Check
Family Vacations by Region for ongoing additions.
- Alabama: Gulf Shores-
on the Gulf of Mexico half-way between New Orleans in Louisiana and Tallahassee in Florida, Gulf Shores has 32 miles of sugar-white beaches, rolling dunes, great seafood, and a number of family attractions including a waterpark and a hands-on science center. Stay at a resort, a Best Western on the Beach, or a resort park"-- a state park with resort-like amenities. Gulf Shores is affordable and not over-commercialized.
- Earthshine Mountain Lodge, NC
Be an apprentice pioneer at this luxury B&B with 1878 farmhouse, luxury log suites, and heated swimming pool. Families can: help in the blacksmith shop, care for horses, spin wool, press cider; travel back in time to a Cherokee village; take a natural water adventure to nearby waterfalls; take a course in "high ropes" or a treetops zip line. Kids six and up can also try the climbing wall. Price includes all meals and activities: $170/night/adult, $110 for "youth" age 15 to 15, $90 for kids 6 to 9, and $50 for tots. (Check site for updated prices.)
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North Carolina: Outer Banks-
on the eastern side of North Carolina, a set of barrier islands stretches for 130 miles. Here's a place for a laid-back vacation: climb the sand dunes, watch birds, swim, fish, explore lighthouses and quaint towns. For more active fun, there's minigolf, amusement parks, the Write Brothers Memorial, and hang-gliding.
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South Carolina: Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand stretches for 60 miles of beaches in South Carolina, and Myrtle Beach is well-positioned as its top destination. Besides beach fun, family travelers can head to a bunch of amusement parks plus dinner-theatre such as Medieval Times.
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South Carolina: Hilton Head- highly popular with families, Hilton Head is known for white-sand beaches, palm trees, live oaks, pines and other trees festooned with Spanish moss. Resorts are called "plantations", with names like Sea Pines and Palmetto Dunes.
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History + Fun in Memphis and Atlanta
Memphis is the birthplace of the Blues and, later, Rock'n'Roll: plenty of music history. The other focus is Dr. Martin Luther King, whose days ended there. For his birthplace and childhood neighborhood, Atlanta has a National Historic Site. Both cities also have many fun attractions and activities for families, from theme parks to storytelling to a Panoramic Experience Museum.
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Georgia: Okefenokee Swamp Park
A family-friendly place to sample the vast
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The moderately-priced Swamp Park offers learning programs, places to see wildlife, a tour by steam-engine train, plus optional boat tours and canoe tours.
