Midwestern Memories

1. Branson, Missouri

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Branson is a charming destination for a family vacation. It's filled with natural beauty and wonders and is home to world-class entertainment that makes for a fun-filled getaway. Mommy Poppins regional editor Jody Mercier shared a list of 50 fun things to do in Branson with kids.

2. Michigan Moments

Mommy Poppins writers visited two great Michigan destinations this year. One went to Detroit and called out its world-class museums, quirky art and attractions, free aquarium, and fun professional sports scene. She compiled them all in a list of the 22 best things to do in Detroit with kids. Another writer explored Holland, Michigan and wrote all about the town and its famous tulip festival. Here is her guide to visiting Holland, MI with kids.

3. Mount Rushmore and Rapid City, South Dakota

There are few national landmarks as iconic as Mount Rushmore, and our writer was lucky enough to visit the massive monument in Keystone, South Dakota with her family. She detailed their trip in her guide to Visiting Mount Rushmore and included lots of other fun things to do in Rapid City, SD and nearby. These include zip lining through the mountains, seeing one of the world's largest displays of reptiles, exploring a mining museum, and more.

4. Bismarck, North Dakota

If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path city to visit, give Bismarck a try! Our writer and her family had a blast visiting the 90-acre Dakota Zoo, touring the North Dakota State Capitol, and splashing around at a water park. She details 20 fun things to do in Bismarck with kids, from exploring a free history museum to riding a charming riverboat.

RELATED: United States National Parks Family Travel Guide

See some incredible wildlife in Denali National Park. Photo by Cornellana via Pexels

Wild Wild West

5. Alaska Adventures

One writer was lucky enough to visit Alaska in 2024 and wrote about to fantastic destinations. First, she shared a list of free things to do in Seward, Alaska with kids, whether you're stopping by for a cruise or planning a longer stay. She also created a guide to visiting Denali National Park with kids. We're packing our bags, stat!

6. Adventures in Arizona

Mommy Poppins contributor Melanie Preis grew up in Arizona, and she compiled a list of the 51 top things to do in Arizona with kids. She also dove deeper into one of our favorite Arizona cities, Scottsdale, with her list of the 40 best things to do in Scottsdale, AZ with kids. Her list includes everything from museums and restaurants to parks and outdoor adventures.

7. Kid-Friendly California Resorts

There are so many great places to visit in the Golden State, as you'll see in our California Family Travel Guide. We shared a list of some of our favorite family resorts in California that are in or near some of the state's top cities, beaches, and theme parks. These include awesome resorts in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Palm Springs, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

8. Vegas, Baby 

Think Las Vegas is just for grown-ups? Our list of 50 awesome things to do in Vegas with kids will have you thinking otherwise. We also shared the top family-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, from the circus-themed Circus Circus to the medieval-themed Excalibur Hotel.

9. Youthful Fun in Utah

We shared two fun destinations in Utah this year! Mommy Poppins managing editor Meghan Rose listed the 49 best things to do in Salt Lake City with kids, from engaging museums and fun parks to annual events and must-try restaurants. And don't miss our guide to Zion National Park for families for the ultimate outdoorsy vacation.

10. Bozeman, Montana

The fast-growing city of Bozeman is a nature lover's paradise. Surrounded on all sides by mountains, this beautiful city offers an abundance of family-friendly sporty activities, as well as museums that highlight its affection for the wild. It also boasts one of the largest dinosaur fossil collections in the world. Here are 25 awesome things to do in Bozeman with kids.

New England 

11. Nantucket

Nantucket is an island paradise with charming cobblestone streets, picturesque beaches, and plenty of family fun. Our list of the best Nantucket resorts and hotels for families includes luxury spots like the iconic Nantucket Hotel, unique beach cottages, and gorgeous vacation rental homes.

12. Portland, Maine

Portland is a pretty port city with a strong progressive bent, which some might even call a hippie streak. It's home to a great children's museum, pretty parks and outdoor activities, plenty of culture, jaw-dropping coastal beauty, and truly great food. We shared a list of the 50 best things to do in Portland, Maine with kids.

RELATED: 10 Best Florida Beach Vacations for Families

See manatees and take in the sights on a boat ride in Ft. Myers. Photo by Jackie Jones

Fun in Florida

13. Ft. Myers

Ft. Myers—the gateway to Florida's southwest region—is a city full of stunning beaches, water-play opportunities, interactive museums, and a history that includes two of America's most famous inventors. Here are our picks for the 25 top things to do in Ft. Myers with kids.

14. Sarasota

Sarasota is a gem on Florida’s central Gulf Coast, with access to amazing beaches, water sports, marine biology, museums, and more. Where it once was a haven for retirees, these days it is increasingly popular with families and vacationers eager to escape the cold winters of the north. Here's our list of the 33 best things to do in Sarasota with kids.

