Summer is here, so if you want to get away with the kids, there’s plenty of time to book a Caribbean getaway, explore a historic city, hike through a scenic national park and more. Here are eight ideas to inspire your next trip this summer:
Aruba
One of the most popular Caribbean island destinations for New Jersey families and one of our favorite beach getaways, Aruba is known as “One Happy Island” for its pristine shoreline, year-round warm weather, family activities and great restaurants. Adventure-seeking families can take an off-road safari through Arikok National Park or go hiking, biking or horseback riding. There are plenty of water sports to try, too, from kite surfing and boating to snorkeling and more. Explore downtown Oranjestad’s restaurants, shopping and art galleries or head to San Nicolas for historic museums, culture and the Caribbean’s best street art.
Aruba’s Eagle Beach is ranked the No. 2 beach in the world by TripAdvisor. Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is located right on Eagle Beach and offers suites for families equipped with a kitchen, dining and living area. It’s also home to Passions on the Beach, a restaurant known for its elevated food and drink menu. Read more about our recent trip to Aruba here.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, known as “The Hostess City” for its Southern charm, has a rich history and lots to do with the kids. Stroll through Forsyth Park, where you and your crew can take in wide-open spaces, playgrounds and gorgeous gardens or explore The Savannah Children’s Museum.
Walk along historic River Street, known for its pretty, bustling waterfront. Plant Riverside District, known as “Savannah’s Entertainment District,” is a 4.5-acre waterfront area featuring more than a dozen restaurants and lounges, shops and galleries, and the JW Marriott Savannah. There are lots of dining options here plus a concert venue, art gallery, riverfront park and science exhibits, too. The most notable? Towering over an exhibit of pre-historic fossils and 6-foot-tall amethyst crystals inside the hotel lobby is a 135-foot Amphicoelias Fragillimus dinosaur — a species that likely roamed the Georgia coast during the Jurassic Period.
Besides the life-size dinosaur replica and natural geode exhibits, Plant Riverside District boasts a display of the power plant’s original steel tracks, the world’s largest nugget of copper and more. Kids can explore the hands-on natural science museum and immerse themselves in a prehistoric scavenger hunt throughout the Generator Hall of Plant Riverside District. Plant Riverside District also offers an interactive 60-90 minute tour of Savannah’s entertainment district. Read more about Savannah here.
St. Lucia
Voted a top destination to visit in the spring by US News & World Report, St. Lucia has beautiful beaches, a springtime jazz festival and lots of natural sites to explore including the Pitons volcanic formations and the Chassin region’s rainforest, where the adventurous members of your crew can zip line. A visit to Pigeon Island National Landmark offers a history lesson on the island’s rich past with the bonus of some seriously stunning views. Food on the island is an amazing combo of Creole, French, Indian and British flavors so prepare for some amazing dinners.
Cap Maison has a family time all-inclusive package, available year-round, that includes up to 2 children under 12 staying for free, eating for free when dining with parents and up to three hours of babysitting and free Kids Club (open July 1 through September 15). You can also book a family package with private villas (2-4 bedrooms) for stays of a minimum of 5 nights.
The Landings Resort and Spa is rated one of the best family resorts in St. Lucia, and kids 16 and younger stay free and get a free, supervised kids’ activity program for ages 4-12 that runs daily and includes fun and educational experiences (kids ages 2-4 can participate if accompanied by a babysitter). There are all-inclusive packages available.
St. Augustine, Florida
Often called Florida’s “ancient city,” St. Augustine’s mild year-round temperatures make it an ideal destination any time of the year. Stroll its charming cobblestone streets lined with cafés, restaurants and shops or explore its iconic lighthouse, Castillo de San Marcos Fort, and the city’s many other historic attractions.
Casa Monica Resort & Spa is a restored 1888 landmark Kessler Collection hotel situated in the heart of the city. The resort’s fortress-like Spanish architecture reminds you that you are in the nation’s oldest city. The resort has an outdoor pool and restaurant on site, Cordova Coastal Chophouse & Bar, and its central location offers easy access to St. Augustine’s historic sites, too.
Bryce Canyon Country, Utah
Located in scenic Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon Country is known for Bryce Canyon National Park, but also offers lots of other outdoor adventures. Whether you’re a family of thrill-seekers or just want to spend your days relaxing in nature, Bryce Canyon Country offers Canyon Trail Rides for horseback fun within Bryce Canyon National Park, hiking in Grand Staircase-Escalante, stargazing in Bryce Canyon, or taking in the scenery on an ATV tour.
