If you've arrived by Search: this site is devoted to "family holidays" and you can find ideas by clicking just about anywhere. If you're traveling from the UK to the US or Canada, below are some good starting points.
1. Family Holidays in Florida: Orlando and More
Florida is definitely on the map for UK visitors, thanks to family holiday and theme park mecca, Orlando, with Disney World, Universal Orlando, and more. Stay two weeks, and combine a week at the theme parks in (inland) Orlando with a getaway at the beaches a few hours away.
2. New York City
Kids of all ages will find fun in the Big Apple. To name a few highlights: harbour tour on "The Beast"; Blue Man Group; movie tours; Top of the Rock; great museums; amazing toy stores. Bonus: volunteer "Big Apple Greeters" are ready to show you around their town.
3. Hersheypark and more in Hershey PA
Hershey is a favorite family holiday destination in Pennsylvania. Kids love the Hersheypark theme park, built by chocolate tycoon Milton Hershey. Visit during summer, or in October for Hershey Park in the Dark, or during "Christmas Candylane". Stay at the classic Hotel Hershey (with kids club, and chocolate-themed spa) or at Hershey Lodge.
4. Arizona: Too Much To Do!
First, iconic scenery: such as awesome Monument Valley, where you can also learn about the Navajo way of life. Million-acre Lake Powell is stunning too, in a flooded canyon: go houseboating! Then try an easy raft ride down the Colorado River in a red-rock canyon; or a whitewater raft adventure in the Grand Canyon, which you can also explore by helicopter flightseeing. Take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams Arizona, where Route 66 still lives (and so does the Wild West.) Not to mention dude ranches and family resorts...
5. Willliamsburg Virginia
Photo courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg site.
History comes to life in Colonial Williamsburg, as actors and volunteers portray people from the 1770's just before the American Revolution. And nearby is some just-plain-fun, at Busch Gardens Europe theme park (rides, shows, etc.) and Water Country USA giant waterpark.
6. "Resorts with Water Park" Craze
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge
Resorts with their own water park pile on the fun for both winter and summer family holidays. The Great Wolf Lodge brand, for instance, offers large suites, Grand Lobby with giant fireplace and storytelling, "dry" play zones, "Howl-o-Ween" and "Snowland" seasons, not to mention giant indoor water parks, and outdoor water parks in summer at some resorts. (Aveda Concept Spa, too.)
7. Dude Ranches!
Dude ranch family holidays can offer the wide open spaces and perhaps the lingering mystique of the Wild West. They're an easy type of family holiday, too: meals are included, and fun -- in the form of horse-riding-- is right on-site. (Not always included in the pricing, though.) You can be a dude in Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming -- even New York State.
8. Banff, Alberta, Canada
Photo courtesy of Travel Alberta
Summer's the peak season in incredibly scenic Banff, with hiking, horse-riding, kayaking, and other outdoors fun. Or ride a gondola to ogle the views; soak in the hot springs that gave the town its start; hang out at the classy -- yet family-friendly-- Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Some visitors take the Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver; some do a fly-drive or fly-train combo. Banff is an awesome winter destination too, with three ski resorts.
