Best summer vacation destinations for families
Selecting a best summer vacation destination for families is challenging. You have to consider the weather and scenery, spending money, how you want to travel there, and so much more. This can be a lot to think about, but relax because we’ve done the work for you. Below are some of the best summer vacation destinations for families.
Looking for the best summer vacation destination for your family? While there are many different types of families and many different opinions about what makes the best trip, everyone can agree that a great summer vacation positively affects children, teens and parents. That is why it is important to choose the best destination for your family. To help you make the right decision, we’ve created a list of top ten destinations for an unforgettable vacation in the summer of 2017.
Family summer vacations are like the best thing ever. Kids are home from school and it’s always a perfect time to get outside and make new memories. But where should you go on a family vacation? You’ll have to travel across various states, countries and continents for a lot of people. The good news is that there are plenty of good family vacation destinations that we can all enjoy.
The best summer vacation destinations for families are ones that have lots of stuff to do, but still allow you to relax. Here are some of the best destinations in the world:
- Yellowstone National Park – This is one of the most beautiful places on earth! There are tons of outdoor activities, including hiking and camping. You can even go fishing if you want! Yellowstone has a lot of wildlife too—you might even spot a bear or two!
- Disney World – Most kids dream of visiting Disney World at least once in their lives, so why not make it happen? There are rides and shows for all ages, plus there’s plenty to eat! If you’re planning your trip around Halloween time, there’s even a special Halloween Party just for kids!
- The Great Barrier Reef – The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions because it’s so beautiful! Kids will love snorkeling along this reef and seeing all the colorful corals and fish swimming around them! It’s also great for adults who want to learn more about marine biology or scuba diving techniques.
Here’s our list of the best summer vacation destinations for families:
- Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is a popular destination for families because it offers so much for kids and adults alike. The city has tons of museums, historical sites, and parks—and it’s also home to one of America’s most famous landmarks: Tybee Island Lighthouse.
- San Francisco, California
San Francisco is famous for its beautiful scenery and excellent weather—not to mention its amazing restaurants and attractions! If you’re looking for an upscale vacation experience with some culture thrown in there too (and really who isn’t?), then San Fran is definitely worth considering as a family vacation spot this summer!
1. Hershey, Pennsylvania
The sweetest place in the United States also happens to be within driving distance of many northeast cities. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is home to world-class roller coasters, a water park, and Zoo America spread across 121 acres of pure family fun.
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Here the thrill rides are interspersed with kiddie rides that make it easy to keep the family together all day long, even when you’re traveling with teenagers and little ones at the same time. Another great perk of Hersheypark? All ticket holders are entitled to a sweet preview in which you’re able to visit the park the evening prior to your scheduled visit for several complimentary hours of family fun!
Several dining opportunities—such as Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor—can be found at Chocolatetown, the park’s $150-million expansion honoring the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey. Chocolatetown is also the place to experience Candymonium, Hersheypark’s biggest roller coaster ever.
Where to Stay on a Summer Vacation to Hershey
After your sugar and adrenaline rushes, head to the Hershey Lodge, a converted motor lodge with modern upscale vibes, for onsite dining options and chocolate-themed sweet treats. There’s also an indoor water park exclusively for hotel guests, featuring the deliciously named Twizzlers Twists water slides.
2. San Diego, California
Thanks to its seemingly endless coastline and kid-friendly attractions, San Diego is a perennial favorite for California family vacations.
Head to SeaWorld to ride one of the best new roller coasters in the country, Emperor Dive, which sends guests to exhilarating speeds of more than 60 miles per hour on the tallest and fastest floorless dive coaster in the state. SeaWorld San Diego is also the only place in North America where you can see the Emperor Penguins whose journey from cliff to sea inspired the coaster’s design.
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Families love visiting the San Diego Zoo, where you can explore a state-of-the-art hummingbird exhibit and interact directly with the buzzing birds. When the day is done, dinner at the historic Bali Hai will have you feeling like you’ve been transported directly to the tropics.
Why not work a little road trip to Carlsbad into your summer vacation ideas as well? There, you can visit the Flower Fields and LEGOLAND California, then enjoy the relaxing and kid-friendly atmosphere of King’s Fish House for some top-notch local seafood.
Where to Stay for a San Diego Summer Vacation with Kids
If a private beach and the lushly tropic atmosphere of a Polynesian paradise sound like your idea of a summer vacation dream come true, you have to stay at San Diego’s Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa between Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Restaurants and shops are walking distance away, and you can rent bikes (and beach essentials) from the hotel. Ocean views suites and private balconies round out the experience.
3. Branson, Missouri
With a welcoming atmosphere, popular theme parks, and family-friendly live shows, Branson is a town seemingly designed with skip-gen and multigenerational family vacations in mind. One of the top draws in this popular summer vacation spot for families is Silver Dollar City, a theme park that embraces down home charm while offering some serious thrills—including Outlaw Run, the first wooden roller coaster to feature multiple inversions, and Time Traveler, the world’s fastest, steepest, and tallest spinning coaster.
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Every year, the park’s Star-Spangled Summer celebration brings festive treats and special entertainment, including an appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters. And families can cap off any evening with a dinner cruise on the 1890s-style riverboat Showboat Branson Belle or a spin on The Branson Ferris Wheel, which was relocated from Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Historic Downtown Branson is also home to the Branson Landing, a pedestrian-friendly shopping, dining, and entertainment district.
Where to Stay on a Branson Summer Vacation
For families looking to stay right in the heart of the action, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing offers comfortable accommodations walkable to many of the attractions. For a resort feel, the iconic Chateau on the Lake offers sweeping mountain and water views and full-service amenities, like a spa and marina with water activities.
4. Miramar Beach, Florida
If your favorite summer vacation ideas are all about family beach vacations, there’s a lot to look forward to this year in Florida’s panhandle and its roughly 200 miles of stunning coastline.
In a region populated by many of the best beach towns in Florida and home to some of the top Florida all-inclusive resorts, laidback Miramar Beach embodies both a nostalgic beach vibe and modern amenities that make for all the best summer vacations. It’s a quieter summer vacation spot for families than nearby party town Panama City Beach, but still packed with plenty of dining options and activities.
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The Village of Baytowne Wharf in nearby Destin is an all-day stop where you’ll find dining, shopping, recreation, entertainment, and nightlife, including Rum Runners, a popular dueling pianos restaurant. Rental condominiums abound for families large and small, and most are well within walking distance of all the town has to offer.
Where to Stay Near Miramar Beach
The area boasts its first ever luxury hotel, Hotel Effie Sandestin, with a signature rooftop pool that delivers panoramic views from the Gulf of Mexico to the bay. Celebrity chef Hugh Acheson celebrates the local flavors of the Gulf Coast at the hotel’s on-site restaurants.
5. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Set against the jaw-dropping backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge is one of the top summer vacation ideas for families in search of a little Southern hospitality with their family trip.
An easy drive from many major population centers up and down the East Coast, the mountain town of Pigeon Forge is both the perfect gateway to Great Smoky Mountains national park and home to Dolly Parton’s 150-acre theme park mecca, Dollywood, which house an amusement park, water park, and the four-star Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Kids will love Dollywood’s most recent expansion, Wildwood Grove, while thrill seekers will be seriously impressed by the park’s selection of roller coasters like Lightning Rod, Thunderhead, Mystery Mine, and Blazing Fury.