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Ideas for Family Vacations in Minnesota with your Kids

Saturday, February 9th, 2008
Ideas for Family Vacations in Minnesota with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in Minnesota with your Kids


A trip to Minnesota during the summer can include everything from enjoying the serenity of camping outdoors with your family to indulging in the near-over-stimulation of adventure at theme parks and the country’s largest mall. Here are just a few of the attractions and highlights that you might want to consider when planning your summer family vacation to this state:

Lutsen Mountains

The area to make sure to check out here is Sawtooth Mountain Park and the thing to make sure the kids see is Alpine Slide. Older kids will love the adventure of riding solo in summertime sleds down this mountain and parents can enjoy the fun too, taking little ones along in their laps. Other adventures in this area include horseback riding, picnicking, camping, hiking, and scenic cable car rides. The Poplar River runs through this area so families that enjoy swimming, fishing and things like canoeing will also find plenty to do. The mountain overlooks all of the activity taking place own below at Lake Superior.

Lake Superior

This largest of freshwater lakes has miles and miles of beach for your family to enjoy this summer. Start at Park Point, located in Duluth, and make your way up the North Shore to enjoy all of the various activities and scenic vistas that the area offers. State parks are located all throughout the area, offering camping and other outdoor adventures as well as the chance to see lighthouses and explore nature’s wonders. Favorites include Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Brighton Beach.

Lake of the Woods

This northernmost part of the continental United States provides your family the chance to explore the outdoors away from the summer crowds at Lake Superior. It also provides an interesting look at the culture of the area, from the influence of nearby Canada to the history of such area legends as Paul Bunyon. Other state parks and wooded areas are located all throughout this area so it’s a good location for families planning week-long summer trips as well as those just looking for a weekend getaway.

Valley Fair

Located in Apple Valley, this amusement park is the largest one in the state so it offers plenty of fun to keep the kids entertained and to help burn off some of that excess energy that they’re likely to have during your summer vacation. If the rides of Valley Fair alone aren’t enough to keep your family occupied, you can visit the real adventures over within Valley Fair at Challenge Park or enjoy the summertime fun of water rides at Whitewater Country Waterpark. The theme park just started offering a family dinner special called Backyard BBQ and also offers plenty of special discounts so you should be able to afford this summer fun if you plan your trip properly.

Mall of America

You can’t take a trip to the state with your kids and miss seeing the biggest mall in the country. After all, back-to-school shopping is one thing but experiencing all of the non-shopping things that this place has to offer is another entirely. While here, your kids can enjoy attractions like The Park at MOA (”the largest indoor family amusement park in the nation”), the Underwater Adventures Aquarium and the four story LEGO fun spot. There are also plenty of events and activities happening throughout this megamall all summer long.

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Family Travel Ideas for Vacations to Michigan with your Kids

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008
Family Travel Ideas for Vacations to Michigan with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in Michigan with your Kids


A trip to Michigan is a trip so summer paradise. There are so many lakes and opportunities to enjoy beaches in the area that you are virtually guaranteed to get that relaxing feeling that really tells you that you’re on summer vacation. But the swimming and other water activities aren’t all that you can enjoy in Michigan. Theme parks, zoos and interesting cities like Flint make a trip to the Michigan complete.

Enjoy the water

The tourism site for Michigan lets you know right away that when you are in the state, “you are never more than six miles from a body of water and 85 miles from a Great Lake.” Considering this, taking your family on a trip to Michigan without visiting some of the water of the area is virtually impossible. You may as well dive in! There are two peninsulas, touching multiple Great Lakes (including, of course, Lake Michigan). There are supposedly 11,000 inland lakes throughout the state where you can go swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing or boating. Basically, whatever your family likes to do on the water as part of your summer vacation, you can do it in Michigan.

Theme parks

Kids love going to theme parks and Michigan offers several to choose from. Of course, it’s a state that loves water, so there are plenty of water parks as well. Some of the top choices for families include the period costume parks of Crossroads Village and Dutch Village, the big amusement park called Michigan’s Adventure and the two parks specifically geared towards little kids, Deer Forest Fun Park and Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park. Water parks can be found all throughout the state but favorites include Avalanche Bay, Full Blast, Splash Universe and WildWater. The latter is near Michigan’s Adventure and is the big one chosen by families who want to do the real amusement park thing instead of just the smaller family fun parks.

