Best Orlando Hotels and Resorts for Families and Kids

At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can stay in a room with views of real animals such as zebras and giraffes. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Sifting through the many, many Orlando hotels for your next family trip to Florida? The theme park capital of the world has no shortage of great options, and it can be overwhelming to pick just one.

We’ve made it easier by highlighting some of our favorite hotels and resorts in the Orlando area. These include some top Walt Disney World resorts and Universal Orlando hotels, resorts with fantastic water parks, and hotels with spectacular villas and suites for large and multigenerational families.

For more ideas on what to do while visiting the area, check out our Orlando Family Guide. Our Florida Family Travel Guide has more family-friendly Florida towns, beaches, and hotels, including our list of the best family resorts in Florida.

73 Free Things To Do in Los Angeles This Summer With Kids

Train-obsessed kids will love this Griffith Park gem. Photo courtesy of Travel Town

Free things to do in Los Angeles can be found just about everywhere. And so, while the water parks are open, camps are starting, and your wallet is draining faster than a contaminated kiddie pool, fear not! There are plenty of amusement parks and attractions that allow kids in for free; you can take advantage of all the city's free museum days, or you can spend the day at a free event like The Lotus Festival in Echo Park. So go ahead and look at the list below and create your bucket list of free fun for kids in LA. 

Want some ideas for free summer fun at home? Check out our Ultimate Summer Bucket List Ideas: 100 (Mostly) Free Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids.

Atlanta Summer Fun: 50 Amazing FREE Activities for Kids

Family Fun Nights in Woodstock returns for its third season this summer with fun, themed nights. Photo courtesy of Visit Woodstock

"Free summer activities in Atlanta" is our favorite phrase when it comes to this time of year. ("Cheap" is a close second!) More importantly, kids are happy and worn out playing at a free park or splash pads. Since an Atlanta summer usually requires water, air conditioning, evening shade (or all three), we've kept those prerequisites in mind while gathering the best free kids activities in Atlanta this summer!

Our Epic Summer Bucket List of Things To Do in Philly with Kids

See exotic plants from around the world and spot wildlife in the Meadow Garden at Longwood Gardens. Photo by F. Fusco/Visit Philladelphia

You don't have to leave Philly to enjoy everything summer has to offer! Whether you’re looking to cool off in the city, take a day trip to the shore, or explore new local events, this list will help you make the most of your family’s summer break. 

Read on for our top summer activities for kids to plan out a summer the entire family will enjoy. And don't forget to check out our Summer Guide for hundreds of more ideas.

19 San Francisco Restaurants Where Kids Can Play While Parents Eat

The Yard in Brentwood. Photo credit: Copyright © 2024 The Yard

San Francisco restaurants where kids can play while parents eat are a bit of a unicorn. However, there are plenty of these restaurants and breweries out there, you just have to know where to find them. That's why this list exists. These are the spots where kids can play while parents eat, sip something cold, and maybe even finish a conversation. From beer gardens with sandboxes to cafes with play zones, these places were made for families to enjoy a meal out of the house. 

In addition to browsing this list to find Bay Area and San Francisco restaurants where kids can play, discover restaurants where kids eat free in San Francisco

 

Big Bend National Park Lodging, Seeing Stars, and Best Things To Do with Kids

There are several easy hikes in Big Bend National Park that kids of all ages enjoy.

Big Bend National Park in southern Texas is an excellent destination for families looking to spend time together "off the grid." The park is vast, rugged, and remote, spanning more than 800,000 acres along the border of the US and Mexico, right in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Big Bend is one of the least visited national parks, but I'm here to argue that should not be the case! Big Bend offers amazing hiking, memorable wildlife viewing, adventures on the Rio Grande river, and spectacular stargazing at night. Visiting does require serious planning because it is so far removed from modern civilization (cell phone service, for example, is unreliable at Big Bend). Yet a trip here may just change your life, as it did for me and my kids.

Read on for our guide to visiting Big Bend, including itinerary ideas, a Big Bend National Park map, where to eat, and lodging and hotels near Big Bend National Park. Check out our US National Parks Family Travel Guide for more national parks to visit with kids, including our top-ten list of family-friendly national parks.

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