Vacation Ideas For Active And Adventurous Families

When some families think about a vacation, they might imagine spending those days resting and relaxing, but many instead prefer to use their breaks doing more exciting activities. However, it can be challenging to come up with the right destination, so here are some vacation ideas for active and adventurous families.

NATIONAL PARKS

If your family is the outdoorsy type, hop in your car or rent a van or RV and head to one, or all, of America’s 63 national parks. Each protected area boasts some of the most breathtaking vistas in the country. From rock formations to hot springs to waterfalls to caverns to wildlife, nature’s beauty is fully on display. You can hike, bike, raft, swim, walk, run, climb and dive, with each park offering days’ worth of activities.

Since there are parks all across the country, from Acadia in Maine down to Joshua Tree in Southern California, you are likely at most just a few hours away from one. Find out what each park offers and where it is over at NPCA.org.

DUDE RANCH

Saddle up and take your family to a dude ranch. Perfect for those who have a horse lover in the fam, a trip to a dude ranch promises plenty of time spent on horseback, but also, depending on where you go, there could be cattle drives, fishing, rafting, archery, skeet shooting, lassoing or square dancing. DudeRanch.com has a comprehensive list of America’s dude ranches and what they offer.

WORKING FARM

If your family is into animals but prefers to not ride them, seek out a working farm to spend your vacation. From milking cows to gathering eggs to feeding pigs to collecting crops, not only will the days be full of things to do, but each chore is a great opportunity to learn about how we get our food. Best of all, chances are good you’ll be rewarded with some of the freshest food you’ve ever eaten, and after a long day’s work, you’ll sleep pretty well at night. You can find a farm to stay at over at FarmStayUS.com.

WASHINGTON D.C.

Head to our nation’s capital for an active vacation that is both fun and educational. With dozens of amazing museums and landmarks within walking distance, you will definitely get your steps in during a trip to Washington DC, and best of all, many attractions there are free. You can check out the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives, visit the Capitol and witness where Congress enacts our laws, take a tour of the White House, see everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner to Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, head to the National Air and Space Museum to learn about aviation and spaceflight, take in the masterpieces at the National Gallery of Art, and so much more. The city’s official tourism page, Washington.org, has a full list of everything you can experience there.

SKIING

Not too concerned about the temperature during your vacay? Then head to the slopes and spend the time skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing. You’ll get to enjoy quality time with your family on the lifts uphill, then you’ll all feel the thrill of going downhill, no matter if you’re on the bunny slope or flying down a double black diamond. Afterwards, you can enjoy some hot cocoa by a warm fire at the lodge. Learn which ski resort is best for you at SkiResort.info.

WOODLOCH RESORT

For families who can’t get enough activities, there is Woodloch Resort, a place that has so much to do that they have to put out a schedule each day, filled to the brim with fun and adventure, no matter your age or when you visit. The acclaimed destination in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains boasts go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, a climbing wall, an archery range, an indoor and an outdoor playground, game rooms, and an arts and crafts room.

If you are sportier, there are indoor and outdoor pools with a splash zone, a lake with boats, a beach and a slide, pickleball and tennis courts, mini-golf, bocce, basketball courts, disc-golf, snow tubing, and an entire fieldhouse with a variety of equipment. Then there are trivia contests, bingo games, baking wars, scavenger hunts, name that tune competitions and more family activities than you’ll have time to do each day.

Then, at night, there are parties with DJs, jugglers, comedians, magicians, silent discos, movies, karaoke and even a Broadway-like stage production. Everything is included in the price of the accommodations, and for a small fee more, all your meals can be included too. Get all the details at Woodloch.com.

HOTEL XCARET MEXICO AND THE XCARET PARKS

If you’re adventurous family wants to go all out, book a room at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. Located less than an hour from Cancun, Hotel Xcaret offers an all-inclusive beachfront stay on gorgeous grounds that preserve both Mexican culture and the Riviera Maya’s lush environment. Guests can even be part of that environment by swimming, floating, kayaking and paddleboarding alongside fish in the natural lagoon and rivers on the property. There are plenty of pools, including one specifically for kids.

There is a game room, a kids club, bikes to ride around on, and plenty of wildlife including coatis, monkeys and tropical birds. Numerous restaurants serve up delicious food, with one including performances highlighting Mexican and Caribbean culture, while poolside bars offer refreshing drinks. It is all included in the price of the room, but best of all for families who love fun, so is the admission and transportation to all of the Xcaret parks. If you aren’t familiar with the parks, they are some of the most exciting destinations in Mexico. There is Xplor, which features underground rivers to raft on and wade through, amphibious vehicles, a massive water slide, a hammock zipline and the tallest ziplines in Riviera Maya.

Then there is Xcaret Park, which boasts over 50 natural and cultural attractions like underground rivers to explore, a butterfly pavilion, a beautiful aviary, a coral reef aquarium, a beach and inlet to snorkel at, a horse exhibition, dance performances, a children’s playground with water slides, a variety of animals to see and the impressive Xcaret Mexico Espectacular show. There’s Xenses, a mind-bending park where nothing is as it seems, and you’ll wind up with plenty of photos for Instagram because of it. Among its attractions are a whole town where the laws of physics seem to not apply, a cave of total darkness where you feel your way through a variety of landscapes, a zipline that lets you soar like a bird, a river of mud to float down while your skin rejuvenates and a salt water river to glide down and relax, a fun water slide, dozens of optical illusions and stunning underground caverns to explore.

Meanwhile, at Xel-Ha, you can float through mangroves and down a river with cliffs to jump off of and ziplines to splash into the water from, plus they have the highest water slide in the entire Cancun region, a kids play area, and plenty of places to snorkel.

All of the parks have buffets to eat at too, which, if you are staying at Hotel Xcaret, are also all included. Learn all about it at HotelXcaret.com.