Tour the Hammond's Candies Factory in Denver and get a sweet treat! Photo courtesy of Hammond's Factory

Adventures out West

Our Western US Family Travel Guide is full of awesome places to visit out west. Here are the ones we highlighted in 2025. 

1. Colorado

Colorado is full of stunning mountain ranges, soothing hot springs, and plenty of outdoor adventures—all of which you'll find in our visitors guide to Steamboat Springs. But if you're looking to add some urban culture to your Colorado family vacation, our list of the 48 best things to do in Denver has you covered. It's written by Denver native (and Mommy Poppins regional editor) Jody Mercier, who shares her favorite museums, restaurants, and more.

3. Phoenix, Arizona

Mommy Poppins writer Melanie Preis grew up in Phoenix and brings her kids to visit often. So when you read her list of the 50 best things to do in and around Phoenix with kids—from popular spots like the Phoenix Zoo to lesser-known gems such as Scottsdale's Musical Instrument Museum—keep in mind that it comes with many years of firsthand knowledge

3. Montana

We shared insider's guides to several places in Montana in 2025, highlighting the state's natural beauty and outdoor adventures. Our guide to visiting Bozeman, MT with kids shows why it's worth spending a few days there on your way to Yellowstone National Park, including gorgeous mountains, grizzly encounters, and one of the largest fossil collections in the world.

Our local's guide to family fun in Helena, MT includes the perfect mix of history, nature, and small-town hospitality.

We also shared the 33 best family-friendly things to do in Three Forks and Butte, Montana, from hiking ancient cliffs to exploring museums to to biking smooth trails.

4. Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska is on many families' travel bucket lists, and our Alaska Family Travel Guide has helped some of them plan some amazing vacations to the 49th state. This year we added another city to that guide! Mommy Poppins DC community publisher Stephanie Shipman visited Anchorage with her family and made us all jealous with her tales of wildlife encounters, glaciers, and even a secret beach. Check out her Anchorage, AK family-friendly itinerary.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is one of the best things to do in Indy with kids. Photo courtesy of the museum

Midwest Moments

We added a few new spots to our Midwest Family Travel Guide in 2025. 

5. Indianapolis, Indiana

Indiana's capital city is home to one of our favorite children's museums, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The World's Largest Toilet, Robert Indiana's LOVE statue, and several great museums are also nearby. Still not convinced Indy is worth a visit? Check out our Indianapolis Travel Guide!

6. Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota's Twin Cities are home to endless family fun. There's the famous Mall of America, the largest mall in the US (there are so many things to do there, we have a guide to visiting the Mall of America). There are also tons of museums, thousands of lakes to explore, and a vibrant pro sports culture. Check out our ultimate guide to Minneapolis and St. Paul with kids.

Hit the beach in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by Jackie Jones for Mommy Poppins

Fun in Florida

This year we shared some fun destinations all throughout the Sunshine State! Find all of them and more in our Florida Family Travel Guide. 

7. Gulf Coast — St. Petersburg

To represent Florida's Gulf Coast, we shared a list of the best things to do in St. Petersburg, FL. This city south of Tampa holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine at 768! An art mecca, St. Pete is also home to the Salvador Dali Museum and colorful street murals. Gorgeous beaches and parks, a children's museum, and other adventures round out the family fun in St. Petersburg.

8. Atlantic Coast — West Palm Beach

Planning to head to West Palm Beach for MLB spring training? Make it a whole vacation with our massive list of 50 things to do in West Palm Beach, FL with kids. Have loads of animal adventures, hit the beach, explore museums, and so much more as you soak up the Florida sunshine.

9. Central Florida — Orlando and Kissimmee

With the opening of Universal Orlando's Epic Universe in May 2025, we knew many families would be flocking to Orlando this year. To help them find the perfect place to stay, we shared our list of the best Orlando hotels and resorts for families. I stayed at one of them, Caribe Royale Orlando, with my daughter and loved it—read my review of Caribe Royale.

Want to stay close to the theme parks without the crowds and high prices of Orlando? Try Kissimmee! Meet alligators at Gatorland, cool off at Island H2O Water Park, unleash your inner cowboy or cowgirl at the Silver Spurs Rodeo, and do other fun things in our guide to visiting Kissimmee, FL with kids.

