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10 Best Family Vacation Destinations - USA

Hit the road to one of these kid friendly, adventure filled family vacation spots across the USA. Grab your swimsuit, and maybe even your hiking shoes, for this diverse list of best family trips filled with sandy beaches, towering mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, whale-watching, city exploring and more.

You might be surprised by some of these bucket-list-worthy places to go with kids.

And you may not remember what you did last week, but when you take your kids on a vacation that’s filled with outdoor adventure travel and fun, you’ll make memories to last a lifetime.

So without further ado, below are ten more fun USA destinations for family vacations in 2020.

Looking for 2021 family vacation ideas? 2021 is the year of camping and RV-ing, so we’ve rounded up the Best USA Family Adventure Travel Ideas from seasoned family travel writers.

Cape San Blas, Florida

Why go? White sugar soft sands await on this quiet cape that’s home to Florida’s best crowd-free beach. Just past the town of Port St. Joe, the unsurpassed Cape’s outstretched beaches invite you to relax and play.

What to do? So many ways to enjoy the sand and surf on Cape San Blas either gulf side or bay side. Ride the waves with a boogie board, kayak, paddle board, sail, fish, lounge, doze, enjoy a picnic, take long walks, play beach volleyball, and build sand castles by day. Catch crabs and make a fire on the beach (s’mores!) by night. Drive to Indian Pass Raw Bar for the best parmesan baked oysters around!

Where to stay? Large beach homes or cozy cottages are the way to stay on Cape San Blas to get away from it all. You can’t go wrong with these top-rated rentals on Cape San Blas.

Learn more:

What to do in Cape San Blas — like explore one of America’s best state parks!
Travel with Bender unwraps Cape San Blas
Want more of Florida? Explore the Florida Keys based in Marathon

Angel Fire | New Mexico

Why go? Every season offers outdoor family fun, with snow-filled adventures in the winter and just-right temps in the summer. Just a half-hour east of Taos, Angel Fire lies on the valley floor at 8,420 feet while the surrounding mountains stand over 11,000 feet.

What to do? While our family hasn’t been here yet, my brother tells me Angel Fire is the place to be in the summer. Angel Fire’s near perfect weather allows you to enjoy endless downhill mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and golfing. The fall colors here are also amazing. In the winter, this family friendly ski resort boasts short lift lines so you can ski and snowboard to your heart’s content.

Where to stay? For families, cozy condos and vacation homes abound. Many of them are a short distance from town or right near the main ski lift.

Learn more:

Your travel guide for a family ski trip to Angel Fire
See why this family loved the Angel Fire Resort Lodge

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Southwest Colorado Road Trip

Why go? Undeniably breathtaking San Juan mountain views, awesome waterfalls, three national parks, sand-sledding, geothermal soaking and swimming, star-studded camping, wildlife and wildflowers, old mining ghost towns — the outdoor adventure list goes on! Southwest Colorado doles out adrenaline rushes for all ages and abilities.

What to do? Soak in geothermal tubs, hop on a free gondola, or go whitewater rafting. Waterfall hiking, canyoneering, climbing, biking, and 4X4 trails await. Refuel with local burgers and brews before you sleep tight under the stars surrounded by mountains that nod to the Swiss Alps.

Where to stay? As this road trip winds through southwest Colorado, mix up your lodging between primitive camping, a hot springs resort, and family friendly historic hotels — like the General Palmer Hotel in Durango.

Learn more:

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Hilton Head Island | South Carolina

Why go? For the beach enthusiast, Hilton Head Island is a dream with 12 miles of beaches and lots of opportunities for outdoor adventure with your family.

What to do? Besides playing or relaxing on the beach, hit the tennis courts, or hop on your bikes to explore the island via one of hundreds of bike paths. Dolphin watching, zip-lining, kayaking, jet-skiing, and parasailing are also popular family activities on Hilton Head Island. The Sea Pines Forest Reserve is a fantastic way to safely see gators, turtles, rare birds, and more.

Where to stay? Located along the beach, the exceptional Marriott Barony Beach Club Resort is perfect for families, and each room comes with a fully equipped kitchen.

Learn more:

You need this Hilton Head Island Beach getaway!
8 Reasons why Hilton Head is a perfect family vacation

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Yellowstone National Park | Wyoming

Why go? Yellowstone National Park is really just one giant supervolcano. From wildlife to simmering mud pots and Old Faithful blowing her top, you’re likely to see something you’ve never seen before in this park’s vast terrain.

What to do? After you’ve witnessed Old Faithful up close, don’t miss floating through Firehole Falls, walking around Grand Prismatic Spring, hiking to Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, soaking in Boiling River’s geothermal tubs near Mammoth Hot Springs, and horseback riding under Big Sky.

Where to stay? We loved staying in this lovely appointed cabin in West Yellowstone just outside the park — think peaceful mornings and gorgeous sunsets.

