Everyone’s heard of a honeymoon, many people know about kids going on spring break and some folks even bring their kids on vacation all year round. But do you know what the best vacation spot is for young families?
Like everyone, you want to create unique family experiences for your children. When you plan a vacation with children, it can be tough to find something that isn’t don’t-be-taken-seriously-but-might-end-with-an-unhappy-child ripoff, or boring.
While on vacation, a family decides to invite some friends to their resort. The pool they were in got overcrowded so they decided to head to the beach. That’s when the fun really started…
Best vacation for young family:
- Disney World
- Universal Studios
- SeaWorld
- Busch Gardens
- Six Flags
The best vacation for young families is one that offers enough for everyone in the family to do, but not too much for anyone to get overwhelmed.
For this reason, we recommend a trip to the beach. The sand and waves are perfect for building sandcastles and running through the surf with your kids. And you can take advantage of some downtime by reading a book, playing cards or board games, or just relaxing on the beach chair with your spouse or significant other.
1. Indianapolis, Indiana
One of the top vacation spots for toddlers is the picturesque city of Indianapolis, with glimmering waterways, green spaces and race cars during the world-famous Indy race.
Stay in one of the best all inclusive resorts for toddlers while visiting the city, then check out the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, which will hold your tyke’s attention—there’s quite a range of things to play with, build and learn from.
After that consider watching the local races and speeding cars—which are great for holding the attention of teens (and hubby dearest!).
If your tyke is on the adventurous side, give “shark petting” a hand at the Indianapolis Zoo.
17 Best Vacations for Toddlers
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After the excitement, kick back and enjoy a family picnic at one of the city’s many downtown gardens.
Recommended Hotel: Conrad Indianapolis
2. San Diego, California
In San Diego, there is seemingly no dearth to the things you can do and see with your little ones; right from the San Diego Zoo to SeaWorld, kids and parents alike love San Diego for being a feast to all the senses!
Enjoy one of the many kid-friendly tours of the city; pitstops include excitement such as boarding an aircraft carrier from World War 2!
For a bit of fun in the water, give kayaking into the La Jolla Sea Caves a shot or just enjoy strolling through the lovely, lush Balboa Park.
Recommended Hotel: The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego
Related: Good Restaurants in San Diego
3. Sanibel Island, Florida
For the quintessential family summer getaway to the beach, try Florida’s Sanibel Island with its gorgeous beaches strewn with seashells and calm, azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Less crowded and therefore, more peaceful than the spots on/closer to mainland Florida, the shores of Sanibel Island are a great spot to just relax and soak in the sun.
Build sandcastles with your little one or help him/her start a seashell collection.
End the day on a relaxing note by watching the sun sink into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Recommended Hotel: Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
4. Port Aransas, Texas
At Port Aransas, you’ll find an old-school vacation that teaches you and the tots to get in touch with nature and have fun the traditional way.
Give the kids a lesson on baiting a hook—you have over 18 miles of beautiful sands to conduct your lessons.
Once the lessons are done, reward the tots with playtime and yourself with a sunbathing sesh!
Older kids can try surfing; the relatively calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico make it great for beginners; you’ll find even calmer waters that your toddler can splash around in the area’s many sheltered beaches.
Recommended Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites Port Aransas
5. Durham, New York
Another toddler-friendly getaway that offers a ton of old-school fun, Durham is among the top family-favorite destinations to visit with toddlers.
Nestled amid the peaks of the breathtaking Catskill Mountains in New York, families vacationing at Durham have a variety of activities on offer—if you’re an “outdoors” family, try one of the many kid-friendly hikes or visit the ultra-cute Hull-O petting farm!
It’s not all old-school at Durham, though; visit the Zoom Flume Water Park for fun and thrilling rides that’ll have the kids screaming their lungs out (in the best way)!
Recommended Hotel: Best Western New Baltimore Inn
6. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
If you’re wondering where to go for a fun weekend trip with the whole brood, consider Lake of the Ozarks, a popular spot for families with toddlers.
Lake of the Ozarks boasts 1,150 miles of lakeshore, presenting many opportunities for lovely lakeside walks and picnics.