Zoos

Plan your Michigan trip around a tour of the state’s zoos. The road trips in between the four major zoo locations will give your family a chance to spend some quality time together and the zoos will give you an activity that everyone can enjoy. The big zoo that should be the highlight of this kind of trip is the Detroit Zoo. The other three to check out are John Ball in Grand Rapids, Potter Park in Lansing, and Binder Park in Battle Creek.

Flint

For an interesting experience on your family summer vacation, head to Flint. This town once used to bustle with activity but after that major factories closed down and the economy took a turn for the worse, it became a rather quiet place. The people of Flint didn’t let their energy go to waste. So, even though it’s not bustling these days, there are plenty of neat things to experience on a trip here. And it’s a relatively cheap place to stay with your family! The Flint Children’s Museum, which is part of the larger Flint Cultural Center, is a favorite stop for families visiting the area. The Huckleberry Railroad, The Chesaning Showboat, and Riverbank Park are other common stops.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in Tennessee with your Kids

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Tennessee with your Kids

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Tennessee with your Kids


Tennessee is a state that basically screams summer fun. After all, it’s the home to Elvis, the hot spot for modern country music (as well as many other kinds of music) and the location of Pigeon Forge where Dollywood reigns supreme. But is Tennessee a state where you want to take your family on summer vacation? After all, Elvis is a little outdated and Dolly isn’t exactly kid-fare, right? Wrong. The entire state is geared towards making visitors - including the young ones - feel welcome. So, think about spending your family summer vacation in Tennessee. Just be prepared for your kids to start moving their hips and curling their lips like Elvis before the trip is over.

Elvis

The main place that you’ll go to check out Elvis is obviously Graceland. Take a tour of the mansion located in Memphis if you’d like. But be aware that there are Elvis shows and museums located all throughout Tennessee. So if Elvis interests you but isn’t a reason alone to take your family to Tennessee, plan on just stopping at one of the small spots wherever else in the state you might spend your time.

Memphis

Of course, the Graceland Mansion is hardly the only thing to see in Memphis so you might want to take your summer family vacation in this area after all. Even the Memphis Zoo has lots to offer, featuring not only the typical animal exhibits but also shows, rides and a discovery center. Also located in Memphis is The Pink Palace Family of Museums which is home to all sorts of different exhibits as well as IMAX theater. Another set of museums and exhibits, one which focuses more on the history of the area, can be found at the Mud Island River Park.

Pigeon Forge

Another major destination city in Tennessee is Pigeon Forge. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, this is the city where Dollywood is located (right next to the Dolly Splash Country Water Park). These two theme parks offer days full of fun with shows, rides and games that are good for all ages. Sure, there’s a lot of country music, but if that’s not your thing, the water slides, rollercoasters, and birds of prey events should all help keep you entertained. And this isn’t all that there is to do in Pigeon Forge. The entire little city is as flashy as Dolly herself and every other storefront has some sort of mini golf course, kids’ race track, batting cages or laser tag rooms to fill the time.

Nashville

Of course, you can always cut through the rest of Tennessee and head straight for the capital, the city known for its music. It’s more than just country happening there these days (maybe because country now has everything from folk to pop tinting the genre). And it’s not all in the bars so your kids can see it too. A family summer vacation filled with music - maybe even including one of the city’s many music festivals - is a family summer vacation which is filled with good times and good memories.�

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Ideas for Family Vacations in Vermont with your Kids

Monday, February 4th, 2008
Ideas for Family Vacations in Vermont with your Kids

Family Travel Ideas for Vacations to Vermont with Your Kids


Families often think of Vermont as a winter holiday vacation destination. That’s because the ski resorts located all throughout the small state are what most people know about vacationing in Vermont. But there’s more to Vermont that just winter activities. In fact, since the summers in Vermont are cooler than in many other United States vacation destination areas, it’s a perfect state for getting outside during the summer months. Camping and hiking can be found in comfortable abundance throughout the state, and Vermont isn’t lacking for other things to do while you’re there enjoying its natural beauty.

Here are some travel ideas for a family summer vacation in Vermont:

Enjoy Lake Champlain

If you do happen to know anything about a summer vacation spent in Vermont, what you probably know is that Lake Champlain is the most popular destination for most travelers. It’s a relatively large lake which sits between two gorgeous sets of mountains (New York’s Adirondacks and Vermont’s own Green Mountains). If there’s a lake activity that you can think you might enjoy with your family, it can be enjoyed here.

