Every few years, my immediate family likes to plan a multigenerational trip where we can meet up for a week and enjoy our time together. For someone like me who lives in a different city from all but one of my family members, this trip is a great chance to catch up with everyone outside of my usual holiday season visits. One of our favorite parts—though it can be challenging—is picking a destination. Finding a family vacation spot in the US that has enough to entertain our group of 11 spanning the ages of 3 to 75 is fairly difficult (so far we’ve enjoyed locations like Tybee Island, Georgia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico), especially when you take into account the variety of tastes, lifestyles, and age-appropriate interests. Sticking to a domestic location can mean one less travel obstacle to navigate, and luckily, there are plenty of kid-friendly (and parent-approved) spots right here in our own backyard.
From wandering around Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in Florida to splashing on the beach in San Diego, there are so many excellent kid-friendly destinations for the whole family reachable without a passport. These locations make it easy to find a spot the whole family will enjoy. While you can’t avoid the inevitable back-and-forth over which restaurant or activity to pick each day, you can be sure that the locations below will impress fussy toddlers, angsty teens, and tired adults alike. Read on for 17 of the best family vacation spots in the US—nature lovers, city dwellers, history buffs, skiers, and beach bums will all find a little something to enjoy.
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