20 Best Cities for Kid-Friendly Vacations

Kids will love these fun and family-friendly destinations that allow them to play, explore, engage and just have fun being a kid.

By: Erin Gifford

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You Won’t Hear 'I’m Bored' in These Cities

Got kids? Then you’ll want to hold onto this list of the best cities for a kid-friendly vacation. You’re not likely to hear sighs of boredom in any of these must-go destinations, whether for summer vacation or a fall break.

Lawn Love used data points to compile a list of the very best cities for kids and families. They considered not only family-friendly things to do, but also kid-friendly restaurants and accommodations, as well as affordability, safety and ease in getting around town. Here is the ranked list, which includes must-dos that make each city an all-round family favorite.

20. Atlanta

There’s a lot to love about Atlanta when you’re thinking about a family vacation destination. In the downtown tourism-friendly part of the city you can park once and be a short walk from top-rated attractions, like the Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Olympic Park, World of Coca-Cola and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. There are fun new attractions, too, like the highly interactive Museum of Illusions and the reimagined LEGO Discovery Center. Slime-obsessed kids will go ga-ga for the Sloomoo Institute, a kid-friendly space that’s all about slime. There’s even a DIY slime bar. For outdoor loving families, head to the Chattahoochee Nature Center for nature trails and hands-on wildlife exhibits. Kids (and parents, too) will appreciate walking or biking the Atlanta Beltline, which boasts a playground and skateboard park and connects to the food hall Ponce City Market, a great place to grab a bite from restaurants and food stalls with something for everyone. Head to the Ponce City Market rooftop to check out the many entertainment and food options at Skyline Park, which includes vintage games and amusements. For kids who love nature there are plenty of great options including Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which features loads of interactive exhibits and wonderful Fernbank Forest to explore, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which has a special children's garden.

19. Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a fun and family-friendly destination with a variety of activities for all interests and ages. Start your day at the Carnegie Science Center, which has exhibits that range from the Little Learner Clubhouse, a nature-inspired zone for kids age 6 and under, to SpacePlace, a hub that allows big kids to explore rockets, space missions and planets. Space-crazed kids will also love the new hands-on Moonshot Museum. Enjoy a picnic and hiking trails at Point State Park, then take a ride up Mount Washington on the Duquesne Incline to the observation deck for scenic panoramas across Pittsburgh.

18. Phoenix

In Phoenix, one of the most popular family attractions is the Musical Instrument Museum, which houses 15,000 instruments from over 200 countries. In the museum’s Experience Gallery, children can play instruments like the Peruvian harp and West African djembe. At the Desert Botanical Garden, take in a manicured display of more than 50,000 plants that live in the arid Sonoran Desert. Walk the garden trails, then immerse yourself in the butterfly pavilion. In neighboring Scottsdale, the Arizona Boardwalk houses eight kid-friendly attractions, including an aquarium, a mirror maze and an indoor playground with inflatables and a climbing structure.

17. Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a lot for families, including historic sites, kid-friendly museums, green spaces and food markets. Start your family vacay at Independence National Historical Park, which is home to Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Center. Kids can participate in the Junior Ranger program to earn a badge. For hands-on fun, the Please Touch Museum, Franklin Institute and Adventure Aquarium are wildly popular with young children. At Franklin Square, ride an antique carousel, then putt around on the mini golf course. For lunch, Reading Terminal Market has dozens of food stalls and eateries.

16. Seattle

Seattle is a fun city to explore with kids. There’s just so much to do, like the Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo and the Pacific Science Center. Kids of all ages will love the Museum of Pop Culture, which features exhibits on music, movies and video games. Even better, MoPOP — as the museum is affectionately called — is a stone’s throw from the Space Needle and Seattle Children’s Museum. Stroll Pike Place Market to watch the mongers throwing fish, then add your used chewing gum to the Gum Wall. Need to revive? The first-ever Starbucks is at Pike Place, too.

