Choosing a good place for a family vacation can feel either super easy or like a heavy burden. Even with all the traveling we do, when we’re actually planning a vacation it’s a whole different ball game. You want to plan a trip where you’re making great memories and where there are plenty of fun activities that everyone will enjoy, but then you’re also considering the budget and the logistics of traveling… It’s a lot.
We’ve put together a great list of good places for family vacation all around North America (USA, Mexico, and Canada) that can work out for families with a variety of interests and ages. There’s not really a one-size-fits-all family vacation out there… or is there? Take a look at our recommendations for where to plan a family trip and our tips for making it worthwhile for everyone. If you have any questions or need additional recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a memorable family vacation!
20+ Good Places for Family Vacation
It really is a privilege to get to take your family on a vacation, and some of us are fortunate enough to get to enjoy time away together multiple times each year. Whether you’re a vacation per season family or only get the rare occasion to travel together, you want to make it count and come home with awesome memories and hopefully some new experiences. Vacations are also one of the best times to bond as a family, and having teenagers now, I can tell you that we’re more grateful today than we were when the kids were little that we got to travel together as much as we did. So let’s get to the grit of making a family vacay happen!
What Are The Benefits Of A Family Vacation
I know that having a trip together is fun, and that’s why we like to share what we think are really good places for family vacation, but there’s more to it than just some temporary enjoyment. Family vacations have a huge impact on life for everyone involved, and that’s why they’re so good for us, either a road trip or a fly-to vacation.
Shared Experiences and Family Bonding
As our kids have gotten older it’s pretty amazing to look back and see some of the cool experiences we’ve had as a family. Whether that’s been learning to rock climb together or kayaking on glacial lakes. When we’ve gotten to do new things that are new for ALL of us, it really has given us some great memories where we’re all at the same level and learning and having fun in unison. When you’re a well-traveled adult with lots of life experience, there aren’t many new things to discover in your everyday life, but picking a good place for family vacation where there are opportunities for learning and doing something new for everyone, that’s really special and over time has helped our family bond grow.
Cultural Exposure for Perspective
Even when we’re not doing a family vacation to someplace that seems exotic in comparison to our current home, there’s a lot to learn from each new place we go. A part of our family vacations always involves some piece of history and culture, whether that be Indigenous history and practices or visiting historic sites that have something to teach us. It’s so easy to forget our place in history or the people who came before us, whether we’re connected to them or not. Traveling and learning about another culture can have an impact that carries on into kids’ everyday lives, and adults’ lives and how they interact with people as well.
Empathy is the big takeaway when you’re traveling and experiencing another culture. I’m not recommending some sort of “mission” trip and playing savior in some place you see as impoverished or uncivilized, but visiting a place with a diverse population and neighborhoods or communities that are different from what you’re used to at home. Seeing that there are different ways of living and doing things is a valuable lesson at every age.
Building Confidence and Adaptability in Children
I love telling people about how our kids have had noticeable growth in their bravery and skills as we’ve travelled more and more. We’ve done so many family vacations and trips over the years that as I think back, it’s kind of incredible to see where we’re at now with life skills that have developed through travel. Our kids are skilled at packing and preparing their own luggage for any sort of environment. They know how to navigate time tables and maps. They have honed their skills of observation in new places…
And I think one of my favorite things about all of our family vacations is how confident our kids have become out in the wild, meaning out in nature. From wildlife safety to open water swimming, they’ve grown as people who know how to appreciate and respect the natural world, and that leads to wanting to protect it. There are so many benefits to finding good places for family vacations that stretch everyone’s life experiences.
Reducing Stress for Home Life
Likely the reason most people like having nice family vacations, reducing the stress that builds up from work and being at home together a lot, traveling and having a big change of scenery really can act as a reset on life. We’ve found that the trips we take together that include opportunities to play outside (like the mountains and ocean, not playgrounds) give us the best recharge and release. It can be hard to leave the stresses of work or big family things at home, but planning a vacation where you either must disconnect from the tensions or you genuinely can allow yourself to step away is important. Again, it does come down to vacation being a privilege, and if you can make it work it’s worth it.