Camp in the Green Mountains

Located right near Lake Champlain are the Green Mountains. This national forest area offers all kinds of outdoor activities for families including camping, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and bird watching. Since the summer weather in Vermont is typically beautiful, this is a perfect location for enjoying outdoors time with your family with less likelihood than most places that someone will get cranky.

Indulge in Ice Cream

Even though the weather’s great, it’s still summer and that means that summer treats are in order. Ice cream makes the list of almost everyone’s favorites and the Ben & Jerry’s brand ranks high on that list. For a really unique experience that everyone in the family is likely to enjoy, head to Waterbury, VT where the Ben & Jerry’s Factory is located. Half hour tours are given regularly. Heck, if you’re going to indulge in ice cream, you might as well get an education about it, too, right?

Learn About Farm Life

There are farms located all throughout Vermont that you and your family can visit. Many of these farms offer detailed tours, others let you check out the animals and see some of the scenery on your own. Either way, your family gets a really unique summer vacation experience, seeing rural life in action. If you’ve got the time to travel a bit in the state, you can make a visit to multiple farms the goal of your trip. Some of the ones to check out are Adams Farm, Billings Farm and Museum, Bragg Farm Sugarhouse, and Sugarbush Farm. The latter two will teach you all about the maple syrup that is practically a staple of the state.

Go to Peru

You might get a little bit confused if you try to get directions to Peru, VT. That’s because the name is relatively new, having been recently changed from the old name of Bromley. Remember that if you get lost on your way to this small town where the population is less than 1000 but the number of summer tourists is many multiples of that. Why would you go to such a place? Because it’s a Vermont family vacation destination for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it’s home to Bromley Mountain’s Thrill Zone, the state’s biggest amusement park.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in Virginia with your Kids

Sunday, December 30th, 2007
Ideas for Family Vacations in Virginia with your Kids

Ideas for Family Vacations in Virginia with your Kids


If you know Virginia’s motto (”Virginia is For Lovers”), you might think that it’s more of a romantic destination than a spot for your family vacation. Indeed, Virginia is a romantic place due to it southern charm and beautiful landscape. But it’s not for adults only. There are lots of things to do with your family in Virginia if you’re thinking about spending part of your summer there. Here are a few ideas and destinations to get you started:

Understand The Area’s History

The history of Virginia is the history of the United States. A family vacation which includes trips to historic landmarks and visits to historic neighborhoods throughout Virginia is one which will help your kids remember their U.S. history for years to come. Visit the state website’s “history and heritage” page for detailed information about places to visit. Major historical attractions to consider include The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, The George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and Thomas Jefferson’s home (called Monticello).

Colonial Williamsburgbr>

One historical spot that deserves its own mention is Colonial Williamsburg. This is a park where people costumed in period pieces from the eighteenth century act out life as it used to be lived. Your family can see everything from blacksmiths to the historic market square. In short, this is where history comes alive.

Day trip to D.C.

Another spot that’s rich in history but also offers plenty in terms of modern activities is, of course, our nation’s capital. A visit to Virginia puts your family close to this popular summer vacation destination. You might not want to make it the focus of your trip (after all, you could plan a whole summer there some other time) but if you’re in the state, you should go for at least a day or two.

Virginia Beach

Families that are looking for something more along the lines of a traditional summer beach vacation need look no further than Virginia Beach. This is the ultimate tourist destination in the state of Virginia, with everything from the boardwalk to almost daily events. You can escape the summer sun by wading in the ocean, enjoy building sandcastles on the beach and take advantage of the many restaurants and activities located all throughout the area.

Luray

A slightly lesser known Virginia vacation destination is Luray. It’s home to Shenandoah National Park where you can enjoy camping and other outdoor activities with your family, taking in the natural beauty of the state. Also located here are the Luray Caverns which are worth visiting all on their own. While in Luray, be sure to make a stop at the Luray Reptile Center, Dinosaur Park and Petting Zoo.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in Washington with your Kids

Friday, November 23rd, 2007
Family travel vacations in Rhode Island


IDEAS FOR FAMILY TRAVELS IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH YOUR KIDS

Where would you go in Washington if you took your family there on a vacation? Would you check out all that there is to see in busy city of Seattle? Would you head further south to check out the natural wonder of the volcanic Mt. St. Helens? Or would you go instead to the eastern part of the state where the landscape is entirely different, maybe in part because your kids could then tell their friends they spent the summer in a place called Walla Walla, Washington? Wherever you go in Washington, you won’t be wanting for something to do while you’re there. Wander around the Puget Sound

If you have some time to spare so that you can afford the luxury of a longer vacation in Washington, use that time wisely by exploring the entire region that surrounds the Puget Sound. You can start all the way north up in Bellingham where your kids will get to hear a little bit of the Canadian accent filtering down from the oh-so-close border. Travel down to Seattle, then to Tacoma, then around to Olympia. Finally, you’ll wind up at Port Angeles. Each of these locations offers something that your family can enjoy in terms of attractions and activities. But even more important than these are the adventures that you’ll have along the way. The beauty of the area, the multitude of things to see and the chance to talk about all of what you’re taking in will help to bond your family in the way that summer vacations should.

