Travel

9 Summer Vacation Destinations for Families Who Want an Unforgettable Trip

Here, you’ll find all the best summer vacation destinations for families, along with tips for how to enjoy your stay.

By 

Devorah Lev-Tov

 |  April 28, 2025

Spring blooms are here, which means only one thing to parents: The end of the school year is around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your summer travel with the kids. But planning a vacation with children in tow is different from planning any other trip. There are so many things to consider, including (but definitely not limited to) how well your children behave on airplanes, their patience for museums and hiking, and how they handle jet lag. Not to mention — this is your vacation too, parents. So don’t settle for a place that focuses only on the children and treats adults as second-class citizens (we’re looking at you, Orlando). Happily, there are plenty of options for families of all kinds in the United States and abroad to explore this summer. Here are some of our favorite family vacation ideas.

What Are the Best Summer Vacation Destinations for Families?

Austria and Switzerland

You know how it feels like everyone is talking about going to the south of France or Italy this summer? Last summer, my family and I traded the throngs of people and extreme heat for an uncrowded, cool getaway in the mountains. Call it a cool-cation. Aside from stunning vistas that bring The Sound of Music to life (the movie was filmed in and around Salzburg, Austria), pristine lakes for swimming and boating, mountaintop outdoor adventure areas (the term “playground” does not do them justice) that you reach by gondola, and a plethora of hikes for all skill levels, these neighboring countries also have some of the best family-centric hotels in the world.

Alpine hotels like Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Naturhotel Forsthofgut, and Das Edelweiss in Austria and Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, and Hotel Eden Roc in Switzerland don’t just have kids clubs. They have farms with animals to feed and pet, massive outdoor playgrounds with treehouses, trampolines, marble runs, and ziplines, special teen areas, and family spas with pools and saunas that welcome all ages. Kids menus, baby gear, nannies, and other necessities are de rigueur, and a variety of rooms and suites can fit even larger families. Best of all, it’s super easy to get around these countries, either by car or train, and nothing is more than a few hours away. Traveling here also makes a great road trip.

Marbella, Spain

Of course, it’s okay to crave the ocean in summer. And many kids love the sand and waves so much that they could spend an entire day on the beach while you relax. But don’t settle for just any beach town. Marbella, on Andalusia’s Costa del Sol, is one of the most beautiful and posh cities in the world. It’s fronted by a 10-mile-long promenade perfect for biking, walking, and jogging, and the beach is dotted with playgrounds and delightful chiringitos — beach bars — so you can eat fresh fish and drink cocktails while the kids play. 

Do leave the beach at least one day to wander Marbella’s charming Old Town, filled with winding cobblestone streets, whitewashed walls, old churches, plazas with orange trees, potted flowers, and overflowing bougainvillea everywhere. My kids and I were obsessed with Churreria Ramon, where we dipped freshly fried wheels of churros into hot liquid chocolate.

Marbella has two exceedingly family-friendly five-star hotels, which happen to be owned by the same family. The Marbella Club has been welcoming families to its elegant rooms, suites, and villas since 1954 and features details such as hand-painted tiles, rattan, and wood furnishings. Family members can play golf and tennis, lounge by one of several pools, frolic on the beach, or luxuriate at the spa. 

My kids couldn’t get enough of the 53,000-square-foot Kids Club, with programming that includes everything from gardening and cooking to arts and crafts, as well as climbing the treehouse and ropes course. Just down the road is an all-suite hotel (with plenty of rooms for families!): Puente Romano Beach Resort. It has an impressive lineup of global restaurants, including Nobu, Greek restaurant Gaia, and Leña by Michelin-starred Spanish chef Dani Garcia. My husband and I dropped our kids at the massive La Casita Club (if you have older children, Teen Spirit is perfect), and then we enjoyed the resort’s fitness and wellness facilities, including the Six Senses spa, outdoor gym, reformer Pilates studio, and championship tennis courts.

Lake Como, Italy

While Lake Como might seem too exclusive for kids, the sparkling lake is a popular destination for family travel. Easily accessible from Milan, the village of Bellagio makes a great base from which to explore the rest of the lake and its charming towns. Stay at the five-star, fairy-tale-like Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, which has spacious family rooms and a fantastic pool with a kids slide. Bellagio itself offers lakeside playgrounds, the Villa Melzi gardens, and a cute tourist train little ones will love.