Are Family Vacations Worth It
For us it’s just a part of our lives that we carve out time and budget to have family vacations. We really do think they are worth the effort and cost. We use family vacations to get our extended family to go new places with us and make sure that the kids get time with cousins and grandparents, but not every trip by any means. While we enjoy the trips that include our extended family, we really do find the best connections with each other when it’s just our nuclear family group, and that’s become even more the case as the kids have moved into being teens.
What Are The Best Places For Family Vacations
I wish I could say that we’ve been everywhere, but we haven’t. I have been to 48 of the United States, 7 out of 10 Canadian provinces (and the Yukon), and 6 of the Mexican states. So those are the places we’re drawing on for our suggestions for the best family vacation destinations. If you have additional recommendations, feel free to leave a comment sharing your ideas and experiences.
Best Places for Family Vacations with Small Kids
In reality, you can make any destination a kid-friendly one unless it’s an adults-only resort somewhere, but there are some places that truly are awesome for family vacation and are really great with small kids. Especially when kids are little and don’t have a ton of informed opinions, it’s easy to plan a trip focused on the adults and what they want to do, but incorporating what your kids, even the smallest ones, are interested in or will enjoy is key to a fun and memorable trip.
Seattle, Washington
I have to start with Seattle because it’s where I grew up and I have so many great memories as a kid of the cool things in downtown Seattle, going to Mariners baseball games and riding the ferry across Puget Sound. Seattle is a really good family vacation place because it’s both an interesting city with lots of kid-friendly activities (the Seattle Aquarium is amazing) and it’s close to nature like Mount Rainier National Park and Snoqualmie Falls. Seattle is best visited in late spring or July, but September can be pretty incredible for the weather and outdoor activities too.
Los Angeles and Orange County
Los Angeles is more than its traffic and it really is a good place for family vacations. You have tons of beaches, the Santa Monica Pier, fun and unique museums and so much wonderful Mexican food. Yes, the Mexican food of LA county is its own attraction and I miss it (used to live in the OC). Los Angeles has the La Brea Tarpits, which are really cool with little kids and adults, and of course Universal Studios Hollywood.
Orange County is just to the south and it’s also a wonderful place for family vacations. You’ve got Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, Knott’s Berry Farm, the beaches of the OC and lots of other kid-friendly attractions. LA and the OC have been developed over the years to really be family-friendly vacation spots. Between amazing hotels like Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and the PCH motor inns, you’ll have lots of option for any budget.
Walt Disney World
A trip to Walt Disney World is an unforgettable experience with small kids. When you think of a place that’s great for a family vacation, you want it to be engaging, full of convenience, and bursting with fun for any age. We love getting to visit Walt Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom continues to be as magical for our teens as it was when they were small kids. While Disney World is a big ticket destination that costs a lot, most families have a wonderful time and see the value for the cost. Also, there are water parks at Disney World, so that is a bonus for a lot of families with small kids.
TIP: I think Walt Disney World is best for kids 5 and up because so many of the attractions have height requirements and you want your small kids to be able to enjoy as much as possible and remember it.
Anchorage, Alaska and Denali NP
Something so special about taking family vacations when kids are small is getting to show them wildlife and the natural world up close, and there’s no better place for this than Alaska. Flying to Anchorage and then exploring Kenai Fjords National Park to the South for whales, puffins and more, and then heading north to Denali National Park for bears, moose, caribou and so many incredible species is an unforgettable vacation that will have a lasting impact on little kids. This sort of family vacation is perfect for planting the seeds of conservation and caring for animals. It’s great as a 7 day Alaska road trip or longer.
Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, Canada
When British Columbia meets Alberta, there is a beautiful cluster of National Parks. The Trans Canada Highway connects Kootenay, Yoho and Banff National Parks, with Jasper National Park not too far away to the north, the gems of the Canadian Rockies. Like Denali National Park in Alaska, these parks are wonderful to visit on family vacation with small kids because they are so full of wildlife and dramatic landscapes. There are accommodations for all budgets from camping to motels to fancy hotels and resorts. Staying in Banff makes it an easy family vacation as you can do day trips to the many sites you want to visit.
TIP: if you’re considering visiting Banff without kids, staying at the Chateau Lake Louise is phenomenal. It’s beautiful and such a treat. It’s kid-friendly too, but is also very expensive so is more of a parents’ trip destination. The Mount Royal Hotel in the town of Banff is more cost/family-friendly.