Mt. St Helens

Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument is practically a must-see during any family vacation to Washington. And there’s enough to do in the southern and central regions that surround it that you won’t have to go anywhere else in the state if you don’t want to. (If you’re coming from or heading to the Puget Sound area, you’ll want to also be sure to stop off at Mt. Rainier). In the park area itself, you’ll want to make sure to go to Silver Lake (where the visitor’s center is located and lots of area education is available), Coldwater Lake which is one of the favored spots for day use only activities like hiking and picnicking, and Johnston Ridge Observatory where you can get into the science side of the nature that you’re visiting. For spending time in a nearby city, you’ll want to check out Longview which has a historic walking tour, several parks and a welcoming air to its credit.

Walla Walla

If your family goes to Walla Walla in large part just to say that’s where you went for your summer vacation, well, you probably wouldn’t be the first family to do so. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do once you get there. Visit the unique Blue Mountain Lavender Farm where a French-American family planted lavender to add to the already pretty scenery of the area. Spend a day at The Children’s Museum of Walla Walla which is always being expanded with new exhibits. Check out the railroad museum at the Dayton Historic Depot. And spend time at Hair’s Cow Camp & Ranch to get a real sense of the Old West history of the area.

Spokane

If you’re already over in eastern Washington checking out Walla Walla, you might want to make your way further north up to Spokane. It, too, has a children’s museum and also has plenty of other attractions including The Finch Arboretum, Carr’s “One of a Kind in the World” Museum, and Mt. Spokane State Park.

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Ideas for Family Vacations in Rhode Island with your Kids

Monday, November 19th, 2007
Family Travel Ideas for Family Vacations to Rhode Island With Kids

Family travel vacations in Rhode Island


There are two major ways that you can approach your planning for a family vacation to the state of Rhode Island. On the one hand, you can focus on a particular destination within the state such as Providence and the Narragansett Bay. On the other hand, your family vacation could be a more exploratory visit to the state, following nature trails, heritage trails or scenic roads through the state. Rhode Island is small, so the latter approach is more easily possible than in the other states that you might be considering as destinations for your summer family vacation. But it’s a state that is filled with activity so you could easily pick one spot and spend your entire trip there. Either way could be right for your family.

Destination locations within Rhode Island

Families that want to spend their Rhode Island summer vacation in one particular destination with the state will probably choose either the Providence region or Newport. However, even with as small as it is, Rhode Island is divided into seven different regions. Each of these can make for a great destination within the state so don’t dismiss any of them. But, you can start with looking at Providence and Newport.

Providence, located on the northwest side of the Narragansett Bay, is the capital city and also the largest city in this tiny state. It offers all of the conventional attractions of a capital city such as The Roger Williams Park Zoo which is home to over 1,000 animals from around the world. It also has interesting kid-specific spots like Carousel Village and family-friendly locations like Prospect Park.

Providence has a lot to offer but Newport is frequently considered the better family vacation destination in the state. It’s also located on the Narragansett Bay but has better water activities due to the fact that it’s positioned on an island (Aquidneck). An interesting feature on this island is a suspension bridge which connects it to the neighboring island. Attractions in Newport that appeal to families include the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Fort Adams, the historic Prescott Farm, and the outdoor activities at Brenton Point State Park.

Travel throughout the state of Rhode Island

Since Rhode Island is such a small state, you can easily make it a goal for your family to see the whole thing during your summer vacation here. It can make for a great goal-setting vacation where you pick certain attractions and areas to check off of a family travel list. Or it can be something that you theme around sites like scenic roads, heritage trails or nature trails. The latter two can actually be easily mapped out by visiting the corresponding links on the Rhode Island travel home page.

The Rhode Island Heritage Trails that have been mapped out for you cover various areas in the state and give you help in finding farms, religious landmarks and places of historical significance. Fourteen such trails have been mapped out including area trails like the Providence Heritage Trail and theme trails like the Farm Heritage Trail.

