Small Towns for a Family Vacation

Overlooking Florida’s beautiful coastline, white sandy beaches backed by narrow dunes and serene half-hidden mansions make Naples one of Florida’s prettiest cities. While cultured, stylish and sophisticated, it is also warm and welcoming with many fun family attractions and activities.

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’MON) is a wonderful, pint-sized introduction to the culture of Naples where 12 different galleries and exhibits offer interactive and hands-on learning experiences with winding boardwalks, virtual ponds and mangrove mazes filled with toys. Head into nature with a visit to Big Cypress National Preserve for wildlife sightings or go on an airboat adventure through sawgrass prairies and mangrove forests just outside of Everglades City to see alligators in the swampy marshland. Take a paddling trip, launching from the Gulf Coast entrance to Everglades National Park to spot dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and birds.

Where to Stay: Naples Bay Resort is set right on Naples Bay, complete with a spa, four pools, lazy river and a marina.

Where to Eat: Have lunch on the beach at the Turtle Club Restaurant.

Don’t Miss: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a must-see with its exotic creatures, lively animal shows and exciting feedings.

Resting at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, Santa Fe is a vibrant town in New Mexico that offers a diverse choice of things to see and do. Families will delight in the array of adventures for children in and around town, including hiking, mountain biking and architecture.

Kids can participate in interactive experiences at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum. Learn to cook delicious Mexican fare with the whole family at the Santa Fe School of Cooking or take part in free family art programs at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. There is year-round ice-skating and swimming at the Genoveva Chavez Center and free seasonal events in the park at the Santa Fe Railyard.

Where to Stay: Hotel Santa Fe offers rooms and suites furnished in Southwestern style close to Downtown Santa Fe attractions.

Where to Eat: Cowgirl serves BBQ dishes, regional American cuisine and great desserts.

Offering beautiful mountain scenery, delicious local food, and a vibrant artist community, Asheville is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. From walking tours and shopping to art galleries and theater, this unique town offers a diverse choice of activities.

Visit the beautiful Biltmore Estate, the WNC Nature Center and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial on your weekend trip. Drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and soak up the spectacular natural beauty, or head to the river for some water-based fun such as rafting, tubing, canoeing and kayaking.

Where to Stay: Stay in one of the spacious suites with upscale amenities at The Residences at Biltmore.

Where to Eat: The Kid’s Menu at Stone Ridge Tavern includes mini hamburgers, grilled cheese and pasta dishes.

Don’t Miss: Biltmore Estate is a playground for the whole family – pet baby animals at the estate’s farmyard, go on a Segway tour around the grounds, or take part in a variety of hands-on experiences at Antler Hill Village.

Surrounded by Colorado's beautiful Rocky Mountains, Carbondale is a picturesque town with a blossoming food scene, stunning scenery and a choice of outdoor activities. You can spend your days mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, climbing and Nordic skiing. The Rio Grande Trail is a popular destination for biking and hiking, offering fresh outdoor air and great scenery.

The Wild West Rodeo on Thursday nights is a fun event for the whole family, complete with calf roping and bull riding. Check with Carbondale’s Recreation Department before you go for seasonal programs, special events and field trips.

Where to Stay: The cozy cottages and cabins at Avalanche Ranch are surrounded by trees and dramatic views.

Where to Eat: Stop by The Village Smithy which has been serving delicious breakfast and lunch since 1975.

Don’t Miss: The natural hot springs pools at Avalanche Ranch are not to be missed.

Resting against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountain, Charlottesville is a picturesque town which offers an array of wonderful experiences. Explore the rich history of the town with a visit to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson and a World Heritage Site, and the University of Virginia, which was one of his proudest legacies.

Soak up the vibrant, bustling energy at the legendary city farmers' market where sights, sounds and colors abound. Visit the Virginia Discovery Museum where children can learn and explore through hands-on activities. Head into nature with an energizing hike in Shenandoah National Park.

Where to Stay: The Oakhurst Innhas 27 modern guest rooms and five furnished apartments.

Where to Eat: The Ivy Inn Restaurant serves delicious farm-to-table American cuisine.

Don’t Miss: Carter Mountain Orchard where you can pick your own peaches or apples to take home.

Nestled in the heart of the Grand Strand's spectacular stretches of long white sandy beaches, Myrtle Beach is a vibrant seaside town with excellent restaurants, beautiful natural scenery, amazing golf courses, and a wealth of attractions and activities. Bordered by the elegant Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which winds its way past busy restaurants and cafés, buzzing beach bars, an impressive fishing pier and the famous 187-foot tall SkyWheel offer fun for the whole family.

