Family vacation ideas

As the former editor-in-chief of Parents magazine—and as travel planner-in-chief of my own family—I know that the stakes are high when booking a vacation for people of different ages. Children need to be entertained. Parents want someone else to take care of the cooking, cleaning, scheduling and (sometimes) the kids. Grandparents are often invited too.

To help inspire your next family vacation, I pulled together some unforgettable adventures from my memory books.

What you’ll learn:

• Costa Rica is a great destination for families who love sunshine, nature and adventure, offering everything from kayaking in the rainforest to beach walks under the stars.

• Chicago combines culture and convenience, with family-friendly hotels near iconic attractions like Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago.

• Bermuda makes an ideal short family getaway, with pink-sand beaches, ancient caves and plenty of water activities for all ages. 

• Eligible cardholders can earn elevated rewards when they use Capital One Travel to book their trip.

We’ve enjoyed Costa Rica many times. It always seems to satisfy our cravings for nature, sun and an exotic locale. I love this starter itinerary for families who want to taste what the country has to offer.

• Fly into San Jose, then take a short flight or boat ride to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast. 

• Stay at Mawamba Lodge, your home base for a jungle adventure. 

• Take an easy kayak excursion through the rainforest, then enjoy a guided beach walk to spot one or more of the four species of sea turtles that nest in the area. It’s exhilarating to watch a rare green turtle cover dozens of softball-sized, freshly laid eggs with sand. It’s the stuff college essays are made of and something grandparents will enjoy too.

• Head inland to Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, set near the towering Arenal Volcano. 

• Spend mornings bird-watching among the 138 indigenous and migratory species documented in the area. 

• Try tubing down a winding river or join a guided hike that includes rappelling down a waterfall.

• At night, the kids can join a rainforest walk to spot frogs, snails, snakes and insects, while you relax in a hammock on your room’s terrace, soaking in breathtaking views of the volcano as the sun sets. 

• With three restaurants serving everything from sushi to thin-crust pizza, there’s something for every palate.

• End your trip in Manuel Antonio, a coastal resort village surrounded by lush jungle and beautiful beaches. 

• While there, let everyone choose their own adventure, whether it’s beach time, zip-lining or a jungle trek. Whatever you do, be on the lookout for sloths!

• Stay at the Hotel San Bada or La Vela Boutique Hotel for a true “pura vida” finale to your week in Costa Rica.

A city hotel with an indoor pool? Where do we sign up? The Peninsula Chicago is a 5-star hotel known for blending traditional Asian service with Midwestern warmth. And it’s smack dab in the center of a city that offers shows, shopping, museums, historic sites and plenty of green space.

Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately called The Bean, is just blocks away in Millennium Park. And Navy Pier is roughly a 15-minute walk from the hotel. 

Kids can enroll in the hotel’s bespoke Peninsula Academy. Ask about architecture tours, cooking classes, a firehouse excursion and more. And there’s a spa, buzzy bars and restaurants on the property.

Boasting pink beaches, dramatic water caves and pastel-colored mansions, Bermuda is a great trip for families in search of tropical breezes and easy travel days.

• Tropical accommodations: The all-inclusive Grotto Bay Beach Resort and Spa is just 5 minutes from the airport, with two beaches, nearby golf and tennis, and several restaurants. The showstopper is its private spa set inside an ancient cave.

• Adventure and fun for every age: Spend your time fishing on a chartered boat, sailing at sunset or taking a day trip to a secluded stingray habitat on your own rented boat. Our teenage daughters, Sophia and Olivia, spent hours out on a floating water park just offshore.

• Unforgettable experiences: I will never forget walking along the wooden platform to my massage appointment inside the ancient cave spa, with shimmering azure waters below and dripping stalagmites above.

For a crew of people who want to get out on the slopes—or the trails, when the weather is warmer—Vail Village and the surrounding area offer up more than enough to do. It’s also one of the best holiday trips for families, with twinkling lights, snowy streets and cozy lodges that feel straight out of a holiday movie. 

Vail appeals to all ages, from bunny-slope skiers to grandparents who want to spend some time shopping in the village or strolling the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. For those looking for a nightcap, visit the Tasting Room at 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co. The house-made cordial is infused with sage, vanilla and peach. It’s a delicious way to end the night.

