Best East Coast Vacation Spots For Families – Are you ready to plan your next family vacation and wondering where to go? For 2023, I’ve rounded up my favorite family vacation ideas with some recommendations from travel writer friends. From coast to coast, we’re ready to help you choose the best family vacation spots in America!
In this list, you’ll find a variety of family vacation ideas, some of which are popular destinations you’ve heard of before. Some destinations are places that may be new to you. Some are big cities, some are small towns. For each vacation spot on the list, I’ve listed why it works for families, and I’ve given you a head start on planning recommended places to stay or things to do!
Best East Coast Vacation Spots For Families
The price of family vacations varies according to many factors. Are you traveling or flying? Do you visit many places that have an entrance fee, or do you do most of them for free And where do you live? A five-star resort costs more than staying in a budget motel.
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According to my calculations, the average vacation cost is $5,197. You can use my holiday cost calculator (in my holiday cost post) to estimate your expected costs. And you can print my vacation budget if you want to track your vacation expenses.
There are several factors that determine how long a family vacation should be. Some studies suggest that a vacation should be eight days long to reap the full benefits of vacation time.
But in some families, you may be limited to a few days without work or school. Hotels and food add up quickly, so a longer vacation means more money spent on travel.
For our family, we usually like to plan the main family holiday trip within seven to eight days, depending on the time of travel. If we fly most of the first day, we need an extra day to experience the destination.
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To be honest, by the seventh day most of us were homesick and a little tired. You don’t want to be so busy on vacation that you have to take a vacation after your vacation!
As much as you can! 🙂 Our family tries to take at least two family vacations a year plus two weekends. But I say you should try to plan at least one family vacation a year.
I know that responsibilities and finances can affect how often you can take family vacations. But even if you go on a simple weekend trip, you will make memories with your children and experience something new!
It would be impossible for me to tell you the best family vacation spot in America. It depends on whether you are looking for something near or far.
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Looking for a beach or mountain vacation? Maybe you want to visit a big city or maybe you’re looking for the great outdoors. All these factors will help you decide on the best family holiday destination for your family.
The most popular family destinations are Florida, California, Hawaii, DC, Yellowstone and New York. However, each state has unique activities and natural beauty that make for a great family trip.
I created the following list with the help of my family vacation and some of my fellow travel writers. Each of these US destinations is a great family vacation idea!
I have included affiliate links in this post, if you decide to purchase from my link I may earn a commission.
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While all-inclusives are popular in the Caribbean (check out our fun Moon Palace accommodations in Jamaica), they’re less common in the United States. There are some all-inclusive resorts in the United States that welcome families. Note that some only have an all-inclusive package that you can add to your booking.
50 in all! I’m kidding here, but really, I think all 50 states offer a lot of finds that benefit families. I think the best place for a family vacation depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for.
The US offers states with large national parks (such as Montana and California), some with large ocean beaches or lakes (such as Florida or Michigan), and others with many educational opportunities in history (like DC and Alabama).
You should help your kids get started on the 50 State Bucket List Challenge and visit as many states as possible while your kids are young. Families who enjoy the outdoors can also find a national park checklist. Don’t miss my article on how to get a national park pass for free!
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One of our family’s favorite trips was a road trip down the coast of California. We all love Northern California. The giant redwoods of Redwood National Park and State Park are absolutely breathtaking. And there are plenty of family-friendly tours that can immerse you in these adventures.
Near Atlas, one of the largest redwoods on the Northern California coast. © Packed suitcase
Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach is an amazing location for great family photos! Nearby MacKerricher State Park invites kids to get outdoors, explore and enjoy nature. And you can spot whales at the right time of year!
Northern California is also home to Lassen Volcanic National Park where kids can see crazy thermal activity and incredible waterfalls.
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If you’re looking for a lake vacation, check out Shasta Lake or Whiskeytown Lake. Families love paddling and sunbathing in one of these two large lakes.
Estes Park, Colorado is a great vacation spot for families looking for a national park vacation that includes small town attractions and big city excursions. Estes Park is home to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of Mia’s favorite parks. . It is full of fun tours, beautiful scenery and wildlife.
Estes Park is a quaint town on Main Street with many tourist shops, including many candy and ice cream shops. They also have a fun pizza scavenger hunt to keep the kids entertained while you walk down Main Street.
And if you’re ready for big-city excitement, head to Denver. It’s about an hour and a half away by car and is a great way to get away from nature and the sights of the city. If you are an NFL fan, you can also take a trip to Broncos Stadium.
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One of my favorites for the best family vacation spots in America is Oahu. This Hawaiian island is home to Honolulu, but there’s plenty more for families to explore. If you want to feel Hawaii, Oahu is the place to find it.
Makupu’u Lookout is a great spot on Oahu for great views and great hiking / @ Stuffed Suitcase.
Getting to the island is easy solutions, does of does, of which of which the major airlines fly to Honolulu, East Coasters will want to consider a short layover in California if they want to avoid a long flight. .
Some of our favorite things to do on Oahu are visiting the Diamond Head monument, touring the island, eating a plate of shrimp, and of course enjoying some shaved ice.
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You will also find many beaches and rock formations to spend the day on. Popular spots include snorkeling at Hanama Bay, watching surfers at the North Shore, and long walks at Koloa Park and Secret Island.
Many families choose to stay at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, but others prefer Disney’s Ilan, which is about 45 minutes from Honolulu. And you might want to have a luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center or the Disney Aulani Luau.
A little partial because we live in Seattle, but I think it’s a beautiful city for a family vacation. Families love exploring Seattle’s downtown area, where they can visit some of the top attractions.
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The MoPop Museum should definitely be on your list. They have a lot of pop culture memorabilia and great music experiences too. Now they have a Minecraft exhibit! It’s a pop culture museum!
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Seattle also has a wonderful children’s museum, the Space Needle, a world-class zoo and aquarium, and an ocean. Children will love to feel the wind on the boat, look for crabs and clams on the beaches and even watch whales. And from Seattle, it’s easyto go to Olympic National Park, home to the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest.
Parents will love all the great restaurants, bars and parks with great views and plenty of room for the kids to run around. And if you’re a sports fan, Seattle has football, baseball, soccer, and soon a hockey team, all of which have amazing fans!
Many family vacationers know about the sunny destinations of Southern California, but Central California is great too.
