The Family Vacation Spots to Hit This Summer
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Summer is approaching (maybe not fast enough for the kids) and it’s time to start thinking about family vacation ideas! We’ve rounded up the best family vacations in the US to ensure that you make some fantastic memories with your little ones. Here are our top eight outdoor vacations.
Yellowstone
One of the best family vacation spots out there, both you and your kids will be amazed at the beauty you see at Yellowstone National Park. Located in three states, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, it’s the US’ oldest national park. With great bison, Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake, and a massive supervolcano, there’s lots to marvel at.
Kids here can become Junior Rangers, Young Scientists, and World Heritage Junior Rangers. With fun education, science mysteries, and exploration, they’ll be excited to learn more.
Don't want to do hours of research? Check out our Yellowstone Getaway, where a local expert will make you a personalized itinerary.
Yosemite
One of California’s most famous places, Yosemite National Park offers enormous granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, beautiful vistas, and stunning hikes. There are hike options for legs of any size, fields to picnic in, and places to explore with your children. It can get crowded, so be sure to be there early and to make reservations if needed to make sure that you can get in.
Inspire your children to be adventurous by telling them of the rock climbers on Half Dome, encourage their love of education with the geologic history of the area, and give them a hike they’ll never forget by walking close to the spray of one of the many waterfalls. There’s so many fun things to do here and your kids will be glad they came! And if you want a family Yosemite adventure without the work of planning it, check out our Yosemite trip. Our destination experts will build you a personalized itinerary, all you have to do is get there!
Grand Canyon
Another of the best family-friendly vacations is a trip to the Grand Canyon, an iconic landmark. At 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep, it will astound you. Here you can explore the area by foot, bike, or train. Kids can also become Junior Rangers here! (They can do this at many of the National Parks.)
With fantastic views you won’t believe, interesting geology, and so much more to see, you and your family will have an amazing time exploring.
Lake Tahoe
The second deepest lake in the US lies on the border of California and Nevada. While a great summer vacation spot for families, it also offers fun and amazing things to do all year! Take your kids for a swim in the crystal clear water, hike to viewpoints above it, and picnic on the shores this summer vacation.
There are lots of great parks to explore in the area, places to see, and tours to book to ensure that your kids have a fun vacation and are already looking forward to their next family adventure. We’ve also got Lake Tahoe summer and winter adventures, so be sure to check out our website for those to make it a simple trip for you and an amazing time for your family.
Outer Banks
On the opposite side of the country, in North Carolina, lie the Outer Banks. These barrier islands have beaches, state parks and so much more for you and your family to explore for your vacation. With rolling sand dunes, the largest sand dune on the East coast, and even the spot where the Wright Brothers took their infamous flight, the family will have a blast here.
Gatlinburg
Down in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you’ll find miles of trails, wildlife, swimming holes, and more! Kids here can fish, zipline, go horseback riding, and explore the beautiful mountains surrounding this picturesque town. Plus, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located nearby, is one of the few free national parks in the US.
Moab
Moab, Utah will amaze not just your kids, but the whole family! With hiking, biking, rafting, canyoneering, and offroading, there isn’t any shortage of fun ways to explore the area. Two national parks are located nearby, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. You can continue racking up the number of National Parks your children have gotten to visit by exploring these two. (Plus they both have Junior Ranger programs available.)
The rock formations in this area are fun to explore and see, and this adventure will give your kids things to talk about forever!
Alaska
Alaska is one of those places that seems like another planet, and summer is the best time to visit. With almost a full day of light, there's countless ways to explore this last frontier as a family. You can kayak to glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park, watch the sunrise kiss Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, or safely watch wild grizzly bears in Katmai.
For a fully planned and safe getaway, explore our Alaska trip.
Summer vacations with our kids is one of the best things and we can’t wait to continue to explore the US with our families! If you head out on any of these best family vacation spots, or any others, be sure to tag us on social media. We can’t wait to see what fun things you and your kids see this summer!
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