Best family holidays in America

Recently we were honoured to be commissioned by Time Out USA to write a series of articles for their online site, on how to get the best out of family travel. One of my favourite pieces to research and write was the list of top 10 holidays for families in the USA. Across the country are amazing destinations that appeal to every age bracket, including national parks, laid-back resorts, classic amusement parks and vibrant cities. The hardest part is working out what not to do.

Here’s our list of the Top 10 family vacations in the USA. And read the full story here.

Yosemite National Park

Famed for it sweeping valleys, towering granite cliffs, giant sequoias and plethora of wildlife Yosemite is simply awesome. Hiking, swimming, rafting and fishing are just some of the many family activities available.

Hawaii

There’s no better place to learn to surf than the long rolling breaks of Waikiki, but other activities include paddling an authentic outrigger canoe, or learning the graceful movements of hula.

Washington, DC

Care must be taken to avoid museum fatigue, but as an entertaining, hand-on civics lesson, you can’t beat the nation’s capital.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

One mile deep, 277 miles long and visible from space, the Grand Canyon is right up there on the cool chart for kids. Explore it from the rim on foot or by bike, or ride a mule to the bottom.

Colonial Williamsburg

In this artfully recreated colonial town, you go beyond simply looking at historical exhibits and immerse yourself in life as it was during the Revolutionary War.

Walt Disney World

Can a childhood possibly be deemed complete without a dose of Disney? Resort complexes don’t come bigger than the 43-square-mile Disney World in Orlando, comprising four theme parks.

New York City

The city’s energy is infectious for kids. While the Empire State Building still has vertiginous pulling power the new One World Observatory is the place to get the lay of the land. Take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, catch a musical on Broadway and explore Central Park, including the zoo.

San Francisco

When the kids learn how prisoners lived on the island prison of Alcatraz it’ll make even the most draconian parent seem lenient. Ride an antique cable car over Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf, check out the Rainforest Dome and Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences. Hire bikes and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tanque Verde ranch, Arizona

A dude ranch vacation is ideal for families and Tanque Verde in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the best, with spectacular trails that wind their way through desert and mountain scenery.

Los Angeles

Celebrity spotting is all in a day’s sightseeing in LA. Check out the backlot at Universal Studios to learn how movies are made,  get a dose of Disney in Anaheim where it all began, or explore beachside Santa Monica by bike.

Read the full story here.