Best Family Vacations in the US

Family vacation time is precious. That's why our own top family vacation ideas showcase stress-free planning…spectacular, one-of-a-kind destinations… exclusive partnerships and experiences… and hands-on fun for all ages. We've curated our best ideas to create our Tauck Bridges family journeys here and abroad. Here's the U.S. edition of our best family trip ideas.

#1: Easy Does It on Vacation Planning
Wherever you're traveling, guided travel can be a family's best friend. It ensures you won't just check off another sight or attraction on a list, but will experience each one in context, gaining a deeper, richer understanding of its unique place in history, culture or nature. You'll also be free of planning cumbersome travel logistics, thank goodness! On a Tauck family tour, stay in carefully vetted, family-friendly accommodations (many with pools) and get insider tips on finding the best restaurants for your picky or adventurous eaters. From the moment you arrive at your starting destination, your transportation, luggage and entries to attractions are all handled for you. We also plan the day-to-day itinerary to the tiniest detail, so you don't have to! Plan for a carefree family or extended family vacation. Learn more about why guided travel is right for families.

#2: Choose the Right Destination for Your Family

You know your family best. If your family craves variety… appreciates authenticity… and thrives on adventure, we have a tour that will appeal. Our best family vacation ideas in the U.S. feature what has been called one of America's very best ideas: U.S. national parks. Each of our four U.S.-based Bridges family journeys revolves around visits to one or more of these national parks. 

Of course, sometimes, it can be challenging to plan visits to the best national parks for kids, because park lodges are booked years in advance. We are here to help avoid disappointment. Our 8-day tours feature accommodations inside or very near the U.S. national parks you'll be exploring. Here are a few highlights of these four tours:

• 1. Explore Denali National Park from Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which boasts amazing "backyard" views of Mt. Denali, North America's tallest mountain, on our Alaska: Call of the Wild tour.

• 2. Celebrate America's (and the world's) first national park on our Cowboy Country vacation, where you'll stay just steps away from Yellowstone National Park's main attraction at Old Faithful Inn. This tour also features Grand Teton National Park and accommodations at Jackson Lake Lodge, located in the heart of the park.

• 3. Majestic California: San Francisco, Yosemite & the Pacific features a stay near Yosemite National Park's southern gate at Tenaya Lodge, set amidst an evergreen forest. 

• 4. Experience a trifecta of renowned national parks on our Red Rocks & Painted Canyons tour: Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon. You'll stay in the parks, and we're delighted to include Zion Lodge, the only hotel in Zion National Park, as one of your accommodations.

3: Seek Exclusive Partnerships and Experiences

One of our best family vacation ideas is collaborating with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns to craft our U.S. Bridges family journeys. This exclusive partnership gives you and your family access to incredible insights and memorable experiences you wouldn't enjoy otherwise. For our travels through six U.S. national parks, we turn to Ken Burns, America's premier storyteller, to create the narrative for these American treasures. Cowboy Country, Majestic California: San Francisco, Yosemite & the Pacific and Red Rocks & Painted Canyons all feature Ken Burns' authentic perspective. Of course, unique adventures are always on the itinerary. Go on a flightseeing adventure over Denali National Park… watch a horse whisperer perform magic… sail across San Francisco Bay on a catamaran… and so much more.

#4: Go for Hands-On Fun
Don't just see places — get involved with all of your senses. Our best vacation ideas include itineraries with hands-on activities. For instance, during the day, your family will experience spectacular scenery on horseback… in a kayak or river raft… aboard an off-road 4x4 touring vehicle. You'll pan for gold… meet future sled dogs… go geocaching…and spy animals with the assistance of a wildlife guide. At night, you'll hear stories around a campfire... make s'mores… and even take a hike by flashlight! This is just a sample of the many adventures you'll enjoy on a Tauck family tour. For more insights on family travel, check out our best family vacations in the U.S