Best Family Beach Vacation Destinations
Even though we live by the beach we still plan family beach vacations to different destinations. Enjoying swimming, snorkeling, beachcoming and the vibes of beach communities always makes for fun trips with the fam. We’ve done beach vacations since our kids were small and it’s been so fun to see them grow in their enjoyment of the ocean and their love of marine life.
San Diego, California
Something that makes San Diego, California such a great place for a family vacation is that it is definitely a beach vacation, but you also don’t ever have to go to the beach once to have an awesome time. San Diego has several distinct beach neighborhoods, fun sports events, Cabrillo National Monument and wonderfully vibrant communities to explore. Our favorite days in SD include going to the beach and then heading to Balboa Park to visit the museums. Also, San Diego holds one of the best, most family-friendly Pride celebrations in all of the USA.
The Oregon Coast
There are so many iconic road trips to take all around the USA, but the Oregon Coast road trip is one of the most diverse and beautiful, perfect for a family vacation. Between the warm sands of Bandon and Gold Beach at the southern end and the Goonies backdrop and landmarks at the north, it’s such a fun vacation plan. The Oregon Coast is best visited July through September, but even when it’s a little gray or rainy, it’s still lush and beautiful with plenty of beaches and lighthouses to visit. If you want to extend your family vacation you can add on some days exploring the Cascade Mountains with their waterfalls and Crater Lake National Park.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
You may have heard of Destin, Florida as the best place for a family beach vacation on the Gulf of Mexico, but I’ll tell you that it’s not. The best place in this upper part of the Gulf is actually Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Pensacola Beach trailing right behind. What makes Gulf Shores such a wonderful place for family vacation is both the beautiful, clear water and the interesting things to do away from the beach. There are some remarkable natural areas all around the town and inland just a bit, from boardwalks wandering through swaths of carnivorous plants to biking trails through amazing oak forests. And Gulf Islands National Seashore is here, which mean you have an epic National Park Service site to explore as well.
It’s easy to plan a family vacation to Gulf Shores that includes day trips to Mobile, AL for Mardi Gras fun (feels a lot like New Orleans) or Pensacola, FL for more history and more beautiful beaches.
Quintana Roo, Mexico – Cancun and Holbox
If you’re a young family or just starting to consider international travel destinations for family vacation, a great place to start out is Quintana Roo, Mexico. This state is beautiful and has some of the coolest features, activities and beaches for a wonderful trip. Of course you’ve heard of Cancun, and yes, it is full of beach resorts, but there’s more to it. There are tons of ruins in Cancun and the surrounding area to explore. From El Ret to the Coba Ruins or Chichen Itza, there are so many astounding places to see.
Isla Holbox is just north of Cancun, and with a short ferry ride away, it’s a whole other world. There are no cars, you can walk everywhere and the water is gorgeous, and there are even flamingos. To the south of Cancun you’ll come to Akumal and Tulum, which are both epic. More ruins and countless cenotes (freshwater springs and caves) make it one of the coolest places in Mexico for a family vacation.
St Augustine, Florida
I’m forever in love with our city, both because we live here in St Augustine, FL and because it’s such a wonderful destination with kids. Family vacation is all about ensuring everyone has a good time, can relax, and that you all leave with great memories. Here in St Augustine we have epic beaches, two National Park Service sites (Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas), we have a quaint, historic downtown, kayaking and paddleboarding everywhere, boat tours and tons of good food. Our friends and family come here for vacation too, and not just to see us, but to enjoy our many beaches and parks.
Something else about planning a family vacation to St Augustine that a lot of people really like is how many vacation rentals there are. I HATE that our neighborhood is full of houses that visitors rent for a few days or weeks and that vacation rentals have hurt our housing market so much, but other people who don’t have to care about something like that love it. Since they’re here to stay and our city doesn’t care about how vacation rentals impact our lives as residents, you might as well enjoy them too. You can be super close to the beach or just off the historic downtown. There are tons of beautiful homes to choose from which are good for when you’re traveling with kids, so come to St Augustine for family vacation and you’ll likely love it here too.
Sarasota, Florida
I feel like Sarasota is an easily overlooked gem of a destination, and it’s the perfect place for family vacation if you want beaches and culture. There are tons of things to do in Sarasota in any season, but especially in beach season. Whether you want to swim out with your snorkel and look for sea turtles or walk the beaches of Venice looking for shark teeth, there are lots of options, and really good beach parks with showers and everything too. The beaches of Sarasota are anything but boring sand.
