Fun Places for Family Vacations

You want to introduce your family to the great outdoors. Unfortunately, hot weather, steep hikes and tired bodies can put to rest your child's enthusiasm for outdoor trips. Before you leave for your next family vacation, look for places that will strike your children's interests, in an environment that will encourage exploration and not leave anyone too exhausted to enjoy the views on the ride home.

Acadia National Park

Head to Maine for a family visit to Acadia National Park. Acadia is great for families because you're not limited to steep hikes or bogged down by soaring summer temperatures. Miles of easy trails let families stroll through the park. Buckle toddlers into a bike trailer and pedal on carriage roads. Tired of organizing activities for the kids? Take your youngsters on a ranger-narrated boat cruise or let them participant in the Junior Ranger Program.

Acadia National Park
Route 233 McFarland Hill
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
(207) 288-3383

Olympic National Park

West Coast travelers should check out Olympic National Park. Mild summer temperatures and plenty of wildlife make this park a good choice to keep all ages comfortable and excited about the outdoors. Make a trip to East Beach on Lake Crescent. The waterfront has picnic tables and a swimming area where kids can play in the water.

Olympic National Park
600 E. Park Avenue
Port Angeles, Washington 98362
(360) 565-3000

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville offers year-round recreation with plenty of kid-friendly options for exploring the outdoors. The company Hiking in the Smokies offers guided llama tours that let your family enjoy a backcountry camping trip without carrying all the gear--the llamas carry standard tents and sleeping bags, air mattresses, food and tables.

Hiking in the Smokies
767 Little Creek Road
Hot Springs, NC 28743
(828) 662-9686

Seattle

Explore the beach at Puget Sound in Golden Gardens Park, just a skip away from downtown Seattle. The views of the coastline and Olympic Mountains make it a great vacation stop for the outdoor family. Families with older kids can head for a forest hike. Younger kids will enjoy time on the beach. As the day winds down, restaurants and hotels are within reach to save packing all the camping gear.

Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Place Northwest
Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 684-4075

Resources

Article Written By Kathrine Cole

Kathrine Cole is a professional outdoor educator. She teaches rock climbing, backpacking, cycling, and bike maintenance classes. She is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School, a Wilderness First Responder, and a Leave No Trace Trainer.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...