Destinations: Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago
Themes: Amusement Parks, Family Travel, Single-Parent Family Travel, Urban Endeavors
Central Park is sometimes referred to as "the lungs of New York" and it is hard to imagine how the city would be habitable without the large green expanse at its heart. Parks and playgrounds provide an escape from the pavement and noise of big cities, a place where harried urbanites can take a breath and unwind. Be it Hyde Park in London, the Jardin de Luxemburg in Paris, or Boboli Gardens in Florence, city parks are an essential part of big cities across the globe.
If parks provide an oasis in the urban jungle, a stop in a park can also act as a breather in the middle of a busy family vacation. After a hectic day of sightseeing or taking in museums, a stroll in a park, or some time pushing your toddler on a swing, can be a nice way to recharge your batteries and unwind after a long day of travel.
For families on a budget, amusement and water parks offer low-cost thrills and new attractions, often close to home.
On your next family vacation, test your fear and keep your cool on thrilling new coasters and giant water slides across the country.
Make sure your kids have fun but stay safe during your amusement and water park adventures.
Cool off with your kids at wet and wild family water parks across the United States.
When you’ve exhausted Disneyland, check out these Anaheim gems that’ll educate and entertain your family on the cheap.
Anaheim is the town that Mickey Mouse built. But the popular family vacation destination has more to offer than ever before.
There is no shortage of paid attractions for children in Buenos Aires, but some of the best things won’t even cost a peso.
Find popular kids activities for your next Atlanta family vacation, from the best parks to visit, treetop ropes courses and tasting 70 different kinds of Coke from around the world.
Swim with dolphins, take a dip at a pool casino and gaze at aquariums in your hotel room at this Bahamas mega resort.
Read our expert’s overview to the best that the islands have to offer for a Bahamas vacation sure to please everyone.
There are plenty of additional historic and cultural attractions worth your while, but if visiting Beijing for the first time, here are 10 must-see sights to get you on your way.
From volcanoes to underwater wonders, coffee to ranches, beach resorts to hula dancing, Hawaii has packed a whole lot into one island.
Tens of thousands of twinkling lights and a plethora of festive shows make Branson a top destination for the holidays.
Broke? Fear not. You don’t need big bucks to enjoy some of Chicago’s best family attractions.
Maximize your college visit to the Bay Area with info on campuses near San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Check out these museums, The Queen City of the plains has plenty to offers great day adventures for both indoor and outdoor enthusiasts.
Find playgrounds, grottos, a maze, swimming pools, a fort, rowboats and more kid-pleasers in the city’s parks.
Once a Spring Break mecca, Fort Lauderdale has evolved into a family-friendly city with an overwhelming possibility for adventure.
Old-school kiddie parks offer a bit of history at a bargain price.
Check out these 9 great places that make family reunion planning a breeze.
Bobsled, luge, skate and ski at these North American sites that formerly hosted the Summer or Winter Olympic Games.
Havana has so much more than old cars, listening to wizened musicians play live music and drinking rum.
Find the best attractions and places to take the kids when visiting this quaint Idaho mountain town.
Maximize your visit to these theme parks that on your Southern California vacation to see elaborate Lego creations, including an 11-foot-long submarine.
London’s great, but why not experience the rest of England—even if only for a day.
How to keep from going bankrupt on your next family visit to London.
All you’ll have to worry about with these resort kids clubs is getting your child to leave.
See why Miami continues to be a popular tropical playground, with gorgeous beaches, culinary hotspots, historic landmarks and plenty of attractions for kids and adults alike.
With its lakeside parks, karst limestone mountains and caves, this area of China takes on a fairy-tale air.
Pack your picnic basket, and enjoy a warm summer day or evening in Parisian style.
Keep everyone from tots to teens entertained in the City of Brotherly Love.
Portland, Oregon has plenty of parks to turn your urban vacation into a green space oasis. Here are some of the city’s best places to feel blades of grass between your toes.
The City of Roses has something for everyone: microbreweries, biking trails, and plenty of green spaces and places.
More than just places for children to play and run off some spare energy, Rome’s parks and gardens offer sights of their own, and a chance to mix with the Romans.
Underwater views of hippos, playing in giant bubbles and a simulated space capsule are just a few of the family attractions in San Antonio.
This Southern California destination remains a family favorite, but cool new hotels and restaurants make it an appealing playground for adults too.
A local mom shares her favorite neighborhoods and joints for where to eat, shop and play like a native while on your San Francisco family vacation.
Escape the urban jungle and find plenty of places to relax and get back to nature in the City by the Bay.
Our local expert shares her city secrets for individuals and families alike, to help you plan your ideal San Francisco vacation.
Dig for clams, rent a sailboat or hit the hiking trails in the hills for some memorable outdoor adventures on your next Seattle family vacation.
Seattle’s many parks guarantee a childhood’s worth of diversions in the Emerald City.
To escape the city, locals and tourists alike head to this manmade resort area for beach fun, dining and Singapore family attractions.
Tips for how to navigate the Windy City when traveling with a disabled child.
Go on a Serengeti Safari and play tiger tug-of-war at Busch Gardens and Jungala.
Get a free night stay at Disneyland’s Good Neighbor Hotels, free birthday pass to Disneyland, a kids’ rate package and Hilton Anaheim dining credits.
Wind your way through elaborate cornfield mazes across the United States and even the world for an exciting, and often corny, outdoor adventure.
A fire that destroyed several Universal Studios sets won’t hinder theme park visitors.
Michigan Legacy Art Park near Traverse City is a great site for kids to combine art and nature.
Il Labirinto, The Maze, is only part of the gardens that stretch splendidly behind the grand façade that Villa Pisani turns toward the Brenta Canal.
Retrace U.S. colonial history on your next vacation to Williamsburg, Virginia.
Circus World and Ringlingville keep the circus tradition alive and well in Baraboo, Wis.
From wild amusement park rides to mellow nature hikes, the Wisconsin Dells has it all.
Slip and slide your way to the Water Park Capital of the World for a vacation full of action-packed entertainment.
Tackle Disneyland without losing your mind, with two insider guidebooks that’ll help you plan your adventure to the park, Anaheim and beyond.
This kid-specific Seattle guidebook offers a comprehensive overview of the city’s attractions with an eye to children’s entertainment and education.