15. Fort Lauderdale

Miles of sandy beaches in Fort Lauderdale draw in families eager for a sun-soaked getaway with kids. Splash in the waves, build sand castles and hunt for seashells. Off the beach, there are numerous canals for dropping in kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. You can also take a Water Taxi on the intracoastal waterway. When you want to head inside, look to the Museum of Discovery and Science, which wows with science demos, animal encounters and an IMAX Theater. At the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, laze away the day on a relaxing lazy river.

14. Denver

It’s easy to love Denver, especially for outdoor-loving families. Head to Red Rocks Park, which by day boasts miles of hiking trails and by night wows with outdoor concerts. Washington Park and Confluence Park are also tops when you want to enjoy a picnic or kick around a soccer ball. Kids will love family-friendly attractions, like the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Downtown Aquarium. Stroll 14th Street to ogle Big Blue Bear, a 40-foot tall bear that appears to be staring into the Colorado Convention Center. Art lovers, check out the walk-through art exhibition at Meow Wolf Denver.

13. Boston

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the U.S., and it’s a great choice for history-loving families. Take a walk on the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which connects 16 historic sites, including Paul Revere House, Faneuil Hall and Old North Church. Enjoy a stroll at Boston Common, if only to snap photos of the iconic Make Way for Ducklings statue. At the Public Garden, take one of the swan boats out on the lagoon. It’s easy to get around Boston on the subway (the T), which has stations across town, including at the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum.

12. San Diego

San Diego is a perfect destination for an active family getaway year-round thanks to average daily temperatures in the mid-60s. Enjoy more than 70 miles of white sand beaches, ocean breezes and colorful sunsets. Off the beach, kayak in and out of sea caves in La Jolla or bike along the Pacific Beach Boardwalk. Balboa Park and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve are popular green spaces. Kids will also love the world-renowned San Diego Zoo, as well as rides and attractions at LEGOLAND California. At the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, check out the new little blue penguins exhibit.

11. Dallas

It’s easy to see why Dallas is a top pick as a family vacation destination. It’s home to lots of kid-friendly attractions, including the Dallas Zoo, Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Six Flags Over Texas. You’ll also find ample outdoor spaces, like Klyde Warren Park, and a great food scene, even for kids. A fun spot for a lunch break is Dallas Grilled Cheese Company, which is known for its creative grilled cheese sandwiches. Also, local brews and craft cocktails. From the 561-foot-tall Reunion Tower, savor spectacular 360-degree views across the Dallas skyline.

10. San Antonio

For families, San Antonio offers a wonderful mix of educational attractions, like the Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and kid-friendly activities that are pure fun, like SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. That’s not to mention the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, which has rides, play zones and a movie theater. At the DoSeum, small children can create, build, imagine and learn, all while engaging in play. For outdoor-loving families, head to Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest cavern system in Texas, for all kinds of geological wonders. End the day with a stroll or boat cruise at the famed San Antonio River Walk.

9. Los Angeles

It’s easy to see why Los Angeles is a popular pick as a family vacation destination. Sandy beaches, theme parks, outdoor activities and kid-friendly museums, as well as weather that’s tops year-round, make Los Angeles an easy win. Splash around at the beach, then walk the world-famous pier in Santa Monica. Ride the Ferris Wheel for views across the Pacific Ocean. Get a backstage pass for movie magic at Universal Studios Hollywood, which recently opened its highly anticipated Super Nintendo World. For a mix of fun and education, get hands-on at the California Science Center, then explore fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits.

8. Houston

For space-crazed kids and families, Houston is the place to go thanks to NASA’s Space Center Houston, which offers a deep dive into space exploration. Kids can touch a moon rock, ogle space artifacts and go inside a life-size space shuttle replica. At Children’s Museum Houston and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, loads of hands-on activities keep kids busy all day. Get outside on a pontoon boat at Buffalo Bayou Park or go paddleboarding at Lake Conroe, one of the most popular lakes in Houston. The beach is a stone’s throw away, too. It’s just one hour to reach the sandy shores of Galveston Island State Park.