To avoid the crowds, wake up early (a specialty of many young kids, anyway) and stroll the town and waterfront in the quiet morning. Depending on your interests, you can then do the kid-accessible hike at Orrido di Bellano, visit Castello di Vezio, or go to Jungle Raider Park, a treetop adventure park. Spend the afternoon on a boat or by the lake at one of the family-friendly beaches, such as Lido di Argegno, Lido di Menaggio, or Riva Bianca in Lierna. Lake Como is also a great destination for water sports. Older kids and adults can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and windsurfers. After dinner, visit Mini-Golf Menaggio, an 18-hole course right on the lakeshore. Pro tip: Bellagio and most Lake Como towns are not stroller-friendly, so plan accordingly.

Greece

When my family and I went to Greece a few summers ago, I was pleasantly surprised at how much the Greeks adore children. Everywhere we went, adults not only cooed over our kids but also helped us navigate the airport, entertained them at long dinners, and even followed my toddler around on the beach to keep him safe. To make the most of your trip, spend a few days in Athens and then head to one or two of the islands. Ios, Santorini, and Crete are all great for families.

Athens

In Athens, book a private tour with Be a Greek that is specifically meant for families. We were all engaged by a scavenger hunt, trivia, games, and dynamic storytelling as we toured the city, ticking off sites like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, and Syntagma Square. Visiting the Acropolis can be a bit more challenging with little ones, so consider going in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler, and leave the stroller behind (there are way too many steps!). 

For a resort experience complete with a kids club, beach, and pool, the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens offers spacious rooms and an incredibly friendly and helpful staff that clearly loves children.

The Greek Islands

When choosing your island, look for ones that have family-friendly resorts with good pools and kids clubs to ensure that you avoid getting in the way of the many honeymooners on the islands. On Santorini, Andronis Arcadia is located just across from the steep old town of Oia, which can be hard to navigate with kids and is always crowded. On Ios, the fantastical Calilo offers spacious suites, a large pool with swings and floaties, and a lovely stretch of quiet beach. If you decide on Crete, book at Phāea Cretan Malia, which offers lovely family bungalows, a beautiful organic farm, and kids and teen clubs.

Beaver Creek and Vail, Colorado

While these adjacent mountain towns (they’re only about a 15-minute drive apart) might come to mind as winter ski destinations, they truly shine in summer. Vail offers unique activities, such as a llama lunch hike, where the whole family can enjoy an easy walk with a llama companion before a picnic lunch. There’s also a gondola ride to the top of Vail Mountain, where Epic Discovery features an interactive walking loop designed in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy. 

Vail also has amazing playgrounds that were developed in conjunction with artists. A favorite is Pirate Ship Playground. Every year, the Vail Dance Festival takes place at the end of July through early August, and it always includes a Tiny Dancer Tea Party for little ones.

Adventurous families should head to Beaver Creek to check out miles of hiking and biking trails, fly-fishing, white water rafting, a bungee trampoline, a climbing wall, and horseback riding. If your kids aren’t hikers, try the guided four-wheel-drive mountain tours. There’s even a day camp for kids ages 5 to 12, with tons of daily outdoor activities. Stay at the luxe and secluded Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch and enjoy the excellent spa while the kids hang out at Ritz Kids and indulge in fireside s’mores. 

Learn more with our guide to the best ski resorts in Colorado, which all have fantastic summer programming, as well. 

Nantucket, Massachusetts

This classic Cape Cod island is a beautiful and easy escape via direct flights from Boston and New York City, bringing you directly to this New England beach that remains more laid back than Martha’s Vineyard or the Hamptons. Adults love the stylish yet laid-back vibe and stunning coastline, and it has plenty of activities for children. Still, the island isn’t exactly filled with hotels that easily accommodate families. A recent debut, though, promises to cater to families. The Beachside Hotel is a design-forward, family-friendly lifestyle hotel with a kids club.

Of course, you’ll want plenty of beach time, and when the most popular beach is called Children’s Beach, you know you’re in the right place. There are also several interactive cruises, including the beloved Critter Cruise, which lets children haul lobster traps and go fishing, as well as an ice cream cruise, an oyster farm cruise, and more. Teens can take a surfing lesson or just rent boards. On a rainy day, visit the Maria Mitchell Aquarium and Sea Shop or the Nantucket Whaling Museum. And be sure to get ice cream from Island Kitchen. If you want to take a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard or Hyannis on the mainland, it’s easy to do by ferry. 