On a sunny day, go canoeing on the lake or explore the Lake of the Ozarks State Park.
If your little one is in the mood to stay indoors, don’t fear—there’s still plenty of fun to go around, from the games at Miner Mike’s Adventure Town to stalactite-stalagmite exploration at Bridal Cave.
Recommended Hotel: WorldMark Lake of the Ozarks
7. Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad is a veritable wonderland—the city has a plethora of themed fun on offer, making it one of our favorite destinations for families with young kids.
Spend a fun day at Legoland California—though it’s a great option for kids of all ages, the toddlers especially will love the rides and the themed areas, tailored just for the little ones.
From becoming miniature Ross Gellers and digging up “dinosaur bones” to a boat ride on Fairy Tale Brook to a gigantic sandbox, a kids-playground-essential, there are over a dozen such themed areas at Legoland.
Apart from this, the city’s aquarium and miniature park are also great spots to explore.
Recommended Hotel: Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, A Hilton Resort & Spa
8. Port Angeles, Washington
At Port Angeles, there’s every opportunity to be right at the heart of nature, right from the sky-high trees of Olympic National Park to the lovely tide pools that overlook the Strait of Juan de Fica.
The little tots will enjoy the many kid-friendly hiking routes in the ginormous Olympic National Park, extending right to the edge of the city.
After this, you can head to the tide pools and check out these little bits of the sky on land!
In short, every chance to get up close and personal with nature while enjoying a toddler-friendly vacation!
Recommended Hotel: Olympic Lodge
9. Langhorne, Pennsylvania
The tots will love the chance to meet Bert, Elmo and the rest of the Sesame Street gang at the colorful Sesame Place, as well as the many kid-friendly rides on offer, making it one of the best spots for family vacations with toddlers.
The city’s downtown area takes you on a trip back to its founding days in the 17th century; however, you’ll still find plenty of outlet shopping opportunities in the area.
Additionally, Langhorne is just a few hours’ drive away from Philadelphia, making it a great option for a quick weekend getaway from the latter.
Recommended Hotel: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Philadelphia Langhorne
10. Orlando, Florida
You could spend one day every day of your trip exploring a different theme park in Orlando and still not be done by the end!
Exaggeration aside, the little ones will love the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (you can even get them their own Hogwarts acceptance letter!); also, visit SeaWorld for the shows (though you might want to consider the ethics of this).
However, nothing beats the original definition of fun in Orlando—Disney World! Get a Disney World Assistant to look after the kids while you catch a little break.
Recommended Hotel: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Related: Restaurants in Orlando, Florida
Related: Best Disney Resorts for Toddlers
11. Williams, Arizona
Quoting Bobby Troup, “get your kicks on Route 66”in Williams, Arizona.
Barely an hour away from the Grand Canyon (a great day trip option), you can also treat little ones to their first glimpses of real-life wolf and bear cubs at the Bearizona Drive-Thru Wildlife Park; there’s also a petting zoo with super-cute bunnies, horses and other farm animals!
Oh, and don’t forget to take a ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railway in Williams’ old-school railroad depot—nostalgia abounds here.
Recommended Hotel: Red Garter Inn
12. Jeffersonville, Vermont
One of the best places to go to in the U.S regardless of the season, Jeffersonville is a great option if you’re an extremely active, ‘outdoorsy’ family, serving up a ton of family-friendly year-round activities.
Enjoy an extremely kid-friendly stay at Smugglers’ Notch Resort which holds the distinction of being the most kid-friendly resort in not just the area, but the entire East Coast.
While kids learn to take their first turns on the beginner terrain, parents can enjoy mogul runs and the awesome backcountry that Vermont’s mountains offer.
Recommended Hotel: The Lodge at Spruce Peak
13. Chincoteague Island, Virginia
Chincoteague Island has all the trappings of a laid-back vacation; you can spend relaxing days under the sun gorging on delicious ice cream in many parlors or just set up shop on a nice spot on the beach and unwind.
For a unique experience, join a tour to spot the herds of beautiful wild ponies that roam freely on the island; if you and the kids are the adventurous types, go looking for clams and crabs!
If nothing else, you can still have your quintessential summer fun, building sandcastles and splashing around in the water with the tykes.