All Adventures

608 adventures found

Altoona, FL

Alexander Springs Recreation Area

A first-magnitude spring in Ocala National Forest with a rare gently sloping sand bottom - the easiest spring entry in Florida for small kids.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. Augustine, FL

Anastasia State Park

Four miles of Atlantic beach plus a warm, shallow tidal lagoon that is close to perfect for beginner paddlers, ten minutes from St. Augustine.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Annaberg Sugar Plantation

The best preserved sugar mill ruins in the Virgin Islands, on a hillside with a windmill tower and a view to the British islands.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Islamorada, FL

Anne's Beach

A free roadside beach with warm, ankle-deep water for hundreds of feet and a boardwalk through mangroves - made for toddlers.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Big Pine Key, FL

Bahia Honda State Park

The best natural beach in the Keys - shallow, warm, clear water off Sandspur Beach, with the old railroad bridge as the backdrop.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Carolina, PR

Balneario de Carolina

A large, well-run public beach five minutes from the San Juan airport, with lifeguards, palm shade, showers, a playground and food kiosks.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Luquillo, PR

Balneario de Luquillo

A palm-lined crescent protected by a reef, with calm shallow water, lifeguards, and sixty food kiosks along the road behind it.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

San Juan, PR

Balneario El Escambron

A reef-protected cove minutes from Old San Juan with genuinely good snorkelling, lifeguards, showers and calm shallow water for young children.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fajardo, PR

Balneario Seven Seas

A sheltered public beach on Puerto Rico's north-east corner with warm shallow water, full facilities and a trail to two wilder coves.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Stuart, FL

Bathtub Reef Beach

A worm-rock reef sits just offshore and turns the water inside into a warm, calm, waist-deep pool full of fish at low tide.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Jacksonville, FL

Big Talbot Island State Park

Boneyard Beach is littered with the bleached skeletons of whole oak and cedar trees, toppled off an eroding bluff onto the sand.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Homestead, FL

Biscayne National Park

Ninety-five percent underwater: boat trips run out to living reef and mangrove islands from a visitor centre south of Miami.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Holt, FL

Blackwater River State Park

One of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the world, with a broad white sandbar on every bend for stopping to swim and eat. Gentle enough for kids.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Jupiter, FL

Blowing Rocks Preserve

At high tide on a windy day, waves force seawater fifty feet into the air through blowholes in the largest limestone outcrop on Florida's coast.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Orange City, FL

Blue Spring State Park

Hundreds of manatees winter in this spring run from November to March, watched from a boardwalk. Swimming opens once they leave.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Guanica, PR

Bosque Estatal de Guanica

A UN biosphere reserve of subtropical dry forest - cactus, thorn scrub and rare birds - with hot coastal trails leading down to empty beaches.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Sanibel, FL

Bowman's Beach

One of the best shelling beaches in America, on an island that faces the wrong way on purpose. Come at low tide after a storm with a mesh bag.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Brewers Bay Beach

A free local beach by the university with calm shallow water, sea grape shade, food vans behind it and planes landing directly overhead.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Christiansted, VI

Buck Island Reef National Monument

A marked underwater trail through an elkhorn coral barrier reef, on an uninhabited island reached only by licensed boat.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Dunedin, FL

Caladesi Island State Park

A car-free barrier island reached by ferry, with three miles of undeveloped Gulf beach and a mangrove kayak trail behind it.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Titusville, FL

Canaveral National Seashore

Twenty-four miles of undeveloped Atlantic beach next to the Kennedy Space Center, with sea turtle nests and no buildings in sight.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Christiansted, VI

Cane Bay Beach

Swim a couple of hundred feet from the sand and the reef simply ends at a wall dropping thousands of feet into open blue. Easy entry, big drop-off.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

San Juan, PR

Castillo San Cristobal

The largest Spanish fort built in the Americas, with a tunnel system, a dungeon and centuries-old ship drawings scratched into the walls.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

San Juan, PR

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

A six-level Spanish fortress on the headland, with tunnels, sentry boxes and the best kite-flying lawn in the Caribbean.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Luquillo, PR

Charco Frio, Rio Sabana

A cold, clear river pool on the edge of El Yunque, reached by a short forest walk - a local swimming hole rather than a sight.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Christiansted, VI

Christiansted National Historic Site

A yellow Danish fort on the harbour front, with dungeons, ramparts and cannon, in a walkable eighteenth-century colonial town.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Cinnamon Bay Beach

The longest beach on St. John, with a small offshore cay within snorkelling range and a Danish sugar plantation ruin trail just behind the sand.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Clearwater, FL

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

A working rescue hospital rather than a display aquarium - the dolphins, turtles and otters here are patients, and you watch them recover.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Coki Beach

The best shore snorkelling on St. Thomas - dense reef fish right off the sand, in shallow, protected, usually calm water.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

St. Thomas, VI

Coral World Ocean Park

An undersea observatory tower sunk into a living reef so you look out at wild fish, plus turtle and shark pools and sea lion encounters.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Aguadilla, PR

Crash Boat Beach

Submerged pier pilings have grown coral and sponge into an artificial reef, making this the easiest genuinely good snorkel on the west coast.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Marathon, FL

Curry Hammock State Park

Shallow, protected flats ideal for a first family paddle, a quiet beach, and the best hawk-watching site in the Keys each October.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

De Leon Springs, FL

De Leon Springs State Park

Swim in a walled 72-degree spring pool, then cook your own pancakes on a griddle built into your table at the 1830s sugar mill restaurant.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Naples, FL

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

A mile of quiet Naples beach with five separate parking areas so you are never far from the car, and calm shallow Gulf water.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Williston, FL

Devil's Den Spring

Snorkel inside a collapsed underground cavern lit by a single opening in the roof - a prehistoric spring reached by a staircase.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Rincon, PR

Domes Beach

Puerto Rico's best-known surf break, with beginner lessons when the summer swell drops and humpback whales passing offshore in winter.

  • Surfing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Key West, FL

Dry Tortugas National Park

Seventy miles out from Key West: a vast brick fort on an empty island, ringed by the clearest snorkelling water in Florida.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~12h
  • Paid

Wakulla Springs, FL

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

One of the world's deepest freshwater springs, with a riverboat tour past wild alligators and a 1937 lodge that has barely changed.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Rio Grande, PR

El Yunque National Forest

The only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest system, with roadside waterfalls and a canopy tower a short walk from the car.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Chipley, FL

Falling Waters State Park

Florida's tallest waterfall drops seventy-three feet into a sinkhole and disappears underground - nobody knows where it goes.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Culebra, PR

Flamenco Beach

Routinely called one of the best beaches in the world: a horseshoe bay of white sand and impossibly clear shallow water.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Marianna, FL

Florida Caverns State Park

The only Florida cave open to the public on a guided tour - stalactites, flowstone and columns, at a constant 65 degrees.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fernandina Beach, FL

Fort Clinch State Park

A remarkably intact brick fort with costumed reenactors, plus shark tooth hunting on the beach and camping under live oaks.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Tierra Verde, FL

Fort De Soto Park

Five interconnected islands with a shallow lagoon beach built for toddlers, a Spanish-American War fort, and a paddling trail.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Key West, FL

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Key West's best swimming beach, with genuine snorkelling off the rocks and a Civil War fort full of seacoast cannon to explore between swims.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Glen Rose, TX

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

Drive-through safari park near Glen Rose TX where kids hand-feed giraffes from the car - 1,800 acres of zebras, cheetahs, rhinos and 50+ species

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Frederiksted, VI

Frederiksted Pier

Pier pilings encrusted with orange and purple sponge hold seahorses, frogfish and octopus in shallow, sheltered, unusually clear water.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 7+
  • ~3h
  • Free

High Springs, FL

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park

Florida's newest state park: a clear blue spring with a shallow sandy run down to the Santa Fe River, good for a first snorkel.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Guanica, PR

Gilligan's Island (Cayo Aurora)

A tiny mangrove cay a short ferry hop off Guanica, where shallow turquoise channels between the roots work like natural swimming pools for kids.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

High Springs, FL

Ginnie Springs

Seven springs on a private stretch of the Santa Fe River, with water clear enough that snorkellers appear to float on air above the sand.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Grayton Beach State Park

Sugar-white sand and emerald Gulf water on Florida's 30A, plus a rare coastal dune lake behind the beach that kids can paddle a kayak across.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Hawksnest Bay

The closest good reef to Cruz Bay: elkhorn coral heads sit a short swim from the sand, with parking directly beside the beach.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Destin, FL

Henderson Beach State Park

Thirty-foot natural dunes and a wide white beach in the middle of Destin, with dune boardwalks, outdoor showers and covered shade pavilions.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Thonotosassa, FL

Hillsborough River State Park

Class II rapids - genuinely rare in Florida - viewed from a suspension footbridge, plus canoe rentals in a CCC-built park near Tampa.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Homosassa, FL

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

An underwater observatory puts you at eye level with wild manatees and thousands of fish inside a first-magnitude spring.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Honeymoon Beach

A calm crescent reached by a half-hour walk from Cruz Bay, with kayak and paddleboard rental, snorkelling gear and a beach bar on the sand.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Dunedin, FL

Honeymoon Island State Park

Drive-on barrier island with calm Gulf swimming, excellent shelling, an osprey trail and one of Florida's best dog beaches.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Fort White, FL

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Float a crystal-clear 72-degree spring run through shaded forest on inner tubes - the classic Florida tubing trip for families.

  • Tubing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wimberley, TX

Jacob's Well Natural Area

Crystal-clear artesian spring near Wimberley TX with three miles of free trails. Swimming is cancelled; the well overlook stays open.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Key Largo, FL

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The first undersea park in the US. Snorkel boats run out to living coral reef, and two calm beaches work for kids not ready for the boat.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Hobe Sound, FL

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Paddle Florida's first Wild and Scenic River through cypress, and climb the sand pine ridge for a view over the whole coast.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Silver Springs, FL

Juniper Springs Recreation Area

A seven-mile canoe run through narrow jungle-like creek in Ocala National Forest, plus a 1930s stone millhouse and a CCC-built spring pool.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Apopka, FL

Kelly Park Rock Springs

A natural lazy river near Orlando: the spring run carries you gently for about twenty minutes, then you walk back up and do it all over again.

