Your Kids Won’t Be Bored on These 30 Fun Family Vacations

Brush up on your American history in Colonial Williamsburg, a 301-acre living history museum. In this 18th-century city, complete with actors in period costume, you can visit the blacksmith shop or the apothecary, hear revolutionary talk in historic Raleigh Tavern, and take a horse-drawn carriage along bustling Duke of Gloucester street. You can even meet George Washington himself!

Where to Stay: Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge

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For a different type of family vacation, head out West to the JJJ Wilderness Ranch in Augusta, Montana. Find your inner cowboy or cowgirl at this all-inclusive dude ranch. Spend your days horseback riding, fly-fishing, and taking archer and skeet-shooting lessons. In the evening after a big cookout, gather 'round the campfire for storytelling and s'mores.

Where to Stay: JJJ Wilderness Ranch

With museums galore in NYC, it'll be hard to choose, but at the top of your list should be the crowd-pleasing American Museum of Natural History, where the little ones can check out the massive dinosaur skeletons.

You can also walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, go on a Circle Line sightseeing cruise, and take a ferry over to Governor's Island, named one of Time magazine's 2018 Greatest Places.

Where to Stay: Grand Hyatt New York, The Roosevelt Hotel

Who doesn't love chocolate? See how the sweet stuff is made (and try a few samples!) in Hersheypark's Chocolate World. Its amusement park has rides for all ages, but thrill-seekers will love the theme park's many rollercoasters, including ones with names like Sidewinder and Skyrush. You can also check out the more than 200 animals at ZooAmerica next door.

Where to Stay: Comfort Inn at the Park, Days Inn Hershey

A week at Universal Orlando is one of those family vacations that's bound to please everyone. Harry Potter fans can go wild in two wow-worthy Hogwarts-themed parks, take motion-simulation rides (the little ones will love Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem), and dine and shop at Universal CityWalk. The park's newest attraction, Volcano Bay, is a massive water park with a 200-foot-tall volcano.

Where to Stay: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel

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At this Bavarian-style resort 100 miles west of Denver, you can hit the slopes on Vail Mountain during the winter (there's a top-notch ski school for kids), and during the non-winter months, take the gondola up the mountain for jaw-dropping mountain views.

You can also try adventures like rope courses, zip lines, and mountain coasters through the Vail's Epic Discovery program.

Where to Stay: Hotel Talisa, The Sebastian - Vail

Delaware's Rehoboth Beach is an super fun vacation spot for families. After a swim in the Atlantic, the kids can hit the waterslides in Jungle Jim's, the state's largest water park. Be sure to take a stroll along the mile-long boardwalk, stopping for cotton candy, fudge, and other treats.

Where to Stay: Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, Atlantic Sands Hotel

Why not take the family on a cruise? Disney Cruise Line has Bahamas sailings that include a stop on Castaway Cay, the line's private island. Its four ships also visit the New England coast, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and other destinations.

On board, expect waterslides, ice cream parlors, and meet and greets with characters ranging from Captain America to Frozen's Elsa.

To Book: Disney Cruise Line

Heavenly, in the Sierra Nevada, is one of Lake Tahoe's top resorts for adventure. Ride the gondola to take in the gorgeous lake and mountain views, zip line over the treetops, and hike or bike along lakeside trails. When the snow starts falling, you can hit the slopes (there are trails for all levels, including a ski school).

Where to Stay: Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, The Landing Resort & Spa

For kids, Beaches Turks & Caicos's all-inclusive is a dream come true. This resort is not only one Grace Bay, the island's top beach, but it also has on-site water park. After a morning of using the waterslides and lazy pools, kids can enjoy arts and crafts, play in the Xbox Play Lounge, and try other fun activities. Parents will surely appreciate the Red Lane Spa and on-the-beach rum bar!

Where to Stay: Beaches Turks & Caicos

Boston is not only a fun city to explore on a family vacation, but you can also brush up on your colonial history while you do it! Walk the Freedom Trail (just follow the red line painted on the sidewalk) to famous landmarks like the Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument, and be sure to stop for a cup of clam chowder and lobster roll at the food court in Faneuil Hall.

Where to Stay: Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel, The Liberty

Cape Cod is the quintessential New England destination. This arm-shaped peninsula is famous for its historic lighthouses, beaches (Coast Guard Beach was named one of 2018's top beaches), gray-shingled houses, and whale-watching cruises that depart from Provincetown, more commonly known as P-town. Plus, you're never too far from a delicious lobster dinner.

Where to Stay: Crown Pointe Historic Inn & Spa, Wellfleet Motel

D.C.'s Smithsonian museums are all free, so not only is a family vacation to the nation's capital fun and informative — it's also affordable. Kids will love the planes and spaceships in the National Air and Space Museum, while the American Museum of Natural History has items like Dorothy’s ruby slippers on display.

Where to Stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington, Grand Hyatt Washington

San Francisco is jam-packed with friendly-friendly activities. Top attractions include Fisherman's Wharf, where you can see historic ships and barking sea lions, as well as Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lombard Street (aka the "crookedest street in the world"). And who wouldn't want to take a ride on one of the city's fabled cable cars?

Where to Stay: W San Francisco, The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square

Niagara Falls isn't just for honeymooners! Take the family to see this geographic wonder shared between New York and Ontario, Canada. The most exciting way to see them is aboard the Maid of the Mist boat, which takes you right up to the thundering falls — plan on getting wet, even while wearing the souvenir plastic poncho.

Where to Stay: Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, Marriott Niagara Falls Hotel Fallsview & Spa

Atlantis is one of the Bahamas' most family-friendly resorts. It has 11 pools, Mayan temple-themed waterslides, shark-filled water "tunnels," and a swim-with-dolphins program, so it's guaranteed that the kids will be busy from sunup to sundown. There are also plenty of restaurants and one of the Caribbean's largest casinos.

Where to Stay: Atlantis

Make a pilgrimage to Cooperstown to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, where you can see the oldest surviving baseballs, a collection of diamond-encrusted World Series rings, a special Babe Ruth exhibit, and the bronze plaques of all the hall's inductees. Afterward, stock up on cider donuts at the nearby Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard.

Where to Stay: The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Best Western Cooperstown Inn & Suites

If you have daredevils in your family, you'll want to visit Cedar Point on Lake Erie in northern Ohio. Known as the rollercoaster capital of the world, this massive amusement park has an astounding 18 roller coasters, many with formidable names like Iron Dragon, Raptor, Wicked Twister, and Steel Vengeance.

Where to Stay: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sandusky, La Quinta Sandusky - Cedar Point

LEGOLAND, geared toward kids ages 2 to 12, has more than 50 rides, attractions, and shows. Highlights include large-sized LEGO displays (like Star Wars' R2-D2, cars, and dinosaurs), along with Miniland USA, which has miniature attractions — like NYC's Times Square and the Kennedy Space Center — all in LEGO blocks, of course.

Where to Stay: LEGOLAND Hotel, Holiday Inn Winter Haven

When you think of Yellowstone National Park, geysers come to mind — and more specifically, Old Faithful, which does indeed live up to its name by erupting every 90 minutes or so.

Another superstar of America's oldest national park is the Grand Prismatic Spring, which is the park's largest single hot spring.

Where to Stay: Yellowstone Park Hotel

More: Best National Parks Throughout the U.S.