Hotel options include Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel or Bryce Glamp and Camp. Or stay somewhere with stunning canyon views in every direction. Situated on Scenic Byway 12, Utah’s All-American Road, Ofland Escalante is located in Escalante, a cute town 45-55 minutes from Bryce Canyon City. Another option for lodging in Escalante is Canyon Country Lodge, a modern hotel with daily breakfast included. Locals also recommend dinner and a show at Ebenezer’s.
Stowe, Vermont
Home to the Trapp Family Lodge of Sound of Music fame, Stowe is as quaint and charming as it gets. It’s the perfect getaway for families who love being outdoors all year. A mecca for skiers and hikers alike, Stowe is known for its vibrant local food scene, craft breweries, eclectic shops and art galleries. The surrounding area also has lots to offer, too. Visit the nearby Ben & Jerry’s Factory, the Echo Center (a lake aquarium and science center), the Rock of Ages Granite Quarries and more.
Located on a 120-acre wooded estate, Topnotch Resort is ideal for nature lovers and foodies. Visit the Equestrian Center to venture out on a trail ride. Kids can also hit the trails with bike rentals or join the Junior Tennis Academy. There are activities for teens, too. If fall foliage is one of your favorite times of year to be outside, you can see fall leaves in reverse in scenic Stowe as spring buds and blooms cover the mountainside in a palette of pastel hues. Visit when the Vermont hillsides come to life after winter with the gorgeous colors of spring with a Leaf Peeping Encore: Spring Foliage Getaway. Get 25 percent off a spring foliage getaway from April 15 – June 20.
Visitors who book early get a wider selection of rooms to choose from and 15 percent off the nightly rate. Top Notch Resort’s Linger Longer package is ideal for families looking to stay in a resort home with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms. Book a 4-night stay or longer in a Topnotch Resort Home and the last night is free.
Lake Placid, New York
Situated in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is known for its skiing, ice skating and more snow sports in the winter and spectacular hiking in the spring, summer and fall. Home to the 1980 Winter Olympics, the village is teeming with history from the games, a bustling local food and drink scene and cute shops in its charming downtown.
If weather conditions allow, you can go ice skating on the Olympic Oval, zoom down the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute, try skeleton sledding and bobsledding on the Olympic track and ride a gondola up the Olympic Jumping Complex. In the spring and summer, there are spectacular hikes in the Adirondack Mountains. High Falls Gorge is a must-see nature park that offers beautiful views of its waterfalls as you walk through its suspension bridges. Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest peak in New York. Drive to the summit and then ride an elevator to the top and take in views as far away as Canada. A visit to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum is another must.
The new Cambria Hotel in Lake Placid has a stay 3 nights and save 20 percent off promotion. The hotel opened on Jan. 24 and has 185 rooms along with a full-service restaurant and a pretty waterfront area. High Peaks Resort is located in the heart of downtown Lake Placid on the shores of Mirror Lake. The pet-friendly resort (dogs are welcome both at the resort and throughout the pet-friendly mountain village) offers lots to do year-round.
Williamsburg, Virginia
A stay in this area is all about taking in American history. Start with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg (the world’s largest living history museum depicting life in the 18th century). Other must-sees include the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Yorktown Battlefield (where the American Revolution was won). Yorktown also has a charming beachfront area. While there, check out the Riverwalk Landing for shopping and cute cafes. The Jamestown Settlement, where America’s first permanent English colony came to life, is another historic can’t-miss.
Have a golfer in your crew? The area has more than a dozen golf courses for golfers of every skill level which include the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club and Kingsmill Resort, a resort with golf on the property. Busch Gardens is home to some of Virginia’s best roller coasters and thrill rides (the Loch Ness Monster Rollercoaster is expected to reopen) plus kid-friendly shows. The area also has lots of hiking and biking trails, among them include Waller Mill Park, which has a 3.7-mile paved trail with lake views and a 2.5-mile wooded path. Williamsburg Botanical Garden offers 18 different habitats along its pathways. In Williamsburg, cyclists on the Greensprings Interpretive Trail pedal its 3.5-mile loop, with markers along the way pinpointing environmental, historical and area wildlife points of interest.
Surrounded by the James, York, and Chickahominy rivers, the water trails around Williamsburg are ideal for canoers, kayakers, and paddleboarders. Visitors can rent rowboats, canoes and pedal boats at Waller Mill Park, or kayaks and canoes from Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Sightseeing cruises are also available with York River Charters, Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours, Yorktown Sailing Charters, and Williamsburg Charter Sails. For more on hotel stays packages and deals, go to visitwilliamsburg.com.
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