  • Tubing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Merritt Island, FL

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Stand under a real Saturn V, walk through the Atlantis shuttle exhibit, and meet an astronaut - a full day, and worth it.

  • Science
  • Ages 4+
  • ~8h
  • Paid

Fajardo, PR

Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay

Paddle a mangrove channel after dark into a Fajardo lagoon where every stroke of the blade lights up blue-green with living microorganisms.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Lindquist Beach (Smith Bay Park)

A quiet territorial park beach with soft sand, calm shallow water and a view across to St. John. The small entry fee keeps the crowds away.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Lithia, FL

Lithia Springs Conservation Park

A shallow, walled spring pool half an hour from Tampa, with a sandy bottom, a gentle entry and a campground under the oaks beside it.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Long Key, FL

Long Key State Park

A marked canoe trail through a shallow mangrove lagoon in the middle Keys - bring your own boat, because there is nothing to rent here.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fort Myers Beach, FL

Lovers Key State Park

Manatees and dolphins in the back bay, a two-mile beach reached on foot, and a five-mile mangrove paddling trail through the tunnels.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Magens Bay

A mile-long horseshoe bay so sheltered that the water barely moves, which makes it the safest and calmest swimming on St. Thomas for small kids.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Maho Bay Beach

Green sea turtles graze the seagrass a few yards off the sand, in water so shallow and calm you can watch them standing up.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Chiefland, FL

Manatee Springs State Park

A first-magnitude spring running into the Suwannee River, with winter manatees, a boardwalk through cypress swamp and easy swimming.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Vieques, PR

Mosquito Bay

The brightest recorded bioluminescent bay in the world - on a dark night, fish leave visible glowing trails under the kayak.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Sarasota, FL

Myakka River State Park

A canopy walkway suspended in the treetops, an airboat across an alligator lake, and one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Hana, HI

Ohe'o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)

Tiered waterfall pools spilling to the ocean in Haleakala's Kipahulu district. Swimming is closed; Kuloa Point Trail overlooks them.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Camuy, PR

Parque Nacional Cavernas del Rio Camuy

One of the largest cave systems in the world, entered by trolley down into a sinkhole, with a subterranean river running far below the walkway.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Arecibo, PR

Parque Nacional Cueva Ventana

Walk through a bat cave on a guided tour to a window-shaped opening in a cliff, framing a green view over the Rio Grande de Arecibo valley.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Riviera Beach, FL

Peanut Island Park

An island reached only by water taxi, with a rock-protected snorkel lagoon shallow enough to stand in and a campground on the far side.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Loiza, PR

Pinones

A coastal boardwalk and bike path through mangrove and palm, lined with kiosks frying the best street food on the island.

  • Biking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Cabo Rojo, PR

Playa Buye

A calm, shallow, palm-shaded cove on Puerto Rico's west coast, and one of the gentlest beaches on the island for toddlers and nervous swimmers.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Isabela, PR

Playa Jobos

A limestone-framed bay on the north-west coast with a reliable surf break at one end and sheltered tide pools for children at the other.

  • Surfing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Cabo Rojo, PR

Playa Sucia (La Playuela)

A curved bay under limestone cliffs at the island's south-west tip, with the 1882 Los Morrillos lighthouse on the headland above.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Dunnellon, FL

Rainbow Springs State Park

Swim in a wide, shallow first-magnitude spring with a sandy entry, waterfalls and a paddling run - one of Florida's easiest springs with toddlers.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Boca Raton, FL

Red Reef Park

Snorkel a shallow boulder reef twenty yards off the sand in water rarely more than six feet deep, with angelfish, parrotfish and green turtles.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Homestead, FL

Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail

A half-mile boardwalk over a gator hole where alligators, anhingas, herons and turtles sit within a few feet of the rail.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Christiansted, VI

Salt River Bay Bioluminescent Bay

Night kayaking in a glowing bay at the only documented place where a Columbus landing party came ashore on what is now United States soil.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

St. Thomas, VI

Sapphire Beach

Reef within easy swimming range at both ends, a long shallow sandy middle for small children, and a straight view across to St. John from the sand.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Melbourne Beach, FL

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Florida's most productive saltwater fishing spot, with a walkable jetty, a calm lagoon beach for kids and surfing on the north side.

  • Fishing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Miami, FL

Shark Valley, Everglades National Park

A fifteen-mile paved loop through sawgrass prairie where alligators lie on the path, ridden by bike or tram, ending at an observation tower.

  • Biking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Sarasota, FL

Siesta Key Beach

Quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in August, and Gulf water so shallow and calm it works as a giant paddling pool for small children.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Silver Springs, FL

Silver Springs State Park

Glass-bottom boats have run over these springs since the 1870s. Paddle the run yourself to find the wild monkeys along the bank.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Marathon, FL

Sombrero Beach

A free, shaded, sandy municipal beach in the middle Keys with calm shallow water, a playground and real palm-tree shade.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Panama City Beach, FL

St. Andrews State Park

A jetty-protected lagoon where the water stays calm and clear - the best beginner snorkelling on the Panhandle, with fish right by the rocks.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

St. George Island, FL

St. George Island State Park

Nine miles of undeveloped barrier island beach with almost nobody on it, plus calm bay-side water and excellent shelling.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Vieques, PR

Sun Bay (Balneario Sun Bay)

A mile-long public crescent of calm turquoise water with picnic shelters, wild horses on the grass, and almost nobody on it.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Culebra, PR

Tamarindo Beach

Swim out a short way from a quiet Culebra shore and you are over turtle grass where green sea turtles graze most mornings. No facilities at all.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Crystal River, FL

Three Sisters Springs

The only place in the US where you can legally snorkel alongside wild manatees, plus a boardwalk view for families staying dry.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Bristol, FL

Torreya State Park

Hundred-and-fifty-foot bluffs over the Apalachicola River, on trails with real elevation change - Florida hiking that does not feel like Florida.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

St. John, VI

Trunk Bay

An underwater snorkel trail with signs mounted on the seabed, in shallow calm water inside Virgin Islands National Park.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Weeki Wachee, FL

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

The underwater mermaid theatre has run since 1947, plus a spring-fed water park and a clear paddling run down the Weeki Wachee River.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Apopka, FL

Wekiwa Springs State Park

A big spring swimming basin twenty minutes from Orlando, with canoe rentals on the Wekiva River and thirteen miles of trail.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Clayton, NY

Antique Boat Museum Sailing Programs

Sunfish and Optimist sailing on the St. Lawrence from a nonprofit museum, plus a free community sail every Tuesday night.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Austin Yacht Club

Lake Travis summer sailing camps on Picos, Sunfish and Flying Juniors, with a published non-member rate. Paid. Ages 8 to 16.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~8h
  • Paid

Beacon, NY

Beacon Sloop Club

Free evening sails on the Hudson aboard Pete Seeger's volunteer-crewed sloop Woody Guthrie. No charge, ever. Reserve by phone.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Grapevine, TX

Grapevine Junior Sailing Club

A nonprofit club on Lake Grapevine running two-week RS Zest dinghy camps, booked through city parks and rec. Ages 8 to 15.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Kailua-Kona, HI

Kamanu Charters

Kona's original sailing catamaran, wide enough for kids to sprawl on the trampoline, out to Pawai Bay to snorkel. Ages 7 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 7+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lihue, HI

Kauai Sailing Association

A nonprofit community sailing center on Nawiliwili Harbor where kids learn to rig and sail small boats. Paid. Ages 7 to 16.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 7+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Kepoikai II Catamaran

An hour under sail off Waikiki toward Diamond Head, boarding straight off the sand at Duke's. Paid, and cheap. Good at any age.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Maitai Catamaran

A 44-foot catamaran sailing the water off Waikiki with Diamond Head astern. Midday Tradewind sails are the family slot. Paid.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Wailea, HI

Maui Sailing Canoe

A Hawaiian sailing outrigger canoe off Polo Beach, capped at eight people, with a turtle snorkel stop. Paid. Ages 4 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Merrill Family Sailing Center

Cornell's public sailing center on Cayuga Lake, running youth camps, classes and family fleet access. Paid. Ages 8 to 17.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mirror Lake Boat Rental

Rent a small sailboat by the hour on motor-free Mirror Lake, right on Main Street. Paid, walk-up, no reservation needed.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Oklahoma City, OK

OKC Sailing School

Week-long learn-to-sail camps for kids on Lake Hefner, open to non-members, plus a half-day Pirate Camp for ages 5 to 7. Paid.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Rochester, NY

ROC City Sailing

A nonprofit on Irondequoit Bay where a whole family can go out on a Flying Scot with an instructor. Paid. Ages 8 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Rockport, TX

Rockport Yacht Club Learn to Sail

An eight-day June learn-to-sail program on Aransas Bay, small classes, with a published non-member rate. Paid. Ages 8 to 17.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

SAIL Adirondacks

Learn-to-sail sessions and crewed cruises on an O'Day 23 out of Saranac Lake Marina, four passengers max. Published minimum age 6.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Sail Buffalo Sailing School

A nonprofit sailing school on Buffalo's Outer Harbor running week-long Lake Erie camps for kids, sorted by ability. Paid. Ages 8 to 17.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Wailuku, HI

Sail Maui

Catamarans off Maalaea that really do sail, with snorkel stops at Molokini and Coral Gardens. Paid. Works from about age 3.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Schooner True Love

Two hours under sail on Seneca Lake aboard a 1926 wooden schooner, up to four departures a day. Paid. Good from about age 5.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Galveston, TX

Sea Star Base Galveston

A nonprofit maritime base on Offatts Bayou with a 39-boat fleet, week-long summer camps and a Saturday learn-to-sail track.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Geneva, NY

Seneca Sailing Academy

A nonprofit school on Seneca Lake with Opti weeks for little kids and free public First Sail days off Geneva. Ages 7 and up.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 7+
  • ~7h
  • Paid

Lahaina, HI

Trilogy Excursions

Half-day Maui snorkel sails with breakfast and a hot lunch cooked aboard, then sails up for the ride home. Paid. Good from about age 3.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Arlington, TX

Viridian Sailing Center

A community sailing center on a small sheltered lake in Arlington where boats stay in sight of the dock. Annual passes and camps.