We also love visiting Sarasota for the communities and culture. From great Greek and Mexican food to art and history, it’s all here. Sarasota was the winter home of the Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus for many years, so you’ve got lots of interesting circus history here, and the AMAZING Ringling Museums complex. It’s such a fun place for family vacation.
Tybee Island, Georgia
I love telling people about Tybee Island because it is such a surprise when they find out it exists, and it’s a wonderful place for a family vacation. Tybee Island is also known as Savannah’s Beach, as it’s just east of the city of Savannah (which we love) and it’s a really fun place to stay and enjoy. There are 20+ beach access points both on the Atlantic Ocean and on its interior side where there’s plenty of sand but no waves. You can enjoy dolphin cruises, bike all around the island, and even walk the 178 steps to the top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse. There is a great marine science center here too.
A bonus of visiting Tybee Island is that you’ll have to drive past Fort Pulaski National Monument on your way, so you might as well stop. This Civil War Era fort is one of the most fascinating of all the forts in the Southeast, and there’s even a marsh trail out to its own lighthouse. While you’re on Tybee, you can also plan day trip or nights heading into Savannah to enjoy one of the prettiest cities in the USA.
Best Spots for Family Vacations on a Budget
The cost of family vacation is something that hits a lot of people hard or can catch them off guard. Being able to plan a memorable trip with the kids (or without if you’re just reading to get some great travel ideas) is something everyone wants to do, and being budget conscious is required for most families. I wish I could say that every destination has a budget friendly side, but that’s simply not true. For example, you may find inexpensive accommodations to explore Alaska, but getting there is a huge cost. Or you can do lots of free activities and enjoy nature, but paying for a hotel hits the bank harder than you expect. Our picks for the best budget places for vacation can be done on the cheap if you’re flexible and willing for make the effort.
Olympic National Park and Peninsula, Washington
This is where we grew up (both of us adults) so coming from families without money and needing to still enjoy life, we know how to have an amazing time here on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Across from Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula is basically Western Washington’s playground. For a family vacation, you can either plan a camping trip all around the peninsula and Olympic National Park or you can stay in inexpensive roadside motels (not my favorite, but it’s an option). What makes the Olympic Peninsula such a great budget friendly place is the access to the outdoors and free things to do.
Hiking is the most readily available activity on the Peninsula, which is usually free. There are lots of state parks and the National Park, so waterfalls and wildlife abound. If you’re thinking about a beach vacation, it’s totally possible too. Yes, the water will be cold, but places like Salt Creek, Lake Crescent, La Push and even down to Ocean Shores are all great options to enjoy the sand and swimming.
Yellowstone National Park
If there was one vacation that I would consider THE quintessential American vacation plan it’s visiting Yellowstone National Park, and it can absolutely be done on a budget. Yes, camping is a part of this vacation plan, but you’ll have the best time and make some amazing memories. Yellowstone National Park is unimaginable until you’ve been there. The hot springs and geysers, the canyons and waterfalls, the abundant wildlife… Really, there’s no other place like this in the USA.
If you want to stay in Yellowstone National Park, camping is the best budget friendly option, but sometimes you can score deals at the different hotels within the Park or just outside. We’ve been to Yellowstone with our kids four times, and I have personally been to Yellowstone National Park 16 times. It’s amazing and you’ll have an unforgettable family vacation.
Florida Camping Trip
Florida for camping? Aren’t there alligators? Well, yes there are but they aren’t trying to get into people’s tents. And there aren’t alligators everywhere. A camping trip around Florida is a really fun and memorable family vacation that is very budget friendly. Florida is full of state parks from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle, camping at historic forts or deep in the vine-filled jungles. It’s amazing and beautiful, and you’ll not even believe all the cool places to visit in Florida.
If you’re interested in planning a family vacation for camping in Florida, know that snowbirds LOVE to camp here and they are staking out campground reservations nine months in advance. When you know you’re ready to plan your trip, you need to lock in your campsite reservations right away. Check state parks, National Parks and Preserves (Big Cypress is incredible!), and also county parks. You’ll be amazed to discover how many campgrounds we have (and lots of KOA campgrounds too).
Northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon
I think some of the coolest landscapes and most accessible Indigenous history in the USA are located in Northern Arizona, and this includes the Grand Canyon. One of the best budget friendly family vacations you can plan, Northern Arizona is really fun to explore with kids. You can easily enjoy either camping or inexpensive hotels all throughout the northern part of the state, and you’ll get to visiting places like Grand Canyon National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments and so much more. Yes, in the summer it can be insanely hot, but for winter and spring trips, it’s some of the best vacation weather in the USA.
Western Montana and Glacier NP
Whether you’re into cowboys or wildlife, fishing or hiking, Western Montana from Missoula up to Glacier National Park is simply wonderful, and you can easily do it on a budget. Towns like Big Fork and Whitehorse are cute and more costly for accommodations, but everywhere else can really fit with whatever budget you’re working with. And the activities are so much fun! The fly fishing and splashing in the rivers in summer is incredible. Hiking in Glacier National Park and watching for bear and moose is unforgettable (yes, there are plenty of easy hikes). You’ll love this part of Montana for a family vacation.
TIP: we have a great Glacier National Park itinerary that will help you experience all the best parts, and it’s even great in autumn with the changing colors and when the wildlife is most active.
Best Spring Break Vacation Spots for Families
Spring Break vacations have become quite the thing to plan for these days. I think it used to be that Spring Break was kind of a second thought, but now with kids being more involved in summer sports and having jobs and such, Spring Break has become a more important time to plan family vacations. Our top picks are great for a wide range of ages and interests.
Utah Road Trip
Spring Break in Utah is wonderful because it’s just the right temperature and you’re guaranteed some sun… and maybe even still a little snow depending on where you go. Utah State Parks are some of the coolest in the county and they’re very easy to visit for hiking or just to gawk at the otherworldly landscapes. If you want to use your whole spring break for it, you can plan a Utah National Parks road trip that hits all five National Parks and some other amazing places along the way.
In case you’re not familiar and need to have the Utah seed planted in your mind, here are the National Parks you can visit:
- Arches NP in Moab (loved staying at the Hoodoo Moab)
- Canyonlands NP
- Capitol Reef NP
- Bryce Canyon NP
- Zion NP
You can plan it as camping or with hotels. You can do the whole loop in seven days or ten days. You can do just some of it or all of it and beyond. Utah is a fantastic spring break destination.
Florida’s Beaches
I keep on coming back to recommending a Florida beach trip for a family vacation because our state has so many beautiful places to visit. A Spring Break beach trip is one of those iconic Florida experiences that you need to have at least once in your life. Whether you choose Daytona Beach to relive Spring Break 95 like you’re on TRL or if you want to have a quiet beach vacay to Marco Island, you have lots of options, and they’re actually all great with kids.
TIP: if you’re also looking to make a Spring Break Florida beach vacation more budget friendly, find accommodations that are AWAY from the beach. You’ll save hundreds of dollars by driving five to fifteen minutes for your beach access, and it won’t have a negative impact on your vacation.
New York City
Springtime in NYC is awesome, and it’s a great place for a family vacation on Spring Break. Because New York has so many hotels and a great transportation system, doing a family trip can fit into many travel budgets, and don’t worry, there are a lot of fun things to do with kids in NYC. Between the Broadway shows and some of the coolest museums in the USA, NYC is an easy plan for vacation. And don’t worry if you have older kids, because visiting NYC with teens is really fun and it’s a great time to connect with them about all things pop culture.
Palm Springs and Joshua Tree NP
If you haven’t been to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley before, plan it now! It’s really fun and cool with kids, especially during Spring Break when the weather is amazing and hopefully there’s a superbloom in Joshua Tree National Park. The city of Palm Springs has some great museums and there are wonderful hotels and vacation rentals that make staying here a relaxing getaway, but the real gem of an activity is the hiking around Palm Springs. You can take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to Mount San Jacinto State Park and hike through the pine forests, or you can drive out to Indian Canyons or Tahquitz Canyon for some of the most beautiful sights in California.
Arizona for MLB Spring Training and National Parks
Did you know that there are 15 Major League Baseball teams that do Spring Training in Arizona? They’re called the Cactus League, and if you like baseball and want some sunshine on your Spring Break, head to Arizona for the week. In addition to the fun baseball games and hotels with great swimming pools, you can also do day trips to places like Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Saguaro National Park and more. Arizona in spring is a wonderful place for family vacation.
