With kids, time is on warp drive. One day, you are cradling a newborn, you fall asleep, then wake up to loading a car for their first apartment. The best thing I did was travel with my kids. It was one of the most beneficial things we did as a family, along with home-cooked dinners. Years ago, I promised myself that my babies would see the U.S. from tip to tip. We did it one summer vacation at a time, and my kids saw all 50 states. Now, they have a much wider scope of the world beyond the U.S. Here are the Top US destinations for Families.
Top US Destinations for Families
Yosemite National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Grand Canyon National Park
Redwood National Park
New York City
San Francisco
Boston
Washington DC
Los Angeles
San Diego
Florida Beaches
Hawaii
Alaska
The Rocky Mountains
Disney
Visit a National Park
The U.S. offers epic landscapes that need to be seen to appreciate. Load up for a road trip to remember and explore the nation’s treasures and its national parks. It is one of the top US Destinations For Families.
Yosemite National Park
Located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite National Park is where the naturalist John Muir coined the phrase, the mountains are calling, and I must go. Since it’s 200 miles east of San Francisco, it offers a convenient location and epic landscapes.
The Yosemite Valley features waterfalls, wildflower meadows and mountaintop vistas that inspire everyone, including Ansel Adams. The Valley is the draw, and it can be crowded from spring to fall. Day-use passes need to be reserved in advance, along with lodging in and out of the park.
But what’s the difference between the two top national parks?
Yellowstone is about the mighty mammals, like the bear and bison, and the geothermal features, geysers, and mud pots. Yosemite offers an epic mountain landscape that even amateur photographers can capture.
The National Parks of Southern California
Yellowstone National Park
Located in northwest Wyoming and 320 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, Yellowstone National Park is a top destination for families. The geysers, wildlife, Old Faithful Geyser and Old Faithful Inn top my list of must-sees.
Kids love animals, so drive through the Hayden or Lamar Valley for bison, bear, elk, and even wolves. Old Faithful Inn is the largest log cabin hotel in the world.
Give Yellowstone at least four days, and I prefer a week, especially if you want to see Grand Teton National Park, just south. Be prepared to picnic for lunch since the food service isn’t conveniently located next to iconic sights or hikes. Reservations are a must for lodging and camping.
Family Guide to Yellowstone National Park
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
About 380 miles north of Denver, Colorado, South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an icon that most Americans recognize. To experience the magnitude of the sculpture, you have to stand in front of it, day or night.
Don’t think of Mt. Rushmore as a quick road trip stop. The Black Hills of South Dakota, where Mt. Rushmore is located, offers several days of western adventure for families, including two caves, a national park along one of the top spots for animal viewing in the U.S. It is one of the top U.S. destinations for families.
Guide to Mount Rushmore
Grand Canyon National Park
About 215 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park offers another bucket list destination for families. During the summer, see visitors from around the globe on the south rim. Stay for a few hours or stay for a few days; the Grand Canyon offers hikes and views for everyone.
Drive around to the North Rim to see a different perspective. It’s only accessible in the summertime because of snow. As a bonus, you’ll find fewer people on this side of the rim.
What to see on the South Rim
Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National Park offers trees so big everything in its shadow seems small, even teen drama.
Find convenient locations just north of San Francisco, like Muir Woods National Monument. Though Redwood National and State Parks offers the best location, near the border of California and Oregon. Redwoods also grow in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks as well.
Guide to Redwoods National and State Parks
Explore an Urban City
New York City
Switch gears and explore the city, especially New York City. It is one of the top U.S. destinations for families. It packs an energy that falls flat for younger kids, so I suggest NYC for older kids with stamina. They need to be out of strollers and walk for days without whining.
In a city that never sleeps, travel lessons abound. Use the subway to get around, a must-have skill for teens who will be exploring on their own in a few years. The skills I learned in NYC helped me navigate any city around the globe. From parks to museums and shopping to snacking, New York City offers a week of family fun.
4 Day Itinerary for New York City
San Francisco
San Francisco offers an urban city with vibrant culture and postcard landscapes with a mellower West Coast vibe. It’s easy to navigate by public transportation, like the famous street cars.
It offers American icons too, like Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, a favorite for teens. Explore San Francisco by foot to see all the unique neighborhoods.
Planning Guide to Alcatraz Prison Tours
Boston
Walk American History as you stroll the streets. Start at the Boston Common and find the red line painted on the sidewalk. The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile urban trail, will walk past the important spots of the American Revolution. It is one of the top U.S. destinations for families.
How to See Boston in One Day
Washington D.C.
Washington, DC, offers another destination packed with history, culture. Some of the best museums in the U.S. are found in Washington, D.C.
Best of all, many museums are free. From natural history to art to aviation, find a top museum in Washington D.C. for families.
Best Aviation Museums across the U.S.
Southern California
Los Angeles
Since the dawn of TV, Los Angeles has been a mecca for the young at heart. The beaches of SoCal created a culture that teens crave. It is one of the top U.S. destinations for families.
Be the cool mom and sign up your teens for surfing lessons. Check out the piers and boardwalks, which are packed with fun. Your teens might even decide that Los Angeles tops their college wish list, too.
Two-Day Itinerary for LA
San Diego
Find beaches, parks and museums in San Diego. Start at Cabrillo National Monument with its tide pools, then move on to Balboa Park. Another Southern Californian favorite is one of the top U.S. destinations for families.
With perfect year-round weather, explore San Diego any time of the year. Remember to pack the swimsuit, even in the winter, since the sun is still shining and the air is warm.
30 Places to See in San Diego
Florida Beaches
The Florida Beaches along scenic byway Highway 30A top my list of amazing places to relax. Teens will appreciate the beach even if they don’t build sandcastles in a ruffle-bottomed swimsuit anymore.
I love the bike paths for teens to explore beach towns packed with hang-outs like ice cream shops and juice stands. Along with water so blue, you think it was the Caribbean.
Hawaii
Our final state as a family was Hawaii. I was really weary that it would be underwhelming. I was wrong, and I loved Hawaii despite the long flight to get there.
Enjoy the unique Polynesian culture along with the food. Don’t miss seeing the amazing beaches with warm water. The volcanoes are a must, too.
Planning Guide to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island
Alaska
The best way to see Alaska is on a cruise. The scenery is best seen from a cruise ship balcony.
The ports of call offer lots of outdoor adventure with mild temperatures, especially nice in the summer. There are interesting excursions too, like bear watching and scenic trains.
How to Earn a Junior Ranger Badge on Your Alaskan Cruise
The Colorado Rockies
Colorado tops the continent with over 50 peaks over 14,000 feet. Climbing a Fourteener might be more than your kids can conquer.
Colorado offers an array of outdoor sports for families, like hiking, mountain biking, river rafts and hot springs. The mild summer temperatures offer a respite when most of the U.S. is sweating through their shirts.
Top Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park
Disney
If your kids haven’t been, take them. It’s an American institution. It’s my last Top US Destination for Families.
If your family isn’t crazy about all things Mickey and Minnie, limit your time at the park to a day or two. Disneyland in California offers better year-round weather along with other family-friendly destinations besides theme parks, like the beach. Walt Disney World, in Florida, is like a city dedicated to Disney.
2 Comments
Thank you very much.
Well Done Catherine! I’m just finishing a Feature for GLOBAL Travel Media & other ‘Family-Friendly’ Magazine and news outlets here in Australia & New Zealand and will happily drop your site for this catagory. Keep going, we think you’re doin just fine! Mark in Oz writing