15. Destin

Destin may have a reputation as a party spot for spring breakers, but this city on the Florida Panhandle is actually brimming with kid-friendly activities, including interactive museums, amusement parks, and animal adventures. Families love the impeccably clean and clear waters of the "Emerald Coast," the unofficial nickname for the 100-mile stretch of beach along the Gulf of Mexico. See our roundup of 30 awesome things to do in Destin with kids.

16. Panama City Beach

Located on the northern Gulf coast of Florida, Panama City Beach has it all—gorgeous white-sand beaches, family-friendly attractions like mini golf and fun museums, and loads of animal interactions. Find out what one of our editors and her family loved about the city in her guide to visiting Panama City Beach with kids.

17. Pensacola

Pensacola has it all: over 40 miles of wildlife-protected sugar sand beaches, incredible food, welcoming locals, a fantastic historical village, wildlife, water sports, and a booming foodie and local brews scene. Editor Meghan Rose also declared Pensacola Beach to be "one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen." Read her roundup of the 26 best things to do in Pensacola with kids.

18. Tallahassee

If you think Florida is all beaches and amusement parks, you probably haven’t been to Tallahassee. Just miles from the Georgia border, the capital of the Sunshine State is a cool college town filled with fun things to do and explore with kids, including two fantastic museums. Check out our list of 31 awesome things to do in Tallahassee with kids.

More Sunny Southern Spots

19. Top Texas Family Resorts

There are so many awesome places to visit in Texas, including great beaches and fun cities like Houston and San Antonio. We shared our list of the best family resorts in Texas for your vacation to the Lone Star State, including Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine and Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio.

20. Nice Nashville Hotels and Resorts

Our list of the best things to do in Nashville with kids includes a whopping 60 activities, museums, restaurants, and more. This year, we shared the top Nashville hotels and resorts for families that will give you a comfortable stay in Music City. These include Gaylord Opryland Resort, Margaritaville Vacation Club, and eight other great places.

21. Daniel Island, South Carolina

We've written before about how much we love Charleston. But if you're looking for a more low-key vacation, take a short car, boat, or ferry ride from Charleston proper to Daniel Island, a planned community surrounded by rivers, creeks, and pretty marsh views. It's full of outdoor family fun including great parks and playgrounds, biking, sailing, alligator-spotting, and the beautiful beaches of the nearby barrier islands.

RELATED: London with Kids: 60+ Best Things To Do in London on a UK Family Vacation

The vibrant and colorful Rainbow Street is located in the heart of Reykjavik.

Exploring Europe

22. Reykjavik, Iceland

You may not think of Iceland as a family travel destination, but our writer proved otherwise in her guide to visiting Reykjavik with kids. She included top attractions like the Blue Lagoon and Rainbow Street, iconic experiences such as seeing the Northern Lights, and some great food to try.

23. Stonehenge, England

Stonehenge—a huge, man-made circle of standing stones built thousands of years ago in Southern England—has become one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments. Writer Lauren Saunders got to visit this bucket-list destination and put together a handy guide to visiting Stonehenge with kids.

24. Rome, Italy

One writer and her family had amazing adventures in Rome, from making pizza and riding in a Vespa sidecar to attending gladiator school and touring iconic sites like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Vatican Museums. She included them all in her list of the best things to do in Rome with kids.

25. Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow is one of the world's friendliest destinations and boasts stunning architecture, gorgeous gardens, and plenty of family-friendly activities. From playgrounds and pub lunches to museums and mural trails, we shared 47 things to do in Glasgow with kids.

RELATED: International Family Travel Guide

Head across the Pacific Ocean to meet the amazing creatures of the Galapagos Islands. Photo by Diana Kim

More Adventures Abroad

26. Galapagos Islands

One of the most beautiful and pristine natural landscapes in the world, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands offer cruise adventures, breathtaking scenery, close encounters with sea turtles and other animals, and the chance to see flora and fauna that exists nowhere else. One writer took a bucket-list trip to the Galapagos Islands with her family and detailed it all in her ultimate guide to visiting the Galapagos Islands with kids.

27. African Safari

Our writer also took another once-in-a-lifetime vacation centered around animals when her family went on an African safari. She wrote up a guide to planning a perfect African safari vacation with kids, including choosing a tour operator, when and where to go on safari, the best ages to take kids on safari, and how to pack.

28. Toronto, Canada

Toronto is an ideal vacation destination for families looking for an urban adventure. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the city offers a perfect mix of outdoor activities, cultural attractions, world-class museums, and charming neighborhoods. We detailed the 25 best things to do in Toronto with kids.

29. Aruba

At less than 70 square miles, Aruba is a small island, but it packs in lots of kid-friendly activities. Snorkel or splash in the bright blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, explore breathtaking natural parklands, dig in to a wide variety of tasty restaurants, support Aruba’s wildlife sanctuaries, or just stake out a spot on the powdery sand beaches. Here is our list of the 29 best things to in Aruba with kids.

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