I am a mom of two young girls who love to travel. Each year, I ask the kids about what they would like to see and typically, I plan our family trips around that. Most of the time, they want to see places they have learned or heard in school, which is awesome! However, sometimes they put it on me to decide. If that is your case, then here are some of our favorite destinations in the USA (the kids love these places and adults do too!).
I am categorizing the list to make sure I have options for all your preferences:
Yellowstone - National Park
Yellowstone is the oldest national park and probably our favorite so far. It features canyons, rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, and lots of variety of animal species.
Note: Grand Prismatic Spring (photo below) was out favorite spot in the park.
Mount Rushmore - National Park
I asked my girls what they wanted to see and they said, "the mountains with the presidents". This trip was a great opportunity to talk about these presidents and the history behind this monument and each of them. Do not be afraid of the people that say this this a boring area. It is not boring at all!!! We loved every second of this trip. We combined it with Custer State Park, The Badlands, and Crazy Horse memorial... so much to do in this area!
Note: Beautiful loop around the park, we got there very early, which was great to take photos and enjoy it while it was not crazy. Also, plan for some time to visit the gift shop (huge lines) and eat some delicious ice cream (also a huge line).
I have a full post about what to do in Mount Rushmore.
The Badlands - National Park
The Badlands absolutely blew our minds! We drove around the park and stopped in every possible stop that we can think of (even some small hikes). This place is stunning and it should be in your "must see" list (or bucket list).
Note: There is no signal within the park, so make sure you download the maps ahead of time. (Ask for a map at the gate too).
In my Mount Rushmore post, I also talk about the Badlands
Smoky Mountains - National Park
As you can see, we have been on a kick to visit National Parks. Smoky Mountains was super fun and beautiful. I made sure we enjoyed the outdoors, and it did not disappoint. Be ready to spot bears in your hikes, which was scary but also a fun experience with the kids (after the fact!). This place could be a trap for tourists in some areas (some flashy places, fancy rides and hand made places that could be super attractive for some families). Make sure you plan ahead based on your preferences and have fun.
Note: We did a little bit of everything, we did the hikes and landmarks, but we also did some of the "flashy" places and ziplines.
I have a full post on what we did at the Smoky Mountains.
Yosemite - National Park
In the same trip we did for San Francisco, we decided to rent a car and visit Yosemite for a few days. We went all over the park and it did not disappoint. We visited the Tuolumne Meadows area one day. Tenaya Lake was our favorite spot and spent most of our day there. Then we went to the Valley area and visited all the popular sites: the falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, etc.
Note: We stayed at the Rush Creek Lodge and Spa at Yosemite which was a great choice as a family. My kids loved every second of this hotel. Also, the signal is terrible at the park, make sure you have a map (or download it ahead of time). If you are driving around, make sure you get gas ahead of time (or at some of the entrances of the park).
I have a full post on what to do at Yosemite with kids.
Disneyworld & Disneyland - Amusement Parks
I do not think I need to speak that much about Disney. Well known places and loved by many. Make sure you plan ahead and make the most of these visits. It can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with the parks, so make sure you have a plan. The kids love it, and I have to be honest, I love it too!
Pennsylvania Hershey Park - Amusement Parks
Hershey Park surprised me! My 13 year old girl said that she likes it even more than Disney. I think the reason for that is because they have lots of roller coasters. This is also another location that you must plan ahead to make the best of it! Be ready to eat lots of sugar too!!!
Note: We stayed at one of the Hershey Park hotels and it was well worth it. We used their shuttle and could enter the hotel earlier than the regular visitor, which was so worth it!
New York City - City
NYC has so much for to offer... if you want to see amazing views, go shopping, go to eat, go to a play, go to a museum, or spend a day at the park; NYC has it all. We always do something different each time we go to the city. During our last visit, we went to Governor's Island and spent a full day there (with a blanket, picnic food, and plenty of yard games). We rented the bikes for a few hours, walked around the park and even did the slides at the park. We also did the Summit One Vanderbilt experience, which is the photo below. My little girl, loved the cloud room! So much to do in NYC!!!
Note: We visited the Summit during the day, next time, we will visit it at night, which we hear is also so amazing. There is so much to do in NYC, I am only mentioning two things we did in our last visit, but there is a lot more to do (even with kids).
San Francisco - City
San Francisco also has a lot to offer. Since this was the first time for my kids and they really wanted to see the Golden Gate. We rented a private sail boat tour to take us close to the Golden Gate Bridge (we decided to do it private because of Covid). It was the highlight for my kids because our amazing tour guide taught them how to sail it and even let them do it. So much to see and do in the city, but the sailboat was absolutely our favorite event.
Note: We also had a rental car, so we were also able to drive through the Golden Gate! We did most of the popular touristic places, but the other highlight for my kids was to see the Full House property (be aware it is a private property, so please be respectful).
Pennsylvania Philly & Gettysburg - USA History
Philadelphia & Gettysburg may not be popular destinations for families compared to some of the other locations mentioned above, but I personally think they are fantastic family destinations. They are so rich in history and there is a lot to do. We love the museums and a philly cheesesteak is a must!
Note: You must also run up the steps of Museum of Art in Philadelphia like Rocky Balboa
Virginia Williamsburg - USA History
Williamsburg, a city in the U.S. state of Virginia that was capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and played a significant role in the American Revolution. Colonial Williamsburg is a must-see for anyone who's interested at all in early American history (history buffs unite!). It is the world's largest living history museum, and it makes a great place for families
Note: As you can see in the pictures below, my daughters were wearing typical outfits for the era, which we purchased in one of the clothing stores of the Colonial Williamsburg. Making memories while embracing and learning the history.
"The Beach" - lots of choices for this one
This one is the only one that is super broad and not one particular recommendation. The reason for that is because one popular family destination should be the beach, but I personally like to go to different ones, not the same each year. Take the kids to the beach and relax and have fun.
Note: Go in the water, play with waves (if there are any), show the kids how important is to preserve our beaches, make a sand castle and decompress in this crazy busy world.
Hawaii - Beach, History, Outdoors
My last family destination is Hawaii. I am also a little vague about what to include for Hawaii because there is so much to see in this state and I do not want to limit it. One of my personal favorites is Kona island, where you can find beach, flora and even a volcano!
Note: It is pretty far from those people in the East Coast (like me), but it is a place that you need to experience at least once in a lifetime! Culture is amazing and the outdoors is paradise!
I hope you enjoyed these ideas! They are all based on my own experiences with my family. Keep making memories and ENJOY!
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