Learn more:

Get Expert Advice

Need help deciding or planning your next family vacation? Book a one hour consultation call with me. Ask me questions and gather tailored advice and next steps for putting together your next adventure.

Send Tanya an email to learn more

New York City

My sweet, dear friend over at melissavoigt.com contributed the below highlights of why you should go to NYC with your kids. Melissa and her husband took each of their kids on a special trip to NYC for their 10th birthday.

Why go? New York City is a great city to take your kids! There is so much to do and experience! Plus, it’s a great way to experience public transportation where it is safe and budget friendly. We recommend using the subway. Again, safe, and it’s easy to navigate.*

What to do? Take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, visit the World Trade Center, take a stroll through Central Park, spend an afternoon at the American Museum of Natural History, check out all the sights and sounds of Time Square, and don’t forget to buy tickets to a Broadway show!

New York City has some of the best restaurants. Take your kids to Russ and Daughters for a bagel or Katz for soup and sandwich. Los Tacos #1, located in Chelsea Market, has the best tacos! End your day at Max Brenner’s for a special dessert.

Where to stay? We like to stay at The Manhattan Club — close to subway stops and just down the street from Time Square.

*City Tips: We try not to travel on the subway during rush hour with kids if we can! During those hours, the subway is packed and people move fast. Just remind your kids to stay close and be aware of those around them. Buy everyone an unlimited MetroCard to make the most of your time exploring the city!

Learn more:

Check out this mother-daughter trip to NYC, written by a teenager
Melissa Voigt shares a wealth of goal-setting, money-saving, and maker tips here.

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Havasupai Falls | Arizona

Why go? For outdoor adventure lovers at heart, this is a spring break or fall trip of a lifetime and one our friends and family will never forget. We planned ahead for this 10 mile hike down into the Grand Canyon, where we were guests on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. We enjoyed their gorgeous waterfalls by day and creekside camping by night.

What to do? The main attractions are Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, Little Navajo Falls, Fifty Foot Falls and Beaver Falls. Hiking, swimming, and snapping gorgeous photos will fill your days. To see all of the falls, stay the maximum 3 nights allowed per permit.

Where to stay? You can tent camp in the Havasupai Campground (with a permit only) or reserve a room in the lodge in the village two miles up from the waterfalls and campground.

Learn more:

Our trip in pictures: Hiking to Havasupai with 4 adults and 8 kids
Tips for getting your Havasupai hiking and camping permits
Your complete packing list for camping at Havasupai Campground

Pocono Mountains | Pennsylvania

Why go? The Poconos offer outdoor fun year round. Well known for its downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, this region is just as popular in the summer months too.

What to do? Besides winter time sports, this mountainous outdoor adventure land is perfect for hiking, biking, fishing and canoeing. In the summer, you might want to try all of the waterparks and vote to see which one is your family’s favorite.

Where to stay? In winter, Camelback Mountain Resort is the place to be. For summer time vacations, everyone will love Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark

Learn more:

California Road Trip

Why go? A long summer road trip through California beach towns, national parks, and fantastic cities —what’s not to love? Get your mix of playing in naturally diverse landscapes and exploring big cities all in one trip.

What to do? A proposed two week itinerary includes Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus hitting these national parks along the week: Joshua Tree, Channel Islands, Sequoia & Kings, and Yosemite. Highlights include: spying dolphins and whales, hiking among giant Sequoias, Hollywood and Universal’s Harry Potter World, riding a cable car, meandering through China Town, cheering on the Giant’s at MetLife Stadium on the bay, camping under a star-studded sky as Yosemite Falls lulls you to sleep. The possibilities are endless.

Where to stay? Here’s how our actual California road trip ended up, with where we stayed and what it all cost in the end.

Learn more:

Sleeping Bear Dunes | Michigan

Why go? Miles of sand beach plus bluffs standing 450 feet high offering amazing views of Lake Michigan make up this national lakeshore called Sleeping Bear Dunes. Add abundant forests, crystal clear lakes, and cool plants and animals — a natural playground for you and your kids.

What to do? Climb the dunes, ride bikes, or relax along 35 miles of freshwater beaches found in Sleeping Bear Dunes, managed by the US national park system. Check out the island lighthouse and US Life-Saving Service stations or learn about the park’s interesting maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.

Where to stay? Traverse City is just 28 miles away, and offers more family-friendly things to do in the area.

Learn more:

Family Vacation at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Bike Tour of Sleeping Bear Dunes

In Case You Missed It!

Looking to take the kids on a family trip outside of the USA but not too far from home? How about the dreamy Isla Holbox in Mexico. My husband and I flew to Cancun, and then traveled just two hours north to take a ferry to the unspoiled island of Holbox and we loved every minute of our week there. Holbox makes for a relaxing anniversary trip or the perfect family vacation.

Which trips are at the top of your family’s list this year? Share below, we’d love to know! Also, feel free to share this post with your friends and family. It may spur them on to their best family vacation yet!

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