Best Places for Christmas Vacations for Families
Christmas break and the holidays are both a great time to be home together and a fun time to take a trip as a family. We try to split our winter break evenly with half of the time at home and then one big trip to get some snow into our lives. Also, our town is INSANE at Christmas because St Augustine, FL does a huge Nights of Lights celebration for two months, so we love getting out of our neighborhood for a break. But YOU can plan to visit!
Colorado for Skiing
So, “throw your budget out the window and go skiing” is something I would never tell anyone, but if you want to have a really fun family vacation over the winter holidays, Colorado has so many ski destinations that you can plan a trip and likely make it fit whatever budget you’re working with. You will have options to stay just off the slopes like in Winter Park or you can stay in Denver and drive to the slopes each day. Estes Park is beautiful and you’ll have lots of day-drive ski options. Durango is cool and Vail is epic for skiing.
Ski vacations are a big ticket trip because you need a lot of gear for them. We experienced -21 degree temperatures on a Colorado ski trip once, so we were very thankful that we have really good, cold-weather-rated snow gear. From getting yourself set up with warm gear to renting ski gear for your activities, the budget starts to climb really fast. Add your lift tickets and you’re talking $400-$600 per day for a family of four. There are ways to make it less expensive though, including ski package deals and lodging that includes ski rentals, so keep your eyes peeled any maybe a winter ski trip to Colorado can be a family vacation option for you too.
Victoria BC for Tea and Christmas Lights
There are tons of fun things to do with kids in Victoria BC, and Victoria at Christmas is beautiful. This cute city in British Columbia is located on Vancouver Island, so getting here is half the fun! You can take a ferry from Vancouver or Washington State, or you can fly into Victoria. Touring the city, visiting Butchart Gardens and enjoying afternoon tea are all a part of a winter family trip to Victoria.
The Florida Keys
December or January in the Florida Keys is fun because it’s so chill… and a little chilly. You may get some “falling iguanas” warnings during your visit (if it gets too cold the iguanas fall out of the trees) but the winter in the Keys is beautiful. Key West is decked out in Christmas lights and the water is a lot cooler than the summer months. We like to visit the Florida Keys during the winter holidays because when the rest of the country is setting into snow and Nor’easter storms, the Keys are holding onto the sunshine.
Yes, Christmas break is the most expensive time to visit the Florida Keys for family vacation, but it’s because it’s a blast of sun and warmth when the weather around the USA is starting to get ridiculous and people with seasonal depression need the sunny spike the most. If you want to do the Florida Keys for a family vacation around Christmas, plan FAR in advance for the best deals. You’ll be glad you did.
NYC at Christmastime
Pack like you’re going on a ski trip, because NYC at Christmastime is chilly! I think the coldest I’ve ever been was when we did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with the kids on Christmas Eve, but it was still wonderful. With all of the holiday decorations and the different ice skating rinks in Manhattan, planning a winter trip to New York is a great family vacation option.
Alaska for Wildlife and Northern Lights
Perhaps you had never considered visiting Alaska in the winter, but it’s really something special. Our family spends a lot of time in AK, and winter does tend to be one of our favorite ways to experience it. With the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) going off the majority of nights and the wildlife being really visible since the trees are bare, it’s a great experience. Yes, it’s freaking freezing but it’s great. And if you want to go skiing but don’t want to pay the Colorado prices, the Anchorage area actually has a few public ski areas with rentals that are really affordable.
Yes, it’s very dark in Alaska over Christmas break, with Anchorage getting less than 5 hours of daylight and Fairbanks getting around 4 hours, but that’s okay because there are plenty of activities that fit with the weather and daylight. Snowshoeing, flightseeing and even cold weather kayaking are all a part of the Alaskan winter experience!
Maine for Winter Sports and Snow
Maine is kind of the underdog or at least under-the-radar destination for amazing family vacations, especially in winter. Because people equate Maine with such summery things as boating and lighthouses and flowers and hiking, they don’t really think of it as the place to go for amazing cross country skiing, affordable downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and cozy retreats. I love Maine in winter, whether we’re doing all the winter sports or not, it’s one of the most unforgettable winter family vacations you can plan.
