Family vacations are a great experience. A campsite in the woods, historical cities, and a relaxing vacation rental in a coastal beach town somewhere are all great locations. Just what are the best spots in the USA for a family vacation? Here’s a list of a few places that everyone in your family will enjoy.
Fun for all
Not everyone has to be a history buff to enjoy this first city. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is home to numerous museums, historical monuments, and some great sports teams. If your kids are tired of just learning about American history, bring it to life in this city. Stroll along Independence Mall for a tour of the Liberty Bell or visit the National Constitution Center. Other historical hotspots include Independence Hall and the Betsy Ross House. Other famous buildings in the city to see are the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Franklin Institute Science Museum, where you can walk through a human heart. If you have enough time, stop by the IMAX theater to catch a show.
If history, art, and science isn’t you families cup of tea, head to South Philly, where you can sample cheesesteaks at Pat’s and Geno’s and catch whatever sports team is in season in action. Summer gives baseball fans a time to cheer on the 2008 World Series Champs the Phillies. Fall and winter months see the Eagles (NFL) playing at Lincoln Financial Field, and the Flyers (NHL) and Sixers (NBA) at the Wachovia Center. If you venture just outside the city, you can see the Union (MLS) play at PPL Park.
No matter what your taste, Philadelphia has what you are looking for.
For those who truly want R ‘n R
For the families that truly want to get away from the daily grind, why not try staying at some fabulous Cape Cod vacation rentals? Cape Cod is the complete opposite of the City of Brotherly Love. Here you can enjoy quaint harbor towns, magnificent beaches, and a towering lighthouse. To get back to the Cape’s roots, head to Sandwich, which is the oldest town. Or enjoy a bike ride through cranberry bogs.
If you want to spend time in water, what’s stopping you? Cape Cod offers all kinds of water activities. If you are in Province town, why not go whale and dolphin watching? This is fun for the whole family. You can book tickets in advance and surprise your kids. If you prefer to not to go that far out in the water, visit Race Point Beach or the Cape Cod National Seashore for a relaxing day in the sand.
There are also plenty of trails around. Bring or rent bikes and start each day off with a ride or walk along one of the trails. This is definitely the best way to say goodbye to the daily grind.
Endless Opportunities
One final place families love to visit, is Charleston, South Carolina. Home to golf courses, top ranked tennis courts, gorgeous beaches, a battleship, and tourist favorite Rainbow Row, Charleston should be on every family’s list to visit at least once.
For lovers of The Notebook, walk the grounds Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams walked during filming at Boone Hall Plantation. With a history spanning over 300 years, this working plantation gives visitors the opportunity to take a house tour, walk through gardens, and watch live performances. Start it all by driving up the world’s longest oak-lined avenue.
Another popular attraction in the famed city includes Rainbow Row. If you stroll down the area north of Tradd St and south of Elliot St, visitors will be welcomed by a row of brightly colored houses. For this history fans, don’t miss out on seeing Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. After taking a short boat ride to the fort, you will be able to view gorgeous Charleston and her harbor.
These are just three places on the East Coast that any family will enjoy. It doesn’t matter whether you have little ones or older ones who are still kids at heart, each of these cities offer something for everyone.
Citations:
- Philadelphia Love Park photo credit
- Cape Cod photo rental
- Avenue of the Oaks at Boone Hall photo credit
For more family fun cities, contact Jeana Olchowy. Follow her @jolchowy25.