Family vacations are all about spending some quality time and creating lifetime memories with your loved ones. However, to ensure everyone gets a fair share of fun and entertainment, it’s important to choose the right destination that everyone would love to travel to. 

But choosing one from the endless list of tourist destinations is no less than a challenge. Hence, to ease this task down for you, here’s a curated list of the best places to go for a family vacation. You can read and choose any that would best serve your interests as a family. 

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to go for a family vacation in the US to spend some time out in nature. Herein, the kids will love to watch the Old Faithful erupt. Meanwhile, you can also go strolling for a light hike session on the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail or hit up the Mystic Falls Trail to witness a spectacular view of the Upper Geyser Basin.

While at it, keep an eye out for bison or you can just simply visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center to interact with some lively wild creatures. Besides this, what’s important to note here is that hotels within this region can be quite expensive, hence consider leveraging the Park’s well-equipped campsite to turn this into a BYOB (Bring Your Own Bed) vacation.

Famous Attractions : Hayden Valley, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone Lake, Mystic Falls Trail, Mount Washburn

Anaheim – Disneyland

Anaheim, California is a hub for several magical attractions to keep your family all entertained throughout your stay. After you’re done meeting Mickey and his friends, you can move towards Anaheim’s Adventure City Amusement Park or Knott’s Berry Farm theme park next. Also, if you’re in town during the baseball season, don’t forget to enjoy a game at Angel Stadium.

The best part about Anaheim is that it sits quite close to beaches and popular sights of both San Diego and Los Angeles, so you can have a good time enjoying the best of both worlds. Meanwhile, note that Disneyland remains busy all year round, but if you’re visiting during the off-season, you’ll encounter a lesser crowd.

Famous Attractions : Huntington Beach, Flightdeck Flight Simulation Center, Adventure City, Anaheim GardenWalk, Yorba Regional Park

Destin, Florida

Destin is a big hit among families, all credit goes to its pleasant atmosphere and numerous kid-friendly activities. For instance, the Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park featuring exciting waterslides and a lazy river is perfect for having a good time with your kids. Then there’s Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park which accommodates some most loved animals like penguins, dolphins, and more.

Destin is also best known for its beautiful and calm shorelines, like the shores at Crystal Beach Park and Henderson Beach State Park. And if you want to engage in some adventurous water activity, consider booking a boat tour here. 

Famous Attractions : Crab Island, The Track Destin, Destin History & Fishing Museum, Buccaneer Pirate Cruise, James Lee Park

Cape Cod

Cape Cod is one of the most famous holiday destinations, especially among families. Herein, the Cape Cod National Seashore features a 40-mile-long coastline, where kids can have a good time building sandcastles, fishing or even swimming. Consider planning your visit during summer so that you can get to have a round of mini-golf and spend some time enjoying a movie at the Wellfleet Drive-In. You can also take the kids for a bike ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail or take them on a tour of the Cape Cod Children’s Museum. 

Famous Attractions : Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Pilgrim Monument, Cape Playhouse, Sandwich Glass Museum, Heritage Museums & Gardens, Cahoon Hollow Beach

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is a great place for vacation that offers several outdoor offerings for you to enjoy and engage in along with your family. Herein, you can ride horses, hike, raft through the beautiful Merced River, and fish. If you want to witness some mesmerizing, scenic views, take a bus up to Glacier Point. However, if you’re looking for some adventurous fun, take up any hiking trail within the Yosemite Valley to get an amazing glimpse of the popular Half Dome. Besides this, if you’re planning to stay in Yosemite Valley during the summer, make sure to book your accommodation at least a year in advance as it is the peak season of the year.

Famous Attractions: Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Falls, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Nevada Fall, Taft Point, Yosemite Museum, Happy Isles Art and Nature Center

San Diego

San Diego brings forward a 70-mile-long coastline for you to have ample fun in the soft sand. Talking of the beaches, Coronado Central Beach, Mission Beach, and La Jolla Shores are some of the best beaches for families to enjoy smooth surf and fewer crowds.

Once you’re done enjoying the waves, hit the widely famous San Deigo Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to experience an up-close look at the animals that excite people of all age groups. For more to your delight, there’s Balboa Park which flourishes across 1200 acres of green land, and museums like the Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. 

Famous Attractions : USS Midway Museum, San Diego Bay Cruises, Petco Park, La Jolla Cove, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Honolulu – Oahu

Honolulu has an endless stream of things that you can enjoy with your family on a summer vacation. Beach babies can lay back soaking in the sun or build sandcastles on the neverending stretches of Lanikai Beach, Waikiki Beach, and Kailua Beach. For all those history lovers, you can go exploring the Bishop Museum and the Pearl Harbor National Museum. Families, who love to explore and wander, the island brings you hiking options wherein you can set your foot towards the Koko Crater Trail and Diamond Head State Monument. 

Famous Attractions : Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Battleship Missouri Memorial, Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail, National Memorial Cemetry of the Pacific, Manoa Falls

Also Read : 11 Must-Try Family-Friendly Restaurants in Downtown Toronto

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) :

Q. Which is the best place for a family trip?

A. San Diego is one of the best places to go on a family trip as it offers a whole lot of fun and adventurous activities for you to enjoy. 

Q. What is the cheapest country for a family holiday?

A. Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to travel for a family holiday.

Q. How do I plan a family vacation?

A. Foremost, set your expectations and budget. Next, decide where you’d want to visit while marking the famous attractions you’d like to see and activities you’d love to experience therein. Lastly, put everything together to build a comprehensive itinerary before you proceed to travel.   

Q. How can I save money on a family trip?

A. Select a destination that fits your budget and if possible try traveling off-season. Besides, ensure making advance bookings to leverage better deals and discounts.

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