Travel+Leisure

7 dream trips for families

Already thinking about where to take your family next? Here’s a few thought starters from editor-in-chief of Parents magazine, Liz Vaccariello.

A grandfather, a father and a daughter sit together on a beach.

June 30, 2023

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9 Minute Read

As the former Editor-in-Chief of Parents magazine—and as travel planner-in-chief in my own family—I know that the stakes are high when booking a vacation for people of different ages. Children need to be entertained—and if the fun includes water, all the better. Parents want someone else to take care of the cooking, cleaning, scheduling and (sometimes) the kids. For other trips, we invite grandmas and grandpas, too.

In an effort to help you get a vacation on your calendar, I pulled together some unforgettable adventures from my own memory books. To make sure you get the best rates, the hotel names shown in bold are available for booking on Capital One Travel, and the restaurants in bold offer exclusive access for cardholders through the Capital One Dining program. And for even more benefits, check out Capital One’s collaboration with Gravity Haus.

Best for nature lovers: Costa Rica

We’ve enjoyed Costa Rica many times, and it always seems to satisfy our craving for nature, sun and an exotic locale. I love this starter itinerary for families who want to taste what the country has to offer. Fly into San Juan, then jaunt over to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast, reachable only by small plane or boat. Spend two nights at Mwamba Lodge, your home base for a jungle adventure that includes an easy kayak excursion through the rainforest (monkeys for days!) and a guided beach walk to see (and help protect) one of four species of sea turtles that nest in this area. It’s nothing short of exhilarating to stand behind an endangered green turtle and watch her swish sand back onto a dozen softball-sized, freshly laid eggs. It’s the stuff college essays are made of—and something all ages will enjoy, from teens to grandparents.

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Second stop is Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, which is located in the higher-elevation center of the country. We went bird watching (138 indigenous and migratory species have been documented in the area) and tubing down a winding river, and we joined a guided hike that ended with everyone rappelling down a waterfall. On the property, the kids looked for rainforest snails, snakes and bugs on a midnight walking safari. From the hammock on our room’s terrace, I soaked in breathtaking views of the nearby volcano. Three restaurants catered to all our tastes, from authentic Japanese sushi to exceptional thin-crust pizza.

For a “pura vida” end to your week, book several days in the lively resort town of Manuel Antonio, a coastal village surrounded by lush jungle and pristine white-sand beaches (be on the lookout for sloths!). Book a stay at the Hotel San Bada, Le Vela Boutique Hotel or Hotel La Posada as home base and let everyone choose their own adventure.

PRO TIP: Let Capital One Travel help you plan your trip! Eligible cardholders can find thousands of travel options for their next getaway. Use smart tools like price prediction for great prices on flights, hotels and rental cars. Whether you’re flying to Costa Rica, renting a car in Maine or finding your ideal place to stay in Bermuda, innovative features like the Capital One Travel price match guarantee will help you book with confidence and make your trip even more rewarding.

Best for groups looking for city scenes: Chicago

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A city hotel with an indoor pool? Where do we sign? The Peninsula Chicago is a five-star hotel known for blending traditional Asian service with Midwestern warmth—all smack dab in the center of a city that offers shows, shopping and museums for every interest and plenty of green space for when you just need to spread out a bit. Navy Pier is a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and Millennium Park—which is where you’ll find Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture (affectionately called “The Bean”)—is three blocks away.

I recommend the Peninsula because kids can enroll in its bespoke Peninsula Academy. Ask about architecture tours, cooking classes, a firehouse excursion and more. Of course, everyone can enjoy the spa, buzzy bars and restaurants on the property—or the many group-friendly dining options around town that are bookable for eligible cardholders on Capital One Dining: Virtue (Southern American in Hyde Park), Mi Tocaya Antojería (neighborhood Mexican), HaiSous (urban Vietnamese street food) and Jaleo Chicago (Spanish).

Best for stretching out on the sand: Bermuda

Boasting pink beaches, dramatic water caves and pastel-colored mansions, Bermuda is only a short flight from the East Coast and a great choice for families in search of tropical breezes. The best value is the all-inclusive Grotto Bay Beach Resort. Only a five-minute taxi drive from the airport (tourists can’t rent cars in Bermuda), it has three beaches, day-and-night tennis, a spa and several restaurants. The showstopper is its private entrance to the ancient Crystal Caves, one of the most visited natural wonders on the island and a sight that will captivate kids, teens, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents—literally anyone on your trip.

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We were able to depart for sunset sails and chartered fishing trips, and we even rented our own small boat (which we took to a secluded stingray habitat) from the property’s dock. Our teenage daughters Sophia and Olivia spent hours out on the inflatable water park located in the shallow waters right off the resort’s beach. But I was mesmerized by the 500,000-year-old caves that are home to Grotto Bay’s spa. I will never forget walking along the wooden platform to my massage appointment while peering down into the shimmering azure waters and up at the dripping stalagmites.

Best for skiing and group hikes: Vail Village, Colorado

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For a crew of people who want to get out on the slopes—or the trails, when the weather is warmer—Vail Village and the surrounding area offer up more than enough to do. Make your home base Gravity Haus, a dog-friendly hotel located in the heart of Vail Village. While its restaurant (The Slope Room, which focuses on local ingredients across its steakhouse-inspired New American menu) is great for a satisfying meal after a day on the mountain, the sauna and steam rooms in the spa will give those sore muscles some much-needed relaxation.

