Family-Friendly Vacationing in the USA

By Adrienne Richardson

It's time to start thinking about where your family will vacation this summer. We scanned the United States and nearby areas for fun and educational locales...ok, some of them are just plain fun!

Amelia Island, Florida

Still relatively unknown, Amelia Island--in northern Florida near Jacksonville--has lovely beaches, a historic fort complete with actors who play period characters, a quaint town with wonderful old buildings, delicious seafood and two fine resorts: the Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz-Carleton -- both of which welcome kids.

Arizona
Arizona is filled with iconic scenery, such as awesome Monument Valley, where you can also learn about the Navajo. Lake Powell is stunning too. Go house boating on this million-acre lake in a flooded canyon. Do an easy raft ride down the Colorado River in a red-rock canyon or a whitewater raft adventure in the famous Grand Canyon, which you can also explore by a mule ride or helicopter flight seeing. Take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona, where Route 66 still lives. Visit Petrified Forest National Park to see one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood and multi-hued badlands.

Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Petit Club and Mini Club have an entire building, with separate rooms for different age groups. Outside is a big playground, choo-choo and pool. Older kids might do trapeze, or in-line skating or rehearse for the mini-club show (with costumes, lights and sound). Meanwhile, teens can try out The Ramp: with skateboard ramp on one surface, teen lounge tucked underneath, and on top a space to hang out topped by a canopy where movies can be shown. Plenty of adult activities too!

Club Med Sandpiper, Florida

Two hours from Miami or Orlando airports is an all-inclusive in the US, with terrific friendly ambiance. Baby Club Med has outstanding kid programs. Resort activities include waterskiing, wakeboarding, trapeze, inline skating and golf. Guests can take excursions to Disney World or Kennedy Space Center. This resort is on the St. Lucie River, not the beach.

Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, Pennsylvania

Great Wolf Lodge has open, rustic-styled resorts with lavish indoor water parks in many locations. Signature features include Northern Lights Arcade, Aveda Concept Spa, Howl-O-Ween and "Snowland" with indoor falling snow in the Lodges' lobbies, storytime, animated show and more.

Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
Family fun is what Six Flags is all about. From the highest heights to the gentlest adventures, they've got plenty of rides your family can enjoy together. These rides spin, fly and promise to take kids on magical journeys that are perfect for their height and age. While you are there, visit the largest drive-thru safari outside of Africa. This 350-acre wildlife preserve is home to 1,200 animals. Their 4.5-mile auto trail lets the animals walk right up to your car for an up-close encounter. Don't miss the Dolphin Discovery Show including Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins and California Sea Lions.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

The Arizona was one of several mighty battleships attacked and lost 1,177 crewmen, most of whom are still entombed inside. Daily sightseeing cruises of Pearl Harbor and the Oahu coastline include whale watching and fantastic views of Diamond Head and Waikiki. Ride 90-foot catamaran to a submarine; the submarine takes you to see exotic fish, coral reef formations and sea gardens.

Rocking Horse Ranch, New York

On 500 acres in the Shawangunk Mountains just 90 minutes from New York City, activities and meals are all-included. Enjoy the indoor pool with geyser, horseback riding, water skiing, fishing, archery and boats. Nursery and day camp available for kids.

Sandestin Gold and Beach Resort, Florida

This giant 2,400-acre resort has a beach side on the Emerald Coast (Gulf of Mexico) and also a bay side, with many activities: kids' sailing, kids' tennis, kayaking, putting course, Jolee Island Nature Park with pirateship playground and a Kidzone with programs for ages 4-6 and 7-12. Watersports include complimentary body-surfing and Boogie boards. Kids might also enjoy the Junior Golf Academy with excellent instructors.

San Francisco, California

Explore the whole city riding cable cars. Make sure to hop off to ride a ferry at Fisherman's Wharf, enjoy great food at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., walk the mile at Alcatraz, shop in Chinatown and trek over the Golden Gate Bridge. Children of all ages can learn at The Exploratorium and parents and older children will delight in the vast shopping centers. Be sure to visit the six-story Old Navy store!

Tyler Place Family Resort, Vermont

On Lake Champlain this family resort has 165 acres, cottages, a country inn and kids' programs for many different age groups including babies and toddlers. "Family retreats" are a specialty with many all-inclusive pricing options.

Williamsburg, Virginia
Combine educational fun at Colonial Williamsburg with just-plain-fun at the nearby Busch Gardens Europe theme park and Water Country USA giant water park. History comes to life in Colonial Williamsburg: actors and volunteers portray people from 230-odd years ago, bringing to life the 1770's just before the American Revolution. Yorktown and other historical areas can be easily visited on the same trip.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
With a population of just 4,000 this is the indoor water park capital of the world. Over twenty resorts offer an indoor water park to their guests and some sell passes to outsiders too. There is something for all ages: petting zoos, spas, live entertainment and theatre and museums.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it's home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk. Visit "Old Faithful" and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. "Family Adventures" are all-inclusive escorted tours that include hiking, rafting and horse-riding.

Half Moon Resort, Jamaica

This amazing luxury resort features an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed championship golf course, full equestrian centre, 13 tennis courts, fitness centre, superb cuisine, 54 swimming pools, water sports and Dolphin Lagoon. It recently added a new 5,000 sq ft club, called Hype Zone, exclusively for teens and young adults ages 13–20. It includes game room, cyber lounge, disco, movie theatre, and spa area and offers activities such as foosball, pool, air hockey, video games, mini-spa services and MORE! Not to be excluded, Half Moon also has Very Important Little Persons Services (VILPS) for children 3–12 years.