11 Awesome Outdoor Adventures for Families & Couples

DISCOVER THE BEST OUTDOORSY FAMILY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES!

For families and couples, outdoor adventures are perhaps the best way to make amazing memories – the ones that you’ll be talking about for years to come. Like: Remember that time we hiked through a river? Or when you jumped into that frigid swimming hole, saw a bear, found a fossil? Or cried about having to go river rafting but then loved it?

If you’re like “yep, I love me some Mother Nature,” then you definitely need to read on. I’ve rounded up some incredible family travel destinations for you to explore.

Outdoor Adventure Destinations

Many of these outdoorsy vacations are still hidden gems, so you won’t have to fight for elbow space on trails or tours. Reconnect, refresh and remember that you’re a part of something much bigger than yourself on these outdoor adventures.

1. Grand Junction, Colorado

A few hours west of Denver, Grand Junction feels worlds away from the Rocky Mountains. Among the red canyons, you’ll find stunning rock formations, lakes and pine forests. The bonus? This region is the agricultural heart of the state so nearly every restaurant serves farm-to-table food.

Outdoor activities in Grand Junction:

• Hike past sandstone cliffs on 60 miles of trails at Colorado National Monument.
• Take a mountain biking lesson at Powderhorn Mountain Resort – they provide equipment and a lift up the mountain too.
• Raft down the Colorado River.

2. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Home to America’s most-visited national park, the Smokies are a bucket-list destination for many folks. You’re bound to see some wildlife in the park – it’s home to large populations of salamanders and black bears as well as elk, foxes and deer. Get up early enough and you might catch the namesake fog rolling over the mountaintops too. A definite don’t-miss? While you’re there sample the Appalachian culture (hello, banjos, BBQ and moonshine).

Outdoor activities in the Great Smoky Mountains:

• Explore old-growth forests and spot salamanders sunning near Grotto Falls.
• Ride bikes through Cades Cove and keep an eye out for wildlife.
• Glimpse black bears often spotted on the popular Laurel Falls Trail.
• Listen to banjo-picking on The Parkway,  downtown Gatlinburg’s main strip.

3. Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron is a picturesque prairie town nestled along a ridge with canyons and buttes to explore. What used to be a fur-trading hotspot in the 1800s is now the perfect place for a quiet, no-crowds adventure. At the end of the day, stroll the old-timey Main Street and overnight in a bargain-priced cabin in one of the state parks.

Outdoor activities in Chadron:

• Hike, horseback ride, mountain bike and swim in the pool at Chadron State Park.
• Scramble over rocks at Toadstool Geologic Park – it looks like South Dakota’s famous Badlands, but without all the tourists.
• Hop on a stagecoach and go for a ride to see a herd of buffalo at Fort Robinson State Park.

4. Zion National Park, Utah

There are 63 national parks in the United States and Zion is among the most popular. It’s just as gorgeous as you’d expect: red-rock cliffs, waterfalls, juniper-scented air and blue skies 255 days of the year. The best way to experience the park and Utah’s stunning red-rock country is on a road trip from Las Vegas to Zion. That way you can stop at the incredible (and less crowded) state parks in the surrounding area too.

Outdoor activities around Zion National Park:

• Take an easy walk to see the Emerald Pools.
• Hike The Narrows, which is a trail that goes through the Virgin River (yep, you’ll get wet).
• Hit up the surrounding area for some of the best activities to do near Zion, like sand-sledding, off-roading, squeezing into slot canyons and climbing into lava tubes.

5. Silver City, New Mexico

Be like Billy the Kid and make this former mining town your basecamp in the high desert, where temperatures stay moderate year-round. Stroll the historic downtown – lined with Old West-era buildings now home to eateries, boutiques and art galleries – and make day trips into the surrounding wilderness.

Outdoor activities in Silver City:

• Drive 40 minutes south to City of Rocks State Park to climb boulders and hike desert trails and then take a dip in nearby Faywood Hot Springs.
• Go one hour northeast to Gila National Forest to see incredible cliff dwellings. 
• Follow a one-of-kind trail through a narrow canyon in Catwalk Recreation Area, about a one-hour drive northwest.

6. Finger Lakes Region, New York

Spend a weekend sipping wine and spotting waterfalls in this under-the-radar region of New York. It’s named for the 11 long and skinny lakes that dot rolling green hills. But the real show-stopper here is the four state parks. Exploring their mossy gorges to discover perfect, lacy cascades and dramatic, plunging waterfalls makes for an unforgettable outdoor vacation.

