{"id":7870,"date":"2023-03-22T19:02:54","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T19:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/?p=7870"},"modified":"2023-11-06T17:01:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T17:01:28","slug":"unexpectedly-great-family-vacation-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/22\/unexpectedly-great-family-vacation-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpectedly Great Family Vacation Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>These destinations might not be the first to come to mind when planning your next family vacation \u2014 but they\u2019ll surprise you. Each one boasts unique experiences, outdoor adventure and accommodations that your whole crew will love. Start planning with RedWeek now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-700x489.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-700x489.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 700w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-250x175.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 250w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-768x537.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 768w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-1536x1073.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 1536w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-2048x1431.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 2048w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/REDWEEK_WILDERNESS-0012-120x84.jpg?v=0cdc7cb08aea353233f2a0bb5c3ca2a2 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Aruba<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Great For Families: <\/strong>A tropical paradise in the Caribbean Sea, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/category\/caribbean\/aruba\">Aruba<\/a> brings together luxury resort living and kid-friendly experiences. Your young ones will love the best Aruba beaches, including Palm Beach and the aptly named Baby Beach, where sun, sand and gentle waves can be found in abundance. For more fresh-air fun, spend a day in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arubanationalpark.org\/main\/\">Arikok National Park<\/a>, a sprawling natural preserve with hidden coves, natural pools and an array of wildlife.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t-Miss Experience: <\/strong>Set amidst a lush rainforest, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebutterflyfarm.com\/\">Aruba Butterfly Sanctuary<\/a> is home to thousands of colorful, free-flying butterflies.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/04\/aruba-for-kids-the-best-beaches-attractions-experiences\"><em>Check out RedWeek\u2019s Aruba For Kids guide.<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where To Stay: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P137-divi-aruba-phoenix-beach-resort\">Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" data-id=\"7874\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-700x467.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-700x467.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 700w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-250x167.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 250w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-768x512.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 768w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-1536x1024.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 1536w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-2048x1365.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 2048w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Aruba-120x80.jpg?v=3c9d0a5b1f7b37eb3e914b4ee72b1569 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nuevo Vallarta<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Great For Families: <\/strong>There are countless eco-adventures in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/Mexico\/Nuevo+Vallarta-timeshares\">Nuevo Vallarta<\/a>, a beautiful coastal Mexican resort town. The shallow waters and sandy shores of the expansive Nuevo Vallarta Beach are ideal for young swimmers. Just a short boat ride away, discover Marieta Islands National Park, a pristine natural landscape where you\u2019ll find the famed Hidden Beach \u2014 one of the most picturesque beaches in Mexico. And don\u2019t skip the chance to see some sharp-toothed reptiles at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rivieranayarit.com\/activity\/land\/el-cora-crocodile-sanctuary\/\">El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary<\/a>, which is dedicated to the preservation of these incredible creatures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t-Miss Experience: <\/strong>If your family loves to make a splash, you\u2019ll want to spend a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aquaventuras.com\/\">Aquaventures Water Park<\/a>, including lazy rivers, water slides and much more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/04\/nuevo-vallarta-travel\"><em>Check out RedWeek\u2019s Nuevo Vallarta travel guide.<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where To Stay: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P5008-the-grand-mayan-at-vidanta-nuevo\">The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>New York City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Great For Families:<\/strong> They call it \u201cthe city that never sleeps\u201d \u2014 which might not sound great at first to parents. But the Big Apple can be big fun for families, whether you\u2019re taking the ferry out to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/stli\/index.htm\">Statue of Liberty<\/a>, catching a Broadway show like <em>Hamilton<\/em> or <em>The Lion King, <\/em>or exploring the urban oasis of Central Park. To add a little culture to the mix, NYC museums can\u2019t be beat: the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers the interactive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/events\/programs\/families\/art-trek\">Art Trek<\/a>, letting kids ages 7-11 travel through time and around the world, while the nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnh.org\/\">American Museum of Natural History<\/a> is filled with hands-on exhibits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t-Miss Experience: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ticketing.esbnyc.com\/webstore\/shop\/viewItems.aspx?CG=Tickets&amp;C=86102Combo&amp;_ga=2.114811649.706810920.1572867833-756254326.1572867833\">The 102<sup>nd<\/sup> floor observation deck at the Empire State Building<\/a> (AKA the most famous building in the world) is a must-visit for a birds eye view of the iconic NYC skyline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where To Stay: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P1533-the-manhattan-club\">The Manhattan Club<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" data-id=\"7873\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-700x467.