What are some great summer trip ideas for families?
To help you find the perfect summer trip idea for you and your family, we asked travel experts and business leaders this question for their best trip ideas. From taking a Disney family vacation to exploring the southwest, there are several ideas that may help your family pick the perfect trip for them.
Here are eight summer trip ideas recommended for families:
- Make Memories on a Road Trip
- Drive to a Disney Near You
- Tour Around New Orleans
- Do It All in Bisbee
- Kayak Through Alaska
- Head to a National Park
- Explore the Southwest
- See the Sights in Mexico City
Make Memories on a Road Trip
Take a roadtrip in an RV! For those who don’t feel totally comfortable with hopping on a plane just yet, RVs are a great way to get out of town safely and explore the great outdoors. With more national and state parks opening up, it is the perfect time to see the sights, roast some marshmallows, and of course, make memories with your friends and family.
Randall Smalley, Cruise America
Drive to a Disney Near You
I would recommend keeping it safe and doing a road trip to Disney. For people in or near Florida or California, this might be the most affordable option, especially for larger families. Right now flights are much cheaper, but the lines and TSA checks might be a hassle, especially for a large family with younger kids. Also, most airlines have very strict COVID guidelines that make travel by air much more challenging.
Rronniba Pemberton, Markitors
Tour Around New Orleans
I recommend New Orleans for a family trip. This seems like an odd recommendation, given the shenanigans that many adults get into, but there is actually a lot of fun history as well as tours you can enjoy in the area. There are plenty of plantations around for day trips, cool voodoo tours that will inspire awe from your children, as well as hot weather in the summer for the kids to enjoy the pool at your hotel!
Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds
Do It All in Bisbee
Bisbee Arizona boasts of the Best Climate in AZ. The elevation is 5,200 feet and normally has temperatures 20 degrees less than Tucson and Phoenix. The Main Street area is riddled with great coffee shops (Bisbee Coffee Company) and restaurants (Santiago’s, The Bisbee Table, Cafe Roka). No trip to Bisbee would be complete without an Underground Journey of the Queen Mine Tour. This tour takes you underground half a mile or more to see how the Copper Miners once made the copper industry the richest in the world. Last but not least would be the original Bisbee Breakfast Club. No breakfast in this great state compares to the BBC breakfast.
Bobby Zavala, University of Dubuque
Kayak Through Alaska
Summer is a great way to take the family on an outdoor adventure and an eco-friendly tour to add to your list is a kayak tour in Alaska. Children older than ten years old will enjoy paddling through Clover Pass surrounded by the Tongass National Forest in search of wildlife like humpback whales, sea lions, and eagles. There is a fantastic tour to teach your kids about nature, marine life, and the rainforest. The four-hour tour includes spending more than two hours on the water then enjoying a meal and snacks in the marina.
Bertie Cowan, Effortless Outdoors
Head to a National Park
A great family trip to take with the family this summer is to Yellowstone National Park. It is a great way to experience nature whether it is for a picnic during the day or to enjoy camping. The national park has a great Yellowstone Junior Ranger program that is educational and fun. Here kids will learn about the natural formations and the hot springs in the park. There is plenty to do at Yellowstone National Park like visiting landmarks like the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Old Faithful Geyser, and watching the wildlife. It is a family-friendly place the whole family will enjoy and appreciate.
Leo Young, Optimized Family
Explore the Southwest
Due to current circumstances, there are still not too many places that are open right now. Although vacations have become less international, there is so much to learn and explore within our own country. One of the most memorable trips I have experienced was a trip down the Southwest. I got to visit White Sands National Park, Hatch, New Mexico, Marfa, Texas, and so much more. This trip is different from the typical beach-side vacation, but in a way, it shows you a different part of the world that everyone needs to see.
Bing Howenstein, ALL33
See the Sights in Mexico City
An urban destination can be family-friendly! I would highly recommend going to Mexico City for a family trip. While it’s a large city, it is surprisingly very kid-friendly. Spend a day at Chapultepec Park exploring the different paths and market stalls or take a side trip to Teotihuacan where your kids will be amazed by the pyramids. Don’t stress over dining out as there’s plenty of casual and delicious street food. Teach your kids some art and culture by planning a trip to Frida Kahlo’s museum. Mexico City is also inexpensive for families on a budget.
Amy Wong, My Favorite Hello
Terkel creates community-driven content featuring expert insights. Sign up at terkel.io to answer questions and get published.