Top Family Vacation Spots in the U.S.
The view of Central Park in Manhattan, New York from the top of the Viceroy Hotel. Madi Mascari, Sofia Suri, and Kaitlyn Kelley visited New York on March 24, 2017 (Broadcaster/ Kaitlyn Kelley)
June 10, 2017
Choosing an exciting, affordable vacation spot can be a challenging task that many families come face to face with every year.
Luckily, U.S. News put together a list of the top 18 U.S. vacation spots based off travel guides, affordability, and reviews of visitors. These exciting vacation spots will provide fun for any family looking to spend time together this summer. The following are five of the top 18.
The number one ranked vacation spot is the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. The Grand Canyon is known for its massive chasm measuring 277 miles in length and 18 miles in width. The chasm is continuing to expand due to the Colorado River.
The South Rim of the chasm is home to the Grand Canyon Village and the well-worn Bright Angel Trail which is popularly known for sightseers and hikers. Hiking tours to the bottom include the Bright Angel or Rim Trails which are ranked as previous visitors favorites.
Hardcore hiking, backwoods camping, and rafting on the Colorado River are ranked among visitors favorite activities.
The Grand Canyon is designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best months to visit the canyon are typically between March and May or September and November because they are usually less busy, cheaper, and consist of better weather.
The Grand Canyon has been ranked as an enjoyable, adventurous, and family oriented vacation spot according to the U.S. News.
If hiking is not your family’s idea of a “fun” family vacation, check out Maui, Hawaii, which is ranked second by U.S. News.
Maui offers a little taste of everything the Aloha state has to offer, ranging from its impressive wildlife, to its intriguing history and culture and its luxurious beaches.
The coasts of South Maui is home to the famous Wailea Beach, and West Maui is home to music from the Old Lahaina Luau and Kaanapali Beach.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Maui is known as the “Road to Hana”. The Road to Hana is where tourists can experience East Maui’s scenic coastline, and explore Haleakala, the world’s largest dormant volcano in the Upcountry.
Along with the Road to Hana, some other popular tourist attractions are Haleakala National Park, the former tribal battlegrounds of Lao Valley State Park, Napili beach, Wailea beach, and Kaanpali beach.
According to U.S. News, tourists can also ”shimmy alongside professional hula dancers, golf along coastal fairways, snorkel alongside five different types of sea turtles or simply lounge along some of Hawaii’s most notable beaches”.
If your family is looking for a beautiful, relaxing getaway with a bit of adventure, Maui might just be the place for you, as it is ranked first in relaxing getaway and best luxury getaway in the U.S., according to U.S. News.
If your family is look for more of an upbeat and fast paced family vacation, check out New York City, NY.
New York City, also known as “The Big Apple,” blends big-city splendor and small-town charm, as it is the most populous city in the U.S. NYC is ranked #1 in Best Shopping Destinations in the USA as well as in Best Summer Vacations according to U.S. News.
”Wander through the concrete jungle and you’ll discover roaring taxicabs pouring down bustling blocks, fast-paced pedestrians whizzing past on their way to marquee galleries and innovative cocktail bars and Times Square‘s neon lights flickering at all hours,” said a reporter from U.S. News.
There are endless ways to occupy your time in the city that never sleeps; fifth avenue shopping, Central Park, Broadway plays and musicals, museums, the Rockefeller Center ice skating, and many famous buildings such as the Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty.
Crowds of people gather around the Washington Monument for pictures. Erin Kelley and her family visited Washington D.C. on May 28, 2017.
Another major tourist attraction is NYC’s Times Square. Times Square is located in midtown Manhattan and consists of many marquee displays. This area is best known for its annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop where NY’s famous crystal ball descends 77 feet from a pole on the One TImes Square building.
Although staying in inner city Manhattan can be pricey, it is a destination tourists recommend not to miss.
If your family is into politics and the exploring the government, Washington D.C. has a taste of all of that.
Washington D.C. is a faster-paced East Coast Vacation destination home to marbled monuments and high-profile politics. It is the capital of the United States and is home to the world renowned White House.
D.C. is also home to the Washington Monument and the Library of Congress among other political buildings. Tours are offered through these buildings as well as through the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and through many different museums.
Ranked #10 in the U.S. News top 18 vacation spots in the U.S. is Orlando, Florida. Orlando is ranked #1 in Best Family Vacations and Spring Break Destinations.
Orlando’s subtropical climate is great for golfing and the attractive downtown city landscape. Orlando is home to the one and only Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios. Walt Disney World is a theme park adequate for all ages. It consists of four theme parks and two water parks, as well ass shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes.
No other city in the U.S. celebrates childhood like this city. If you are not interested in spending a few days at Walt Disney World, your family can also check out Seaworld Orlando, Orlando International Premium Outlets, Gatorland, Discovery Cove, The Mall at Millenia, or Fun Spot America, another amusement park.
If choosing a family oriented, adventurous vacation spot is a challenging task for your family , any one of these five spots should quench your summer vacation thirst.
