10 family-friendly, budget-conscious U.S. vacation destinations
With everything happening in the world, sometimes you just want to get away. And for folks who don’t want to leave their significant other or children behind while they take their dream vacation, you’d better get away somewhere family-friendly.
Fortunately, the travel whizzes at National Geographic have you covered. The magazine’s Taryn White recently put together a guide to 10 family-friendly vacations in the United States, with some rather surprising choices. Ever thought of introducing your family to the wonders of… Boise, Idaho? Or what about the much-fabled magic of Cleveland, or the paradise that is Scottsdale, Arizona (record high temperature: 122 degrees Fahrenheit)?
The guide is based on a recent survey from the Family Travel Association, which indicates that family group travel – especially the kind that’s easy on the budget – is going to be a big trend this year. “These groups can encompass multigenerational family units or groups of families traveling together,” the association’s president, Ken Shapiro, told National Geographic. “Trips where grandparents take their grandkids, known as ‘Skip-Gen’ travel, are also very popular.”
In no particular order, here are the hot picks for family travel in 2025.
National Geographic’s Top 10 family-friendly vacations:
1 Asheville, North Carolina
2 Boise, Idaho
3 Virginia Beach, Virginia
4 Keystone, Colorado
5 Washington, D.C.
6.Scottsdale, Arizona
7 Cleveland, Ohio
8 Palm Springs, California
9 Salt Lake City, Utah
10 Anna Maria Island, Florida