8 Vacation Themes that Go Beyond the Beach! Choosing the Right Vacation for Your Family BY AMANDA CIANI C incinnati and NKY parents planning a family vacation are known to season- ally migrate to a handful of beloved the America the Beautiful passes!
you travel. Many memberships participate in reciprocal networks, meaning when you travel to other museums, aquariums, and zoos, you can flash your membership and re- ceive hefty discounts or even free admission. So not only can families see cool children’s museums, science centers, history museums, aquariums, and zoos in their hometown, but all across the country—and in a fund-friendly manner, too! Sports Stops Avid fans of athletics have tons of awesome options when it comes to travel. Consider a challenge to see the most games in MLB stadiums in one summer (there are 29 in the U.S. and 1 in Canada, too!), play golf on a new course, or honor the best of the best and plan a trip to see the Baseball Hall of Fame (Coo- perstown, NY), the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton, OH), or the Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, MA). Another amazing opportu- nity for families is to check out a motorsport race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500! National Parks Tour From sea to shining sea, there are so many amazing landscapes to explore on our continent! Within the United State’s impres- sive 63 National Parks, families can explore alpine landscapes, deserts, canyons, volcanic landscapes, forests, wetlands, swamps and bayous, coastal landscapes, arctic areas, grasslands, prairies and badlands, and glaciers, too. Have a 4th grader at home? They can receive a free Every Kids Outdoors 4th Grade pass which is valid through the duration of a student’s 4th grade school year through the following summer (September– August). Head to recreation.gov for details on
Theme Park Travel Fans of adrenaline rushes would adore a theme park themed travel experience! And there is an assortment of parks to choose from, with an estimated 900+ theme parks located in the US. Herschend does a wonderful job with parks that boast hospitality and heart, including: Dollywood (TN), Silver Dollar City (MO), Ken- tucky Kingdom (KY), Dutch Wonderland (PA), Kennywood (PA) and more. Six Flags features exhilarating rides at their many parks, including: Six Flags Great Adventure (NJ), Magic Mountain (CA), Over Texas and Fiesta Texas (TX), St. Louis (MO), Kings Island and Cedar Point (OH), Carowinds (NC), Great Escape (NY), and more. Universal has several claims to fame including their Islands of Adventure in Florida, a Hollywood destination, and new this summer! Universal Kids Resort will open in Frisco, Texas. Of course, this list would not be complete without mentioning Disney World in Florida and California’s Disneyland, too. Foodie Road Trip The best way to some families’ hearts is through their stomachs. And every major city offers their own unique take on breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. Some ideas to indulge in include a tour of a city’s top tacos, their take on barbeque, how they do pizza, and more. Plus, in many popular locations, food is the destination! Make a map of must-try foods, and hit the road. From cheesesteaks in
travel destinations. Like our parents did before us, many families habitually rotate annual beach trips to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Panama City Beach, and of course, there is also the grand pilgrimage to Orlando, Florida with little excursions to Daytona or Cocoa Beach. It is part cyclical, part genera- tional and perhaps part tradition… days spent in the sun and sand, eating sandwiches (with chips on them), relaxing to the max—but what happens when the kids are not “beach-people” or if you just have an itch to explore more. Consider breaking out of the norm, reflecting on your family’s interests and checking out something new with your crew… Travel Through Time The United States of America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year! Every state across the grand U-S-of-A has unique historical sites, including some living history attractions with fun reenactors! Families interested in history can choose an era or theme, such as Ameri- ca’s Founding (Boston, Philadelphia, Colo- nial Williamsburg, Jamestown), Westward Expansion (St. Louis + Independence, MO, Chimney Rock, NE), the Civil War (Gettysburg, Richmond), or Indigenous History (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, South Dakota, North Carolina, Alaska), and plan away. Museum Mosey + Zoo Hop The majority of major cities have majorly fun museums, aquariums, and zoos. A trip to explore other cities’ offerings is both educa- tional, and oh-so fun! Reminder: If you have a membership to your local museum, aquar- ium, or zoo, be sure to keep it handy when
16 MARCH 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
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