The Most Popular Family Vacation Destinations

As a family-run mortgage company, we know the importance of taking time off and the health of having a work life balance. Thankfully, summer is around the corner. And for many of you, that means some type of reprieve from work, whether it’s a staycation for a long weekend or perhaps a beach trip with the whole family.

Either way, it got us thinking – what have been the most popular family vacation destinations this past year?

Well, we did some research, and here’s what we found.

Take a look at the top five family vacation destinations and a few popular activities at each one.

  1. Orlando, Florida

    • It’s the theme park capital of the world, making this a no-brainer as a summer family destination. It’s home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld. Families can also visit nearby LEGOLAND or Gatorland (yikes). Or cool off at one of the many water parks. This is a kid’s dream (and some of you adults get stoked about the rides, too).

  1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

    • This beast of a national park spans across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho and is home to stunning landscapes such as geysers, hot springs, bison, and grizzly bears. This type of trip isn’t just for the outdoorsy folks who use healing essential oils and only wear Cotopaxi. The miles of natural beauty at Yellowstone make this a trip for EVERYONE. Guided tours. Hiking, fishing, camping, biking, educational programs for kids… Let’s just say your fam will be fit after this trip.

  1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    • No surprise. Myrtle Beach has been a popular family spot for years. 60+ miles of coastline. Swimming. Surfing. And let’s not forget – the amusement parks and beach activities. If you haven’t been to the boardwalk or done a banana boat excursion, they’re must-tries on your next trip here. Some major attractions include Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Ripley’s Aquarium. There’s a decent balance of relaxation and access to entertainment in Myrtle Beach, so we get why it ranked high on the list. (We were, however, a bit surprised that Hilton Head didn’t outrank Myrtle Beach. We have some family suspicions going on about ChatGPT being involved in the making of the stats we read.)

  2. San Diego, California

    • We won’t lie. This one DID surprise us a bit. We know California has a ton to offer, but we don’t typically hear of our friends taking their families there. Apparently the weather, though, is what’s drawing folks in. Mild weather. 70 miles of coastline. And fun ocean activities like surfing. And nearby you have SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and LEGOLAND California. Okay… we can see how that would be pretty awesome. We also found that San Diego has a vibrant food and craft beer scene, making it a great destination for parents who want to enjoy some adult time while on vacation.

  3.  Washington, D.C.

    • Ah. The city for the families who love trivia, war documentaries, and Hamilton. (Although who didn’t love Hamilton?) If you’re planning to venture here for your next family vacation, well… you’ve got a lot to choose from. Museums like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of Natural History. And landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Washington Monument. Our family’s idea of vacation usually entails making sandcastles at the beach and then laugh-screaming when Uncle Ryan inevitably runs through them… But we see a lot of value in taking a trip to our country’s capital and learning more about our roots.

Well, we thought for sure – thanks to Covid – that this list would be peppered with more national parks than it was. But we do think it’s pretty spot on for some famous spots we all know and love. We hope your family is able to take some time to decompress together this summer and enjoy everything our country has to offer! Happy planning.

– The UFM Family