  • Sailing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Adirondak Loj and Wilderness Campground

Bunkrooms, cabins, lean-tos and tent sites at the High Peaks trailhead on Heart Lake, run by the Adirondack Mountain Club

  • Lodging
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Albany, NY

Albany Institute of History & Art

Small Albany museum with two ancient Egyptian mummies, Hudson River School landscapes and drop-in family art workshops on weekends.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Niagara Falls, NY

Aquarium of Niagara

Aquarium steps from Niagara Falls with penguins, daily sea lion training sessions, Great Lakes tanks and a shark and ray touch pool.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Austin Aquarium

Hands-on north Austin aquarium where kids feed stingrays, touch sea stars in shallow pools and walk into a bird aviary with nectar cups.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Austin Bouldering Project

Indoor bouldering gym in south Austin with colour-graded routes, padded floors and day passes with rental shoes for first-time kids.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Bastrop, TX

Bastrop State Park Cabins

Historic 1930s CCC stone cabins among the Lost Pines east of Austin, among the hardest reservations in the Texas park system

  • Lodging
  • Ages 1+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Walk the deck and interior of the battleship where WWII ended, from the surrender plaque to the bridge and sixteen-inch gun turrets.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend State Park Cabins

Rustic and modern state park cabins in the pines at Beavers Bend, minutes from Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain Fork River

  • Lodging
  • Ages 1+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Bishop Museum

Honolulu's state museum of Hawaiian history with a walk-through erupting volcano, planetarium, and koa-wood Hawaiian Hall.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Blanco, TX

Blanco State Park Camping

Compact CCC-era campground under pecan trees on the Blanco River, one of the gentlest first camping trips in the Hill Country

  • Camping
  • Ages 1+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Blanton Museum of Art

UT Austin art museum whose Ellsworth Kelly stone chapel floods the floor with shifting colored light that kids instantly respond to.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Briscoe Western Art Museum

Compact Western art museum on the San Antonio River Walk with a stagecoach, saddles, historic firearms and Native American artifacts.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Broken Bow and Hochatown RV Parks

Private full-hookup RV parks along the Highway 259 corridor near Beavers Bend, plus the hookup loops inside the state park

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Broken Bow Treehouse and Glamping Stays

Treehouses, A-frames, geodesic domes and canvas glamping tents scattered through the woods around Hochatown and Broken Bow Lake

  • Lodging
  • Ages 4+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo Museum of Science

Buffalo science museum with dinosaur skeletons, a mummy, live animal encounters, and a rooftop observatory for night sky viewing.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Bullock Texas State History Museum

Three floors of Texas history in downtown Austin anchored by a real 1686 shipwreck hull, plus an IMAX theater and weekend family days.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Hodgen, OK

Cedar Lake Recreation Area Camping

National forest campground on a small lake with a sandy swim beach and a flat shoreline loop trail kids can walk on their own

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Saratoga Springs, NY

Children's Museum at Saratoga

Small Saratoga Springs children's museum with a pretend-play diner, a fire truck and a toddler area set aside for crawlers and new walkers.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Houston, TX

Children's Museum Houston

Top-ranked Houston children's museum with a kid-run city, a giant water play zone, an invention lab and a separate toddler area.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Clayton, OK

Clayton Lake State Park Camping

Small quiet state park in the Kiamichi Mountains with lakeside campsites, a few cabins and some of the darkest skies in Oklahoma

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Bend, TX

Colorado Bend State Park Camping

Rustic no-hookup river camping down six miles of gravel road, with Gorman Falls and guided wild cave tours for older kids

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Corning, NY

Corning Museum of Glass

Finger Lakes museum with live molten glassblowing shows, make-your-own-glass sessions, and 3500 years of glass artifacts.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Garden City, NY

Cradle of Aviation Museum

Long Island aviation and space museum with seventy-plus aircraft, a real Apollo Lunar Module, flight simulators and a dome theater.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Plano, TX

Crayola Experience Plano

Two floors of hands-on art stations in Plano where kids name their own crayon, melt wax into art and take home everything they make.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

Dallas Museum of Art

Free-admission art museum in the Dallas Arts District with a hands-on kids studio, Egyptian artifacts and ancient American gold galleries.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Dallas, TX

Dallas World Aquarium

Descend through an indoor rainforest of sloths, toucans and monkeys to a shark tunnel and manatees in downtown Dallas. Great rainy-day pick.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Beacon, NY

Dia Beacon

Vast daylit factory in Beacon filled with room-size contemporary art including Richard Serra steel spirals kids walk inside.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Tulsa, OK

Discovery Lab

Tulsa children's museum by the Arkansas River with a maker space, water channels, a climbing structure and a crawler-friendly zone.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Houston, TX

Downtown Aquarium Houston

Downtown Houston aquarium with a shark tunnel, swamp alligators and white tigers, plus a small ride midway and Ferris wheel outside.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Schroon Lake, NY

Eagle Point Campground

Bluff-top campsites above Schroon Lake with a swimming beach below, quieter than Lake George and easy to reach off the Northway

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Fredericksburg, TX

Enchanted Rock Walk-In Camping

Walk-in tent sites and primitive backcountry camping at the granite dome, and the reliable way in when the day-use gate closes

  • Camping
  • Ages 6+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Buffalo, NY

Explore & More Children's Museum

Four floors of Buffalo-themed play at Canalside with a working model Erie Canal, a mini grocery, a climbing tower and a toddler zone.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Forest Heritage Center Museum

Free forestry museum inside Beavers Bend State Park with wall murals, logging tools, and dioramas for a rained-out cabin day.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Long Lake, NY

Forked Lake Campground

Mostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for families who can paddle gear in

  • Camping
  • Ages 6+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Fort Worth science museum with a toddler wing, a dinosaur dig pit, water play, a dome theater and Noble Planetarium star shows.

  • Science
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

Frontiers of Flight Museum

Hangar museum at Dallas Love Field with thirty-plus aircraft, the Apollo 7 capsule, flight simulators and cockpits kids can climb into.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Concan, TX

Garner State Park Camping and Cabins

Cypress-shaded campsites, screened shelters and CCC cabins along the Frio River at the most in-demand family park in Texas

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Raquette Lake, NY

Golden Beach Campground

Long sandy swimming beach with a gradual toddler-friendly entry on Raquette Lake, backed by pine-shaded campsites and a boat launch

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Grapevine, TX

Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine

Indoor water park hotel in Grapevine kept at 84 degrees year-round, with body slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, an arcade and a ropes course.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Spring Branch, TX

Guadalupe River State Park Camping

Four miles of cypress-lined Guadalupe River frontage with drive-up and walk-in campsites, forty-five minutes north of San Antonio

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Hawaii Children's Discovery Center

Oahu children's museum in Kakaako with a mini TV studio, a pretend supermarket and a walk-through model of the human body.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Hawaii State Art Museum

Free downtown Honolulu museum of contemporary Hawaii art with a hands-on family gallery, activity kits and a sculpture garden outside.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kaneohe, HI

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden Camping

Permit-only weekend tent camping on garden lawns beneath the Koolau cliffs, one of the few quiet non-beach camping options on Oahu

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Hochatown Cabin Rentals

The private cabin market around Hochatown and Beavers Bend, where hot tubs, bunk rooms, game rooms and fire pits are the family standard

  • Lodging
  • Ages 1+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Honolulu Museum of Art

Courtyard-built Honolulu art museum with a world-class Asian collection, free child admission, and weekend family art days.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Kula, HI

Hosmer Grove Campground

First-come tent camping at 6,800 feet in Haleakala, which turns the brutal predawn sunrise drive into a fifteen-minute one

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Houston, TX

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Houston natural history museum with action-posed dinosaurs, a walk-in butterfly rainforest, real mummies and a domed planetarium.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Hugo, OK

Hugo Lake State Park Camping

Quiet lakeside state park camping on Hugo Lake, a calmer alternative to Beavers Bend about 90 minutes west of Broken Bow

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Hilo, HI

Imiloa Astronomy Center

Hilo center pairing Mauna Kea astronomy with Polynesian wayfinding, plus a full-dome planetarium running daily star shows.

  • Science
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Burnet, TX

Inks Lake State Park Camping and Cabins

Waterfront campsites and small cabins on a constant-level lake with pink granite shoreline and the Devils Waterhole swimming cove

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Iolani Palace

The only royal palace on US soil, with guided tours of the throne room and the upstairs room where Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Honokaa, HI

Kalopa State Recreation Area Cabins

Group cabins and tent camping in cool misty native ohia forest above the Hamakua Coast, a half hour from the Waipio Valley Lookout

  • Lodging
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lihue, HI

Kauai Museum

Small Lihue museum of Kauai history with koa canoes, Niihau shell lei, and a relief map explaining the island's interior.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Bluff Point, NY

Keuka Lake State Park Camping

Open lakeside and shaded wooded campsites with a swim beach and boat launch on Keuka, the quietest of the big Finger Lakes

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Fort Worth, TX

Kimbell Art Museum

Free permanent collection in a famous Louis Kahn building in Fort Worth, small enough for a one-hour gallery visit with young kids.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Hana, HI

Kipahulu Campground

Oceanfront bluff-top camping at the end of the Road to Hana, a short walk from the Pipiwai Trail and the Oheo Gulch pools

  • Camping
  • Ages 4+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Spicewood, TX

Krause Springs Camping

Camp above a spring-fed swimming hole and rope swing on a family-owned Hill Country property, with the water to yourself at dawn

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Fredericksburg, TX

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park Camping

City-run RV and tent camping ten minutes from Main Street, the practical base for Enchanted Rock and the Fredericksburg peach stands

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Long Lake, NY

Lake Eaton Campground

Sandy beach and calm shallow water on a quiet lake near Long Lake village, with Owls Head Mountain as the family summit hike

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Lake George Battleground Campground