10. Florida Keys — Islamorada

Want to experience the Florida Keys without trekking all the way down to Key West? We shared the top things to do with kids in Islamorada, FL, located less than two hours south of Miami. Famous for its fishing and diving, Islamorada offers families plenty to do in and around the water, like hitting the beach, boating or kayaking to state parks, snorkeling, and water sports.

Tennessee offers a range of adventures for families. Photo by Nicole Findlay

Sweet Southern Spots

There are so many great places to visit down south—just look at our Southern States Family Travel Guide. Here are the ones we shared in 2025. 

11. Tennessee

Got country music fans in the family? It may be time to plan a trip to Tennessee using two handy guides we updated in 2025. Our list of over 60 fun things to do in Nashville, TN includes iconic spots like the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. We also continue to add more and more to our Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge travel guide, which features Dollywood, a country-themed amusement park.

But even if country music isn't your thing, both of these Tennessee hot spots offer loads of fun family activities, like interesting museums, quirky dinner shows, and exciting outdoor adventures. You'll be glad you went!

12. Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock, AK is a city with a robust political history, a mild climate, and tons of things for families to do—especially those who enjoy time outdoors. There's the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, the Little Rock Zoo, great parks, and more. Read all about them in our list of 25 things to do in Little Rock with kids.

13. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

There are two types of beach vacations: quiet, low-key getaways and activity-packed adventures. Myrtle Beach falls into the latter category, which makes it tons of fun for kids. I'm talking bustling boardwalks and entertainment complexes, endless mini golf courses, kitschy souvenir shops, kid-friendly museum, and so much more. Here's our list of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach with kids.

See the famous arches at Arches National Park. Photo by Diana Kim for Mommy Poppins

Amazing US National Parks 

National parks are the perfect vacation spots for families who love the outdoors, as you'll see in our US National Parks Family Travel Guide. In 2025, Mommy Poppins writers and editors hiked and explored their way through several national parks with their families—two of which made our list of the 10 best US national parks for kids.

14. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park — Utah

Visit Moab, UT and explore two national parks—Arches and Canyonlands! Writer Diana Kim did just that with her family, and shared her experiences in her writeup of the best things to do in Moab with kids. Reading about the famous sandstone arches and other amazing rock formations in Arches National Park and the gorgeous red-rock desert landscapes in Canyonlands will make you want to book a trip immediately.

15. Grand Canyon — Arizona

Mommy Poppins Dallas-Fort Worth editor Gabby Cullen put together the ultimate guide to visiting the Grand Canyon with kids—with a little help from me, who also brought my family there this year! You can read all about the best viewpoints and hikes, kid-friendly visitor centers, top places to stay, and those famous mule rides—plus plenty of tips and tricks for a stress-free visit.

16. Big Bend National Park — Texas

Big Bend is one of the least visited national parks—but after visiting with her family, writer Jackie Jones insists that should not be the case! In her Big Bend National Park visitors guide, she described the park's amazing hikes, memorable wildlife viewing, adventures on the Rio Grande river, and spectacular stargazing. "A trip here may just change your life, she wrote, "as it did for me and my kids."

17. Yosemite National Park — California 

My family had a fantastic time visiting Yosemite National Park this year, and I put together a handy guide to visiting Yosemite with kids. Between the breathtaking waterfalls and the jaw-dropping wonder of El Capitan and Half Dome, this park is a must-visit. In the guide, I ;share some of the best kid-friendly trails, great places to stay, and other tips.

18. New River Gorge — West Virginia

Established in 1978, New River Gorge is America's newest national park. Spanning over 72,000 acres of protected land that includes 53 miles of the New River, there are loads of family-friendly hiking trails, an inflatable water park on a lake, top-notch white water rafting, and more. Read all about it in our New River Gorge family travel guide.

19. Hot Springs National Park — Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park is America's ;only urban national park, meaning it's accessible from the city's downtown and free to visit. The big draw to Hot Springs are its pools of steaming geothermal spring water, which generations of people (including gangster Al Capone) came to soak in for medicinal purposes. Read our guide to visiting Hot Springs National Park, including itinerary ideas, where to eat, and lodging near the park.

Culture and Charm in Canada

Mommy Poppins writers had several adventures visiting our neighbor to the north in 2025. They're all featured in our Canada Family Travel Guide!

20. Vancouver

Less than an hour by car from the US border, Vancouver is one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse and densely populated cities; the crown jewel of the country's west coast. It boasts a stunning backdrop of mountains, temperate weather, and world-class amenities. With a favorable exchange rate, free public parks, and an easy-to-navigate public transportation system, Vancouver offers great value, too. Read our list of the 33 best things to do in Vancouver, BC with kids.