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7873\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-700x467.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 700w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-250x167.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 250w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-768x512.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 768w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-1536x1024.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 1536w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-2048x1366.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 2048w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nyc-120x80.jpg?v=b27cff0ccaba2a60e15dfdc005a391c1 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vail<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Great For Families: <\/strong>Nestled in the heart of Colorado\u2019s Rocky Mountains, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Colorado\/Greater+Vail%5CBeaver+Creek-timeshares\">Vail<\/a> is renowned as one of the best ski vacation destinations in the world. But it\u2019s also a great trip for families \u2014&nbsp;even during the warmer months. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.beavercreek.com\/\">Beaver Creek Resort<\/a> is the perfect place to learn how to ski or snowboard, with lessons that will get kids (and newbies) out on the slopes in no time. And in summer, Vail comes to life with arts and culture for all ages at the <a href=\"https:\/\/vilarpac.org\/\">Vilar Performing Arts Center<\/a> and thousands of blossoming flowers at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vail.com\/explore-the-resort\/activities-and-events\/summer-activities\/betty-ford-alpine-garden.aspx\">Betty Ford Alpine Gardens<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t-Miss Experience: <\/strong>Get above it all on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vail.com\/the-mountain\/summer\/summer-gondola.aspx\">Vail Gondola<\/a>, which climbs 10,000 feet above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the Rockies. Good to know: kids 12 and under ride free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/12\/vail-beaver-creek-travel-guide\"><em>Check out RedWeek\u2019s Vail travel guide.<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where To Stay:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P6139-the-ritz-carlton-club-vail\">The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"514\" data-id=\"7877\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-700x514.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-700x514.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 700w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-250x183.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 250w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-768x563.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 768w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-1536x1127.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 1536w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-2048x1503.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 2048w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Vail-CO-120x88.jpg?v=d973c6c82ebd645bb844a788553e11b9 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Las Vegas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Great For Families: <\/strong>Can a place with the nickname \u201cSin City\u201d secretly be a great family vacation destination? Yes, it can! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/search\/North+America\/United+States\/Nevada\/Las+Vegas-timeshares\">Las Vegas<\/a> is packed with activities for all ages. Take a spin above the Strip on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caesars.com\/linq\/things-to-do\/attractions\/high-roller\">High Roller<\/a>, the world\u2019s second-highest Ferris wheel, or explore <a href=\"https:\/\/area15.com\/\">Area 15<\/a>, a multimedia attraction that immerses you in an eye-popping multiverse. Or head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.circuscircus.com\/the-adventuredome\/\">Circus Circus\u2019 Adventuredome<\/a>, an indoor amusement park with roller coasters, mini-golf, rock-climbing and much more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can\u2019t-Miss Experience: <\/strong>For a little outdoor excitement, try the 40,000-acre <a href=\"http:\/\/parks.nv.gov\/parks\/valley-of-fire\">Valley of Fire State Park<\/a>, where you\u2019ll find hiking trails that weave between massive red-rock monoliths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/06\/las-vegas-travel-guide\"><em>Check out RedWeek\u2019s Las Vegas travel guide.<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where To Stay:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redweek.com\/resort\/P1341-holiday-inn-club-vacations-at-desert\">Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Desert Club Resort<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-700x467.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-700x467.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 700w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-250x167.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 250w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-768x513.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 768w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-1536x1025.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 1536w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-2048x1367.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 2048w, https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Las-Vegas-Family-120x80.jpg?v=6f6971a3dc700185e647cfd3460d7747 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"These destinations might not be the first to come to mind when planning your next family vacation \u2014 but they\u2019ll surprise you.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[470],"tags":[2872,3617,4032,4434,4712,4655,4630,4632,3603,3793,3637,3535,3595,3852,3807,4537],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-7870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-travel","tag-aruba","tag-aruba-vacation-rentals","tag-las-vegas-rentals","tag-las-vegas-resorts","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-rentals","tag-nuevo-vallarta","tag-nuevo-vallarta-rentals","tag-redweek-rentals","tag-redweek-vacation","tag-redweek-vacation-rentals","tag-vacation-rentals","tag-vacation-rentals-by-owner","tag-vacation-sharing","tag-vail","tag-vail-colorado"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7870"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8279,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7870\/revisions\/8279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7870"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.redweek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=7870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}