Best Family-Friendly Destinations for 2025

Traveling and exploring the world doesn’t have to stop just because you have kids. There are plenty of family-friendly destinations that offer great ways to make memories to last a lifetime. 

As a parent, I’ve always wanted to instill a sense of adventure in my kids, whether by visiting a state park 30 minutes away or a foreign country with a different language and culture. 

It’s possible to plan a vacation the whole family will love, but you need to consider each family member’s interests and abilities. 

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Top Family-Friendly Destinations By Category

Think first about the kinds of activities your family enjoys before choosing the type of trip to take. 

After all, a beach vacation might sound perfect… until you remember your kids get bored after 30 minutes in the sand. And while Paris might be calling your name, your teenagers might prefer somewhere with more action than art museums.

The good news is there's a perfect spot out there for every family — whether you're beach bums, city explorers, or road trip warriors who love finding weird roadside attractions.

Top beach destinations for families

Kids typically love the water, and there are plenty of things to keep them occupied while you (attempt to) relax on a beach vacation. 

You could look into a beachfront condo in Destin, Florida, where you can go fishing and swimming and engage in any number of other water sports. 

Head to the aquarium one day to get a break from the sun, or send the golfers in the family to a local course to perfect their swing.

Maui, Hawaii is another family-friendly beach destination where you can tour majestic waterfalls, go whale-watching, and brave the road to Hana. 

Or perhaps Cancún, Mexico is more your family’s pace. Stoke your adventurous spirit and go snorkeling or scuba diving, learn about Mayan culture, or just lounge in the sand. 

Plus, there are plenty of water parks and resorts to fit your family’s needs, whether you’re a smaller group or bringing a big reunion of extended family. 

City breaks with kid-friendly activities

Our family loves a long weekend in a city we’ve never visited (as country dwellers, this is a great break from our day-to-day). 

In San Diego, California, animal lovers can tour the famed San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. Beachcombers will find miles and miles of coastline and water sports from kayaking to surfing to paddle boarding. Plus, there’s always fine dining for everyone’s taste buds.

You may even be able to pick a city within a few hours’ drive — maybe that’s Austin, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, or Nashville, Tennessee. 

Or if you’d rather go afar, there are international family-friendly destinations, too. You might fly to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where you can tour the Van Gogh Museum (that’d be at the top of my list) and other incredible art museums, as well as the Anne Frank House. 

Or take a cruise through the city’s canals — a gorgeous way to take in the sights. 

Family-friendly destinations with cultural activities 

Want to introduce your kids to a different culture? You might head abroad to somewhere like Kyoto, Japan to view temples, palaces, and museums while eating your way through new-to-you cuisines. 

Perhaps Paris, France is more your style (as a former French teacher, I’m kind of partial to this one). A wealth of art, history, food, and even Disneyland Paris await! 

Of course, you can also get a rich cultural experience without leaving the country. 

Consider a cosmopolitan city like Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, or San Francisco, California. I bet if you made a list of all the restaurants and cultural attractions your family wants to see, you’d never get through them all. 

Top road trip destinations for families 

Road trips are great for families. For one thing, you usually save money by driving rather than flying, and you have more flexibility in your itinerary. 

Plus, you can see weird sights along the way like the Hodag statue in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, or the World’s Largest Paper Cup in Riverside, California. 

You could center your family-friendly road trip around something unique to your family. Maybe your grandparents once covered many miles along Route 66 and you’d like to recreate parts of their journey, checking out attractions from the Painted Desert in Arizona to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Or you can get your fill of gorgeous scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. If you’re on the East Coast, consider a road trip to Cape Cod, driveable from cities like Philadelphia and New York. 

Or simply come up with a driving radius from your house and look up what you might see in any direction.

The amazing part about a road trip is that you can plan it out diligently or be spontaneous, stopping whenever you see a roadside attraction that piques someone’s interest. 

Pro Tip: Check whether any memberships or credit cards you have will provide roadside assistance and other protections along your journey.