Vail Village’s size is what makes it perfect for multigenerational groups. It’s small enough that people can split off comfortably and meet throughout the day without having to make a big trek. But there are also some can’t-miss day trips outside Vail that serve up mountain-town vibes of their own, including Leadville, Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs and Aspen.

When it opened, Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood was the biggest addition to the California park since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—making it one of the best family trips for fans of movies, games and theme parks alike. A major attraction is an augmented reality ride called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, where you compete on some of the chaotic racing series’ courses in classic dark-ride style. The course is fixed, but the interactivity plays out in your headset.

Kids of all ages can also play four mini key challenges and pose for photos with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. For the ultimate photo op, eat at Toadstool Cafe, where adorable mushroom-capped toads work the kitchen.

Groups that want to stay within walking distance of the park should book the Sheraton Universal Hotel. The Garland, a smaller boutique hotel in North Hollywood, is another option. It offers special trolley rides to Universal Studios and themed events by the pool for adults, with plenty nearby to keep older kids and teens entertained. 

Looking for an unforgettable meal? Head to Anajak Thai for outdoor omakase, chef collaborations and potentially the best meal you’ll have in Los Angeles (and beyond). There’s also Osteria La Buca for farm-to-table Italian.

My family of inexperienced horse riders spent a week at a dude ranch, and we loved every minute of it. Maybe it was the fresh mountain air, or maybe it was the exhilaration of learning something new as a family. That week at Vista Verde Ranch was one of the most memorable vacations of our lives.

Highlights for me included a personal fly-fishing casting lesson with my husband, Steve, a one-on-one yoga session on a platform in the woods by a creek and line dancing on the last night. And the Italian linens on the beds.

Located in the Rocky Mountains, about 40 minutes outside Steamboat Springs, Vista Verde is a luxury dude ranch with casual vibes. Every morning after sunrise, Steve would grab his camera to record the daily running of the horses. I’d hear whistling and sharp “Yaaah! Yaaah!” echoing from the valley where the ranch’s 100 or so horses were free to graze overnight. As the ranch hands funneled the team through the main gate, Steve captured the dramatic plumes of dust kicked up by their galloping.

The ranch offers three levels of kids’ programming. A highlight for my teenagers? The overnight campout, where they rode out to a secret-from-the-parents location in the mountains, ate a campfire dinner and listened to the counselors’ ghost stories.

Families can eat breakfast and lunch together in the main lodge. Dinner varies from family style to luxe campfire cookouts only a horseback ride away. On a handful of nights, the kids dined and then dashed for games. At day’s end, we would all jump in the hot tub on our cabin porch.

Few states say “summer camp” like Maine. Since 1916, Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake has been the classic lakeside resort of choice for generations of families to gather. With a main lodge and 35 cottages of varying sizes nestled amid 125 acres of pine forest, branches of your family tree can be as together or as far apart as they like. 

Migis’ 3,500 feet of calm shoreline and small beach are the ideal setting for sandcastle making, canoeing, kayaking and sailing. Nonmotorized boating and water skiing are also free.

Sunset cocktail hour and dinner at Migis’ main lodge atop the gentle hill feel like an event. Jackets and collared shirts are required for the men, but kids can eat with counselors and then scram for movies and ice cream. In our experience, everyone comes together for bingo night, the Friday lobster bake and an end-of-week kids’ talent show. All in all, it’s one of New England’s more memorable weekend trips for families.

From Costa Rica’s rainforests to Maine’s lakeside retreats, these dream vacation spots offer something special for every age and travel style.

Ready to plan your own trip? You might want to consider taking a travel rewards credit card:

• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights, vacation rentals and activities when booking through Capital One Travel with the Venture X card.

• Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars and activities when booking through Capital One Travel with the Venture card. 

• Earn 2X miles on all other purchases, at home or away, with the Venture X and Venture cards.

From booking to takeoff, Capital One helps make every part of your family getaway more seamless and rewarding: 

• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit. Venture X and Venture cardholders can receive up to a $120 credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® when they pay for the application fee with their card. 

• Flexible options for redeeming rewards. Redeem rewards for flights, hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars and activities booked through Capital One Travel.

• Travel protections. Cardholders may have access to travel insurance through their credit card. Network benefits may include trip cancellation insurance and lost luggage insurance. You can review your guide to benefits for more information on which benefits come with your credit card.

• Security features. You’ll also have access to security features like fraud alerts, card lock, $0 liability for unauthorized charges and virtual card numbers.