks in the country
✮ Climb aboard a guided horse and buggy tour in Dutch country
✮ Cycle some of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
✮ Take a tour of a working Amish farm (e.g. Old Windmill Farm)
✮ Explore more than 100 locomotives and railroad cars at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
✮ Enjoy some delicious Dutch cooking (e.g. Shady Maple Smorgasbord)
✮ Take a ride on the top-rated Strasburg Rail Road
✮ Walk the lovely gardens at Hershey Gardens
✮ See classic cars and other historic vehicles at the AACA Museum in Hershey
✮ Patron some of the boutique shops and shopping villages found along PA-340 in the towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse
✮ Be entertained at one of the local theaters (e.g. Dutch Apple Dinner Theater)
✮ Immerse yourself in Amish/Dutch History at Ephrata Cloister
✮ Take a day trip and head north to the (free admission; pay-as-you-ride) Knoebels Amusement Resort
|
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA |
Duration: 4-5 days | When to Go: June to October | Airport: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SC)
✮ Take a pirate-themed boat cruise with Pirates of Hilton Head
✮ Catch a highly-rated family-friendly comedy and magic show at the Comedy Magic Cabaret
✮ Explore the grounds and museum of the Coastal Discovery Museum
✮ Tackle an aerial adventure park with zip-lining at Adventure Hilton Head
✮ Relax at Coligny Beach
✮ Go for a hike at the Sea Pines Forest Preserve
✮ See mermaids on a Mermaid Encounter Tour
✮ Cycle some of the 60-plus miles of paved bike paths on Hilton Head Island (this is one of the best places for biking in the U.S.)
✮ Stay at the Disney Hilton Head Island Resort
✮ Take a scenic dolphin-spotting boat tour
✮ Spend a half-day walking around the beautiful Historic District of Savannah, Georgia
|
MOAB & ARCHES NATIONAL PARK |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: April to November | Airport: Salt Lake City (UT), Denver (CO), or Las Vegas (NV); there are also some regional airports but they are limited in operation
✮ Enjoy some of the best family-friendly day hikes in Arches National Park (e.g. Double Arch, The Windows, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch)
✮ Catch a sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park
✮ Take an short hike in the Islands in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park (e.g. Mesa Arch, Grand View Point Trail, etc.)
✮ Book a reservation for a guided 4x4 Hummer driving tour with the Moab Adventure Center
✮ Take a moderate, 3.0-mile round hike to stunning Corona Arch, a 105-foot tall natural arch
✮ Enjoy the many shops and restaurants of downtown Moab
✮ Hike some of the moderately-challenging, top-rated trails of Arches National Park (e.g. Devils Garden, Delicate Arch)
✮ Rent a bike and cycle some of the paved paths found in and north of town
✮ Float down a section of the Colorado River with the help of a local guide service
✮ Rent a jeep or ORV/UTV and explore some of the hundreds of miles of scenic dirt roads in the area
✮ Take a day trip to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, stopping at Wilson Arch and Newspaper Rock along the way
✮ Ride some of Moab's world-class mountain biking trails (not recommended for younger children)
✮ Have the kids participate in Arches National Park's Junior Ranger program
✮ Hike a few of the best hiking trails found outside of Arches (e.g. Fisher Towers, Jeep Arch, Mill Creek, Morning Glory Bridge, etc.)
✮ Challenge yourself with a guided rock-climbing or canyoneering adventure
|
NEW YORK CITY / MANHATTAN |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: April to December | Airport: JFK (NY) or LaGuardia (NY); Newark (NJ) is another potential option
✮ Explore the trails and playgrounds of southern Central Park (e.g. Heckscher Playground, Billy Johnson Playground, etc.)
✮ Catch an age-appropriate show on Broadway (e.g. Lion King, Wicked, Michael Jackson, Radio City Rockettes, etc.)
✮ Enjoy the splash pad at Washington Square Park in summer
✮ See dinosaurs, animals, and gemstones at the enormous American Museum of Natural History
✮ Book a 'salon treatment' doll experience at the American Girl NYC store
✮ Visit NYC's most iconic toy store: FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Plaza
✮ Take the kids shopping at some of their favorite stores (LEGO, M&M, Hershey's Chocolate World, Disney, Harry Potter, Nintendo, etc.)