21. Quebec

Quebec City is often touted as a European vacation alternative—a picturesque city where you can walk cobblestone streets, sit in bistros, and order in French. As the only walled city in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Quebec is full of history. There are also many things to do there with kids, including family-friendly museums, great parks, fun festivals, and more. Our Quebec City Family Travel Guide details it all!

22. Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a small peninsular territory full of natural beauty and endless charm. Families can explore tiny fishing villages, go whale watching in the Bay of Fundy, hike along gorgeous trails in national parks, hit the beach, and so much more. Our visitors guide to Nova Scotia has all the deets!

Tropical Retreats

23. Maldives

Mommy Poppins writer Imogen West and her family visit a truly bucket-list destination—the Maldives! This archipelago country in the Indian Ocean consists of 26 atolls that include 1,192 coral islands, 200 of which are inhabited. It's a true paradise filled with stunning beaches, turquoise water, the world's seventh-largest coral reef system, and overwater bungalows. It ain't cheap, but if you're looking to splurge, check out our guide to planning a Maldives family vacation.

24. Mexico 

Mexico is a great destination if you want a tropical family vacation without the long flight. Cancun is a popular choice—just steer clear of spring break! We have a list of the best Cancun all-inclusive resorts and hotels for families.

Want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Cancun? Isla Mujeres might be the hidden gem you're looking for. The small, laid-back island features turquoise water, colorful murals, and golf carts buzzing around sandy streets. Check our our 3-day itinerary for a family vacation in Isla Mujeres. Our Mexico Family Travel Guide has other great options, too. 

25. St. Kitts

The Caribbean island of St. Kitts packs a ton of family fun into its 69 square miles. It offers a mix of outdoor adventure (hello, zip-lining through the rainforest!), picturesque beaches, history, and kid-approved food. And you don't need to stay long to truly experience St. Kitts—just read our 3-day itinerary for St. Kitts with kids.

26. Puerto Rico 

You can also visit paradise without a passport! Our 5-day itinerary for visiting Puerto Rico with kids includes relaxing on gorgeous beaches, exploring Old San Juan, touring El Yunque (the only tropical rainforest in the US), and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Our list of the best Puerto Rico hotels and resorts for families will help you find the perfect place to stay.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Oahu is one of our favorite family resorts. Photo courtesy of Aulani 

Awesome Hotels and Resorts

27. Best Family Vacation Resorts & Hotel Suites, Cottages, & Villas

Whether you have a large family, you're planning a multigenerational or group trip, or you simply want to spread out and enjoy some comforts of home like full kitchens and washer/dryers, sometimes a regular hotel room just won't cut it. We shared nearly 25 resorts with our favorite suites, cottages, and villas for a family vacation.

28. Affordable All-Inclusive Resorts

We love all-inclusive resorts—there are plenty of activities, the food and drinks flow freely, and you don't even need to reach into your wallet while you're there! And while all-inclusive resorts can be expensive, there are some great affordable options. We shared nine of them in Mexico, the Caribbean, and even one in the US in our list of cheap all-inclusive resorts with packages for families.

29. Best Hotels with Bunk Beds

"Are there bunk beds?" is often the first question my daughter asks when we book a hotel room. Like many kids, she just loves to sleep in a bunk bed. Bunk beds are also a great way to give everyone their own sleeping space when traveling—no getting kicked by (or stealing the covers from) a sibling! Our list of the best hotels with bunk beds for family travel includes some super fun beds with slides, fun themes, and other cool features.

Other Great Places to Visit

30. Unique US Family Vacations

Want to visit somewhere quirky, different, or just off the beaten path? Check out our list of the most unique family vacations in the USA. It includes awesome cities, national parks, and other places with one-of-a-kind accommodations (imagine staying in a tree house!), unique natural features, quirky activities, and more. 

31. Tokyo, Japan

Last—but certainly not least—on our list is Japan's bustling capital city, Tokyo! Mommy Poppins writer Yuliya Geikhman wrote a fantastic guide to visiting Tokyo with kids, full of practical tips on navigating the expansive train system, etiquette, the best times to visit, and more. Of course, it's also full of fun things to do with kids, from animal cafes to Tokyo Disneyland to exciting day trips (Mt. Fuji, anyone?). It's a must-read!