Discover why these under-the-radar spots are the best places for summer vacations!
Aww, summer, that special time of year when we shed our coats and hoodies, don flip-flops and sunnies, and plan all kinds of fun. But sometimes it can be hard figuring out where to go.
You want a relaxing, uncrowded destination. But it also needs to have activities your whole gang will enjoy. Don’t worry sister, I gotcha. Check out these awesome (and mostly outdoorsy) family summer vacation places:
#1: Gulf Shores, Alabama
This strip of powdery white sand and emerald-green waves has fewer tourists than Florida’s more famous Gulf Coast beaches. And that’s a very good thing (hello, affordable oceanfront rentals). Feel your stress melt away as you kick around this laidback beach community.
Spend your days on the sand (there’s plenty of space to spread out!) or go do all the fun things in Gulf Shores: ride bikes, kayak, fish, zipline and even take a whirl on a Ferris Wheel. Gulf Shores is the ultimate under-the-radar spot for a family vacation on the beach.
Read More: Yummiest Spots for a Sugar Fix in Gulf Shores
#2: Seward, Alaska
When you think Alaska, you probably think cruises. But there’s another (less crowded) way to enjoy the 49th state: fly and drive. Land in Anchorage and drive 2.5 hours along the gorgeous Seward Highway to the idyllic waterside town of Seward right outside of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Best known for its icy-blue glaciers and abundant wildlife, you can take your pick of adventurous activities here: whale watching, dog sledding, hiking across a glacier, and kayaking alongside porpoises and seals.
More mellow options include scenic drives, learning about Alaska’s marine life at the Alaska Sea Life Center, and stuffing your face with oysters, halibut and salmon.
#3: Buffalo River, Arkansas
Craving an off-grid trip? Get out on the Buffalo River, a ribbon of water so pretty it became the country’s first designated National River. It winds its way from west to east, through the Ozarks and along wooded bluffs.
Floating and kayaking are the most popular activities, but hiking here is incredible too – you’ll see waterfalls and points that overlook what feels like the entire world.
At dusk, spot herds of elk grazing in Boxley Valley before heading back to a cozy cabin in one of the several small mountain communities like Ponca or Jasper.
#4: Essex, Connecticut
Surrounded on three sides by water with whitewashed houses and picket fences, it’s no wonder Essex has been dubbed the perfect American town. Here you can soak up plenty of colonial history.
First, go sailing down the river on a replica 1614 ship. Then check out the country’s first submarine. Or hop onto a rail bike to peddle on old railroad tracks through the forest. A stop at Florence Griswold Museum, once a boarding house for impressionist artists is a must too.
At the end of the day be sure to fill your belly with a Yankee dinner at The Griswold Inn, where they’ve been serving customers since 1776.
#5: Rehoboth, Delaware
One hour but a world away from Washington D.C., life is slow and sweet in Rehoboth. And that’s exactly the way families who come here like it.
Days are spent playing in the sand or strolling along the mile-long beach boardwalk with shops, arcades (Skeeball, anyone?), eateries and plenty of junk food (looking at you, salt and vinegar fries).
Funland, a family-owned amusement park on the boardwalk, is a big draw too. Entertaining folks since 1962, the park is home to 19 rides including a carousal and a haunted mansion.
For natural thrills Rehoboth Surf Boarding School offers lessons or you can rent fishing poles and throw a line in off the pier at Cape Henlopen State Park.
#6: The Keys, Florida
Sunset parties, six-toed cats and key lime everything? Sign us up! Florida Keys isn’t your average beach destination. It’s a quirky trip that all ages can enjoy.
Despite what you may have heard, even party-hard Key West is fun with kids.
Drive the Overseas Highway from key to key – it’s basically one long bridge (113 miles!) that connects the dots of land together. Stop at Marathon Key to tour a turtle hospital, snorkel at Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine and catch sailfish (or at least handfeed some big tarpon!) on Islamorada.
Just remember to pack plenty of tank tops and swimsuits because it’ll be hot and humid.
