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Whether you’re dreaming of cabin weekends, beach picnics, mountain towns, or simple road trips full of snacks and surprises, these posts gather the family getaways that mattered to us the most. Easy, heartfelt, and stitched together by love.

Family Vacations

Places to Visit in Colorado

Colorado is best known for its first class ski resorts, where you can enjoy every type of snow sport imaginable, but there are equally exciting outdoor activities for all seasons.

Day Trips in Arizona

From iconic national parks to underrated small towns, I think that Arizona offers some of the best travel experiences in the country.

I took these photos while hiking during Labor Day

8 Labor Day Weekend Getaways

From hidden gems and quirky festivals to towns where history, culture, and nature collide, these spots prove that a Labor Day getaway doesn’t have to be ordinary.

I took this photo of the tree at Lincoln Center on my way to see the Nutcracker at the Met

Places to Go on Christmas

Christmas vacation ideas and places to visit are some of the most unique and magical trip inspirations of the year, and honestly, they’re some of my favorite kinds of getaways.

My photo of big skies on our family road trip with cool clouds

Small Town Weekend Getaways with Kids

Whatever you like to do, kids will not be bored on their trip to small American towns and cities.

My photo of a relaxing walk near a lake on my day trip from Dallas

Day Trips and Weekend Getaways from Dallas, Texas

Dallas is conveniently located near many historical sites, interesting small towns, outdoor recreational parks and lakes.

I took this photo of palm trees on my day trip near LA

Day Trips from Los Angeles

Los Angeles is surrounded by some of the best day trips in California. It’s always been of my favorite cities for quick adventures.

Things to Do in Tampa, Florida

Tampa offers some of the most unique and exciting experiences on the Gulf Coast for couples and families, including Busch Gardens Tampa, great museums and attractions.

My photo of Hayden Planetarium in NYC on a sunny spring day

15 Last Minute Family Vacation Ideas

Last minute family vacations can still be some of the best trips you’ll ever take, and they’ve become some of my favorite ways to make memories without the stress of overplanning.

Things to Do in Kingman, AZ

The city of Kingman, Arizona was founded in 1882, prior to the Arizona Territory's incorporation as an American state.

My photo of unique scenery on our day trip in Virginia

Day Trips & Small Towns in Virginia to Go with Kids

Visitors can step back in time to the city's colonial-era days and take part in living history demonstrations depicting typical 18th- and 19th-century life throughout the region at a number of living history sites throughout the area.

Recreation park with small pond and downtown Richardson, Texas

Things to Do in Richardson, Texas

For me, Richardson is one of the best cities in Texas because it combines unique cultural events, outdoor beauty, and unforgettable food in a way that always leaves me with new favorite memories.

I took these photos from the air while flying from the Big Island to Maui (And the gecko when I landed).

Places to Visit in Hawaii (with links to our drone YouTube videos)

I love how each island offers the best mix of breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and underrated local gems. From lush rainforests and volcanic craters to golden beaches and colorful towns, every corner of Hawaii has something unforgettable to offer.

Lakeway City Park

Lakeway City Park was the kind of place that offers a little bit of everything: water, trails, picnic tables, and space to simply be.

Places to Go on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving means taking some time to appreciate all the blessings you have in your life, so why not give yourself even more to appreciate by planning a weekend getaway?

Hi, Welcome to VacationIdea.com! I'm Ema. While my home is in Texas, I've lived in many different places months at a time researching vacations. On this page, I share fresh, dreamy vacation ideas. I love to chase unique things to do near me and revisit old favorites for a cool, fresh perspective. I'm also eager to learn from my fellow travelers to see what works for people and what doesn't. Whether you like great sunsets, hidden gems, places of mystery, famous attractions, or underrated experiences, here you'll find all of those recommendations from locals that won me over. Let's explore together! Click here to find my Youtube channel @VacationIdea. I'm not associated with any other YouTube channels, networks or marketing companies (especially those using the terms "vacation ideas", "vacation idea", "dream travel", "dream vacation", etc). Ema Kisel has received many awards and media mentions, including: abc6 Morning Show, UMich, 7News, WA State Department, and many others.