New River Gorge in West Virginia has long been a favorite of outdoorsy families because of its unique beauty (that iconic bridge!) and recreational offerings, from hiking to white water rafting and mountain biking. In 2020, the area was elevated to national park status, making it an even more popular travel destination. 

Spanning over 72,000 acres of protected land that includes 53 miles of the New River, New River Gorge National Park (located in the small town of Fayetteville) is the perfect place for families looking to unplug in nature. My kids and I couldn't wait to explore America's newest national park, both by boat and by foot!

Read on for our guide to visiting New River Gorge with kids, including the best things to do in New River Gorge National Park, New River Gorge hotels and camping, family-friendly hikes in New River Gorge, and more. 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.

Find the neighborhoods with the best holiday lights in Greater Boston in 2025!

See some amazing Christmas lights and holiday displays in CT in 2025!

Discover the best neighborhood Christmas light displays and holiday lights in Chicago, with festive streets that go all out and you can tour on foot or by car!

These neighborhoods go all-in on holiday decorations.

Atlanta knows Christmas lights and how to show up, and show off, for the holidays! Neighborhood Christmas lights include intricate designs, clever themes, and surging electricity bills. Residential holiday lights include houses that offer walking tours; other houses welcome families to drive by and tune radio frequencies to their synchronized Christmas lights; and some houses are a part of an entire neighborhood that creates a collective attraction! 

In fact, enjoy Christmas lights AND do charitable work—some of the homes mentioned below are part of Cobb EMC's Christmas lights map, where you can vote for your favorite and the top three winners get $500 to donate to the charities of their choice! 

Driving around to see neighborhood Christmas lights is a fun holiday tradition for many families. There's nothing better than loading the family into the car with hot chocolate, turning on holiday music, and taking in all the dazzling Christmas light displays. And the best part is, it's free!

Though DC itself offers gorgeous holiday lights in public places, like Light Yards and ZooLights at the National Zoo, we've found that the best places to see Christmas light displays on houses are in the suburbs. Luckily, there are many neighborhoods in Maryland and Northern Virginia that get way into the holiday spirit. Many of them host animated light shows that are synchronized to music played through car radios, so families can stay warm and cozy inside their vehicles.

Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Maryland and Northern Virginia to see over-the-top neighborhood Christmas lights. For more holiday fun, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

It's time for the most spectacular residential Christmas lights Orlando has to offer! We’re continually amazed by the creativity and passion homeowners pour into their holiday lights. From mesmerizing, choreographed light shows to impressive walk-through light displays perfect for photos, these Orlando Christmas homes deliver holiday magic like no other. Fun fact: Two of the displays on this list have even been featured on The Great Christmas Light Fight!