Similarly, there are Nature Trails mapped throughout the state. In this case, there are only four, so you can choose by activity what kind of path you want to follow through Rhode Island during your family summer vacation. Families that really enjoy the water might want to select the Coastal Nature Trail for their explorations whereas families that like animals might prefer the Bird Watchers Nature Trail.

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Wisconsin with your Kids

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Ideas for Summer Vacations to Wisconsin

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Wisconsin with your Kids

� If you live in the Midwest and are interested in planning a quick summer vacation for your family, Wisconsin is a state that provides quite a few options for you. Travel to the area is relatively inexpensive and there is plenty of activity in the state to keep you and your kids happily occupied throughout the trip. Here are a few of the things that you might think about doing on a summer vacation to Wisconsin:



Waterparks

Really, when you think about a summer vacation, you probably often think of getting into the water. There’s just no better way to beat the heat and all of that activity in pools and at beaches gets out all of that restless energy that your kids have during these long days. Waterparks can be even better than plain old pools or beaches because they offer the safety of lifeguards, supervision and indoor swimming with the adventures of waves and slides. To the surprise of many families not familiar with the state, Wisconsin has some of the biggest waterparks in the country. Your main destination for this kind of adventure is probably Wisconsin Dells, known as “the waterpark capital of the world”. They have tons of family discounts and lots of all ages activities so you can all keep busy and keep cool.

Outdoor activities

Although it’s certainly nice to spend time in the water, Wisconsin actually offers a lot in the way of fun outdoor activities during the summer months. The rivers of Wisconsin offer a perfect combination of both water activity and outdoor adventure. Depending on the ages of your kids and your activity level, you might go boating, fishing, tubing, rafting or canoeing here. Other outdoor activities throughout Wisconsin include horseback riding through the state’s hundreds of miles of nature trails, camping out in state parks like Perrot and Rock Island or teaching your kids about Wisconsin’s birds on one of the state’s nearly famous birding trails.

Rural life

Perhaps you live in a nearby city and just want to get your kids to a quieter way of life for a few days. There are plenty of rural adventures that your kids can enjoy, such as hayrides and explorations of area farms. For example, at Glacier Ridge Animal Farm, there are water buffalo, camels, and ducks to see as well as goats for the kids to feed. Or think about going to the Hinchley Dairy Corn Maze where your family can get lost together in acres of corn.

Festivals

If you’re just planning to go to Wisconsin for a few days, you might want to plan your family vacation around one of the state’s many summer festivals. One of the biggest summer favorites is the Strawberry Festival where strawberry lemonade and strawberry pie can be enjoyed as great summer treats. Other good summer festivals in Wisconsin include the Hmong Summer Festival (which gives your kids a great cultural experience), the yummy Port Fish Day, and the francophile’s favorite Bastille Day.

Here are more ideas for Family Vacations in Wisconsin!

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Hawaii with your Kids

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Ideas for Family Travel to Hawaii

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Hawaii with your Kids

� Many families think that it is unrealistic for them to plan a summer vacation to Hawaii. Perhaps Hawaii seems like a romantic destination that you should’ve gone to for your honeymoon, not a place to take your young kids. Or maybe the idea of flying to an island, kids in tow, seems a little bit overwhelming. Or perhaps what concerns many families is that travel to Hawaii seems like it must be expensive and so it’s probably not something that you and your kids can do on a budget. But just a little bit of research will prove all of these fears to be wrong. Hawaii is a terrific family destination which can be reached by a relatively quick flight and experienced on a budget by the wise traveler.



You don’t really want to have to wait until your kids are all grown up and you’re on your second honeymoon to experience the magic of Hawaii, do you? Of course not. And just think what a great experience this kind of trip will be for your kids to remember in the years to come. You certainly won’t ever hear them whining that you never took them anywhere! Whether you want to stick to The Big Island or explore throughout the area, the Hawaiian Islands offer the perfect combination of activity and relaxation for your family.

The Big Island

Many families choose to spend their time on “the big island”. The “top five family activities” here, according to the official tourism website of the state are:

“� Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii - If one of your kids is a budding astronomer, the planetarium and science center here will appeal to your family. “� Kilauea Visitor Center - Your family can go here together to safely explore an active volcano. “� Kohala Coast - The beauty and serenity of Spencer Beach Park is perfect for relaxing while your kids play by the waterside. “� Mauna Kea - Another spot where your family can explore the stars, but this one is via telescopes instead of just exhibits. “� Parker Ranch - You may not think of Hawaii as a destination for learning about cowboys and taking old-fashioned wagon rides, but there were cowboys here and your kids will love learning about them.