Wooded state campground within walking distance of Million Dollar Beach and Lake George village, so the car stays parked all weekend

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wister, OK

Lake Wister State Park Camping

Shoreline camping areas and cabins on Lake Wister in the Ouachita foothills, an easy pairing with the Talimena Scenic Drive

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Grapevine, TX

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort Worth

Indoor LEGO play center at Grapevine Mills with build zones, two rides, a 4D cinema, soft play and a MINILAND model of DFW landmarks.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Castile, NY

Letchworth State Park Camping and Cabins

Campground, cabins and a pool complex inside the seventeen-mile Grand Canyon of the East, so the overlooks are a short drive not a commute

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Indian Lake, NY

Lewey Lake Campground

Beach and boat launch between two lakes beneath Snowy Mountain, with wilderness trailheads and essentially no cell service

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Inlet, NY

Limekiln Lake Campground

Large pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the Moose River Plains at the gate

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Garden City, NY

Long Island Children's Museum

Fourteen hands-on galleries in Garden City with bubbles, a climbing structure, a sound studio, and a toddler-only Tot Spot.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Vanderpool, TX

Lost Maples State Natural Area Camping

Riverside campsites and hike-in primitive sites at the one Texas park with real fall color, and your guaranteed entry in November

  • Camping
  • Ages 4+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum

Hands-on children's museum on the Poughkeepsie waterfront with circuits, bubbles, water tables, and a climbing structure.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Schenectady, NY

miSci Museum of Innovation and Science

Schenectady science museum with hands-on electricity exhibits, General Electric history and a planetarium running daily star shows.

  • Science
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Hilo, HI

Mokupapapa Discovery Center

Free NOAA visitor center on Hilo Bay with a 2,500-gallon reef tank and life-size monk seal and albatross models hanging overhead.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Livingston Manor, NY

Mongaup Pond Campground

Sandy beach and motor-free paddling on the largest Catskill pond, with wilderness trails from camp and under three hours from NYC

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Galveston, TX

Moody Gardens

Three glass pyramids in Galveston holding an aquarium with penguins, an indoor rainforest with sloths, and a 3D theater.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Spicewood, TX

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area Camping

Primitive lakeside campsites, family-friendly singletrack and a famous spring bluebonnet field on the upper end of Lake Travis

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Syracuse, NY

Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)

Syracuse science museum with four floors of hands-on exhibits, a simulated cave crawl, a toddler area and a domed IMAX theater.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Frisco, TX

Museum of the American Railroad

Frisco rail museum with full-size steam locomotives, a Pullman sleeper and vintage passenger cars that kids can walk right through.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Museum of the Earth

Ithaca fossil museum walking kids forward through geologic time past a hanging whale skeleton and a mastodon found in the Finger Lakes.

  • Museum
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Idabel, OK

Museum of the Red River

Idabel museum forty minutes from Broken Bow with a full mounted Acrocanthosaurus and Native American art of the Americas.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hawaii National Park, HI

Namakanipaio Campground

Drive-up tent camping in a eucalyptus grove inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, minutes from the Kilauea overlooks after dark

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Cooperstown, NY

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Three floors of baseball history in Cooperstown with the Plaque Gallery, game-worn jerseys, and a team-by-team locker room.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Oklahoma City, OK

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City Western museum with a full-scale indoor frontier town, a kids cowboy corral, and rodeo and Native American galleries.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fort Worth, TX

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

Fort Worth museum of the women of the American West with a bucking bronc ride simulator, rodeo gear, saddles and Wild West costumes.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Frisco, TX

National Videogame Museum

Frisco museum of video game history with a free-play 1980s arcade, playable consoles, and decade-by-decade living rooms.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Corona, NY

New York Hall of Science

Queens hands-on science museum with a build-and-test design lab, a room-size interactive ecosystem, and a preschool zone.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Albany, NY

New York State Museum

Free Albany museum with a full-size mastodon, New York habitat dioramas and a working 1890s carousel running rides on the top floor.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Old Forge, NY

Nicks Lake Campground

Sandy beach and a flat lakeshore loop trail on a quiet lake three minutes from Old Forge and the Fulton Chain of Lakes attractions

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Oklahoma City art museum built around a fifty-five foot Chihuly glass tower, with weekend family art studios and a film theater.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma History Center

Oklahoma City state history museum with hanging aircraft, a full oil derrick, a Route 66 section and a hard-hitting Dust Bowl gallery.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Spicewood, TX

Pace Bend Park Camping

Drive-up primitive camping right on the Lake Travis shoreline, with sheltered swimming coves on the east side of the peninsula

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Hilo, HI

Pacific Tsunami Museum

Hilo Bayfront museum on the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis with survivor accounts, photographs and a wave tank showing how they form.

  • Museum
  • Ages 7+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Restored seaplane hangars on Ford Island still bullet-scarred from 1941, holding a Japanese Zero, a B-25 and flight simulators.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Johnson City, TX

Pedernales Falls State Park Camping

Shaded campsites and walk-in tent sites under some of the darkest night skies within an hour of Austin, beside the Pedernales River

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Five floors of hands-on science in downtown Dallas with dinosaur skeletons, an earthquake simulator, and a toddler discovery floor.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Valliant, OK

Pine Creek Lake Camping

Basic Army Corps campgrounds on a quiet reservoir west of Broken Bow, for families who want an empty boat ramp over restaurants

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Fort Towson, OK

Raymond Gary State Park Camping

Small shaded lakeside campground and swimming area east of Hugo, and a workable overflow option when Beavers Bend is booked solid

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wilburton, OK

Robbers Cave State Park Camping and Cabins

Classic Oklahoma state park with campgrounds, cabins and a real outlaw cave in the sandstone bluffs of the San Bois Mountains

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Rochester, NY

Rochester Museum & Science Center

Rochester science museum with three hands-on floors plus the Strasenburgh Planetarium's dome star shows and full-dome films next door.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

Rollins Pond Campground

Motor-free Adirondack pond camping next door to Fish Creek, with glassy water, loons at dawn and shoreline sites for paddlers

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Romulus, NY

Sampson State Park Camping

Big Seneca Lake campground with a pool, marina and beach, and the most reliable availability when the gorge parks are full

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio Museum of Art

Art museum in a castle-like former brewery on San Antonio's Museum Reach, holding mummies, Roman glass and Latin American folk art.

  • Museum
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Oklahoma City, OK

Science Museum Oklahoma

Huge Oklahoma City science museum with a high-wire bike, tinkering garage, planetarium, and daily explosive demonstrations.

  • Science
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Sciencenter

Ithaca hands-on science museum with a walk-in kaleidoscope, a two-story ball machine, live animals and a soft corner for the under-fives.

  • Science
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Grapevine, TX

SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

Mall aquarium in Grapevine with eye-level tanks, touch pools and a walk-through shark and ray tunnel, sized right for little kids.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium

Small River Walk aquarium in San Antonio with a walk-through ray and shark tunnel plus supervised touch pools, about an hour end to end.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Junction, TX

South Llano River State Park Camping

Clear spring-fed river, four bird blinds and dark skies at a quieter western Hill Country campground three hours west of Austin

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Houston, TX

Space Center Houston

NASA's Houston visitor center - tram tours across the Johnson campus, a walk-through shuttle, moon rocks and Apollo capsules.

  • Science
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Dansville, NY

Stony Brook State Park Camping

Wooded campsites beside two stream-fed swimming pools dammed right into the creek bed, a much quieter alternative to Watkins Glen

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Talihina, OK

Talimena State Park Camping

Small wooded creekside campground at the western end of the Talimena Scenic Drive, the ridge-top highway through the Ouachitas

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

The DoSeum

San Antonio children's museum with a multi-story climber, a robot lab, a mock vet clinic and a toddler-scale town with its own market.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Houston, TX

The Health Museum

Houston museum of the human body with a walk-through giant heart, a climb-in brain and a simulated operating room kids can try out.

  • Science
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Rochester, NY

The Strong National Museum of Play

Enormous Rochester museum of play with a Sesame Street set, classic arcade, butterfly garden, carousel, and Toy Hall of Fame.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 1+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Thinkery

Austin children's museum built for hands-on play, with water tables, a light and shadow lab, a maker studio and a baby-only zone.

  • Science
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

Walk end to end inside a real WWII submarine at Pearl Harbor, past stacked bunks, torpedo rooms and a cramped control room.

  • Museum
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Hana, HI

Wai'anapanapa State Park Cabins

Simple state park housekeeping cabins at the Hana black sand beach, one of the few affordable ways to actually sleep past the Hana road

  • Lodging
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Waikiki Aquarium

Small Waikiki aquarium of Hawaiian reef life with monk seals, giant clams, a jellyfish gallery and a shallow outdoor touch tank.

  • Aquarium
  • Ages 1+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Watkins Glen, NY

Watkins Glen State Park Campground

Camp above the gorge and walk the Watkins Glen trail at eight in the morning, before the tour buses and day-trippers arrive

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

Wilmington Notch Campground

Riverside state campground in the notch between Lake Placid and Wilmington, minutes from High Falls Gorge and Whiteface Mountain

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Witte Museum

San Antonio natural history museum with a dinosaur gallery and dig pit, Texas wildlife dioramas and a four-story body adventure.

  • Museum
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Syracuse, NY

WonderWorks Syracuse

Indoor science-and-illusion attraction at Destiny USA in Syracuse with a hurricane simulator, ropes course, and laser tag.

