Are you ready to take a family road trip but not sure where to go or how to plan? This post was originally published in honor of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, as a way to share several of the big National Park family trips that we have taken over the years. With a renewed interest in road trips for the summer of 2020, I’m spotlighting these 6 road trip suggestions, running in length from 4 days to 3 weeks. Some include urban activities, visiting cities like Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Use the links to find more detailed information, including suggested routes and activities, with itineraries for the longer trips that include multiple national parks. You can also visit the familyTravelsUSA Pinterest boards, filled with thousands of ideas and suggestions, organized by topics including road trips, national parks, road food and many state-specific travel and food boards.
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We recently got back from a very relaxing family vacation on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a Caribbean island filled with spectacular natural beauty. You may remember hearing that St. John was one of the islands hard hit during the devastating 2017 hurricane season. Since then, a great deal of hard work by locals and business owners has gone into bringing the island back to normal. If you aren't familiar with the island, St. John is the smallest of the 3 main islands that make up what's known as the USVI (along with St. Thomas and St. Croix), and over half of the island is protected as a part of Virgin Islands National Park. Although there are still some businesses across all 3 islands that have not reopened post-hurricane, St. John and its residents are hoping that tourism will continue to rebound, as it plays a crucial role in the island’s economy. So if you are looking for a special place to make vacation memories in the Caribbean, here are some things to know about taking a vacation on family-friendly St. John.
Spring is finally settling in around the country, and it’s the perfect time to plan a visit to a national park. Did you know that every year in April, the National Park Service designates a week as National Park Week? During this time, the public is invited to spend some time celebrating America's treasures, with daily themes and special events. Some of our favorites national parks are the ones that preserve the history and cultural heritage of the United States, in a way that also offers an opportunity for family fun through interactive activities. With insight from fellow travel bloggers, read on to find out why these 5 historic east coast national parks are worth a visit.
This post has been updated for 2022. 
Travelers to Hawaii always face a tough question - which island should I visit? For us, it was a tough choice to decide how we wanted to spend our first family vacation in paradise. While we ended up with Maui being our primary destination, I knew we couldn’t travel all the way to Hawaii without spending a few days on iconic Oahu. Island hopping is relatively cheap and easy, but with five of us, a one way trip to Oahu on the last 3 days of our vacation seemed like the best option. We knew that Waikiki would be a bit crowded in early July, so we decided to stay in a vacation rental in laid back Kailua. The location, just 3 miles from a beautiful beach, gave us easy access to all the popular sites, and we found the highways to be pretty straightforward. It was an action packed few days, ending with fireworks on the beach in Kailua on the 4th of July. Check out some of our favorite spots that we enjoyed during our visit, and get inspired for your next trip to Hawaii!
*This post was updated October, 2022  When most people think of National Parks, places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Yosemite might come to mind. But with over 400 park units making up the National Park system, you can find parks in all shapes and sizes, from National Memorials to National Seashores. In DC alone, there are currently several dozen official National Park units, with additional park units in nearby Virginia. While the National Mall and all the historic memorials should be at the top of your DC to-do list, the 4 places highlighted below are among my favorites, each offering something special. Here's why you should consider adding one or two of them to your list of things to do when you visit the DC area.
As this post is published, it’s National Park Week, a time to celebrate the spectacular places around the U.S. that belong to all of us. Over the last 10 years, our family has taken several road trips to visit many national parks, including iconic parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But one of my favorite road trips was the one we took to the Four Corners region and beyond of the Southwest. We spent 13 days exploring, making a loop from Albuquerque, New Mexico, through Colorado, Utah and Arizona and back to New Mexico. The places we visited on that trip had some of the most unusual landscapes in the U.S., particularly 3 Utah National Parks - Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Here are some things to know and tips to help you plan a visit to see these unique national parks in Utah. *This post was updated January, 2024 
If someone asked me to describe Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, I would say it reminds me of an east coast beach town without the beach! Think of a place with tons of attractions for kids of all ages, a variety of lodging options, and plenty of restaurants and ice cream shops. Throw in a scenic mountain location just a short drive from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and you have a family-friendly vacation destination with something for everyone. Our road trip to Tennessee was inspired by my daughter's invitation to a school related conference in Nashville, and Pigeon Forge seemed like an ideal spot to explore before heading to Nashville. We were not disappointed with all the things to do in Pigeon Forge plus the fun activities in the surrounding area.
*This post was updated April, 2022  As 2016 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on familyTravelsUSA and how it has impacted my travel experiences. My initial purpose was to simply share a few family road trips but I can look back now and see that it has been a great personal motivator for me to seek out and share new adventures in the United States. Along the way, I hope that I have provided inspiration for readers to explore new places both across the country and in their own backyard. My kids may not remember every detail of every single place we have visited, but I’m happy knowing that I have exposed them to the great outdoors, iconic national parks, new foods, big cities small towns, and tons of fun adventures from coast to coast. So as you plan your next vacation, consider these 7 reasons to explore the USA in 2017 and beyond, no passport required!
*This post was updated December, 2020  We all get excited when we are packing up our suitcases and heading out the door for vacation. But if you are like me, you hate the look your dog gives you every time you leave the house. So why not take them with you on your next weekend adventure? Luckily in the DC area and surrounding suburbs, there are many dog friendly spots, including several that are part of the national park system. So take a hike, a stroll along the Potomac River, have a picnic or just spend some time outdoors enjoying nature with your furry friend. Here are 4 adventures that have been dog tested for fun! And don't forget to bring lots of water and extra treats!
*This post was updated June, 2024  Everyone loves to start the New Year with a resolution, so this year I decided mine would be to work harder to keep in touch with extended family. When I saw that the weather was looking perfect the first weekend in January, my daughter and I decided to make a quick road trip to visit my 94 year old aunt, who lives outside of Philadelphia. It was also a great excuse to continue our search for the best cheesesteak in Philly!
*This post was updated October, 2021 |
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