The Other Islands

Rather than sticking to “the big island” some families enjoy the exploration of the other Hawaiian islands. Travel between the islands is relatively inexpensive if you plan ahead and look for bargains. Each of the following islands offers something for families:

“� Kauai - Beautiful lush botanical gardens, working vanilla and cocoa farms, and the option to experience a traditional luau are all part of the family travel experience at Kauai. “� Lanai - Horseback riding, tide pool exploration and going golfing with your older kids can all be done at laidback Lanai. “� Maui - The Maui Ocean Center, the Paper Airplane Museum, and the Hawaii Nature Center are just a few of the indoor places you go enjoy with your family on the island of Maui. That doesn’t even get into the beauty of the outdoors here! “� Molokai - If you want to take your family to a part of Hawaii not as often seen by the average traveler, consider this island. It’s considered to be “Old Hawaii”. “� Oahu - Known for being the home of the capital of Honolulu, Oahu offers much in the way of urban tourist activities. The beaches are family-friendly and allow for dolphin watching, the sloping mountains are great for easy hikes that the kids can enjoy with you, and the history of the area includes Pearl Harbor as well as various museums.

� Here are more ideas for Family Vacations in Hawaii!

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Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Idaho with your Kids

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Ideas for Family Travel to Idaho

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Idaho with your Kids

“But, Mom, I don’t want to go to Idaho!” Is that what you would expect to hear from your kids if you told them that was what your plans were for the family’s summer vacation this year? Well, perhaps once they find about the numerous amusement parks, the interesting ghost towns, and the exciting waterfalls that the state has to offer, they’ll quit complaining. Get ready to fill your scrapbook with lots of photographs from your summer vacation to Idaho.



Amusement Parks, Water Parks and Fun Centers

There are more family fun spots in Idaho than you might’ve thought. Those listed on the official tourism site for the state are:

“� Anderson Camp - Your kids can get a summer camp experience with just a day pass at this indoor/outdoor adventure spot. “� Boondocks Fun Center - Your basic mini-golf, laser tag, all-day activities spot. “� Idaho Ice World - Get in out of the summer heat with a day spent at this indoor skating rink and ice center. “� Raptor Reef Indoor Water Park / Triple Play Family Fun Park - These side by side water and amusement parks offer much for the kids to do, supervised. And they also have spots for you (like the Jacuzzis at the water park). You can stay at the adjacent hotel to make things even easier. “� Roaring Springs Water Park - Water slides and wave pools are what summer fun is all about. “� Silverwood Theme Park - This is the big one as far as rides and games go. “� Sorenson’s Family Fun Center - Boise’s spot for batting cages and go kart racing. “� Wild Waters - A paddleboat lagoon, a water toy playland and water slides for the kids. Hot tubs for the parents.

Ghost Towns and Gold Mines

You can take the kids on a more historical adventure in Idaho by visiting one of the area’s ghost towns or going panning for gold as a family. Some of the spots that are available to families interested in doing this with their vacation include:

“� Atlanta - An old mining town where you can see rural Idaho that doesn’t look much different now from what it did back then. “� Custer Historic Mining Town - A more interactive location where the kids can experience some of the Wild West. “� Idaho City Historical Area - Take the kids for ice cream cones along the old-fashioned storefront boardwalk of this tourist’s area. “� Sierra Silver Mine Tour - If the kids are old enough to enjoy going down into the mines, this could be a unique experience for their summer. “� Silver City Historic Area - This old mining community operates today during the tourist season to give visitors a look at what it was like to live here long ago.

Waterfalls

Believe it or not, your kids can spend all day playing in and around the beautiful waterfalls located throughout the state of Idaho. And you’ll be able to get in some great summer relaxation in these gorgeous nature spots, building up memories as you hike with your kids.

“� Cave Falls - This one is popular with families who enjoy hiking together. “� Fern Falls - Short trails and spots good for picnicking can be found in the area around these falls. “� Mesa Falls - Designed with families in mind, there are lower and upper falls here with viewing platforms and boardwalks to keep everyone safe. “� Moyie River Bridge and Falls - This is one for families with older kids, because you aren’t likely to want those little ones running across that bridge. As the kids get older though, this beautiful place can be great for memory-making. “� Thousand Springs - Enjoy swimming with your family here.

Here are more ideas for Family Vacations in Idaho!

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