  • Indoor Play
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Wimberley, TX

Blue Hole Regional Park

Spring-fed swimming hole with a famous rope swing under bald cypress trees in Wimberley TX - summer swimming requires advance reservations

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Cedar Bluff Nature Trail

Easy 0.8-mile river-view loop across from Dogwood Campground in Beavers Bend State Park - one of Broken Bow's best quick family hikes

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

New Braunfels, TX

Comal River Tubing

Gentle spring-fed tubing on the 2.5-mile Comal River in New Braunfels TX - tube rentals with shuttle service run about $15-25 per person

  • Tubing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Emma Long Metropolitan Park

Sandy Lake Austin swimming beach and lakeside camping inside Austin city limits - entry $5-$10 per vehicle, campsites reservable online

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

McKinney, TX

Erwin Park

10 miles of DORBA-maintained mountain bike trails in McKinney TX with a beginner skills course, playground, and free primitive camping

  • Mountain Biking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Lanai City, HI

Garden of the Gods (Keahiakawelo)

Otherworldly red rock formations on Lanai's back roads (Keahiakawelo) - free to visit, but a 4WD vehicle is required to reach the site

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Grafton, NY

Grafton Lakes State Park

Lifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy NY - day use $10 per vehicle in season

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fayetteville, NY

Green Lakes State Park

Swim in Caribbean-blue glacial lakes at Green Lakes State Park near Syracuse NY - sandy lifeguarded beach, flat lakeside trails, $10 per car

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid Public Beach

Free sandy village beach on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid NY with summer lifeguards, a roped toddler-friendly swim area, and Adirondack views

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Haines Falls, NY

North-South Lake Campground

Premier Catskills campground with twin lakes and a swimming beach - campsites from about $22/night via ReserveAmerica, day use $10 per vehicle

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

The Maze of Hochatown

Giant 29,000 sq ft wooden maze in Hochatown near Broken Bow - tickets sold at the gate, with checkpoint towers and stamp collecting kids love

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Fort Worth, TX

Trinity Trails

Over 100 miles of paved family-friendly trails along the Trinity River in Fort Worth - free biking, walking, and nature right in the city

  • Biking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Tyler, TX

Tyler State Park

Spring-fed lake swimming with a sandy beach, paddleboat rentals, and 13 miles of piney-woods trails at CCC-era Tyler State Park in East Texas

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wailea, HI

Wailea Beach Path

Free, stroller-friendly paved beach walk in Wailea, Maui connecting five beaches - whale watching in winter and sea turtle spotting year-round

  • Hiking
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Wailuku, HI

'Iao Valley State Monument

Paved walk to the iconic 1,200-foot Iao Needle in a lush valley. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Adirondack Experience Museum

World-class Adirondack history museum with interactive exhibits on Blue Mountain Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 3.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wailea, HI

Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve

Snorkel over lava reef in a protected marine reserve with abundant sea life. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Aiea, HI

Aiea Loop Trail

Shaded forest loop with Pearl Harbor views and WWII airplane wreckage. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Honomu, HI

Akaka Falls State Park

Easy paved walk to a jaw-dropping 442-foot waterfall through tropical jungle. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Kula, HI

Ali i Kula Lavender Farm

Scenic lavender farm on Haleakala slopes with ocean views and lavender treats. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Salamanca, NY

Allegany State Park

Largest state park in New York with beaches, boulder fields, and 80+ miles of trails. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

Ampersand Mountain

Challenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Kilauea, HI

Anini Beach Park

Calm protected lagoon beach with the longest reef on Kauai, perfect for young kids. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Keeseville, NY

Ausable Chasm

Walk through a 500-million-year-old sandstone gorge with optional rafting. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Santa Clara, NY

Azure Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with northern Adirondack wilderness views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lahaina, HI

Baby Beach Lahaina

Ultra-shallow protected beach perfect for toddlers and babies. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene, NY

Baxter Mountain

Moderate short hike near Keene with excellent High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Bear Mountain, NY

Bear Mountain State Park

Historic Hudson River park with trails, pool, merry-go-round, and Appalachian Trail. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Keene Valley, NY

Beaver Meadow Falls Trail

Scenic river trail to a beautiful 30-foot waterfall in the High Peaks. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Wailea, HI

Big Beach (Makena State Park)

Massive golden sand beach with turquoise water and dramatic cinder cone backdrop. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Blue Mountain Trail

Popular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Pilot Knob, NY

Buck Mountain Trail

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Cape Vincent, NY

Burnham Point State Park

Quiet waterfront campground where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Long Lake, NY

Buttermilk Falls

One of the tallest Adirondack waterfalls with easy staircase access. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Ithaca, NY

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Natural swimming pool at the base of a cascading waterfall near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Kaneohe, HI

Byodo-In Temple

Beautiful Japanese temple with koi fish, peace bell, and dramatic mountain backdrop. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Lahaina, HI

Camp Olowalu

Oceanfront camping and glamping with excellent snorkeling right off the beach. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Newcomb, NY

Camp Santanoni Historic Area

Carriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Captain Cook, HI

Captain Cook Monument Snorkel Trail

Steep hike down to world-class snorkeling in a marine sanctuary with dolphins. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Eagle Bay, NY

Cascade Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a scenic Adirondack lake with lean-tos and swimming spots. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Keene, NY

Cascade Mountain

The most popular Adirondack High Peak with stunning 360-degree summit views. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Clayton, NY

Cedar Point State Park

Waterfront camping on the St. Lawrence River with Thousand Islands views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Cherry Plain, NY

Cherry Plain State Park

Quiet swimming beach and intimate campground on Black River Pond. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Wolcott, NY

Chimney Bluffs State Park

Otherworldly clay spires sculpted by erosion on the shore of Lake Ontario. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Cazenovia, NY

Chittenango Falls State Park

Dramatic 167-foot single-plunge waterfall with easy overlook access. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Cold Spring, NY

Clarence Fahnestock State Park

Hudson Highlands park with lake swimming, Appalachian Trail, and camping. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Jamesville, NY

Clark Reservation State Park

Glacial plunge basin with cliff-rimmed lake and unique geology near Syracuse. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Cobble Hill Trail

Quick family hike with a big High Peaks view just outside Lake Placid village. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Cranberry Lake, NY

Cranberry Lake Campground

Remote lakefront campground on one of the largest and wildest Adirondack lakes. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Rome, NY

Delta Lake State Park

900-foot sandy swimming beach on Delta Lake in central New York. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Diamond Head State Monument

Iconic volcanic crater hike with panoramic Waikiki and ocean views. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Kapalua, HI

Dragon's Teeth (Makaluapuna Point)

Jagged lava formations shaped like dragon teeth on a windswept coastal point. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Inlet, NY

Eighth Lake Campground

Lakefront campground with beach and calm water on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Kapolei, HI

Electric Beach (Kahe Point)

Unique snorkeling with dolphins, turtles, and rays in warm power plant outflow. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. About two hours.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 7+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Moravia, NY

Fillmore Glen State Park

Quiet gorge with five waterfalls, a walk-behind cascade, and swimming pool. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Hector, NY

Finger Lakes National Forest

The only national forest in New York with free camping and 30+ miles of trails. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Saranac Lake, NY

Fish Creek Pond Campground

Massive waterfront campground with beach and access to a chain of Adirondack ponds. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

Floodwood Pond

Motor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Livingston Manor, NY

Frick Pond Loop Trail

Peaceful forest loop to a quiet Catskill pond with lean-tos. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Haiku, HI

Garden of Eden Arboretum

Jurassic Park filming lookout in a tropical botanical garden on the Road to Hana. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Shandaken, NY

Giant Ledge Trail

Popular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Newcomb, NY

Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Alexandria Bay, NY

Grass Point State Park

River campground near Alexandria Bay with beach and easy Thousand Islands access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Naples, NY

Grimes Glen Park

Wade up a fossil-filled creek to reach two hidden waterfalls in a narrow gorge. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hadley, NY

Hadley Mountain Fire Tower

Fire tower hike with views of Great Sacandaga Lake and the southern Adirondacks. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Halawa, HI

Halawa Valley Cultural Hike

Guided cultural hike through an ancient valley to a 250-foot double waterfall. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Kula, HI

Haleakala National Park Sunrise

Sunrise from 10,023 feet above a volcanic crater that looks like Mars. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Snorkel with colorful fish in a volcanic crater bay with protected reef. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Waimea (Big Island), HI

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

Big Island's best white sand beach with crystal-clear water on the sunny Kohala Coast. Paid entry. Best from about age 3.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Stony Point, NY

Harriman State Park

Massive park with 200+ miles of trails, swimming lakes, and mountain views. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Papaikou, HI

Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden

Ocean bluff tropical garden with waterfalls, exotic plants, and Jurassic Park scenery. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Captain Cook, HI

Hawaii Tropical Fruit Farm

Guided tour tasting 60+ exotic fruits straight from the tree on a family farm. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Hawaii National Park, HI

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Active volcano with lava tubes, steam vents, and a massive caldera. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Heart Lake

Sandy mountain lake beach with High Peaks backdrop and canoe rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Hearthstone Point Campground

Waterfront state campground on Lake George close to the village. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

High Falls Gorge

Walkway-accessible waterfalls through an ancient Ausable River gorge. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Hilo, HI

Hilo Farmers Market

Hawaii's biggest farmers market with 200+ vendors, exotic fruits, and tropical flowers. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 1+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kaneohe, HI

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

Free 400-acre botanical garden with dramatic mountain backdrop and camping. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 1+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Kula, HI

Hosmer Grove Trail (Haleakala)

Easy shaded loop through a unique forest with native bird watching at 6,800 feet. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Howes Cave, NY

Howe Caverns

Guided cave tours 156 feet underground with an underground boat ride. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Lanai City, HI

Hulopo'e Beach Park

Pristine marine preserve beach with dolphins, snorkeling, and amazing tide pools. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Keene Valley, NY

Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail

Epic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~7h
  • Free

Indian Lake, NY

Indian Lake Islands Campground

Paddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lahaina, HI

Ka'anapali Beach

World-class 3-mile beach with snorkeling at Black Rock and nightly cliff diving. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Haines Falls, NY

Kaaterskill Falls Trail

The tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York State at 260 feet. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Kailua-Kona, HI

Kahalu'u Beach Park

Best beginner snorkeling on the Kona Coast with shallow reef and sea turtles. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Kailua, HI

Kailua Beach Park

Award-winning white sand beach with turquoise water and gentle waves. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Kualapuu, HI

Kalaupapa Lookout

View from the world's highest sea cliffs down to the historic Kalaupapa Peninsula. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Caroga Lake, NY

Kane Mountain Fire Tower

Quick and easy fire tower hike perfect for young or beginner hikers. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kapalua, HI