✮ Ride the tall and fast metal children's slide at the Chelsea Waterside Park
✮ Enjoy the elevated views from the SUMMIT One Observatory (reservations highly recommended)
✮ Pretend to be a spy at SPYSCAPE
✮ Take a walk along the High Line with a detour to visit Little Island as well
✮ Visit the iconic Economy Candy store in the Lower East Side
✮ Book a reservation for a boat trip to the Statue of Liberty (or take the free Staten Island ferry to score great views of it from the water)
✮ See more than 6,000 animals at the Bronx Zoo
✮ Ride the SeaGlass Carousel in lower Manhattan
✮ Enjoy the seaside amusements of Coney Island in summer
✮ Catch a ballgame at Yankee Stadium
|
Duration: 3-4 days | When to Go: June to September | Airport: Atlantic City (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), or Newark (NJ)
✮ Walk and/or bike the 2.5-mile long wooden beach boardwalk
✮ Spend some cash at the various amusement attractions found all along the beach boardwalk (e.g. rides, arcades, mini-golf, etc.)
✮ Relax at the beach
✮ Take a day trip to head south to enjoy more seaside amusements in the town of Wildwood
✮ Bounce your way along the Totally Tubular Aqua Park
✮ Eat all sorts of seaside junk food! (beach pizza, taffy, fried everything, donuts, etc.)
✮ Enjoy some exciting watersports (e.g. water-tubing, parasailing, etc.)
✮ Hop on a top-rated boat tour (e.g. pirate adventure boat, speed boat rides, etc.)
|
Duration: 7-14 days | When to Go: Year-Round | Airport: Orlando International Airport (FL)
✮ Spend at least 1 day at each of the four main Walt Disney World parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom
✮ Visit one or both of the two major Universal Orlando Resort parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
✮ Get soaked at one of the many water parks in the Orlando area (some but not all are run by Disney and Universal Studios)
✮ Swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove
✮ Go shopping at more than 150 stores at Disney Springs
✮ Enjoy more family-fun amusements at Fun Spot America
✮ Experience alligators and other reptiles at Gatorland
✮ Ride a giant 400-foot ferris wheel at ICON Park
✮ Enjoy the rollercoasters, water rides, and animal experiences at SeaWorld Orlando
✮ Go river-tubing at the nearby Rock Springs Run at Kelly Park
✮ Drive 75-minutes south to visit LEGOLAND Florida and/or the Peppa Pig Theme Park
✮ Cycle some of the excellent West Orange Trail rail trail
✮ Take a guided airboat tour from Kissimmee
✮ Eat at the World's Largest McDonald's in Orlando
✮ See manatees at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City in winter
✮ Swim in a beautiful natural spring at Wekiwa Springs State Park
|
SAN ANTONIO & AUSTIN, TEXAS |
Duration: 7-10 days | When to Go: March to November | Airport: San Antonio (TX) or Austin (TX)
✮ See thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin
✮ Swim in a gigantic natural spring-fed 68-degree pool within Zilker Park in Austin
✮ Seek some thrills at the Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio
✮ Try some of Austin's 50-plus craft breweries (that's not a typo)
✮ See more than 500 animals stuffed on the walls of the famous Buckhorn Saloon
✮ Walk the famous San Antonio River Walk and continue on to visit The Alamo
✮ See more than 3,500 animals at the San Antonio Zoo
✮ Go underground on a guided tour of the Natural Bridge Caverns
✮ Take a day trip to visit the charming town of Fredericksburg (or even better, try to stay there for 1-2 nights as well)
✮ Spend a day getting soaked at Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, one of the best water-parks in the U.S.
