Coming up with new and fun vacation ideas for a family is not an easy task. Here are some family-friendly vacation destinations that will make the entire family happy.
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Located in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains offer a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, zip lines, caverns and wildlife watching. You’ll also find family entertainment such as Dollywood theme park, Water Parks, Alpine Coasters, Ripley’s Aquarium, Country Music Shows, Haunted Mansion, the Crime Museum, and so much more to do.
2. St. Augustine, Florida: This historic city, founded by the Spanish in 1565, offers a range of family-friendly activities, including museums, historic sites, and a pirate museum.
3. Washington D.C.: The nation’s capital is a great destination for families interested in history and politics, with numerous museums (most are free admission) and historical sites to visit.
4. Door County, Wisconsin: Located on a peninsula in Lake Michigan, Door County offers a range of outdoor activities, including kayaking, hiking, and fishing, as well as charming towns and local cuisine. Beaches like Egg Harbor and Sandy Bay will keep the kids entertained. Nearby Green Bay is full of great family activities like a children’s museum and wildlife sanctuary when you need a break from time on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. Check out an organized tour or activity in the area for additional fun.
5. Taos, New Mexico: Taos is a charming town that offers a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures, as well as outdoor activities like skiing and hiking in the nearby mountains. Taos is also known as a foodie destination, with plenty of dining options the whole family can enjoy.
6. Hawaii: The tropical paradise of Hawaii offers a range of family-friendly activities, including beaches, water sports, and cultural experiences. Maui and Oahu have the most kid-friendly attractions, Kauai has the most nature to explore and is quieter, and the Big Island has a good mix of beaches and nature to explore.
7. Mackinac Island, Michigan: This car-free (and care-free) island located in Lake Huron offers a charming, old-world atmosphere with horse-drawn carriages, Victorian architecture, historic forts, and plenty of outdoor activities, including biking and kayaking. There are several hotels and restaurants on the island as well as lakefront areas and secluded beaches. Because Mackinac Island is surrounded by water with no bridge, most visitors arrive by ferry, which is a fun ride by itself.
8. Hocking Hills, Ohio: This region in southeastern Ohio (just south of Columbus) offers stunning natural scenery, including waterfalls and caves, as well as outdoor activities like hiking and zip lining. Hocking Hills State Park has over 25 miles of hiking trails, rock formations, waterfalls, and recess caves. Ash cave, is so spectacular you have to see it to believe it’s real. There is also a butterfly conservation, canopy tours, and an astronomy park.
9. Yellowstone National Park: Located in Wyoming, Yellowstone is home to stunning natural wonders, including geysers, hot springs, and wildlife. Hotels, campsites, and RV parks are not hard to find, though you should book them far ahead during peak seasons.
10. Orlando Area, Florida: Disney World Located in Orlando, Florida is a popular destination for families with kids of all ages. It offers a wide range of attractions, including theme parks, water parks, and entertainment and dining options. Universal Studios Orlando offers a range of attractions based on popular movies and TV shows, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well as a huge new water park. The Orlando Science Center is a kids indoor play paradise and great for hot or rainy days. About an hour’s drive away from Orlando is the Kennedy Space Center and beaches like Cocoa Beach. Many tours leave from the Orlando area to see sights like the famous Florida springs, and local wildlife as well.
11. Williamsburg, Virginia: This historic town offers a range of family-friendly activities, including Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens amusement park, and Water Country USA water park. Take a tour to learn all about this historic area.
12. San Diego: Located in California, San Diego offers a range of family-friendly attractions, including beaches, museums, Balboa Park, Sea World, Coronado Island, and the famous San Diego Zoo.
13. Black Hills, South Dakota: This region offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking and camping, as well as family-friendly attractions like Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
14. Gulf Shores, Alabama: This coastal town offers miles of beautiful beaches, as well as family-friendly attractions like the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and the Gulf State Park.
15. Jackson Hole, Wyoming: This scenic town offers a range of attractions and outdoor activities, including skiing, hiking, and wildlife watching, as well as family-friendly attractions like the National Elk Refuge and the Jackson Hole Rodeo. With a great food scene and plenty of hotel options as well as camping, this is a wonderful place for a family trip.
