Now that my youngest son is about to graduate from high school, our years of taking family vacations are almost at an end. Will I travel with my kids now that they’re older? I’m sure of it (especially if I’m footing the bill). But there’s no denying that our family trips won’t quite look the same. In no particular order, here’s a list of classic trips around the U.S. that I’m glad my family took while my children were still young and one trip that I wish we would have taken but never did. I vetted these recommendations with my soon-to-be graduate and he named almost every one on the list.
Top 10 Classic Family Vacations in the U.S.
1. Boston
Boston is a great way to bring history to life for elementary and middle school-aged children. Whether you take a guided tour or explore the historic sites on your own, your kids will surely recognize the famous names and places from their American history lessons. Fanueil Hall, Paul Revere’s House, Bunker Hill, and Old North Church are just a few of the stops along the two- and-a-half-mile route of Boston’s famous Freedom Trail. Kids will also get a kick out of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, where costumed actors explain the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party and visitors play their own part in a Tea Party reenactment. Boston also offers family fun like a science center, an aquarium, Duck tours, whale watching excursions, and harbor cruises.
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2. Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., is another great family vacation that blends fun with education. With museums, monuments, and gardens galore, it’s a place that every kid should visit at least once. In fact, there’s so much to do there, I regret that my family didn’t visit more.
The most important thing to keep in mind about D.C. is that some of the coolest sights require reservations. Book White House tours at least 21 days ahead by contacting your member of Congress. U.S. Capitol tours and visits to the Washington Monument can be booked in advance online, though same-day tickets may be available. And several of the Smithsonian Institution’s 21 locations in D.C. require free timed-entry passes.
3. Walt Disney World
No matter how you personally feel about theme parks, your kids are probably going to love Walt Disney World. There’s just something magical about its self-contained universe of costumed characters, animatronic rides, and fictional lands. Sure, you could probably take a trip to an actual exotic land for the same price, but it’s just not the same as Disney’s nonstop kid-friendly fun.
I’ve done the Disney theme parks several times with my children, but my favorite trip was when we went all out, staying on property and going to all four parks. Along with the Magic Kingdom, the Disney parks include EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Visiting all four in one trip is enough to keep anyone busy. But my family also enjoyed filling our “downtime” with other Disney resort offerings like exploring Downtown Disney, playing mini-golf, and lounging at the fabulous Wilderness Lodge pool.
Ideally, you should make this trip while your children are between about five and 10 years old. And if you approach it with the right attitude, you too will likely have the time of your life.
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4. Colorado
A family ski vacation is a rite of passage, and you can’t go wrong with any number of ski resorts in Colorado. A few of our favorites include Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs. A ski trip is a perfect resort-style vacation where all the activities are essentially in one place. Along with long days on the slopes, you can spend evenings splashing around in the hot tub or playing games as a family in front of a roaring fire.
Most kids are fearless when it comes to flinging themselves down a mountain on a wooden board or a couple of skinny sticks. Doing this trip when your kids are young prepares them for years of happy ski experiences to come. To this Florida native, there’s nothing quite as envy-inducing as the effortlessly parallel turns of a teenager who grew up on annual ski trips.
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5. Yellowstone National Park
I’ve been to about a dozen of the 63 U.S. national parks, and of those I’ve visited, Yellowstone National Park is at the top for classic family vacations. Exploring the massive park, situated around a 251-mile-long figure-eight-shaped highway, involves plenty of driving with the family (a la the Griswolds). But the sights are so different from anything you’ve ever seen that every minute in the car is worthwhile. From caves belching steam and mud pits burping gas to powerful geysers shooting water hundreds of feet in the air, the thermal features at Yellowstone are fascinating to young and old alike. And the sweeping, sun-drenched Wyoming landscapes will burn themselves into your mind’s eye for years to come. Yellowstone National Park also offers top-notch wildlife viewing, with the chance to see bison, bears, wolves, elk, fox, marmots, pronghorn deer, and more.
For a truly special Yellowstone family vacation, try to snag at least a night or two at the Old Faithful Inn, which overlooks Yellowstone’s most famous geyser.
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6. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is another quintessential national park vacation that should be on your family’s to-do list. A day or two in the park is enough to take in the canyon’s grandeur, making it a good stop within a longer Southwest itinerary. We combined our visit with a trip to Sedona and Phoenix. Another option is to add a stop in Page, Arizona, where you’ll find the picturesque Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Most people spend their time at the park walking the Rim Trail, but I recommend hiking at least a portion of the impressive Bright Angel Trail, which descends into the canyon.
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7. Hawaii
To this day, my children say that our family vacation to Hawaii was their all-time favorite trip. They were enchanted by Maui, where we paddle-boarded with giant sea turtles, hiked above the clouds at Haleakeala National Park, and tried surfing for the first time at Cove Beach. Hawaii was the perfect combination of peace and adventure. In addition to our daily outings, we carved out plenty of time to play in the beautiful pools at the Grand Wailea and Marriott Wailea Beach. And of course, the kids loved spending time at the beach. Hawaii has such a diverse array of beaches that it’s a new experience at each one. Be sure to check out the black sand beach of Wai’ānapanapa State Park, the white sandy beach of Wailea, and the gentle yet surfable waves of Waikiki.
You might like “Tips for Your First Maui Vacation” and “Honolulu Vacation Dos and Don’ts“
8. San Francisco
San Francisco is unlike any other major U.S. city you’ve been to. Small in comparison to the likes of New York and Boston, it has a completely different feel due to its hilly streets, Victorian architecture, and historic cable cars. It also offers so many cool things to do. Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge and returning to the city by ferry is a top travel memory for my family. We were also wowed by the stark beauty of Alcatraz Island on a crisp, sunny day. Who would think that the site of a notorious prison could be so otherworldly? And even during a city vacation, we were able to spend time in nature, walking among the towering redwoods at the lovely Muir Woods National Monument, a mere 45-minute drive away.
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9. San Diego
We recently returned from our first family trip to San Diego, and I wish we’d done it sooner. San Diego has so many tourist attractions that appeal to younger kids, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo, the impressive USS Midway aircraft carrier, and the adorable sea lion colony at La Jolla Cove. With our teen, we explored the city, strolling Balboa Park, with its Spanish Revival architecture, taking a harbor cruise, and hiking the sandy cliffs of Torrey Pines Nature Reserve. Beach lovers also have several great options near the city, including Coronado Island and Mission Beach.
10. New York City
Last but not least is New York City. It’s the U.S. destination my family should have visited together but never did. I’ve personally been to New York City several times, so it never seemed essential to take my kids there when we had so many other places to see. But in hindsight, I missed a chance to expose my children to a place that looms large in the American psyche, serving as the setting of countless movies and television shows and playing an outsized role in American history and culture. As the Schuyler sisters sing in Hamilton, “History is happening in Manhattan, and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world.”
If you go, plan to do all the things you’re supposed to do on a New York City vacation. Take the kids to a Broadway play, spend a day seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, run around Central Park, and go to the top of the Empire State Building, to name a few. Or even better, do a trip during the holidays and see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Fifth Avenue decked out with Christmas displays.
Have I missed any classic U.S. family vacations that you would include? Tell me in the comments!
These are great choices! Still need to cover several with our crew.
What wonderful pictures especially the ones with my beautiful, sweet baby boys. How did they grow up so fast? So glad you have such happy memories traveling.