✮ Enjoying the rides, attractions, and animal attractions of SeaWorld San Antonio and Aquatica
✮ Shoot some photos of the World's Largest Cowboy Boots, a fun roadside attraction in San Antonio
✮ Drive west to visit the Hamilton Pool Preserve, which features a 50-foot limestone waterfall
✮ Eat some famous BBQ in Austin (e.g. Franklin's)
✮ Shop along South Congress Street in Austin
✮ Tour four stunning and historic Spanish frontier mission buildings within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
✮ Take a dip in the huge Barton Springs Pool in Austin
✮ Take a self-guided or guided driving safari at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
✮ Walk the lovely grounds of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin
|
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: Year-Round | Airport: San Diego (CA)
✮ Visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, home to more than 14,000 animals
✮ Spend a day enjoying the rides, attractions, and marine animal shows of SeaWorld San Diego
✮ Enjoy the beach and seaside amusements of Mission Beach and Belmont Park
✮ Take a hike at the nearby Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
✮ Head north to La Jolla to enjoy its beaches and tide pools
✮ Enjoy a scenic view from the top of Cabrillo National Monument
✮ Walk through the various gardens of the top-rated San Diego Botanic Garden
✮ Tour a historic U.S. Navy aircraft carrier at the USS Midway Museum
✮ Snap some photos at the scenic Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
✮ Bring the younger kiddos to Sesame Place San Diego
✮ Drive through the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
✮ Take a day trip north to visit LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad
|
TAMPA & CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: March to November| Airport: Tampa (FL) or St. Pete-Clearwater (FL)
✮ Spend a day or two enjoying the popular beaches of St. Pete (e.g. Upham Beach Park) and Clearwater Beach
✮ Ride rollercoasters and other thrill rides, plus see thousands of animals, at the massive Busch Gardens theme park
✮ Let the young ones play at the Glazer Children's Museum
✮ Get soaked at the Adventure Island water park, located across from Busch Gardens
✮ Enjoy inexpensive fun by letting the kids enjoy the playgrounds and splash pad at Carrollwood Village Park
✮ Visit the impressive Florida Aquarium
✮ See your favorite animals at ZooTampa
✮ Catch a Tampa Bay Ray's baseball game
In addition to what is described above, you could also take a day trip south to the Bradenton and Sarasota area (which is packed with great beaches, notable museums, and more).
|
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, NEW HAMPSHIRE |
Duration: 7-10 days | When to Go: July to mid-October | Airport: Manchester (NH) or Boston (MA)
✮ Climb through boulder caves at the Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves in North Woodstock
✮ Reach the top of Mount Washington by taking the Auto Road or the Cog Railway (you can also hike the mountain, but it's very difficult)
✮ Explore downtown North Conway, making sure to include a stop at the beloved Zeb's General Store
✮ Take a scenic drive along the Kancamagus Highway (NH 112), stopping at Sabbaday Falls, Rocky Gorge, and Lower Falls along the way
✮ Find a local swimming hole and take a dip
✮ Ride a canoe or river-tube down the Saco River in Conway and western Maine (e.g. Saco River Tubing Center, Saco Bound, etc.)
✮ Take the kids to Story Land and/or Santa's Village, two great theme parks geared towards younger children
✮ Go for an easy or moderate hike in the national forest (e.g. Arethusa Falls, Artist's Bluff, Bridal Veil Falls, Glen Ellis Falls, Mount Willard)
✮ Backpack up to an AMC backcountry hut and stay the night (dinner and breakfast are served in season)
✮ Visit Madison Boulder, one of the largest boulders in the United States, in Madison
✮ Enjoy some outlet shopping at the Settler's Green Outlets in Conway
✮ Go swimming at either one of the two lakes named Echo Lake (there's one near Cannon Mountain and there's one in North Conway)
✮ Take a canopy zip-lining tour at Bretton Woods
✮ Find Christmas ornaments at the massive Christmas Loft store in North Conway (a smaller store of theirs also exists in North Woodstock)
✮ Drive the US-302 scenic highway through Crawford Notch State Park from Jackson to Twin Mountain (or vice versa)
|
WILLIAMSBURG & VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: May to September | Airport: Newport News/Williamsburg (VA), Norfolk (VA), or Richmond (VA)
✮ Ride the world-class rollercoasters at Busch Gardens
✮ Engage in history at Colonial Williamsburg, the largest living history museum in the U.S.