#7: Priest Lake, Idaho
Whether you stay at a family-friendly resort or a waterfront campsite, your vacation at Priest Lake will be a trifecta of rest, relaxation and the great outdoors!
Tucked away in the northern panhandle of Idaho, Priest Lake is one those hidden gems practically made for Instagrammers. Forests and mountains are reflected in the crystal-clear water. Puffy clouds float across azure skies and on clear nights, the Milky Way dazzles.
The lake is 19 miles long, but half of it remains blissfully undeveloped thanks to being a part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Kayak, swim, fish, pick wild huckleberries and hike during the day. At night enjoy bonfires and cuddling in this best-kept-secret vacation place.
#8: Grafton, Illinois
It’s natural to think of the south when you hear talk of the Mississippi River. But that mighty body of water cuts through the Midwest region too. Grafton is a charming little town that sits on the river’s edge along the Great River Road, one of the state’s scenic byways.
It’s home to the largest state park in Illinois – Pere Marquette State Park – where you can take easy hikes to the top of limestone bluffs for sweeping views. Other fun activities include horseback riding through the forest and riding the waterslides at Raging Rivers Water Park, perched on the banks of the river.
At the end of a busy-fun day, sip sangria on the patio of a local winery and soak up hilltop views.
#9: Traverse City, Michigan
This lakeside town with sugar-sand beaches is the perfect summer escape for families. Nestled at the base of two peninsulas, Traverse City is surrounded by vineyards and fruit orchards and has a downtown full of delicious eats.
Spend days on the beach at downtown Clinch Park, where there’s a concession stand, SUP rentals and a waterfront splash pad. Then head inland to u-pick berry patches (the rare saskatoon berry is ripe in early July!) or visit family-friendly wineries with sandboxes, farm animals and yard games.
The best way to end an active day in Traverse City is with a short trip out to a local dairy pasture. At Moomers, you can dive into a flight of farm-fresh ice cream in flavors like banana bread and s’mores while watching the cows graze nearby.
#10: Silver Bay, Minnesota
Thick forests and jagged cliffs plummeting into deep-blue water may have you thinking you’ve landed in Maine. But Silver Bay is located an hour north of Duluth along a scenic highway that hugs Lake Superior.
Explore the pristine wilderness at Tettegouche State Park, home to hikes with jaw-dropping views and roaring waterfalls. You can also spend an afternoon at Silver Bay’s black-sand beach, kayak on Lake Superior, or conquer the treetop ropes course with 10 ziplines.
And if snapping a photo of America’s most picturesque lighthouse at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park—20 minutes north — isn’t at the top of your to-do list, you’re missing out.
#11: Echo Bluff State Park, Missouri
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains alongside a spring-fed, crystal-clear creek, Echo Bluff State Park is a hidden gem. By day, hike some of the 30 miles of bluff-side trails or kayak or tube down the nearby Current River (a bus shuttles you back and forth from the park’s lodge).
You can also take a day trip to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park where the Black River has carved out pools and slides in ancient volcanic rock, creating a natural waterpark to play in. On the way don’t miss stopping at the Alley Spring and Mill. It’s a gorgeous sight: an aquamarine pond next to an old red mill.
When you return to Echo Bluff, grab dinner on the huge deck of Creekside Grill before turning in at the park’s lodge or in one of its cabins.
#12. Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
A 30-minute ferry ride from Savannah, Georgia, lands you in another world, where life moves at a blissfully slow pace. Daufuskie Island, a sea island off the coast of South Carolina, doesn’t have any grocery stores, gas stations or traffic lights and barely any cars. Instead, most people putt around the five-mile island on golf carts or bicycles.
The white-sand beaches are covered in shells and dolphins swim surprisingly close to the shore. At lunchtime, Lucy Bell’s is the place to order the best shrimp and grits in the South. There’s golfing, kayaking and horseback riding under the mossy trees, too.
At sunset, everyone heads to the dock at Old Daufuskie Crab Company to sip sweet tea vodka and lemonade while watching the sun go down over the water.
There you have it, a list of awesome vacations that’ll make everyone in your family happy – that’s kind of a miracle, right? Have fun!
Happy travels,