READ MORE: Best Road Trip Travel Tips

Adventure and Activity-Based Destinations

If your family is an adventurous and outdoorsy one, you may want to opt for a vacation tailored to an activity like skiing or hiking. Or maybe head to a theme park and ride roller coasters every day. 

Best theme parks for family travel

Get a feel for Appalachia by visiting Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (I can vouch for this one being a ton of fun as an adult, as much as it is for kids). 

Or if you have some LEGO experts, pick one of the many LEGOLAND theme parks scattered in the U.S. and abroad. 

Does your child have an obsession with a certain wizarding series? Take your family to Harry Potter World, part of Universal Orlando Resort. 

Perhaps your family’s more into a famous mouse? It’s not just for kids — one of my best friends is 40 and loves going to Disney theme parks! 

The key is to take into account everyone’s interests and ages. If you have a 10-month-old, that child won’t remember Disney World, but if she’s got older siblings, it could be worth it to visit the park they want to see anyway (and get the baby in for free). 

Pro Tip: You can save money with multi-day passes at most theme parks, or by booking your hotel and park tickets together.

Just be sure to do your research, because if your children have their hearts set on a specific attraction, like building a Star Wars lightsaber at Disney World, you don’t want to miss it because you didn’t make a reservation. 

Let the kids get in on the planning, too — that’s half the fun! 

National parks ideal for family adventures

U.S. National Parks offer incredible insights into the nation’s history along with breathtaking vistas and natural landmarks. 

Or try Canadian national parks or parks in other countries if you’re willing to go further away. 

This is a tough one for me to write because I want to see them all!

Hiking is a huge draw at most national parks, such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, which happens to be within a day’s drive from half the nation’s population. 

National park hiking is perfect because you don’t even need special equipment and you can find trails for all ability levels and ages. 

You could marvel at the sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park or get in touch with wildlife at Yellowstone National Park before checking out the Old Faithful geyser. 

Pro Tip: Fourth graders get into U.S. national parks for free, so if that works for your timing, great! 

Educational destinations for kids

A family vacation doesn’t have to mean the learning stops, right?

One of the must-see destinations for families who want to give their kids powerful educational moments is the Smithsonian Institution, which includes 21 museums and the National Zoo. Most of these museums are in Washington, D.C., and nearly all of them have free admission.

Your family can explore the African American History and Culture Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum, to name a few. 

You might also consider the Space Center in Houston, Texas, for the astronomy lover in the family.

For science lovers, I recommend looking into the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program. This is a reciprocal program — if you purchase an annual membership to one of the participating science museums around the U.S., you receive free admission to several other participating institutions. 

We’ve bought a pass for our nearest science museum (in Cincinnati) and used it to get into similar museums while traveling. 

Best ski resorts for family vacations 

If your family loves the snow, there are amazing ski resorts that cater to families. Maybe you’ll take off for Park City, Utah, and take advantage of fresh powder while snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiling — then cozy up inside the resort in the evenings with a board game. 

If you want to head out of the U.S., there are plenty of snowy destinations. One gorgeous option is Zermatt, Switzerland, where you can book a ski-in-/ski-out accommodation for super convenient access to the slopes. 

Or head to Whistler, Canada, where you can go skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and ziplining. 

If not every family member is excited about a snowy vacation, you can still find a resort with plenty to keep everyone occupied. 

I’m content with a novel in front of a fireplace while everyone else is skiing, but perhaps your ski destination also has a thriving art scene or an excellent spa. 

Planning the Perfect Family-Friendly Getaway

If you’ve ever traveled with your kids, you know the key to success is to plan with your kids’ needs and wants in mind. Build in necessary breaks and be realistic. You can’t make everyone happy all the time, but you can ensure everyone gets some say.

There’s no point in spending your money on a trip that only offers activities for one child if you have three, and many trips offer variety — so your museum-loving kid can have just as much fun as the one who simply wants to play on the beach all day!

If you need inspiration for things to do in your chosen destination, you can use a booking tool like Viator to search for family-friendly tours and activities.  

Protecting your family and your trip

Always check your travel insurance before you leave for any trip out of state or abroad.

At the very least, you want to have medical insurance, which will help to cover any injuries or illnesses that could strike on the road.

