51 Great Family Summer Vacation Ideas
Two-thirds of leisure travelers plan to take vacations this summer, according to AAA Travel, with good reason. Summer is the traditional time for families to reconnect. Parents and grandparents strive to recreate favorite childhood memories and make new ones together with the youngest generation. Each year, we present 51 great summer vacation ideas in collaboration with our partners at
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Hike And Ride The Rails At Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Located in Brecksville, between the cities of Cleveland and Akron, little known Cuyahoga Valley National Park surrounds the 100-mile-long Cuyahoga River, named by American Indians for its “crooked” shape. It famously caught on fire in 1969 for just 24 minutes because of pollution. Long cleaned and restored, the river now provides a cool place to fish, kayak and relax without the crowds that many...
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Camping 101: How To Look Like An Experienced Camper To Your Kids
Take some advice from a frequent camper who's learned that overnighting in a local park is just as thrilling, and less cumbersome, than a long hike into the wilderness. I want my kids to have the same enriching experiences I had when I was a youth, but I know why my parents sent me camping under the care of others. Simply put, it's not easy, especially for weekend warriors who haven't polished their...
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Family Road Trip USA: The Grand Canyon From Phoenix To Las Vegas
This great American family road trip, the Grand Canyon road trip, takes you through Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada past red rocks, blue skies and desert on the way to the remarkable Grand Canyon. Passing through and around canyons, deserts, lakes, mountains, ruins and cacti forests, a family road trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas will...
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Top 10 National Parks For Family Vacations
Read "Where Families will Go in 2017" for other great family vacation ideas. Everyone agrees that the national parks are a treasury of great escapes from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Working with an annual budget over $3 billion and a crew of 22,000 to serve more than...
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Hear The Whistle Blow On The Grand Canyon Railway
Come aboard the historic Grand Canyon Railway for a comfortable train trip that will wow grandchildren. The journey travels through time between the Old West town of Williams, Arizona and the rim of the majestic Grand Canyon. Until I met my husband, I had never heard of anyone riding a train. I don’t mean riding a train to get somewhere, but riding it for the sheer pleasure; such as taking...
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More Great Summer Vacation Ideas
Will this summer be for mountain hikes and canoeing? Beaches and sandcastles? Shopping, shows and food truck tours? Perfecting your Spanish, celebrating our National Parks? Whatever your pleasure, we know you want to make the most of your time and travel budget. Start your summer vacation planning by sharing ideas and goals with the kids, then listen to theirs. Allow the kids a daily activities...
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Custom Itinerary: San Francisco And Yosemite on Tight Budget
Q. Cathy P. and family of St. Peters, Missouri are visiting San Francisco and Yosemite National Park and want budget hotel and sightseeing ideas along the way. A. Thank you for your note requesting itinerary planning advice for your upcoming trip to California. As we understand it,...
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Resources For Family Camping Vacations
An enthusiastic family camper, let me share some resources for planning your next big USA camping trip, whether in a tent, RV or cabin, at any time of year in or outside the national parks. Thousands of families go camping every year in North America, and over half of those visitors are children under 18 (the rest are usually still kids at heart). With that said, most campgrounds have adopted...
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Adventures In Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
If you're looking to explore fun landmarks by hiking and biking, we recommend Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, a lesser-visited park that is surrounded by a couple of delightful natural sites. The 200,000-acre wooded paradise is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain range between Pennsylvania and Georgia. Families...
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