Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways In The USA
With the rise of gadgets, almost every kid is inclined to stay indoors and tinker with their phones and tablets. For a mom, staying indoors might help you save up financially but it does make the everyday routine a little more cramped and exhausting. To let your children experience something new and to allow the dads and moms to break away from the hustle and bustle of city living, still, nothing beats a much-needed weekend getaway.
Fortunately, The Land of the Free also offers an assortment of weekend vacation guaranteed to satisfy the whole family - and it is up to you to choose. With that, check out some of the best family-friendly weekend getaways in the USA.
1. Go wet or race the street at Wild Water & Wheels, Surfside Beach
Torn between a go-karting session with the tykes or a wet and wild party with the family? Worry no more, as this resort water park in Surfside Beach, South Carolina will take you up on both. Take your family through a vast assortment of splashy fun and try out any of its 33 water-based rides. Choose from artificial waterfalls, a spacious wave fool, as well as the thrilling flumes and multiple tubular slides. On the other hand, race against each other on a long, winding go-kart track, or just go clash head-on at the bumper car and bumper boat rides. Lastly, a miniature golf course with holes designed for the whole family is available to complete that all-around play day.
For some of the top picks, start with the Head Rush and go zooming to the pool below. Also, check out the Wild H2O Racer and compete with your kids in a four-lane slide, side-by-side, and see who finishes first in a slide track filled with ramps, rolls, drops, and descents of varying steepness. Lastly, the Free Fall Cliff Dive is their body-only slide dropping you down a tubular slide reaching a speed of up to 45 miles per hour.
2. Visit the World of animals at ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Florida
One of the best zoos in America is located at Lowry Park, Florida. It used to be Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, but while the name has changed, its vision and commitment pretty much stays the same - to remain a state center for wildlife conservation with its efforts geared towards the preservation of various species of plants and animals from all over the world. Moreover, its position on the child-friendly getaway destinations remain among the country’s best as it is the first zoo to be granted accreditation for its own preschool - moms can be sure that their little kids are safe and can ask questions to their trained personnel.
One of the most visually astounding sections of the zoo is its Australian Outback section, one reason is that the zoo’s commitment really makes you feel like you are in The Land Down Under. One part of the Outback is a 4.5-acre area called the Wallaroo Station. Here is where kids can get up close and personal with the animals - brush the fur of domesticated goats and even go outside and follow a trail to meet wallabies and kangaroos wandering about. You can also find in this slice of Australia other native animals such as flying fox bats, emus, cockatoos, and of course the Australian singing dogs. For a totally bananas experience, take the Flying Bananas ride - where you get to ride nearby an enclosure for the bats. There is also a roller coaster designed for the family and a dedicated play area for the toddlers called the Billabong.
For another authentic regional experience, Safari Africa does bring its name to life - and to the admiration of countless guests. This section of the zoo is filled with huge Acacia trees which will make your exploration a little more comfortable thanks to the shade. You can also take a tram ride to better explore the vast expanse and meet animals who call the Safari their home - from zebras, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and meerkats.
3. Enjoy everything at the Pink Shell Beach Resort
As soon as you step foot at the Pink Shell Beach Resort, warm and welcoming staff will greet and assist you as you come across a huge tree at the center of the Grand Banyan Tree Lobby. This simple yet classy resort in Fort Myers, Florida is becoming one of the top spots, especially for tourists and guests looking to enjoy their beach getaway minus the hassle of heavy traffic, long queue lines, and long wait hours.
Most of the rooms available definitely offers you a full view of the world-famous Florida beaches. You can step up your family getaway with the spacious White Sand villas - offering that executive, spacious feel for the family at a reasonable price. Or you can also choose the Sanibel View rooms - stylish, slightly minimalist studio-style suites.
Of course, as it lies along the stretch where sand meets the sea, you can directly access the beach from the Pink Shell Beach Resort. They can even provide your basic beachgoing needs - beach toys, benches, umbrellas, you name it. Enjoy the day floating around the cool and clear Florida waters or get sporty and try out kayaking, paddle biking, or even beach volleyball.
4. Find peace, quiet, and that authentic Midwestern vacation at Madden’s.
Up in the North Star State, along the shores of Gull Lake lies a peaceful yet breathtaking vacation destination. Madden’s is a resort and lodge located in Brainerd, Minnesota. From the moment you drive closer to the resort, up to your first step down its halls, you get to feel like you are being transported to a simpler, more elegant time. From the architecture to the interior, right down to the furniture - everything works together to create a realistic classical Midwestern feel.
Take the kids down the court of their choice - tennis, volleyball, and basketball - and get that relaxing family bonding experience as you are flanked by the lake on one side and the forests on the other. You can also go together and go nature tripping by hiking or taking a bike and take a tour around the shores of Gull Lake. If you are looking for some father-son quiet time together, go fishing or canoeing right through the heart of the lake. Amazingly, while Madden’s is located lakeside, there are sand beaches for the family to still enjoy.