Kapalua Coastal Trail

Scenic coastal boardwalk connecting beautiful bays with turtle and whale spotting. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lihue, HI

Kauai Tubing Adventure

Float through century-old plantation tunnels on inner tubes with headlamps. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Tubing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Kapaa, HI

Ke Ala Hele Makalae (Kauai Coastal Path)

Scenic oceanfront bike path along Kauai east coast with beach stops and whale watching. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Biking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Captain Cook, HI

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park

Kayak across a marine sanctuary to world-class snorkeling with dolphins and turtles. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Waianae, HI

Keawa'ula (Yokohama Bay)

Remote end-of-the-road beach with mountain backdrop and access to Ka ena Point trail. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Mount Tremper, NY

Kenneth L. Wilson Campground

Lakeside Catskills campground with sandy beach and boat rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Bluff Point, NY

Keuka Lake State Park

Sandy beach and campground on one of the cleanest Finger Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Hawaii National Park, HI

Kilauea Iki Trail

Walk across the floor of a volcanic crater through hardened lava in Volcanoes National Park. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Kilauea, HI

Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge

Historic cliff-top lighthouse with nesting seabirds and winter whale watching. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Kapolei, HI

Ko Olina Lagoons

Calm man-made lagoons with protected swimming perfect for young children. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Waimea (Kauai), HI

Koke'e State Park

Highland trails and Na Pali Coast cliff-top lookouts in a mountain forest park. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Waimea (Kauai), HI

Koke'e State Park Camping

Mountain camping at 3,600 feet above Waimea Canyon with cool forest air and stargazing. Paid entry. Best from about age 4.

  • Camping
  • Ages 4+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Koko Crater Railway Trail

1,048-step staircase up a volcanic crater with panoramic coastal views. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Kaneohe, HI

Kualoa Ranch

Jurassic Park filming location with horseback riding, ATVs, and zip lines. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Wailea, HI

La Perouse Bay

Coastal hike across Maui last lava flow with dolphins, petroglyphs, and tide pools. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Lake Durant Campground

Lakefront campground in the central Adirondacks with beach and paddle access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Lake George, NY

Lake George Islands Camping

Boat-access island camping on pristine Lake George. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Haleiwa, HI

Laniakea Beach (Turtle Beach)

Reliable spot to see Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on a North Shore beach. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 1+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kailua, HI

Lanikai Pillbox Hike

Short steep hike to WWII bunkers with stunning views over Lanikai Beach. Free. Best from about age 5. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Pahoa, HI

Lava Tree State Monument

Eerie forest of lava-molded tree columns from a 1790 eruption. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Waianae, HI

Leeward Coast Dolphin Watching

Boat tours to see wild spinner dolphins and sea turtles along the leeward coast. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Castile, NY

Letchworth State Park

Grand Canyon of the East with three major waterfalls and a 600-foot gorge. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Kapaa, HI

Lydgate Beach Park

Protected rock pools for safe snorkeling and a massive playground on Kauai east side. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Koloa, HI

Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

Coastal trail along lithified dunes, sea cliffs, and ancient petroglyph caves. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Waimanalo, HI

Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail

Paved coastal cliff trail to a lighthouse with winter whale watching. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Laie, HI

Malaekahana State Recreation Area

Beachfront camping with a wadeable offshore island on the quiet North Shore. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Manoa Falls Trail

Rainforest hike to a 150-foot waterfall through a tropical jungle near Waikiki. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Kailua-Kona, HI

Manta Ray Night Snorkel

Snorkel with giant manta rays gliding below you in an unforgettable night encounter. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Wailuku, HI

Maui Ocean Center

World-class aquarium with underwater tunnel, touch pools, and turtle lagoon. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Wailuku, HI

Maui Tropical Plantation

Tram tour through a working tropical fruit farm with tastings and zipline. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Lahaina, HI

Maui Whale Watching

World-class humpback whale watching in the channel between Maui and Lanai. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Haiku, HI

Maui Zipline

Family zipline course through tropical scenery with lines for kids as young as 5. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Aerial Adventure
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Hilo, HI

Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

World-class stargazing at 9,200 feet with free evening telescope programs. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hilo, HI

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory

Free factory tour with macadamia nut samples, orchards, and nature trail. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Kailua, HI

Maunawili Falls Trail

Jungle hike to a swimmable waterfall pool through lush windward forest. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Lake George, NY

Million Dollar Beach

Sandy public beach on crystal-clear Lake George with lifeguards and mountain views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Kerhonkson, NY

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Sky lakes, cliff-top trails, and swimming on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mirror Lake Paddle

Paddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

New Paltz, NY

Mohonk Preserve

World-class rock climbing and cliff-top hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Kihei, HI

Molokini Crater Snorkeling

Snorkel in crystal-clear water inside a volcanic crater with 150-foot visibility. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Gansevoort, NY

Moreau Lake State Park

Sandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Eagle Bay, NY

Moss Lake Trail

Easy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Lake Placid, NY

Mount Jo Trail

Short family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Eleele, HI

Na Pali Coast Boat Tour

Boat tour along 4,000-foot sea cliffs with waterfalls, sea caves, and dolphins. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Wailuku, HI

Nakalele Blowhole

Natural ocean blowhole shooting water 100 feet high on a dramatic lava coast. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Pottersville, NY

Natural Stone Bridge and Caves

Self-guided cave and gorge trails with the largest marble cave entrance in the East. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Niagara Falls, NY

Niagara Gorge Trail

Hike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Haleiwa, HI

North Shore Shark Cove

Excellent tide pools and snorkeling in a rocky cove on the North Shore. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Easy going.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Haleiwa, HI

North Shore Surf Lessons

Learn to surf on gentle summer waves with certified North Shore instructors. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Surfing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Lahaina, HI

Olowalu Reef Snorkeling (Mile Marker 14)

Excellent shore snorkeling with guaranteed sea turtles over a massive shallow reef. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Snorkeling
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Woodstock, NY

Overlook Mountain Trail

Fire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Panama, NY

Panama Rocks Scenic Park

Ancient rock formations with caves, crevices, and passageways kids can explore. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Maunaloa, HI

Papohaku Beach

Nearly 3-mile-long white sand beach that you will likely have all to yourself. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Sundown, NY

Peekamoose Blue Hole

Stunning blue-green natural swimming hole with waterfall in the Catskill forest. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Pepeekeo, HI

Pepe ekeo Point Lookout

Scenic drive through a tropical corridor with one-lane bridges and ocean views. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

Schroon Lake, NY

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Pristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~6h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Pilot Knob Preserve

Gentle nature trails with lake views above southern Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Boonville, NY

Pixley Falls State Park

Quick roadside walk to a beautiful 50-foot waterfall near Boonville. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Koloa, HI

Poipu Beach Park

America's Best Beach with a protected keiki pool, monk seals, and sunny south shore weather. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Keeseville, NY

Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail

Short steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Kula, HI

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area

Cool mountain forest of redwoods and pines on Haleakala that feels like the Pacific Northwest. Free. Better for ages 6 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hawi, HI

Pololu Valley Trail

Steep trail to a remote black sand beach in a dramatic cliff-lined valley. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Laie, HI

Polynesian Cultural Center

Interactive Pacific Island cultural park with hands-on activities and evening luau. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~8h
  • Paid

Naalehu, HI

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Volcanic black sand beach famous for Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on shore. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Princeville, HI

Queen's Bath

Dramatic ocean-filled lava pool for experienced families in calm conditions only. Free. Better for ages 10 and up. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 10+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hilo, HI

Rainbow Falls (Waianuenue)

Easy drive-up 80-foot waterfall with morning rainbows in the mist. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 1+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

Raquette Lake, NY

Raquette Lake Beach

Quiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hilo, HI

Richardson Ocean Park

Protected tide pools and black sand beach where sea turtles feed in calm water. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Hana, HI

Road to Hana Bamboo Forest (Pipiwai Trail)

Magical bamboo forest hike to a 400-foot waterfall at the end of the Road to Hana. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Ithaca, NY

Robert H. Treman State Park

Gorge trails, multiple waterfalls, and a stunning natural swimming hole near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Massena, NY

Robert Moses State Park (Massena)

River beach, nature center, and ship-watching on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Hague, NY

Rogers Rock Campground

Wooded lakeside campground on the quiet north end of Lake George. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Cragsmoor, NY

Sam's Point Preserve

Ice caves, dwarf pine barrens, and cliff-top views on the Shawangunk Ridge. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Romulus, NY

Sampson State Park

Big family park on Seneca Lake with beach, campground, marina, and playground. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Saranac Lake, NY

Saranac Lake Islands Camping

Paddle-in island camping on the Saranac Lakes with 87 primitive sites. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Saratoga Springs, NY

Saratoga Spa State Park

Natural mineral springs, historic pools, and forest trails in Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Kilauea, HI

Secret Beach (Kauapea)

Stunning hidden beach accessed by a jungle trail on Kauai north shore. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Nature
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Pulaski, NY

Selkirk Shores State Park

Bluff-top campground on Lake Ontario with beach and Salmon River access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Geneva, NY

Seneca Lake State Park

Lakefront park with splash pad, playground, and marina on Seneca Lake. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fort Ann, NY

Shelving Rock Falls Trail

Short family hike to a beautiful waterfall near Lake George. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fort Ann, NY

Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Moderate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Shandaken, NY

Slide Mountain Trail

Hike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~5h
  • Free

Kula, HI

Sliding Sands Trail (Haleakala)

Hike into a volcanic crater through a Mars-like landscape of cinder cones. Paid entry. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Indian Lake, NY

Snowy Mountain Trail

Challenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. Better for ages 8 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Free

Naalehu, HI

South Point Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)

Hike to one of only four green sand beaches in the world at the US southernmost point. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Koloa, HI

Spouting Horn

Natural ocean blowhole shooting water through a lava tube with an eerie moan. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

Dansville, NY

Stony Brook State Park

Gorge swimming, three waterfalls, and rock formations in a quiet setting. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

Storm King State Park

Rugged Highland trails with dramatic Hudson River panoramas. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 7+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Copake Falls, NY

