Cool summer vacation spots for families

Cristina Alcocer

17 years ago

By Drew Miller

There are so many fantastic family travel destinations in the U.S. to cool off when the heat starts to get you down. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Steamboat Springs, Colorado — For a great Western town with low off-season prices, you can’t beat Steamboat Springs. A ski town with a huge lodging base, Steamboat is a bargain in the summer, when the mountains and grasslands of the Yampa Valley shine emerald green. There is a family vibe in Steamboat and plenty to keep everyone busy. It’s a real ranching town, so it’s probably one of the best places to teach yourkids (and maybe yourself!) to ride horses. Steamboat also offers excellent single-track mountain biking. The Gondola will take you to the top of the top of the mountain and you can ride back down, if you’re lazy like me! Steamboat also has a great program called Kids Adventure Club, which allows kids from 3-12 to enjoy each other’s company and age-appropriate activities in a safe and fun environment if you need a little parent time.

You can fly into Hayden and make the short drive by rental car to “Ski-town USA” or fly into Denver and enjoy a breathtaking 3-hour drive. There are lots of family-friendly condominiums — many of which are luxurious enough to make you want to move in permanently — and everyone in the family will enjoy the extra space!

Park City, Utah — For tons of activities that will thrill grade-schoolers though high-schoolers check out Park City. Fly into Salt Lake City and after less than an hour’s drive, you’ll be nestled in-between 3 world class mountain resorts. Park City Mountain Resort has cornered the market on thrill attractions. Among their summer offerings are a zip-line adventure (flying through the air tethered to a small wire), an Alpine Slide (think bobsled, but on wheels) and an Alpine Coaster (like a roller coaster on a track). Nearby Deer Valley delights with its free concert series where gourmet picnic baskets are available if you pre-order. They also have a great kids’ day program called Summer Adventure Camp. Last but not least, The Canyons offers many classic mountain activities like hiking, biking, fly-fishing, river rafting and disc golf. For the experience of a lifetime, consider booking a hot-air balloon trip. The early morning will be one you’ll never forget!

Where am I heading to cool off this year?

We’re heading up to Maine, to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. We can’t wait to spend a few days in the beauty of the Northeast. We’ll go sailing, take a sea-kayak tour and spend lots of time hiking and riding horses among the secluded trails of Acadia. And we really can’t wait to enjoy the quaint town of Bar Harbor … and eat lobster.

Have a great summer!

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When he’s not at the Orbitz office, Drew Miller is an attentive dad, avid skier, and globe-trotting traveler.