Are you looking for a fun family getaway this year for spring break, summer vacation, or fall break that isn’t the same old trip to San Diego or Disneyland? We present out Ten Amazing Family Vacation Destinations for 2024!
Check out these ten exciting options around the U.S. (and one in Mexico) that might be simply perfect for your family. Whether you love the ocean, the mountains, or somewhere in between, these resorts and hotels cater to families and offer experiences and amenities for all ages. Opt to get out of your comfort zone and try a new experience this year.
1 The Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA
In need of a sweet retreat? When you check in at this resort near HersheyPark, each family member receives a full-size Hershey bar. Just hop onto the free shuttle to HersheyPark, where a Jolly Rancher-themed coaster with music and a flavor tunnel recently opened. After a delicious day of enjoying the rides — there’s plenty for little kids and thrill-seekers — head back to the hotel where several pools, including one with a kiddie spray deck, await. You can also visit Hershey’s Chocolate World to learn how the candy bar is made and create your own chocolate bar or peanut butter cup. In nearby Lancaster you can step back in time with a visit to Pennsylvania Dutch country, home to America’s oldest Amish settlement.
2 Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO
For those looking to escape the summer heat of the desert, Keystone is definitely a place to check out. The resort gathers snow from around the mountain to maintain their tubing hill so that guests can snow tube all summer to cool off and get their winter fix. Lakeside summer fun includes biking, golf, and paddleboarding, and during winter the resort wows families with ample skiing and impressive mountaintop snow forts, where your kids can climb, slide, and pretend they’re in their own live action Frozen movie.
3 Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa, Pigeon Forge, TN
Voted a Top Ten Theme Park Hotel by USA Today, the DreamMore resort and spa is minutes from Dollywood’s award-winning theme parks in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. After a day at the park, keep the fun going at the on-site resort which includes a fort-style playground, a splashpad, and bedtime stories for the kids. Resort guests have priority access to some rides, free shuttles to the park and early admission on Saturdays.
4 Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Mexico
If you’re looking for a beachy all-inclusive resort that both kids and adults will love, the Nickelodeon resorts are the perfect location. There’s a sprawling waterpark and Nickelodeon characters for the kids, and gourmet food and serene spas for the adults. All suite accommodations have plenty of room for the whole family – especially the SpongeBob themed Pineapple Suite if you’re looking to splurge. (There’s also a location in the Dominican Republic.)
5 Under Canvas, multiple locations
Have you been curious about “glamping,” but don’t know where to try it out? Under Canvas has 11 locations from Arizona to Maine and provides accommodations in upscale canvas tents with large beds, private bathrooms, and housekeeping upon request. There’s even an option to get a “Kids’ Tent” next to yours so you have some more privacy. Their programming includes activities like bingo, movie nights, scavenger hunts and guided hikes. You can’t go wrong with any location, but the solar-powered spot about 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah sounds incredible.
6 Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, HI
Want some Disney magic without the long lines and huge crowds of their amusement parks? Check out the Aulani resort, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Their award-winning kids’ club, Aunty’s Beach House, offers themed activities and surprise visits from Mickey and friends. You can also book character breakfasts and dinners with photo-ops. The pool area is a big hit with kids and adults, offering a lazy river, rushing rapids, a saltwater snorkeling lagoon, and rainbow water jets. There’s also a lot of great food options, a fitness center/classes, spa, and a beautiful lagoon beach.
7 Quisisana Resort, Lovell, Maine
If you’re thinking a digital detox might be a fantastic way to re-connect and spend quality time with your kids, this lakeside resort in western Maine could be just the spot for you. Quisisana means “place of healing and here is where you can connect with nature, make lasting memories family, and enjoy nightly top-notch entertainment provided by the resort staff which is made up of talented performers recruited from leading music and theatre schools across the country. Plus, three tasty meals per day are included.
8 Lakeway Resort and Spa, Lakeway, TX
Just a short drive from downtown Austin, this Texas Hill Country resort sits on the shores of beautiful Lake Travis. There are three large swimming pools, one with an Adventure Waterslide that kids will love, along with free chocolate chip cookies and ice pops to enjoy poolside. Rent boats, jet skis, kayaks, or pontoons to fully enjoy the lake, and take part in family movie nights, spa treatments, golf, yoga, and firepit s’mores.
9 The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV
Located in rural West Virginia near the Allegheny Mountains, this grand hotel has been welcoming guests since 1778. Today, the resort is a National Historic Landmark and offers something for everyone in your family. There are world-famous golf courses, a full-service spa, a bowling alley, tennis, horseback riding, falconry and more. Their supervised Adventure Zone program keeps 3- to 12-year-olds busy with pond fishing, laser tag and a trip to the on-site greenhouse, so that adults can slip away and enjoy a spa treatment or a little time at the casino.
10 Suncadia Resort, Cle Elm, WA
Located about 80 miles east of Seattle, this is a sprawling, all-seasons resort that’s fantastic for outdoorsy families. There are 40+ miles of hiking and biking trails that surround the forested mountain property, three golf courses, and a swim/fitness center. During summer you can enjoy river float trips and fly fishing, while the winter months offer activities like cross-country skiing, ice skating and snow showing.