Vail appeals to all ages, from bunny-slope skiers to grandparents who want to spend some time shopping in the village or strolling the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. For those wanting a nightcap or two, pay a visit to the Tasting Room at 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits. Looking for a recommendation? The house-made cordial, which is infused with sage, vanilla and peach, is a delicious way to end the night.

Vail Village’s size is the secret sauce that makes this destination perfect for multigenerational groups. It's small enough that people can split off comfortably and meet throughout the day without having to make a big trek, but there are also some can’t-miss day trips to be had. Leadville, Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs, Steamboat Springs and Aspen all serve up mountain-town vibes that are entirely unique to this area of the country. Keep an eye out for hot springs, another activity all ages will love.

PRO TIP: Venture X, Venture and VentureOne cardholders can get $300 toward an annual membership at Gravity Haus. Eligible cardholders can enroll here.

Best for theme park fans: Hollywood, California

Be the first of your amusement park-enthusiast friends to visit the new Super Nintendo World experience at Universal Studios Hollywood. Opened in February, it’s the biggest addition to the California park since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Talk about nostalgia: The main attraction is an augmented reality ride called “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge,” where you compete on some of the chaotic racing series’ courses in a kart that follows a set path in the classic dark-ride style. The interactivity plays out on your headset.

Kids of all ages (you, too, Mom and Dad!) can also play four mini “key challenges” and pose for photos with Mario, Luigi and Peach. For the ultimate in Instagrammability, eat at Toadstool Café, where adorable mushroom-capped Toads work the kitchen.

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Groups who want to stay within walking distance of the park should book the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Further afoot is The Garland, a smaller boutique hotel in North Hollywood that offers special Universal-themed kids events by the pool. Looking for an unforgettable meal? Head to Anajak Thai (outdoor omakase, chef collaborations and potentially the best meal you’ll have in L.A. and beyond), Osteria La Buca (farm-to-table Italian) or Sant’olina (Israeli/Mediterranean food and cocktails atop the Beverly Hilton). When you book on Capital One Dining, you’ll have access to these and other exclusive reservations you can’t find elsewhere. And when you’re in the mood for dinner and a show, check out Capital One Entertainment for thousands of ticket options to various events, like an MLB game to cheer on the Los Angeles Angels.

Best for outdoor adventurers: Steamboat Springs, Colorado

My family of four inexperienced horse riders spent a week at a dude ranch—and we loved every minute of it. Maybe it was the fresh mountain air or maybe it was the exhilaration of learning something new as a family. Each of us—which includes my fly-fishing husband, our up-for-anything teenagers and my active-but-pamper-me self—will tell you that a week at Vista Verde Guest Ranch was one of the most memorable vacations of our lives.

Located in the Rocky Mountains and 40 minutes outside of Steamboat Springs, Vista Verde is best described as a luxury dude ranch with casual vibes. Every morning just after the sun rose, my husband Steve would grab his camera so as not to miss the daily running of the horses. I’d hear whistling and a sharp “Yaaah! Yaah!” echoing in the valley where the ranch’s 100-or-so horses were free to graze overnight. As the ranch hands funneled the team through the main ranch gate, Steve captured the dramatic plumes of dust kicked up by the galloping.

The ranch has an impressive three levels of kids programming (kids 6-10, tweens 11-13 and teens 14-18). A highlight for my teenagers? The overnight camp-out, where they rode out into a “secret from the parents” location in the mountains, ate a campfire dinner and listened to the counselors’ ghost stories.

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Families always eat breakfast and lunch together in the main lodge. Dinner varies from casual family style to luxe campfire cookouts only a horse ride away. On a handful of nights, the kids did a quick dine and dash, then fled for games. At day’s end, we’d all jump in the hot tub on our cabin porch. Highlights for me included a personal fly-fishing casting lesson with Steve, a one-on-one yoga session on a platform in the woods by the creek and line dancing on the last night. And yes, the Italian linens on the beds.

Best for large groups spanning lots of ages: Maine

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Few states say “summer camp” like Maine. Since 1916, Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake has been the classic lakeside resort of choice for generations of families to gather—dozens of them, annually. With a classic main lodge and 35 cottages of varying sizes and configurations nestled amid 125 acres of pine forest, branches of your family tree can be as “together” as they like. Migis’s 3,500 feet of calm shoreline and a small beach are the ideal setting for sand-castle making, canoeing, kayaking and sailing. Motorized boating and water skiing are also free. Sunset cocktail hour and dinner at Migis’s main lodge atop the gentle hill feel like an event (jackets and collared shirts are required for the men), but kids can eat with counselors then scram for movies and ice cream. In our experience, everyone comes together for bingo night, the Friday lobster bake and an end-of-week kids’ talent show.

Already thinking about where to take your family next? Capital One is here to make trip planning easier. Choose from thousands of flights, hotels and rental car options with Capital One Travel. Venture X cardholders can elevate their stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two, 10X miles and other premium benefits on every booking through Capital One Travel.

With Capital One Entertainment, you and your crew can find thousands of tickets to events across sports, music, theater and more. Access a collection of highly curated reservations at hundreds of exceptional restaurants with Capital One Dining. And don’t forget to take advantage of Capital One’s collaboration with Gravity Haus for even more options and benefits for your next family adventure.

© Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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