7. San Francisco

Home to bucket list attractions, like the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz Island, it’s easy to see why San Francisco is tops with kids and families. It’s a cinch to get around San Francisco, too, whether by cable car, streetcar or the BART subway system. Explore kid-friendly works of art at SFMOMA, then engage with more than 600 interactive exhibits at the Exploratorium. From here, it’s a short walk to see the sea lions basking in the sun at Pier 39. Walk Baker Beach for big views of the Golden Gate Bridge or stroll Golden Gate Park, which is home to the iconic Japanese Tea Garden.

6. Tampa

For lovers of sand and surf, Tampa is an easy drive from some of Florida’s most beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, including Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. Tampa is also home to trophy-winning pro sports teams, kid-friendly museums and theme parks, like Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Stroll alongside the Hillsborough River on the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk, which is home to family-friendly attractions, such as the Tampa Bay History Center, Florida Aquarium and Glazer Children’s Museum. On the south end, stop for a bite at Sparkman Wharf, which boasts street food stands and sit-down restaurants. Let the kids burn off their energy at Water Works Park.

5. Chicago

Chicago has so much for kids and families, from the rides and games at Navy Pier to the glass-enclosed observation platform at Skydeck Chicago, high atop Willis Tower. Rent bikes or take a guided bike tour along Lake Michigan with Bike and Roll Chicago. Spend the day at the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is home to a carousel, a train ride and a children’s zoo with natural play spaces. Snap photos in front of "The Bean” at Millennium Park. From here, it’s a short walk to Maggie Daley Park, which has a 3-acre play garden, a mini golf course and a climbing wall.

4. Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a surprisingly fantastic destination for families thanks to kid-friendly shows, pools, animal attractions and free circus acts at Circus Circus Las Vegas. Kids will love the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, which features touch tanks and a shipwreck. There are loads of family-friendly shows, too, like Mystere by Cirque du Soleil and Excalibur’s Tournament of Kings. At the Neon Museum, a guided tour shows off rescued neon signs from casinos that have since shut down, like the Stardust. Enjoy a scenic drive or take a hike at Red Rock Canyon, which boasts more than two dozen nature trails.

3. Miami

For outdoor-loving families, Miami is a great destination. Of course, the beaches are beautiful, but it’s also a snap to go snorkeling at Biscayne National Park or canoeing at Everglades National Park. It’s also a must to book an airboat ride to see mangroves, alligators and wading birds, like wood storks and great blue herons. When you want to get inside, head for the Miami Children’s Museum or Miami Seaquarium, both of which keep kids busy with hands-on activities and exhibits. Make time for Wynwood Walls, a one-of-a-kind street art experience, which recently added nine brand new murals.

2. Orlando

As the Theme Park Capital of the World, it’s no surprise that Orlando is a favorite destination among kids and families. As home to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida and Universal Orlando, there are a near endless number of rides, shows, coasters, restaurants and attractions for all ages and all interests. At ICON Park, there are even more kid-friendly attractions, including a wax museum, aquarium, carousel and a 400-foot-tall observation wheel. There’s free fun, too, including a nightly fountain show at Lake Eola Park and hiking a section of the 1,500-mile Florida National Scenic Trail at Little Big Econ State Forest.

1. New York

New York is a great city for families, if only because the subway makes it so easy to get most anywhere you want to go. New York is home to museums, cultural attractions, sporting events and Broadway shows. It’s also home to Central Park, the most-visited urban park in the country, which has walking trails, boat rentals, lawn games and a carousel, as well as a zoo and ice skating rink. Take in skyline views from the top of the Empire State Building or the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Stroll Times Square, then settle in for a Broadway musical, like Aladdin or Frozen.