Family Vacation Ideas
With President’s Day behind us and March just around the corner, it’s time to be planning for your family’s spring vacation. Interested in more temperate climes? Head to San Diego or Oahu. Looking to provide your kids with a historical experience? Explore Chicago or New York. Do you have a family of adventurers? Take in a theme park in Los Angeles or Orlando. If any of these trips sound right for your family, check out our selection of family vacation ideas that has a little something for everyone.
The Great Outdoors
Oahu Attractions In addition to its appeal as America’s own tropical paradise, Hawaii is famous as the land of good food and good friends. A visit to Oahu can never go wrong in the winter months. Escape the indoor blues with surfing, biking, paddle-boarding, sunbathing – you name it, Oahu has it. Soak in the culture of Hawaii and other Polynesian islands with tours and visits to local museums. Explore the wild beauty of Oahu; dormant volcanoes, secluded beaches, charming lighthouses, and historic battle sites are just a few of the sights to be seen. San Diego Attractions
San Diego also boasts a number of beaches and excellent bike paths, providing plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors on the land or in the sea. For an afternoon on the beach, you can kayak, snorkel, or just sunbathe to your heart’s content. If you’d like to add a little more adventure to your outdoors, stop by the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to say hello to the Giant Pandas and elephants that call San Diego home. Of course, San Diego has plenty to do inside as well! Museums are key here – if you can think of it, San Diego probably has a museum on the subject. Miami Attractions Located at the southern tip of Florida, Miami is sunshine and clear skies nearly all the time. This is a perfect place to take a cruise with your family, or a relaxing boat ride around the Keys. When you’re back on dry land, check out one of the beautiful gardens or outdoor attractions Miami has to offer, such as the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens or the Coral Castle. It wouldn’t be a trip to Florida without an exploration of some of the local wildlife – from safaris and wildlife sanctuaries to the Seaquarium, there’s a lot of nature to take in during your trip to Miami.
Art, History, and Culture
Boston Attractions Full of monuments, historical homes, and national treasures, Boston is the ideal place to learn about the beginning of our history as a nation. Walk along the Freedom Trail and follow in the footsteps of early patriots, or take a ride on a Beantown Trolley to cover more ground. Sports fans will want to tour Fenway’s historic century-old grounds and soak up the championship vibes. Art lovers should not miss the MFA’s impressive collection of early American art and classical masterpieces, especially with Cézanne’s masterpiece, The Large Bathers, on special loan until the beginning of May. Chicago Attractions [caption id="attachment_10534" align="alignright" width="300"]
The Art Institute of Chicago[/caption] How can you talk about history in today’s global world without talking about Chicago? The birthplace of modern politics is also the starting point for a lot of contemporary art and architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright spent many years in the city, and his innovative architectural style has inspired one of the most beautiful cities in the country. If you’re more inclined to natural history, it literally doesn’t get any more historical than the Field Museum, home to Sue, the world’s most complete T-rex skeleton. The Art Institute of Chicago – itself an architectural masterpiece – offers an unparalleled selection of classic and modern works, plus a special kids-oriented section. New York City Attractions New York, New York – a city so old and so new, so classic and so contemporary. From the Statue of Liberty to the Ground Zero Museum, New York City hosts the best centers of learning that showcase our nation’s heritage. Even the art collections span the ages; from the Met’s Egyptian collection to the MoMA’s contemporary galleries, you’ll find art in New York from practically any place and time. The architecture is worth a closer look, too – so take a tour of the city to get a real feel for the different styles and periods of construction that make New York City the most diverse place in the country. San Francisco Attractions [caption id="attachment_10540" align="alignright" width="300"]
An exhibit at the Asian Art Museum[/caption] For the West Coast travellers, there’s no place more charming than San Francisco. With its roots in the gold rush and its heart in the vivacity and innovation of that period, San Francisco is full of unique attractions. From a bevy of art and culture museums such as the SFMOMA, the De Young Museum, and the Asian Art Museum, to world-class institutions that focus on natural history, like the California Academy of Science and the Aquarium of the Bay – San Francisco has it all. If your cultural interests lie on the quirkier side, why not take a tour of Alcatraz, or stop in to the Cartoon Art Museum?
Family Adventure
Los Angeles Attractions LA is the city of the stars, where movie magic really does come to life. Take a tour of any one of the premier studios that call Los Angeles home to get a behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the movie industry. Universal Studios is one of the most popular tours, as it combines insider information and backstage tours with a full-throttle theme park. You can also choose to take a bus or trolley tour of Hollywood, which often drive by celebrity homes and famous spots from popular films. If your kids are interested in a full day of rides and excitement, consider a visit to a place like Six Flags Magic Mountain, or Knott’s Berry Farm – two of the premier theme parks in the LA area. Orlando Attractions [caption id="attachment_10539" align="alignright" width="300"]
The fun never stops at WonderWorks![/caption] Probably the first thing you think of when you think of theme parks is Disney World – Orlando has that and so much more! If your children have an affinity for the water and for a certain famous whale named Shamu, do not miss out on SeaWorld Orlando. This city is also home to LEGOLAND, a real kids’ paradise chock full of their favorite toys brought to life. While the most unique theme park award goes to Gatorland, the Alligator Capitol of the World, Orlando is full of fun and crazy attractions, like Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the upside down WonderWorks. Complete your adventures with a stop at the Kennedy Space Center, where your family will learn all about the real-life adventures of astronauts. Hopefully one of these family vacation ideas will appeal to you and your loved ones this season. We’d love to hear from you about your ideal vacation – so let us know what you think in the comments! What style family vacation will you be taking this spring?