Check what your current policy covers if you’re out of state or country, and consider supplemental coverage if needed. 

You may also want to consider coverage for circumstances like trip cancellation and baggage delays. 

You can browse policies using an online broker like VisitorsCoverage or your credit card may have travel insurance already included.

COMPARE: Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance

Budget-Friendly Family Travel Tips

Planning ahead can help you secure the best rates on excursions, lodging, and transportation, so start working on your travel itinerary now.

You can use a site like Booking.com to search for special offers, flights, hotels, and travel packages (I could spend hours browsing various vacation options). 

How to travel on a budget with kids 

If anyone tells you it’s impossible to travel with kids unless you’re a millionaire, they’re wrong. 

You can use credit card points to save up for free flights and hotels, which takes a huge portion of the burden off you. 

If you don’t have one yet, find a great travel rewards credit card so you can start accumulating points to redeem for discounts and freebies. 

Plus, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars per day on flashy theme parks (though that’s totally fine if you’ve got the budget and desire). Kids can have the time of their lives going on hikes in state or national parks, or camping at the beach. 

In our family, we save money on meals by packing picnic supplies on road trips, as well as choosing lodging with the ability to make food. 

We’ve even packed our air fryer for stays in hotel rooms — as long as there’s a fridge or cooler, we can make some pretty tasty meals so we don’t have to go out to eat for every meal. 

Remember that where you stay may also be less expensive if you’re traveling with a big group. Maybe this is a vacation for your extended family and you can all split the cost of a spacious rental house. 

The key is to be flexible and look at all of your options before assuming your trip has to break the bank. 

READ MORE: How To Travel for Free (or Close to It!)

Prioritizing value over luxury

I’ve always been big on experiences over expenses. 

Of course, some thrilling experiences do cost money and you have to consider your budget, but there are often creative ways to make the most of your time off. 

Think back on some of your most memorable holidays or trips from childhood. Do you remember everything going perfectly, with ideal weather and no delays or frustrations? Or were there setbacks and surprises? 

Being open to going with the flow — while still planning — might help you recognize those little magical moments when they happen. 

Simply plunking down exorbitant amounts of money for the so-called “best” hotels or for some attraction you saw in an ad doesn’t guarantee happiness and smooth sailing. You can have just as much fun at a campground or some other cheaper form of lodging.

Pro Tip: Look at prices for memberships to museums and attractions as well as park passes. Annual passes can save you money if you plan to return within a calendar year. 

For instance, a Parks Canada Discovery Pass offers 12 months’ admission to over 80 destinations including Banff National Park and Prince Edward Island National Park. 

You might go to one park this summer and another next summer to maximize pass value.

READ MORE: Tips and Tricks for Saving Money on Travel

FAQs About Family-Friendly Destinations

How do I find budget-friendly family travel options?

If you’re frugal in other areas, you already have tools to save money on family vacations. 

But if you’re new to budgeting, don’t worry. You can look at cheaper lodging options like camping, staying with friends, or no-frills places like state park resorts. 

Consider credit card rewards for free hotel stays or flights as well. 

Are there all-inclusive resorts specifically for families?

Some all-inclusive resorts provide amenities like baby strollers and cribs. Many offer a kids’ club or teens’ club with qualified adult supervision — allowing you and the other adults to relax and get a real break. 

Before you book, research exactly what is included. For example, your package might cover lodging, food and beverages, and activities, but require additional fees for certain spa services or special excursions.

How do I plan a road trip with young kids?

Think about what your kids enjoy and find at least one stop or activity that will be fun for everyone. This might be their favorite fast food or a roadside attraction. 

And always consider the same things you want for yourself: food, drink, comfort, and entertainment. (There’s no shame in bringing along electronic devices to keep kids occupied!) 

TL;DR: Picking Your Next Family Vacation Destination

The hard part about choosing your next family vacation destination is narrowing down the options. There are so many ways to create lasting memories, whether with your kids or with multiple generations. 

Try to take every family member’s interests and needs into account before deciding where to go, and remember that a big part of the fun is the preparation for your journey.

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