4 Affordable and Family-Friendly Summer Vacation Destinations

Summer is the best time to go out and explore the world. With school out for the summer break, a family trip is in order.

While family vacations are always fun, they are also a huge pain to plan.

There are many things to consider, such as how do I travel with a toddler? How do I stay productive while on vacation? Where do we go? Can we afford it?

We’re here to help make the planning process a tad bit easier for you and rounded up a few of the best family-friendly summer vacation destinations with the most amount of fun and ease without breaking the bank:

1. Winter Park, Colorado

Don’t let the name fool you, this resort town is also great in the summertime. Rates start at $89 per night and there are a ton of activities to enjoy: from horseback riding, hiking, biking, zip lining, rafting, and sliding down Colorado’s longest alpine slide.

The neighboring Snow Mountain Ranch is also home to one of the only three summer tubing hills in the country. It’s also a great place for swimming, miniature golf, and indoor or outdoor wall climbing. Be sure to drop by Hideaway Park on any Thursday from June 14 through August 13 offer to enjoy free concerts!

2. Bar Harbor, Maine

This idyllic harbor offers fun swimming activities for the water-loving family vacationers – much like the freshwater beach at Echo Lake with the gentle waves perfect for kids). You can also take a DIY walking tour by just following the signs labeled “Museum in the Streets.” If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, the nearby Acadia National Park has camping, hiking, and coastline activities ready for you.

Agamont Park also offers kid-friendly movie screenings with free popcorn from July 11 through August 15. Make sure to book your plane tickets along these dates!

3. San Diego, California

Sunny San Diego has lots of fun activities for kids and adults alike – theme parks, zoos, kid-friendly museums, and 70 miles of beaches. You can choose to visit any of the fun sights of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Legoland California, harbor cruises, and Balboa Park museums. It’s a summer-perfect location to make one of the best memories for your family this year.

4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, or more fondly called, Kidsburgh, has lots of activities for families. Choose from the many amazing spots like the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh Zoo. In the summertime, they also do a 10-day Grand Prix parade with vintage cars and organize walking tours for those who wish to just stroll around enjoying the city sights. There are lunch spots that will only set you back for under $10, and the subway line at the Golden Triangle gets you around downtown for free.

If you would love to go outdoorsy, consider taking a bike ride along the Great Allegheny Passage, a scenic route to explore Pittsburgh’s many bridges and tunnels along a 150-mile trail.

Head over to this blog post by Travel and Leisure to see more family-friendly summer vacation destinations that won’t leave you bankrupt.