Many of my favorite childhood memories come from trips my family took as I grew up. Travel can be extremely advantageous in expanding your children’s horizons (and palates!). Who says you have to have a passport to experience a different culture? Our country has so many amazing natural wonders and historic, fun-filled cities, you could plan trips for years and never leave the US.
Determine Your Priorities:
Before you commit to any trip, it is essential that you decide what kind of trip you want to go on. Factors like your kids’ ages, your family’s interests, and your budget will help you decide where you go. Here are some questions about “types” of trip categories to consider:
- Are you hoping for a “vacation” (chill and relaxing) or a “trip” (go-go-go sightseeing)?
- Does your family prefer adventuring outdoors or exploring a new city?
- What can your kids handle when it comes to logistics like car time, flying, and excursions?
- What excites your kids (and you too)? Do your kids prefer theme parks to historical sites, building a sandcastle to hiking a mountain, or small town charm to the big city?
Go West in the Great Outdoors
There is something awe-inspiring about seeing God’s beautiful creation in full display. Whether it’s the giant Red Rocks, the dramatically steep Rockies, a grazing wild bison, or a rushing waterfall, the nature of the Great West never fails to take my breath away. Depending on your family’s preferences, you can do a “big roadtrip” (think: driving thousands of miles RV-style), or you can go “one-home-base” style. Do what’s best for you. (My family prefers to fly in, stay in one centrally located Airbnb, and drive no more than four hours/day roundtrip.)
Utah National Parks: Zion, Bryce, Arches (iconic + doable in a road trip loop)
Colorado: Rocky Mountain NP + Estes Park, Boulder (great for non-desert mountain vibes!)
California State & National Parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, Muir Woods
South Dakota: Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park
Montana: Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole, Bozeman
Arizona: Sedona, Red Rocks, Scottsdale, Goldfield Ghost Town
Best for: Late Elementary, Tweens, and Teens (easily tiring)
Great if your family wants: hiking, animal spottings, outdoor adventures, stargazing, ATVing, horseback riding, ziplining, white water rafting
Don’t miss: Be sure to try local foods like huckleberry jam, bison burgers, or cactus.
Good to know: Highly recommend going in “off season” (fall) for cheaper prices if you’re not planning to ski.
This is the secret sauce: Fly into a city (like Phoenix, Denver, or Las Vegas) and spend a little time there, and then go explore nature.
The City Life
The great thing about the city is there are always things to do for every age. My family typically plans a combination of city sightseeing and nature excursions. These are a few things to do in popular cities across the country.
New York City, NY: Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Broadway plays, Twin Towers Memorial, Empire State Building, afternoon tea at the Plaza, Central Park, The High Line, Chelsea Market, FAO Schwarz, Rockefeller Center
San Francisco, CA: Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies, Cable Car Ride, Ferry Building Marketplace, Palace of Fine Arts, Pier 39 (see the seals!), Alcatraz, Ghiradelli Sq., Napa Valley
Dallas, TX: Fortworth Stockyard, Dallas World Aquarium, Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington), Day trip to Waco (Magnolia Silos)
Nashville, TN: Country Music Hall of Fame, The Parthenon in Centennial Park, Adventure Science Center, Gaylord Opryland Hotel + Mall, 12th South (plus, easy to drive to in the South!)
Washington, DC: Smithsonian (free!), National Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, National Zoo (also free!), Lincoln Memorial + MLK Memorial walk, Library of Congress, Capitol tour, Georgetown, the White House, Monuments at night (so underrated)
Boston, MA: Freedom Trail, Boston Children’s Museum, Duck Boat Tour, Boston Tea Party Museum, Public Library, Harvard, Public Gardens, Fenway Park, Quincy Market, Beacon Hill
Seattle, WA: Pike Place Market (watch the fish toss), Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Aquarium, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Ferry to Bainbridge Island (cheap “mini adventure”), Woodland Park Zoo, Discovery Park
Las Vegas, NV: Bellagio Fountains + Conservatory, stroll the Strip, Shark Reef Aquarium (Mandalay Bay), Tournament of Kings (Medieval Times energy), Area15, Valley of Fire, Grand Canyon West, Red Rock Canyon
Los Angeles, CA: Griffith Observatory (free!), Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach boardwalk, Warner Bros Studio Tour, Disneyland, Hollywood Blvd., The Grove, the Farmers Market, Universal CityWalk/Universal Studios
Best for: You can easily adapt your trip to accommodate all ages and interests.
Great if your family wants: Easy stroller days, museums, variety of food options, cityscapes
Don’t miss: Cities are always hosting cool events, whether it’s festivals or concerts. Check ahead of time to see what will be happening when you’ll be visiting!
Good to know: Walkable cities are ideal, but many also have great public transportation.
This is the secret sauce: Know your family. If you’re not museum people, don’t plan to go to five museums. If you’re big foodies, make a few reservations or do some research on local foods/popular food joints. Want to see a show? Get tickets ahead of time.
Beyond the Beach
If you’re a beach fam, that’s fabulous—gotta love a classic trip to Gulf Shores, AL or Destin, FL. But consider spicing up your beach trip by trying a new location that also offers other attractions outside of the beach.
San Diego, CA: See the seals, day trip to Carlsbad (tulips), LEGOLAND California, San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, Old Town San Diego
Florida Keys: Key West Shipwreck Museum (pirate-y), Turtle Hospital, Robbie’s of Islamorada (feed the tarpon), The Overseas Highway, Dolphin Research Center
Outer Banks, NC: The Lost Colony/Roanoke history, Wright Brothers National Memorial (Kitty Hawk), Aquarium on Roanoke Island, jeep tour of wild horses in Corolla
Miami, FL: Brickell/downtown Miami, Bayside Marketplace, Little Havana, Everglades airboat tour, Wynwood Walls
Charleston, SC: Walk the Historic District, Charleston City Market, King Street, The Battery, White Point Garden, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Hawaii: The upgrade of a lifetime! Volcanoes, Pearl Harbor, luaus, waterfalls, jungle, fruit stands
Alaska: Anchorage, Talkeetna, dogsledding, Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park
Best for: Whether your teen is hoping for more than just beach time or you’re wanting stroller-friendly activities, these beach-city combos work for most everyone.
Great if your family wants: beach, but also shopping, museums, cultural experiences
Don’t miss: Even if you’re not “beach people,” some of the best moments come from being by the water. Try a boat ride, a peer over the pier, or a Highway 1-esque drive for good views.
Good to know: You can typically find several epic free activities no matter where you go—you don’t have to break the bank in order to have a good time.
This is the secret sauce: Breaking up your beach days will help you to enjoy them even more!
Whether you’re planning an extensive 10-day trip or a spur-of-the-moment weekend getaway, you won’t regret exploring these incredible sights across the US with your kids. I can testify: Those memories will last a lifetime and will bond you closer together as a family.