✮ Enjoy the beach and seaside amusements of Virginia Beach
✮ Challenge yourself at the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Williamsburg
✮ Visit the site of the first permanent English colony in America at Historic Jamestowne
✮ Learn from costumed interpreters at the Jamestown Settlement
✮ Get wet at the largest water park in the Mid-Atlantic (and one of the finest in the U.S.) at Water Country USA
✮ Visit another excellent living history museum at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown
✮ Take a drive along the 23-mile Colonial Parkway
✮ Climb aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin at Nauticus, a maritime museum where you can tour a large U.S. Navy battleship
✮ Walk through the Norfolk Botanical Garden, one of the finest botanic gardens in the U.S.
✮ Spend time enjoying the trails and beaches of First Landing State Park, dubbed the 'crown jewel of Virginia state parks'
✮ Visit the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center at Virginia Beach, a large aquarium with more than 10,000 animals from 300-plus species
|
WISCONSIN DELLS & MADISON, WISCONSIN |
Duration: 4-6 days | When to Go: July to August | Airport: Madison (WI) or Milwaukee (WI)
✮ Take a scenic boat tour to visit the Dells of the Wisconsin River
✮ Spend a full day at Noah's Ark, one of the best and largest water-parks in the country
✮ Stay at an indoor waterpark resort (e.g. Wilderness Resort)
✮ Zoom through the air at the excellent Bigfoot Zipline
✮ Take a guided horse-drawn carriage tour through cliff-walled gorges with Lost Canyon Tours
✮ Catch the famous Rick Wilcox Magic Theater magic show
✮ See and feed more than 100 deer at the Wisconsin Deer Park
✮ Head to the free admission Henry Villas Zoo in Madison
✮ Go river-tubing on the Wisconsin River (e.g. Point Bluff Tubing Resort)
✮ Walk the grounds of the Olbrich Botanical Gardens
✮ Visit the eclectic House on the Rock (and bring cash so that the kids can feed the amazing animatronics)
✮ Drive 25-minutes south and take a day hike within Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin's premier natural area
✮ Step underground on a guided tour of the Cave of the Mounds in nearby Blue Mounds
✮ Enjoy some of the dozens of family-fun centers in town (e.g. amusement parks, go-karting, arcades, water-parks, mini-golf, etc.)
|
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING |
Duration: 5-7 days | When to Go: June to September | Airport: Bozeman (MT), Jackson (WY), Salt Lake City (UT), or Idaho Falls (ID)
✮ Witness the eruption of the famed Old Faithful geyser (erupts roughly every 90-100 minutes or so)
✮ See plenty of wild animals from the safety of your vehicle along the Park Loop Road (e.g. bears, bison, elk, etc.)
✮ Walk the various boardwalk trails of Lower Geyser Basin near Old Faithful to see a variety of colorful hot spring pools
✮ Have the kids participate in Yellowstone's Junior Ranger program
✮ Rent a bike from the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and ride to see Morning Glory Pool
✮ Take a hike for an elevated view of the dramatic Grand Prismatic Spring
✮ Hike the great trails around Lower Falls and Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River
✮ Walk the easy trails at West Thumb Geyser Basin to see some of the best hot springs in the park
✮ Rent a rowboat or small motorboat at the Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake
✮ Go waterfall hunting (there are hundreds in the park, and many are accessible via roadside or short hike)
✮ Consider heading east to visit the nearby town of Cody, Wyoming (be sure to catch the Cody Nite Rodeo and visit the Buffalo Bill museum)
|
Here is a list of additional top-rated family-friendly vacation areas in the United States. Each of these vacation ideas almost made the top 20 list above. Please email me if you see any glaring omissions from this list.
