Planning a trip for the whole family, including grandparents? This involves finding a great spot that offers accommodations, activities, and amenities that are suitable for all ages. These kinds of destinations help ensure that everyone has a good time, while also having plenty of opportunities to build memories.
From theme parks and beach vacations to mountain getaways, the following are some of the best multi-generation vacation destinations in the U.S.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
The Pacific Coast Highway offers a great place to go for a multi-generation road trip. Families can rent an RV with enough room for everyone, and drive along the highway while stopping every so often. Family members of all ages can stroll along the Santa Monica Pier, visit lighthouses, and explore scenic sights such as Hearst Castle.
This route also has tons of family-friendly dining spots, along with antique stores and other shops for souvenirs. Families can pull over and go hiking through redwood forests. For those traveling via car who want to stay overnight, several bed and breakfasts, hotels, and other accommodations can be found along this route.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
What makes Gatlinburg such an ideal place for a multi-generation vacation? As the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg offers a scenic place to stay with a wide range of activities, attractions, and amenities. Grandparents, parents, and kids can stay in their own rooms in luxury yet affordable Gatlinburg cabins, while being able to meet together at the dinner or breakfast table for quality time.
Hiking, scenic drives, and other activities provide recreation for young and old alike. Family-friendly Gatlinburg also has live shows and entertainments, shopping and dining in abundance, and multiple attractions for kids and all age groups.
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, located roughly halfway between Syracuse and Albany, combines outdoor fun with historical attractions for the whole family. The National Baseball Hall of Fame gives families a chance to explore the history of baseball. Families can also visit a 19th-century village and farm at The Farmers Museum, take a horse-drawn cart ride, and tour the Fly Creek Cider Mill.
Cooperstown also has trolley tours available. Outdoor activities include swimming, fishing, and boating at Otsego Lake, hiking through Fairy Springs Park, and taking in stunning views at Glimmerglass State Park. Accommodations for multi-generation vacations in Cooperstown include the Otsego Resort, vacation rental homes, cabins, and campgrounds.
Seaside, Oregon
On the west coast, Oregon’s city of Seaside offers a quaint place to visit for a vacation with different generations of family members. The whole family can explore the Seaside Carousel Mall, Seaside Aquarium, and historic Fort Clatsop. Kids can enjoy Funland Arcade, Captain Kid Amusement Park, and High Life Adventure Park. Older family members can spend time at the Times Theatre and Public House.
Other attractions include the Bumper Cars, Seaside Short-Line Railway, and Seaside Shootout. Outdoor recreation for the whole family includes hiking, kayaking, birding, and biking. The town also has many places to dine and shop. Seaside has different kinds of accommodations for entire families, including vacation homes, campgrounds, and resorts.
Seaside, Florida
Meanwhile on the Gulf coast, the other Seaside, perched along Florida’s scenic Emerald Coast, offers an equally quaint destination that works for all the generations in one trip. The real-life setting for Jim Carrey’s Truman Show movie, this little town is designed for walking, with a slow pace of life and a neighborhood feel to the pastel-painted cottages that form the only accommodations in town.
There are no high rises or hotels here, but plenty of gourmet eateries (including Airstream food trucks) and eclectic shops to explore. The private beach is fabulous and there’s live music, outdoor movies and entertainments for all ages.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs provides plenty of activities and recreation for all ages, making it a good place to consider for a multi-generation vacation. Families can visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to see a wide range of animals. Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center offers stunning sandstone rock formations with hiking trails that are suitable for all ages.
Other attractions and activities for young and old include rides on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, guided whitewater rafting in the Arkansas River, and rides and attractions at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Colorado Springs has several accommodations for multi-generation vacations, including campgrounds, vacation homes, cottages, cabins, and dude ranches.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor offers the best of both worlds for a multi-generation vacation, with shopping and dining in town and rugged outdoor adventures in nearby Acadia National Park. Family members who want to explore the outdoors can go hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, or fishing. Whale-watching tours, boat tours, whitewater rafting tours, and nature tours are also available.
Bar Harbor offers cafes and other dining spots, shopping, farmers markets, and local attractions, such as the Abbe Museum. Accommodations for multi-generation trips to the area include cottages, campgrounds, vacation rental homes, and bed and breakfasts.