Taconic State Park

Two camping areas with swimming ponds, waterfalls, and ridge trails on the Taconic Range. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Trumansburg, NY

Taughannock Falls State Park

Easy walk to a 215-foot waterfall taller than Niagara Falls. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Voorheesville, NY

Thacher State Park

Cliff-top escarpment park with a walk-behind waterfall and 40-mile views. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Tupper Lake, NY

The Wild Center

Natural history museum with a treetop Wild Walk and live animal exhibits. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Hawaii National Park, HI

Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku)

Walk through a 500-year-old lava tube surrounded by prehistoric tree ferns. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Waimanalo, HI

Tide Pools at Makapu'u

Natural lava rock tide pools and swimming holes on the coast near the lighthouse. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hanalei, HI

Tunnels Beach (Makua)

Premier snorkeling through reef tunnels with Bali Hai mountain backdrop. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Easy going.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Haiku, HI

Twin Falls Maui

Easy waterfall hike with swimming at the first stop on the Road to Hana. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Wailea, HI

Ulua Beach

Sheltered beach with excellent easy snorkeling and frequent sea turtle sightings. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Kerhonkson, NY

Vernooy Kill Falls Trail

Easy forest hike to a beautiful waterfall with a swimming pool at the base. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Verona Beach, NY

Verona Beach State Park

1,000-foot sandy beach on Oneida Lake with campground and nature trails. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Middleburgh, NY

Vroman's Nose

Short hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Hana, HI

Wai'anapanapa State Park

Black sand beach with sea caves, lava tubes, and blowholes on the Road to Hana. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Honolulu, HI

Waikiki Beach

Iconic Hawaiian beach with calm water, surf lessons, and endless activities. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 1+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Lihue, HI

Wailua Falls

Drive-up 173-foot double waterfall famous from Fantasy Island opening credits. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 1+
  • ~0.5h
  • Free

Kapaa, HI

Wailua River Kayaking

Kayak Hawaii's only navigable river, then hike to a 120-foot hidden waterfall you can swim under. Paid, ages 5+. No kayaking on Sundays.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Waimanalo, HI

Waimanalo Beach

Long uncrowded stretch of soft white sand with turquoise water and mountain views. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Waimea (Kauai), HI

Waimea Canyon State Park

Grand Canyon of the Pacific with 3,600-foot colorful canyon views and rim trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Haleiwa, HI

Waimea Valley

Paved botanical garden walk to a swimmable 45-foot waterfall. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Honokaa, HI

Waipi'o Valley Lookout

Dramatic 1,000-foot cliff lookout over the sacred Valley of the Kings. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Poughkeepsie, NY

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Watkins Glen, NY

Watkins Glen State Park

Walk behind 19 waterfalls through a stunning 200-foot-deep gorge. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Fineview, NY

Wellesley Island State Park

Island park in the Thousand Islands with nature center, beach, and 430-site campground. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wilmington, NY

Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

Drive to the summit of the fifth highest peak in New York for breathtaking views. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Gowanda, NY

Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Wild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Broken Bow, OK

Beaver Lodge Nature Trail

Easy 2-mile forest loop trail through towering pines in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Broken Bow, OK

Beaver's Bend Mining Company

Gem mining sluice and dinosaur mini golf in Hochatown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend Depot & Trail Rides

Miniature train rides and guided horseback rides through the Ouachita pines. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend Marina

Pontoon and boat rentals on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Easy going.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend Safari Park

Drive-through and walk-through safari with 350+ exotic animals near Hochatown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend State Park

Oklahoma's premier family state park with trails and river access in the Ouachita Mountains. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend State Park Campgrounds

Family campgrounds along the Mountain Fork River in Beavers Bend State Park. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Broken Bow Lake

Crystal-clear 14,000-acre mountain lake with calm swimming coves and 180 miles of shoreline. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Broken Bow, OK

Broken Bow Lake Paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboard rentals and lessons on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours.

  • Paddleboarding
  • Ages 6+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

David Boren Hiking Trail

Premier 12-mile trail system with lake views and flexible routes in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Better for ages 6 and up.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Broken Bow, OK

Evening Hole Fishing Area

Popular family fishing pier on the Mountain Fork River with trout and bass. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Fishing
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Friends Trail Loop

Popular 1.5-mile family loop with a river waterfall in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Broken Bow, OK

Hochatown Petting Zoo

Rescue-based petting zoo with barnyard animals and exotics in Hochatown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Mountain Fork River Kayaking

Kayak and canoe rentals on the crystal-clear Mountain Fork River near Beavers Bend. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. About two hours.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Mountain Fork River Tubing

Gentle family river float through the Ouachita Mountains on the Mountain Fork River. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Tubing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Outlaw's Guided Adventures

Guided off-road UTV trail rides through 75+ miles of Ouachita Mountain trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Riverman Trail Rides

Guided horseback riding through the Ouachita Mountains overlooking the Glover River. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Rugaru Adventures

Top-rated six-line forest canopy zipline tour in the Ouachita Mountains. Paid entry. Better for ages 7 and up. About two hours.

  • Aerial Adventure
  • Ages 7+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Frisco, TX

B.F. Phillips Community Park

Ranch-themed community park with open fields and rustic backdrops. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Bastrop, TX

Bastrop State Park

Lost Pines hiking with swimming pool and Junior Rangers. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Bend, TX

Colorado Bend State Park

70-foot Gorman Falls waterfall with spring-fed swimming holes. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Frisco, TX

Frisco Central Park

Scenic park with waterfalls and bronze cattle sculptures popular for portrait sessions. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Photography
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Frisco Commons Park

Nature trails and an amphitheater surrounded by mature trees in central Frisco. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Frisco Heritage Center

Historic buildings and a steam locomotive make this a top portrait photography spot. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Photography
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Frisco Rail District Murals

Colorful street murals along historic Main Street perfect for edgy senior portraits. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour.

  • Photography
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Frisco Square

Urban architecture and a central park gazebo ideal for portraits and family photos. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

  • Photography
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Georgetown, TX

Garey Park

525-acre river park with trails and splash pad in Georgetown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Spicewood, TX

Grelle Recreation Area

Uncrowded Lake Travis cove with wooded trails and swimming. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Georgetown, TX

Inner Space Cavern

Walk through an Ice Age cave 30 minutes from Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Frisco, TX

Kathy Seei Park

Bronze longhorn sculptures and a pond in a compact landscaped park. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Pflugerville, TX

Lake Pflugerville Park

Free lake beach with swim area and 3-mile paved loop. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Plano, TX

Legacy West

Modern architecture and a choreographed fountain at this lifestyle center on the Frisco-Plano border. Free. Works from toddler age.

  • Photography
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Limestone Quarry Park

Former quarry with exposed limestone walls and prairie wildflowers. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Austin, TX

Mount Bonnell

102-step climb to panoramic views over Lake Austin. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Burnet, TX

Reveille Peak Ranch

Granite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day. Moderate effort.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Georgetown, TX

San Gabriel Park

Award-winning playscape and river trail in Georgetown. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Biking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Frisco, TX

Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Park

Free outdoor sculpture park with 50+ works and beautiful landscaping. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Photography
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Tuscola, TX

Abilene State Park

Spring-fed swimming pool under pecan trees in West Texas. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Austwell, TX

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Endangered whooping crane habitat with auto loop and observation tower. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Balmorhea, TX

Balmorhea State Park

Crystal-clear 1.75-acre spring-fed pool with snorkeling in West Texas. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Barton Creek Greenbelt

12 miles of creek trails with swimming holes and bouldering in Austin. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Austin, TX

Barton Springs Pool

Iconic 3-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park at 68 degrees year-round. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Big Bend National Park, TX

Big Bend National Park

Spectacular desert mountains and canyons along the Rio Grande. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full day. A tough one.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~8h
  • Paid

Presidio, TX

Big Bend Ranch State Park

300,000-acre desert wilderness along the Rio Grande for experienced families. Paid entry. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 8+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Kountze, TX

Big Thicket National Preserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with nine converging ecosystems. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Blanco, TX

Blanco State Park

Small-town river swimming and tubing perfect for young children. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Angleton, TX

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

44,000-acre birding refuge with auto tour loop and alligator sightings. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Needville, TX

Brazos Bend State Park

Wild alligator viewing from boardwalks and stargazing at the observatory. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Cedar Park, TX

Brushy Creek Regional Trail

14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

  • Biking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Houston, TX

Buffalo Bayou Park

Paved bayou trails with destination playground and bat colony viewing. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Biking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Austin, TX

Bull Creek Greenbelt

Shallow limestone creek pools perfect for toddler wading. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome. Easy going.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Karnack, TX

Caddo Lake State Park

Kayaking through a moss-draped cypress swamp on Texas' only natural lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Waco, TX

Cameron Park

Dramatic blufftop trails and hidden grottos above the Brazos River. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Canyon Lake, TX

Canyon Lake Gorge

Guided tours through a limestone gorge with dinosaur tracks and fossils. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Quitaque, TX

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

Red rock canyons with free-roaming bison and a bat colony tunnel. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Georgetown, TX

Cedar Breaks Park

Spacious lakeside campground with swim beach near Georgetown. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Colleyville, TX

Colleyville Nature Center

Nature trails and playscape perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Cooper, TX

Cooper Lake State Park

Uncrowded lakeside camping with swim beach in Northeast Texas. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Daingerfield, TX

Daingerfield State Park

Stunning fall foliage and family lake swimming at a hidden East Texas gem - camping, fishing, paddleboats, and easy trails through hardwood forests

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Fort Davis, TX

Davis Mountains State Park

Cool mountain camping with skyline trail and historic pueblo lodge. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Moderate effort.

