7 Unexpected Destinations for Fun Family Vacations

A family vacation everyone will enjoy doesn’t have to include crowded amusement parks or popular beaches. Instead, try these off-the-beaten-path destinations that you and your kids will love. In these lesser-known places around the West, you can ride a steam train through the redwoods, gaze at the mighty night sky with a telescope, or take a walk back in time in an Old West town. 

Big Fork, Montana

Looking for summer camp excitement for the whole family? Head to Flathead Lake Lodge on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the western United States. This all-inclusive, family-owned guest ranch on a 2,000-acre property 30 minutes from Kalispell has water-based activities like paddleboarding and sailing as well as trails for horseback riding and hiking. Kids will be well entertained here with canoe races, mountain bike lessons, a lakefront swimming pool, a kids’ rodeo, and a junior wrangler program that teaches horse care basics. For an off-site adventure, Glacier National Park is less than an hour away. 

Curt Gowdy State Park near Cheyenne, Wyoming

If you’re into mountain biking, Curt Gowdy State Park is a must. The park has 35 miles of inviting trails you can access from your campsite (many overlook the reservoirs). A 19.2-mile loop that traverses the park earned Epic status from the International Mountain Bicycling Association, but you don’t have to go far to enjoy the ride. The park also hosts kids’ mountain bike camps and has an archery range and three reservoirs for boating, paddling, and fishing. You can also hike or go horseback riding. 

Smart Tip: If you venture into Cheyenne, don’t miss the children’s area at the free Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. It has a secret garden, story time, and drop-in classes that focus on creative horticulture.

Fort Bragg, California

This Mendocino coast town three and a half hours north of San Francisco has a sleepy vibe, perfect for low-key beach days and strolls through old-growth redwood forests. Hop aboard the historic steam-powered Skunk Train, which passes through tunnels and trestles in the Noyo River canyon. For a memorable lunch, stop at Princess Seafood’s waterfront cafe, which is tucked amongst a collection of fish shops underneath the Noyo Bridge. For a beach stroll unlike any other, head to MacKerricher State Park’s famous Glass Beach where millions of pieces of sea glass coat the rocky shore (just remember to leave all of the ocean-smoothed shards where you found them, it’s illegal to remove them).

Virginia City, Nevada

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Virginia City feels like you’ve stepped back in time to the Gold Rush. The preserved Victorian-era frontier town just 30 minutes from Reno has historic buildings, guided tours of former silver and gold mines, and several museums. Kids will love riding the steam engines at the V&T Railroad, exploring the mines hidden underground, and seeing the historic schoolhouse built in 1876.

Sedona, Arizona

You could easily spend your whole time here at the hotel pool and leave fully satisfied, but if you can get everyone on dry land you won’t regret heading out into the area’s famous vibrant geological features. The 1-mile round trip hike to Cathedral Rock involves steep scrambles, but rewards with glorious views of Arizona’s southwestern landscape (and allegedly, a classic Sedona energy vortex). Alternatively, Red Rock State Park has 5 miles of approachable trails to wander: Combine Eagle's Nest Loop with Coyote Ridge Trail and the Apache Fire Loop to explore high desert and riparian landscapes and their native wildlife. Or entice less enthusiastic hikers with a cooling plunge at the natural water slides within Slide Rock State Park. Want to get farther afield? Surprise the kids with a rugged off-road jeep tour with Pink Adventure Tours. 

Huntsville, Utah

For families that love stargazing, you can’t pick a better spot than the Ogden Valley town of Huntsville, less than an hour north of Salt Lake City. Compass Rose Lodge has an on-site observatory and nightly star tours that offer up-close glimpses through telescopes of the moon and nearby planets. By day, take a scenic gondola ride to a mountain-top hike or play mini golf at the base of Snowbasin Ski Resort, which also hosts a family-friendly summer concert series. Back in town, Detours rents paddleboards and canoes to take out on nearby Pineview Reservoir as well as cruiser bikes for rolling around (and bonus for the kids: the shop also serves tropical-flavored snow cones). 

Willow, Alaska

The small town of Willow, 80 minutes outside of Anchorage, is best known as the starting point of the Iditarod sled dog race, but it’s ideal for an adventure of your own. Hide away in a remote cabin and enjoy hiking in the Talkeetna Mountains, salmon fishing, or rafting on Willow Creek come summertime. Hatcher Pass Cabins serve as a great basecamp. From there, you can hike part of the 9-mile round trip Reed Lakes trail, if you’re up for a challenge, or the 1-mile Gold Cord Lake trail, if you’d prefer something more mellow. If you’re there in August or September, ask around for the best spots for wild blueberry picking. To learn about the local dog mushing culture, Alaskan Husky Adventures offers kennel tours and year-round dogsledding.