Outdoor activities in the Finger Lakes region:

• Spot 19 waterfalls on the 2-mile trail at Watkins Glen State Park.
• See a double waterfall on a quiet hike through the gorge at Buttermilk Falls State Park.
• Take a dip in the big, natural swimming hole at Robert Treman State Park.
• Kayak to a waterfall and a winery on Seneca Lake.

7. The Rendezvous Region, North Dakota

Life feels simple and sweet when you’re traveling down the Rendezvous Region Scenic Backway. On this 33-mile drive, you pass a one-room schoolhouse, a trading post and Icelandic churches built in the 1800s. Sunflower fields, farmland and tiny towns dot the landscape. Your final destination? Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, a 2,800-acre playground for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Outdoor activities in the Rendezvous Region:

• Ride ATVs or mountain bikes, or hike 30 miles of trails through dense forests at Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area.
• Drop a fishing line, a kayak or your toes in the Pembina River to cool off.
• Learn about North Dakota’s homesteading heritage at Icelandic State Park and go on fossil hunts in the summer.
• Curl up in a cushy cabin overlooking the Red River Valley.

8. Hocking Hills, Ohio

It feels like pixies and elves live in these enchanted hills – green and mossy in spring and summer and a frozen wonderland in winter. Explore caves and waterfalls in warmer weather and pose with enormous icicles and frozen cascades during the cold season. An outdoorsy trip here is truly magical!

Outdoor activities in Hocking Hills:

• Spot gushing (or frozen!) waterfalls on several hiking trails around Hocking Hills State Park.
• Follow the lesser-known Rock House Trail to reach a big, walkable cave.
• Pour a glass of wine, cook a hot meal and get that fire crack-a-lackin’ in a cozy cabin.

9. Steens Mountain, Oregon

The wilderness around Steens Mountain is the remote hideaway you’ve been dreaming of. Stay in the small city of Burns and make day trips to see the surrounding area. At the base of the mountain lies a barren desert, hot springs and a wildlife refuge. At the top are small lakes and in between roam wild horses.

Outdoor activities around Steens Mountain:

• Drive the highest road in Oregon – the 59-mile Steens Loop Tour Route to the mountain summit – and spot a herd of wild Mustangs in the hills near the Kiger Wild Horse Viewing Area.
• Pose against the Insta-worthy cracked floor of Alvord Desert and then soak in nearby natural hot springs at Crane Hot Springs.   
• See some of the 340 species of birds that make Malheur National Wildlife Refuge a stop on their migratory route.

10. Custer State Park, South Dakota

This park in the state’s famous Black Hills is home to a herd of 1,300 bison, making the grassy hills dotted with ponderosa pine even more picturesque. Gray granite spires frame glassy lakes and like stony fingers, point up to the creator who made all this beauty. When you’re ready for bed, you can bunk down at one of the many park accommodations. Choose from four historic lodges as well as cabins and campgrounds.

Outdoor activities around Custer State Park:

• Drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road early in the morning or at dusk to spot pronghorn, prairie dogs, coyotes and burros.
• Go for a horse ride or hike trails through meadows and across creeks and kayak or paddleboard on Sylvan Lake.
• Drive 45-minutes north to see Mount Rushmore and then tackle the ropes course at Rush Mountain Adventure Park.

11. Door County, Wisconsin

The easiest way to keep your spirits up during winter is to get outdoors, according to the Scandinavian philosophy of friluftsliv (fresh-air living). Most people visit Door County in the summer for cherry and boating season. But those in the know schedule their trip to the Scandi-settled peninsula along Lake Michigan for winter. That’s when the crisp air and snowy landscape give nature lovers plenty to do without having to ski or snowboard.

Outdoor activities in Door County:

• Walk along the Red Trail at Whitefish Dunes State Park to see limestone cliffs, sea caves and pine trees slicked with ice from lake spray.
• Snowshoe out to a lighthouse on 5 miles of trails at the Ridge Sanctuary.
• Go to an outdoor fish boil, a bonfire-cooked meal used to feed hungry lumberjacks in the 1800s.

Was that enough info to get your travel-booking juices flowing? If not, check out:

👉 Offbeat road trips

👉 Best family summer vacation places in the U.S.

👉 West Virginia resorts for adventurous families

If you can’t find a trip to fantasize about among all those vacation ideas, stay put and keep doing the daily grind – you’re not ready for an incredible getaway just yet. 😜

Happy travels,

DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THESE 11 AWESOME OUTDOOR ADVENTURES FOR FAMILIES AND COUPLES TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!