The best destination in Maine for a winter family vacation is a magical place called NEOC – the New England Outdoor Center. You can check into a beautiful, cozy cabin and enjoy a fire then pick up your snowshoes or cross country skis and hit the Nordic trails. Katahdin (the great mountain) towers over the frozen Millinocket Lake and the foxes run through the forest beyond your cabin walls. It’s incredible and is one of the best Maine family vacation destinations in any season, but especially in winter.
How To Choose A Family Vacation Destination
Now that you have so many wonderful ideas to consider for a family vacation, how will you actually choose which destinations are best for YOUR family? You know your crew better than anyone and while it’s nice to push the boundaries of comfort and plan a trip that’s 100% out of the ordinary for what you might usually do, keep in mind that there can be peace and relaxation in the familiar, meaning don’t go too wild planning something that’s going to leave people feeling completely drained or stressed. You should feel like you’re on vacation!
Consider Ages and Interests
Keeping in mind that not all destinations are amazing for everyone, you’ll want to consider how everyone’s age may impact both their perception of where you’re going on vacation before you arrive. If you tell your six year old that you’re going to Arizona to see the canyons and enjoy the sunsets, you’ve likely lost a customer. However, if you tell that same six year old that you’re heading to Arizona to learn about the science of the earth and look for Wylie Coyote and Roadrunner, you may have planted the seed of excitement.
Think about the types of activities you’ll want to do on your family vacation. Little kids need space to run around and moment that wow them or steal their attention into the moment. Older kids and teens tend to connect with pop culture museums and theme parks (and water parks). Everyone usually loves seeing wildlife, but the type of experience that gets your family out to where you’ll see animals may not be great for everyone (not all people do great on boat or hiking).
Also, if you’re thinking about having plenty of downtime on your family vacation, both for small kids or grandparents if they’re coming along, you may want to consider a family resort as the home base for your travel, and it may even be THE attraction of the trip. Resorts can really have a positive impact on family vacations, especially when you have people traveling with your with different needs or interests.
Budget and Timing Strategy
A lot of us parents are locked into the schedule of school breaks for planning family vacations. That often will impact the actual cost of our trips, from higher priced flights to more costly hotel rates. If you are comfortable and able to pull kids out of school for a family vacation, do it! We’ve learned that as our kids get older, pulling them from school for trips just doesn’t work like it used to, especially for our high schooler who has a heavy school load. Take advantage of the flexibility of having younger kids that you can let miss some time (and get teacher buy in by making trips educational).
Being able to travel outside of common break weeks will save a ton of money on the overall costs of travel, and usually will also make the experience better as there will be fewer people traveling to the destination. If you’re planning a theme park trip during a common break time, you’ll lose a lot of value because that’s when EVERYONE else is also going, so you’ll have long lines, peak season pricing for theme park tickets, and you’ll have to deal with crowds. If you’re locked into a specific break, choose a more outdoor-focused destination that won’t be all crowds all the time.
Safety and Accessibility
One more thing to consider when you’re choosing a place for family vacation is just how easy and safe of a destination you pick. Most destinations throughout North America are very safe for travelers of all sorts, but you need to be thoughtful about who you have with you. Some states in the USA have laws prohibiting certain types of healthcare for women and girls, so you may want to avoid those places just in case. Some parts of Mexico have a bad reputation from tourist stories but may actually be completely safe (like Cabo and Cancun), so consider how the perception of safety feels for the people you’re traveling with.
Transportation within a destination is also something to consider. Some places have amazing public transportation, like New York, Chicago and San Francisco, so you won’t need a rental car, but then places like Alaska or planning a Florida beach vacation will indeed require one. City breaks are usually pretty great for getting around easily, but also that’s just not a vacation vibe for some people.
One last thing to think about when you’re planning your family vacation is if you’ll need travel insurance. We never ever buy it for trips within the USA or Canada because we’re very familiar with how to get around and the medical systems. Also, we are very thoughtful in booking our flights and rental cars so that we don’t have difficult travel days that may be negatively impacted by weather and events. Having said that, some people love the peace of mind from getting travel insurance for their family trips, so you do you.
By now you should have all the ideas and inspiration you need to pick and plan a wonderful family vacation. If you have any questions about the suggestions we’ve made or need additional recommendations, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help other make awesome memories!