  • Camping
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wylie, TX

East Fork Park

Sandy swim beach and lakeside camping on Lake Lavon. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Eisenhower Park

Observation tower and six miles of trails with playground. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Denison, TX

Eisenhower State Park

Blufftop trails and lake swimming on Lake Texoma. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Fredericksburg, TX

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Iconic granite dome summit scramble with 360-degree Hill Country views. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Boerne, TX

Enchanted Springs Ranch

Old West ranch with pony rides and rescued exotic animals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

El Paso, TX

Franklin Mountains State Park

Largest urban park in the US with aerial tramway and desert hiking. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Friedrich Wilderness Park

Free 600-acre Hill Country hiking on the edge of San Antonio. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Galveston, TX

Galveston Island State Park

Beach camping and bay-side kayaking at Galveston Island State Park - coastal wetlands, birding trails, and family-friendly camping steps from the Gulf

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Concan, TX

Garner State Park

Legendary Frio River swimming and summer dances in the Hill Country. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Fort Worth, TX

Gateway Park

Beginner-friendly mountain bike trails along the Trinity River. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Mountain Biking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Georgetown, TX

Good Water Trail

26-mile lakeside trail with canyon overlooks and Hill Country terrain. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Rockport, TX

Goose Island State Park

Coastal camping by a 1,000-year-old oak with bay fishing and whooping cranes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Government Canyon State Natural Area

40 miles of trails with dinosaur tracks in the limestone. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Salt Flat, TX

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Highest point in Texas and stunning McKittrick Canyon fall foliage. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. Easily a full day.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~6h
  • Paid

Comfort, TX

Guadalupe River at Horseshoe Falls

Natural horseshoe waterfall on the Guadalupe River near Comfort. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Spring Branch, TX

Guadalupe River State Park

Cypress-lined Guadalupe River swimming with guided paddles and hikes. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Dripping Springs, TX

Hamilton Pool Preserve

A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall into a jade pool. Reservation required, and swimming is often closed after rain.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 5+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

El Paso, TX

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site

World-class bouldering with ancient pictographs in El Paso. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. A tough one.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Huntsville, TX

Huntsville State Park

Pine forest camping with lake paddling and a sandy swim area. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Burnet, TX

Inks Lake State Park

Spring-fed lake swimming and cliff jumping at Devil's Waterhole. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Humble, TX

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center

Boardwalk trails through cypress swamp with free guided canoe trips. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Seagoville, TX

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

Boardwalk trails over marshes with interactive nature center. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Spicewood, TX

Krause Springs

Spring-fed pools under ancient cypress trees with camping. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Easy going.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Lady Bird Lake

Kayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Pittsburg, TX

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

Shaded lakeside camping with fishing pier and bike trails. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Brownwood, TX

Lake Brownwood State Park

CCC cabins and swim beach with fishing pier on Lake Brownwood. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Grapevine, TX

Lake Grapevine Horseshoe Trails

Easy lakeside hiking trails on Grapevine Lake. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Stroller-friendly. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

New Caney, TX

Lake Houston Wilderness Park

20 miles of forest trails and camping close to Houston. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Weatherford, TX

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway

20-mile flat rail trail perfect for kids building biking endurance. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Biking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Somerville, TX

Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway

Two-unit park connected by 21-mile trail with lake swimming. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Wills Point, TX

Lake Tawakoni State Park

Sandy swim beach and shaded camping an hour east of Dallas. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Whitney, TX

Lake Whitney State Park

White limestone shoreline swimming and easy trails on Lake Whitney. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Decatur, TX

LBJ National Grasslands

20,000 acres of prairie with mountain biking and primitive camping. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Burnet, TX

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Kid-friendly guided cave tour near Burnet TX - walk a mile through cathedral-sized underground rooms formed by an ancient river, great for ages 4+

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Vanderpool, TX

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Stunning fall foliage and limestone canyon trails along the Sabinal River. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 5+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Tatum, TX

Martin Creek Lake State Park

Year-round warm-water fishing with unique island campsites in East Texas - a hidden gem for family fishing trips and peaceful lake paddling

  • Fishing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

McKinney Falls State Park

Two limestone waterfalls with wading pools inside Austin city limits. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Cedar Creek, TX

McKinney Roughs Nature Park

1,100 acres with horseback riding and river trails along the Colorado. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Meridian, TX

Meridian State Park

CCC-era lake park with screened shelters and paddleboating. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Mineral Wells, TX

Mineral Wells Fossil Park

Free fossil digging where kids keep 300-million-year-old marine specimens. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Grapeland, TX

Mission Tejas State Park

Historic Spanish mission replica in towering East Texas hardwood forest. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Monahans, TX

Monahans Sandhills State Park

70-foot sand dunes with disc surfing and spectacular sunsets. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Moody, TX

Mother Neff State Park

First Texas state park with limestone sinkhole pool and historic CCC buildings. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Port Aransas, TX

Mustang Island State Park

Beachfront camping and bay kayak trail with dolphin sightings. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Natural Bridge Caverns

Largest Texas cavern with ropes course and outdoor maze above ground. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Nature
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Flower Mound, TX

Northshore Trail

26 miles of lakeside singletrack mountain biking trails. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Mountain Biking
  • Ages 6+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Spicewood, TX

Pace Bend Park

Rocky limestone coves and cliff jumping on Lake Travis. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Corpus Christi, TX

Padre Island National Seashore

70 miles of wild beach with sea turtle releases and shell hunting. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. Easily a full day.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Gonzales, TX

Palmetto State Park

Tropical palmetto forest and warm springs along the San Marcos River. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Canyon, TX

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Second-largest US canyon with the iconic Lighthouse Trail hike. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Johnson City, TX

Pedernales Falls State Park

Dramatic tilted limestone falls and river swimming in the Hill Country. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Johnson City, TX

Pedernales Falls Trammel Crossing

Historic river crossing with natural wading pools away from the crowds. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Johnson City, TX

Pedernales River Nature Park

Quiet Pedernales River swimming with limestone wading pools. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

San Antonio, TX

Phil Hardberger Park

Land bridge and world-class nature playscape in San Antonio. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Caddo, TX

Possum Kingdom State Park

Clear blue lake swimming and canyon trail hiking. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Eustace, TX

Purtis Creek State Park

Stocked catch-and-release lake where kids always catch fish. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Fishing
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Dripping Springs, TX

Reimers Ranch Park

Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 6+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

San Marcos, TX

Rio Vista Park

Crystal-clear spring-fed river with natural falls for floating and swimming. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Garland, TX

Rowlett Creek Preserve

524-acre preserve with creek crossings and mountain bike trails. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

San Angelo, TX

San Angelo State Park

50 miles of trails with Texas longhorn cattle on the reservoir. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Sabine Pass, TX

Sea Rim State Park

Gulf beach meets freshwater marsh with paddling trails and boardwalks. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Junction, TX

South Llano River State Park

Crystal-clear spring-fed river for family swimming and tubing near Junction TX - camping under pecan groves with excellent wildlife viewing

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Arlington, TX

Southwest Nature Preserve

Quiet urban preserve with scenic lake overlook in Arlington. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Easy going.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Galveston, TX

Stewart Beach

Lifeguarded family beach with rentals and food on Galveston Island. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Lumberton, TX

Village Creek State Park

Tannin-clear creek paddling through Big Thicket sandbars. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Kayaking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Austin, TX

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Peaceful woodland trails with a waterfall and nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Paid

Southlake, TX

Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve

Short easy trails through rare Cross Timbers forest in Southlake. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Cedar Hill, TX

Cedar Hill State Park

Family-friendly state park on Joe Pool Lake just 20 minutes from Dallas - swimming, hiking, camping, and mountain biking for all ages

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

Cedar Ridge Preserve

600 acres of rugged trails and scenic overlooks in Dallas. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Cleburne, TX

Cleburne State Park

No-wake lake for safe paddling and swimming near Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Camping
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Glen Rose, TX

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Real dinosaur tracks in a riverbed plus 20 miles of trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Cedar Hill, TX

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center

Shaded canyon trails with a nature play area for kids. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

25 miles of trails with bison and prairie dogs in Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Sherman, TX

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

12,000-acre wildlife refuge with kids programs on Lake Texoma. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Easy going.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Mineral Wells, TX

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway

Natural rock climbing at Penitentiary Hollow plus lake swimming and trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

  • Rock Climbing
  • Ages 5+
  • ~4h
  • Paid

Grapevine, TX

Meadowmere Park

Sandy beach swimming on Lake Grapevine with playground and camping. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Plano, TX

Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve

800-acre park with boardwalks and kayaking in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Pilot Point, TX

Ray Roberts Lake State Park

Sandy beach swimming, kids fishing pond, and lakeside camping at Ray Roberts Lake - a big North Texas family destination near Pilot Point

  • Camping
  • Ages 2+
  • ~5h
  • Paid

Arlington, TX

River Legacy Parks

1,300-acre park with paved trails and mountain biking along the Trinity River. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~3h
  • Free

Garland, TX

Spring Creek Forest Preserve

Old-growth forest with guided nature hikes near Dallas. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Fort Worth, TX

Tandy Hills Natural Area

Native prairie wildflowers and skyline views in Fort Worth. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 4+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Dallas, TX

Trinity Forest Adventure Park

Aerial adventure park with zip lines and ropes courses in the treetops. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip.

  • Aerial Adventure
  • Ages 4+
  • ~3h
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

Trinity River Audubon Center

Trails through the largest urban hardwood forest in the US. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Nature
  • Ages 3+
  • ~2h
  • Paid

Dallas, TX

White Rock Lake

9.4-mile paved biking loop around a scenic Dallas lake. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Biking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Little Elm, TX

Johnny Broyles Nature Trail

Paved 2.7-mile nature trail along Lake Lewisville in Little Elm. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Little Elm, TX

Little Elm Beach

Sandy lake beach on Lewisville Lake with roped swim area and free life jacket loans. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

  • Swimming
  • Ages 3+
  • ~4h
  • Free

Richardson, TX

Prairie Creek Waterfall

Hidden suburban waterfall and shaded creek trail in Richardson. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour. Dogs welcome.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~1h
  • Free

Plano, TX

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Family-friendly trails and an observation tower in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

  • Hiking
  • Ages 2+
  • ~2h
  • Free

Glen Rose, TX

Rough Creek Lodge

Luxury family ranch resort with outdoor activities near Glen Rose. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.

  • Camping
  • Ages 5+
  • Overnight
  • Paid

Browse by City

FL

Hawaii

New York

Oklahoma

PR

Texas

VI