16. San Juan Islands, Washington: This group of islands in the Pacific Northwest offers stunning natural scenery, as well as outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and whale watching. A 3-hour and 45-minute ferry ride from Seattle will take you along the Salish Sea past Whidbey Island and underneath the historic Deception Pass bridge before arriving in Friday Harbor, a lively town you’re sure to love.
17. Marfa, Texas: This small desert town in west Texas is known for its art installations and its stunning natural scenery, including the mysterious Marfa Lights. The Marfa Lights are mysterious glowing orbs that appear in the desert outside of Marfa, they have mystified people for generations.
18. Lake Placid, New York: This small town in the Adirondack Mountains offers a range of year-round outdoor activities, including lake activities, hiking, skiing, and ice skating, as well as a rich Olympic history. Take some easy day trips from Lake Placid to Burlington, VT (1 hour 45 min) or Montreal Canada (2 hours).
19. Asheville, North Carolina: The charming town of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a range of outdoor activities, as well as a vibrant arts and music scene and excellent restaurants. Countless waterfalls, hikes, and mountain lakes as well as fun things like ghost tours and gem mining for the kids. Sliding rock is a giant rock you can slide down! Check out the Biltmore mansion and kid-friendly brewery tours such as the Sierra Nevada Brewery with large outdoor play area for kids.
20. Sedona, Arizona: This desert town is known for its stunning red rock formations, hiking, jeep tours, as well as a vibrant spiritual and healing community with plenty of spas and hot springs in the area. Slide Rock State Park is a family favorite as are tours of spectacular railways and canyons.
21. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri: This large reservoir offers a range of tours and activities such as water sports, including boating and fishing, as well as family-friendly attractions like the Big Surf Waterpark.
22. The Outer Banks, North Carolina: This string of barrier islands offers miles of pristine beaches, lighthouses, and historic sites, including the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Kayaking, horseback and hang gliding are just some of the other activities here. Fly into Norfolk International Airport (82 miles north).
23. Thor’s Well, Oregon: Located in Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Thor’s Well is a natural sinkhole that appears to drain the Pacific Ocean. It’s an otherworldly sight that’s particularly impressive during high tide. Located 1 hour 45 min from Eugene and 3 hours drive from Portland, this is a place that is lesser known but absolutely great to see. There are many other nearby sights to see.
24. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida: This remote national park is located 70 miles west of Key West and can only be reached by boat from Key West or seaplane. The park features pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a 19th-century fort that’s open for tours.
25. Watkins Glen State Park, New York: Located in the Finger Lakes region of New York at the base of Seneca Lake, Watkins Glen State Park features a series of stunning waterfalls and gorges that are carved into the rock. The park also has several hiking trails that offer incredible views of the scenery.
26. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is found along the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s known for spectacularly dramatic multicolored Pictured Rocky cliffs. These sandstone formations include Miners Castle and Chapel Rock are famously known in the park. You can also see shipwrecks along the shoreline around Au Sable Point’s 19th-century lighthouse and several beaches to enjoy the clear waters.
27. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Sequoia National Park is located beside Kings Canyon National Park in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. There is so much to see and do here, besides admiring the giant trees, including hiking, lakes, museums, and more. Fly into Fresno and make it to this area in a 1 hour 20 min drive or 3 hours and 50 min from Los Angeles.
28. St. Louis, Missouri: Not always thought of as a family haven, you’ll be surprised to know that there are some of the best family attractions and museums in St. Louis. The City Museum is a 4 story plus rooftop play world you won’t believe. With giant slides, slimbing structured, enchanted caves and more, your kids won’t want to leave and neither will you. Other attractions include the Magic House Children’s Museum, Zoo, Gateway Arch, Six Flags, and Science Center.
29. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia: Spectacular falls, beautiful hikes, and several state parks surround this area. 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh, or 2.5 hours from Dulles Airport.
30. Hershey, Pennsylvania: Just east of Pennsylvania’s state capital, Harrisburg, you’ll find Hershey (named for the chocolatier). The Hershey Story museum chronicles the community’s creation as a model town for the workers at Milton Hershey’s chocolate factory. Hershey Theme Park includes rides and attractions, even a zoo.
31. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indianapolis packed with kid-friendly attractions. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s biggest children’s museum! Also check out local state parks, zoo, and the Speedway Museum which are just a few of the family attractions here.