Visitors can partake in a range of entertainment, festivals and events that are held throughout the year. Explore the region’s rich coastal plantation heritage with a relaxing boat cruise, or stroll through the beautifully landscaped grounds of Brookgreen Gardens where no less than 1,400 sculptures by local artists are on display. Take to the skies on an adrenalin-pumping zip line adventure with Myrtle Beach Zip line Adventures, which offers both day and night experiences.

Where to Stay: Dunes Village Resort has ocean view rooms and a Kid’s Club with arts & crafts, treasure hunts and pool games.

Don’t Miss: Play a game of golf with the whole family at the Treasure Island Golf Course, a pirate-themed course with caves and waterfalls.

Pismo Beach, California is a beautiful beach town on the famous Pacific Coast, half way between and San Francisco. Boasting long white sandy beaches with breaking waves, patchwork vineyards of superb wineries and fantastic weather, Pismo Beach is the perfect place for some fun in the sun with the family. Hit the beach for long, lazy days of swimming, surfing, snorkeling and fishing in the cobalt waters of the Pacific Ocean.

There are a number of excellent parks which boast wonderful scenery, walking and biking trails, picnic spots and playgrounds. The Children's Museum has interactive exhibits that inspire learning through play, while the Pismo Bowling Alley in the heart of town offers bowling and pizza.

Where to Stay: Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa offers elegant accommodations, a spa and gourmet dining.

Where to Eat: Gino's Pizza serves delicious pizza, sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads.

Don’t Miss: Dinosaur Caves Park is an oceanfront park that offers a variety of unique features, such as dinosaur eggs, concrete dolphins and Oreo the Orca Whale.

Situated in Sauk County, Wisconsin, Spring Green is a quaint village with much to offer. Best known for being the home and school of world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Spring Green is bursting with history, heritage and interesting attractions. Discover buried treasure at the Cave of the Mounds, a National Natural Landmark, which boasts fossil digs, a gemstone mine and interactive butterfly gardens, or visit the awe-inspiring House on the Rock, a place of magic and mystery.

Enjoy world-class Shakespearean plays in a natural amphitheater at the American Players Theater, or summer concerts by a medley of local and international artists. Head into the surrounding nature for a wealth of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, horse riding, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Take a dip in the Wisconsin River or go canoeing, kayaking, fishing or camping. Explore the Lower Wisconsin floodplains, which are home to a variety of wildlife and birds.

Where to Stay: The Round Barn Lodge has an indoor pool, hot tub, Game Room and family-friendly accommodations.

Where to Eat: The Café at the Spring Green General Store offers a casual lunch menu, complete with soups, sandwiches and salads.

Don’t Miss: Watch a Shakespeare play at the American Players Theatre.

Located on the broad Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Cambridge is a charming town where you will find a rich maritime heritage and a vibrant, friendly ambiance. Explore the history of the town with a walking tour, which takes you to the Richardson Maritime Museum and the Ruark Boatworks, where you’ll learn about boat-building, sailing, and the bustling seafood industry of crab-catching and oyster-dredging. Dorchester County’s flat, quiet roads are ideal for cycling.

Hire bikes to explore the countryside, or get up close and personal with nature and its wildlife at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and spot bald eagles in their nest with an Eagle Cam. The town has many parks and playgrounds - head to the Long Wharf Park to climb beautiful old trees against a picturesque backdrop of the Choptank Lighthouse, beautiful marina and the cries of seagulls.

Where to Stay: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina has rooms with balconies, a championship golf course, indoor and outdoor pools and a spa.

Don’t Miss: Breckenridge Adventures is a wonderland of fun with a nine-acre corn maze to explore in the fall, year-round paint ball and a host of other children’s activities on the 10-acre farm just outside the town.

Traverse City in Northern Michigan is surrounded by beaches along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, exquisite natural scenery, a rich history, and a wealth of activities. Summers are made for family-friendly fun: ride bikes along the smoothly paved trails around Grand Traverse Bay, hike up the famous Sleeping Bear Dunes and watch a Traverse City Beach Bums baseball game.

Fall in Traverse City sees hay rides and blueberry picking, while winter is a snowy delight of snowboarding, skiing or tubing down powder-white slopes. For indoor entertainment, the Great Lakes Children's Museum offers a wonderful insight into the importance of the Great Lakes, while the Historic State Theater is the place to go for children’s movies and shows.

Where to Stay: Great Wolf Lodge has a water park, spa for kids and themed suites with mini log cabins and caves for kids.

Don’t Miss: The National Cherry Festival in July is a must for a fun day of fruit-picking and eating.