When the parents have a stretch of upcoming free time and enough money in the budget to spare, a vacation is often a great way to unwind and spend time with their kids. Many vacation spots, however, aren’t child-friendly and some may even be potentially unsafe for smaller kids. It isn’t difficult to find quality family resort locations and activities, but with each family having different concerns and desires it’s necessary to do research ahead of time.
The traditional “beach” vacation is a popular one with Americans, especially those who live in the Midwest and may not have much exposure to large bodies of water. Locations all up and down the East and West coasts provide plenty of tourist operations ranging from camp grounds to weekend getaways. Many beachfront properties have turned entirely into timeshare communities for vacationing families. The city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for example, has thousands of beachfront houses available to rent on a daily or weekly basis. Close proximity to the ocean is reason enough for some families to appreciate locations like Myrtle Beach, but many of the property owners go much further to attract business and provide large pools, charter fishing, rented boats, parasailing, and bike paths through the nearby wildlife preserves.
Of course, some people prefer the cold to the sun, and ski resorts are popular for families with kids of all ages. Some kids start skiing and snowboarding classes start before they even step foot in kindergarten. The ski resorts across Colorado (such as Vail, Copper Mountain, and Winter Park) aren’t for smaller children as the slopes are very steep and preferred for more seasoned enthusiasts. Ski resorts in the Vermont (such as Stratton and Okemo) mountains are much more gradual and have a more relaxed feel.
Families operating on a budget can check out many of the free National Parks dedicated to monuments, wilderness, or battlefields. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the most popular (and thus most crowded) park, sporting diverse wildlife and breathtaking geysers. Yosemete National Park in California boasts beautiful panoramic views, hiking trails, and rock climbing as far as the eye can see. Gettysburg National Park in Pennsylvania is a detailed account of the most famous battle of the Civil War for the history buffs in the family.