✮ Albuquerque & Santa Fe, New Mexico - 4-5 days
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park & Capital Reef National Park, Utah - 5-7 days
✮ Burlington & Stowe, Vermont - 4-5 days
✮ Cape Cod & the Islands, Massachusetts - 5-7 days
✮ Chattanooga, Tennessee - 3-4 days
✮ Chicago, Illinois - 4-5 days
✮ Destin, Florida - 3-4 days
✮ Door County, Wisconsin - 2-3 days
✮ Erie, Pennsylvania - 2-3 days
✮ Estes Park & Rocky Mountains National Park - 4-5 days
✮ Florida Keys & Dry Tortugas National Park - 4-5 days
✮ Grand Canyon National Park, Williams, and Flagstaff, Arizona - 4-5 days
✮ Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama - 3-4 days
✮ Hot Springs, Arkansas - 2-3 days
✮ Jackson, Wyoming & Grand Tetons National Park - 4-5 days
✮ Las Vegas, Nevada - 3-4 days
✮ Lake George, New York - 3-4 days
✮ Lake Tahoe, California - 3-4 days
✮ Mackinac Island & Traverse City, Michigan - 3-4 days
✮ Medora & Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota - 2-3 days
✮ Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - 4-5 days
✮ Naples and the southern Gulf Coast, Florida - 4-5 days
✮ Northern Utah skiing (e.g. Park City, Deer Valley, etc.) - 4-5 days
✮ North Carolina Mountains - 5-7 days
✮ Ocean City, Maryland - 3-5 days
✮ Old Orchard Beach & Portland, Maine - 3-5 days
✮ Oregon coastline (including Newport, Bandon, and Sisters) - 3-5 days
✮ Outer Banks, North Carolina - 3-4 days
✮ Page, Arizona & Kanab, Utah - 5-7 days (split this time between the two places)
✮ Palm Springs & Joshua Tree National Park, California - 4-5 days
✮ Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - 3-4 days
✮ Redwood National and State Parks, California - 3-4 days
✮ Sandusky & Cedar Point, Ohio - 3-4 days
✮ Sedona, Arizona - 5-7 days
✮ Siesta Key, Florida - 3-5 days
✮ St. George, Utah - 3-4 days
✮ Tucson and southern Arizona - 4-5 days
✮ Washington, D.C. - 3-5 days
✮ Wildwood, New Jersey - 3-4 days
✮ Yosemite National Park, California - 3-5 days
✮ Zion National Park, Utah - 3-4 days
|
I also highly recommend family vacations to these special places in Canada:
✮ Banff & Jasper, Alberta - 7-10 days in summer or 4-5 days in winter
✮ Mont Tremblant Ski Resort, Quebec - 4-5 days in winter
✮ Niagara Falls - 2-3 days in spring, summer, or fall
✮ Quebec City - 4-5 days in summer, fall, or winter
✮ Prince Edward Island - 3-5 days in summer or fall
✮ Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia - 4-5 days in winter
|
Here are some general tips for successful (and hopefully less-stressful) family vacations:
✮ I always check online reviews using several websites before booking any accommodations. As a general rule, I have found that if an accommodation has an overall rating of at least 8.8 on Hotels.com, 4.4 on Google Reviews, and 4.5 on Tripadvisor, it is almost certainly going to provide a great experience. I don't think I have ever been disappointed by an accommodation that has an overall rating of at least 9.2 on Hotels.com, 4.6 on Google Reviews, and 4.6 on Tripadvisor. I'm at the point now where I get really excited when I see an accommodation that has reviews of that magnitude, because I know it's going to provide a fantastic experience.
✮ As I also mention above, your children will likely appreciate if your vacations are a mix of old and new. Kids tend to enjoy returning to places where they have fond memories. I think a good rule of thumb is to spend half your vacation time on repeat destinations and the other half on new places.
✮ To take the stress out of family travel, you absolutely need to make yourself a travel checklist. And as soon as you return from a trip, edit and improve that checklist for the next trip. After a few rounds of editing, that checklist will allow travel to become MUCH easier for you.
✮ Don't be afraid to pull your children out of school to experience travel. I generally think it's OK to pull kids out of school a few days per year, although we try to limit ourselves to 5 or fewer days per school year. Teachers sometimes get upset with this, but travel teaches kids a lot too.
✮ More and more nature parks and amusement parks are requiring reservations or 'timed entry'. I recommend performing research at least 6 months in advance (12 months if you are thinking about visiting national parks).
✮ Walmart Supercenters!
|
As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have used or come recommended by trusted peers.
|