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

The Riviera Maya region of Mexico is one of the country’s best beach areas, with Cancun and Tulum drawing thousands of visitors each year, many of them party seekers. However, for families looking for a quieter vacation spot that still offers beautiful beaches and access to the area’s incredible cenotes (natural swimming pool in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico) and archaeological sites, Playa del Carmen is the ideal choice. 

In addition to great beaches, there’s Quinta Avenida, a long, car-free street lined with shops and restaurants. While there, be sure to try a marquesita, a sweet treat made from a wafer stuffed with your choice of fillings, such as Nutella, tropical fruit, or chocolate, from one of the street vendors. Playa del Carmen is also a short drive from Xcaret Park, a massive adventure and water park that can easily keep the entire family entertained for a day.

When I recently traveled to Playa del Carmen with my sister and her family, we opted for a vacation rental for maximum space and privacy. Everyone loved this home in a gated community, which is just half a block away from a private beach. There’s a pool on the ground level and a second one on the gorgeous rooftop, which also has a grill and a large table with ocean views. Bookable through Marriott Bonvoy, it includes a concierge who helped us with restaurant reservations, selecting a family-friendly cenote, and housekeeping — not to mention we could earn or use Bonvoy points.

Island of Hawaii

With plenty of islands to explore and luxury resorts to choose from, Hawaii is one of the best tropical vacations in the world. While nearly every island is great for families, there’s something about the rugged Island of Hawaii, nicknamed the Big Island, that makes it ideal for both adults and kids. The diverse island lets you explore landscapes that include lush rainforests, black lava fields, stunning beaches, farms that grow cacao, coffee, and bananas, and dramatic mountain peaks. 

Don’t miss Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the whole family will be impressed by the erupting Kilauea Volcano (from a safe distance, of course). Also in the park are the impressive summit of Mauna Loa, the lush rainforest-surrounded Nahuku lava tube, the Jagger Museum of volcanology, and the 19-mile Chain of Craters Road, which ends at a viewpoint of the spectacular Hōlei Sea Arch. Of course, seeing a black sand beach is a must. My family loved Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, which features swaying palm trees and sea turtles that you can see both on land and in the water. And be sure to stop by the famous Punalu’u Bakeshop for a malasada (Portuguese-style doughnut). And while the island is overflowing with gorgeous waterfalls, not all of them are ideal or accessible for small kids. Rainbow Falls in Hilo or Akaka Falls State Park are great options for families.

Stay at Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort on the Kona-Kohala coast. Spread across 32 acres of beachfront landscape, the property features 333 contemporary, spacious rooms, as well as three pools: one for adults only, one for babies and toddlers, and one for everyone. We loved all the activities that showcased Hawaiian culture, including ukulele lessons and storytelling with cultural ambassador Uncle Danny, as well as outrigger canoeing. Send the littles to the Holoholo Kids Crew for cultural activities, arts and crafts, and beach games.

Costa Rica

Embracing its philosophy of Pura Vida, which literally means “pure life,” Costa Rica encourages visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the good life. Thankfully, the diverse and dazzling landscapes across the country — from lush jungles and rushing waterfalls to looming volcanoes and unspoiled beaches — make it easy. Costa Rica has some of the world’s most stunning beaches, stretching across two coasts: the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. 

One of the most popular areas for luxury resorts in Costa Rica is the Papagayo Peninsula, which recently attracted Nekajui, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Waldorf Astoria to open there. I love the Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, which has one of the best kids clubs in the region, as well as a teen club. Plus, there are ample adventures to take, like zip-lining, swinging bridges, surfing with the on-site women-run surf school SurfX, and joining a coral restoration project to help restore fragile coral reefs.

Still, there’s so much more to see here beyond the beach: active volcanoes, leafy jungles filled with wildlife, and magical cloud forests. The looming Arenal Volcano, along with its surrounding hot springs and rainforests, is a must-see. While you’re there, stay at luxurious, safari-style Nayara Tented Camp, which offers multiroom glamping accommodations with private pools and volcano views, as well as a butler who not only takes care of, but also pampers your family. Family-bonding activities include naturalist-led nighttime frog walks, swimming in the cantilevered hot spring pools, and sloth spotting on the property.

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