Summer vacation is almost here – and you and your family are tired of the standard destinations and activities. You’re all ready for something new, something unusual, something unforgettable. Well, we’ve got a few ideas …
[Header image courtesy of Toronto's CN Tower]
Gaze Into Utah’s Starry Skies
Photo Courtesy of the Utah Office of Tourism Add some star power to your family vacation in
Utah this summer. Recently, the International Dark–Sky Association recognized
Capitol Reef National Park as the newest International Dark Sky Park, one of only 22 parks like this in the world – making it one of the best destinations in the world to view the night sky. With Venus reaching its greatest brilliancy in June, the Delta Aquarids meteor shower in July and the Perseid meteor shower in August, summer is the ideal time to get outside and gaze into the night sky. In addition to Capitol Reef, Utah is home to three more officially designated Dark Sky Parks and a number of astronomy-themed activities and events.
Learn more.
Unplug at Smith Fork Ranch
Kids – and even tough-to-please teens – will love the secluded
Smith Fork Ranch, located in Colorado’s gorgeous North Fork Valley. It’s the ultimate summer camp; a place where they can unplug, run free, and be safe in a natural setting. Experienced youth counselors and guides will lead them on
adventures they’ll never forget, including horseback rides, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, campfire sing-alongs, star-gazing and much more. And did we mention the amazing treehouse and swimming pond?
Go Wild in the West
The romance and feel of the West won't be lost on kids visiting
Cheyenne, Wyoming with their families. Home to a myriad of interactive activities and experiences, the city (just a short drive from Denver International Airport) is an unforgettable family vacation that is both fun and educational. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through historic downtown, see family-friendly gunfights, western skits and other Wild West activities in
Gunslinger Square, and visit a herd of 2,300 bison at the
Terry Bison Ranch. You’ll locate your inner cowboys and cowgirls in no time.
Experience a Prehistoric Adventure in Albuquerque
Kids love dinosaurs – and let’s face it, so do adults. Dinos once ruled New Mexico, and the state’s incredible
Museum of Natural History in
Albuquerque will take you back in time to those prehistoric days. You’ll go face-to-face with the king of the dinosaurs in the T. Rex Attack exhibit, featuring Stan, the second-largest Tyrannosaurus ever found. The museum’s newest permanent exhibit, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, is the only Triassic hall in North America, where you’ll discover New Mexico’s state fossil, and one of the very first dinosaurs, Coelophysis.
Discover Sunriver Resort’s Fort Funnigan
A Pacific Northwest getaway like no other,
Sunriver Resort transcends the “fun for all ages” cliché. It really is a place that the whole family will fall in love with. While the adults are enjoying world-class golf, thrilling outdoor adventure, soothing spa treatments and much more, kids aged 3-7 can have the time of their lives at
Fort Funnigan. Featuring a mini rock wall and a 3,400-square-foot fenced playground, the program offers activities specifically structured with themed days: Sunriver Superhero, Wild Wild West, Spikes Sports Spectacular, Spotted Frog Fridays and Pirates of the High Desert.
Visit Toronto’s Fantastic Family Attractions
There’s no shortage of things to do in
Toronto -- Canada's Downtown -- with the family this summer. Take a Master Builder workshop or check out the dozens of other bricktacular activities at
LEGOLAND. Say hello to the animals – including Giant Panda Cubs! – at the
Toronto Zoo. Get out of this world at the
Ontario Science Center, where there are interstellar exhibits galore. Experience
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, featuring one of the world’s most extensive jelly fish exhibits, 65+ year old giant lobsters, sting ray and bamboo shark touch pools and daily live dive shows. Discover the incredible
CN Tower (celebrating its 40th anniversary this year), 553m/1,815ft above the city, with spectacular views – and the hair-raising EdgeWalk – the world’s highest “hands-free” walk.
TIP: Save time and money with a
Toronto CityPASS. You'll see the best attractions the area has to offer, hand-picked and packaged into an easy-to-use ticket booklet.
Spend Some Quality Time on Bermuda’s Pink Sand Beaches
Photo courtesy the Bermuda Tourism Authority Is your summer vacation in need of some beach time? Bermuda has
some of the best beaches in the world. Port Royal Cove (aka Baby Beach), on the western end of famous Horseshoe Bay (one of
USA Today’s Top 10 Caribbean Beaches), is the perfect sandy spot for younger children. Sheltered by large rock formations, the shallow water is calm enough to teach kids to snorkel – or just to splash around in. Make sure to build a pink sandcastle, too.
