The best places to travel with kids
44 hand-picked family destinations across the US, the Caribbean, and Mexico — grouped by the kind of trip you actually want. Beach week, national park, all-weather, winter escape, weekend city break. Pick the trip, then read the honest, kid-tested guide.
Pack the perfect travel companion
A Sunlight Kids activity book, sized for your child's age. Order the paperback or print the PDF at home.
Best beach destinations for families
Calm-water, kid-friendly beaches with family hotels right on the sand and gentle surf for first-time swimmers.
Destin with kids
Calmest Gulf water and the softest sand you'll ever step on.
Clearwater Beach with kids
Soft sand, calm water, and the friendliest beach hotels in Florida.
Myrtle Beach with kids
The budget-friendly classic American family beach.
Outer Banks with kids
Beach-house family trips, the slow way.
Hilton Head Island with kids
The most bike-friendly family beach in the country.
Cape Cod with kids
The classic New England family beach summer.
Virginia Beach with kids
Easiest East Coast beach drive from DC and the Mid-Atlantic.
Miami Beach with kids
Big-city beach trip with Latin flavor.
Martha's Vineyard with kids
Slow, ferry-only New England island vibes.
Best national parks for families
America's most kid-friendly national parks — short hikes, scenic drives, and wildlife you can see from the car.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park with kids
America's most-visited national park, for good reasons.
Yellowstone National Park with kids
Geysers, bison, and one of America's all-time family bucket lists.
Yosemite National Park with kids
Waterfalls and granite cliffs that even toddlers gawk at.
Grand Canyon National Park with kids
The American bucket-list trip kids actually remember.
Grand Teton National Park with kids
The most postcard-perfect Western mountain trip with kids.
Best Hawaiian islands for families
Calm beaches, easy resorts, and the gentlest tropical trips for US families. Same time zone as the west coast.
Best big-city family trips
Real US cities with strong free family attractions — museums, zoos, parks, and walkable downtowns.
Washington with kids
Free Smithsonians, monuments at golden hour, and the easiest educational trip in America.
New York City with kids
The most kid-electrifying city in the country, if you plan it right.
Chicago with kids
The most-underrated American city for a family weekend.
Boston with kids
America's most walkable, kid-shaped city trip.
San Diego with kids
The single most family-engineered city in California.
San Francisco with kids
Cable cars, sea lions, and one of the best hands-on science museums in the country.
San Antonio with kids
Texas history, the River Walk, and underrated value for families.
Seattle with kids
Ferries, fish, and a kid-perfect city wedged between two mountain ranges.
Dallas with kids
Family museums and a new theme-park frontier next door.
Best all-weather family destinations
Indoor water parks, family entertainment districts, and trips that work in any season or forecast.
Best winter family escapes
Warm-weather US destinations for January through March when the rest of the country is frozen.
Scottsdale with kids
Resort-pool family heaven with desert backdrops.
Phoenix with kids
Winter sunshine, hands-on science, and the desert in its mildest season.
Tampa with kids
Big-city Florida trip with theme park, zoo, and aquarium.
Miami Beach with kids
Big-city beach trip with Latin flavor.
Clearwater Beach with kids
Soft sand, calm water, and the friendliest beach hotels in Florida.
Best theme-park-area destinations
Cities and towns built around (but not limited to) the big theme parks. Plenty of non-park family options in each.
Orlando with kids
More than the parks — manatees, springs, science museums, and great weather.
Kissimmee with kids
Where most Orlando-area family rental homes actually are.
Anaheim with kids
Theme-park gateway city with a quietly great Southern California family scene.
Carlsbad with kids
Walkable Southern California beach village with a theme-park backdrop.
Frisco with kids
Future home of America's first kids-only theme park.
Best Southern family weekend trips
Walkable historic Southern cities and mountain towns that pack a long-weekend family trip into 3–4 days.
Best international family trips from the US
Short-haul international destinations with English-speaking resorts, calm beaches, and direct flights from most US cities.
Best mountain & lake family trips
Year-round mountain bases — summer swimming and paddling, winter ski schools and tubing parks.
Make the trip even better
An activity book made for travel days. Ships from Amazon.