Family Vacation For New Years

It’s almost New Years people! I’m sure you’re planning all sorts of things to do to celebrate. Some of you may be leaving the country to find an exotic party, or maybe you’re driving across the country to visit your families. For most of us (at least in America), we’ll be happy watching TV and just hanging out with family for a few days. I do have some recommendations for you if you’re going to be traveling this time of year though.

Family vacations offer many benefits to families, including the opportunity to spend quality time together while preparing for new beginnings and resolutions. In addition, a time of enjoyment, peace and rejuvenation can help build unbreakable bonds between the family members. If you’re looking for a place to go this New Years and want something that’s low key with limited crowds then you need to read this.

Tis the season to make travel plans with loved ones and see the world! With the holidays approaching, most of us are looking forward to reuniting with our families to share traditions and give thanks. The spirit of togetherness is strong, but the reality that many of us don’t take the time off we deserve is even stronger. And yet, it’s a great excuse to plan a relaxing family vacation this winter. It can be hard to catch your breath when you’re constantly on the go each year, so why not let someone else do the driving for this one? This year, slow down and treat yourself by booking one of these fabulous family vacations from across the country.

Family Vacation For New Years

With revelry and midnight toasts, New Year’s Eve celebrations are usually limited to adults. But children can celebrate too at special parties and events planned with them in mind. “It’s a new year for kids too,” says Laura Begley Bloom, chief content officer for Family Traveller. “Across the country there are so many locations and destinations focusing on kids.” She shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Panama City Beach, Fla.

Times Square has nothing on Panama City. The seaside town celebrates New Year’s by dropping not just one ball, but 10,000 inflatable ones. And the beach ball drop starts at a kid-friendly 8 p.m. Those with the energy to make it until midnight can count down another ball drop, this one an 800-pound LED-lit one, also shaped like a beach ball. “It’s the perfect ode to the destination, and it’s super fun,” Bloom says. visitpanamacitybeach.com

Hershey, Pa.

For a chocolate-flavored New Year’s Eve kiss, head to this sweet Pennsylvania town. The action starts with a bubble-wrap stomp at 11 a.m. (repeated at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and includes teen rock and pop performances during the day. At midnight, a dazzling 300-pound, 7-foot Hershey’s Kiss descends from the sky in ChocolateTown Square. hersheypa.com

Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite National Park

Plenty of resorts have New Year’s festivities for adults, but the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite invites the whole family. Kids ages 4-7 can dress up for a comic book heroes party, while tweens ages 8-12 will have a blast at an outer space-themed celebration, Bloom says. Those over 13 are invited to the main gala, which includes comedy and dancing. And the festivities can continue the next day. “To me there’s nothing like taking a new year’s walk, and what better place to go out for a hike than Yosemite.” tenayalodge.com

Austin

The self-proclaimed live music capital of the world hosts a huge New Year’s Eve hoe-down featuring four stages. The event kicks off at 3 p.m. at Vic Mathias Shores park, with a kids’ area with activities and food. Fireworks start at 10 p.m. and wrap up 30 minutes later. “Moms and dads will like that. This one is very appropriate for families.” austinsnewyear.com

New Orleans

The Crescent City knows how to party, especially this year. Dec. 31 kicks off the city’s 2018 tricentennial celebration, with kid-friendly events like a Louisiana Children’s Museum gathering with arts and crafts and a noon New Year’s countdown. There’s also a French Quarter afternoon Mardi Gras-style parade with floats and bands. “You think of New Orleans as being hedonistic, but when it comes to New Year’s Eve, they host parties for the whole family the entire day,” Bloom says. neworleansonline.com

New Year’s Eve Around the World, Seattle Children’s Museum

Kids can toast in the new year with a glass of apple juice beginning at 11 a.m., with countdowns throughout the day at this international event. Special themed activities represent featured countries, including India, Russia, France and Morocco. “It’s a really nice way to show kids how other kids around the world celebrate their tradition,” Bloom says. thechildrensmuseum.org

Boston

Boston has long made New Year’s a family affair. At 6 p.m. you can choose from a free figure skating show on the Frog Pond ice rink on Boston Common or a People’s Procession parade down Boylston Street to the Common, Bloom says. Then there’s fireworks at 7 p.m. “You can have the kids in bed at a reasonable hour.” There’s also a second fireworks display over Boston Harbor at midnight. boston-discovery-guide.com/first-night-boston.html

Williamsburg, Va.

For old-fashioned revelry head to Colonial Williamsburg, which celebrates Hogmanay, a Scottish New Year’s holiday with ancient roots. Or go modern at nearby Busch Gardens, which glows with more than 8 million lights in one of the nation’s biggest holiday displays. visitwilliamsburg.com

Santa Fe

New Mexico’s capital city shines throughout the holiday season, with lights at the Botanical Garden, and a year-welcoming gathering in the city’s historic plaza, Bloom says. The garden hosts a children’s New Year’s Eve party, with a flower petal drop at 7 p.m., while the gathering in the plaza includes piñon bonfires, hot chocolate and traditional biscochito cookies. Guests can sign a memorial banner recording their hopes and wishes for 2018, before fireworks at midnight. santafe.org

Disney Cruise Lines

While it’s getting late to book, there’s still a chance to sail into 2018 on a Disney cruise. “Disney goes crazy at New Year’s Eve,” Bloom says, with separate galas for teens, tweens, and a midnight deck party. There are also Disney characters dressed for the season. And if you can’t make it to sea, Disney’s theme parks all throw big parties too. disneycruise.disney.go.com