In an ideal world, the lazy, care-free days of summer never end, and vacations are a weekly affair. In reality, though, summer gives eventually way to fall, and the kids seem to go back to school earlier and earlier each year, leaving precious little time to get away. But even as the days start to grow shorter, there's still time to sneak in a last-minute trip-before you have to trade in beach towels for backpacks.
Like any big city, Boston is full of museums and attractions that could pack a vacation itinerary for weeks, but one of Bean Town's greatest draws is a feature that makes it entirely unique.
Boston Harbor marries the best of American history (it was the site of the infamous Boston Tea Party) with modern fun. Book a package with Boston Harbor Cruises and you can sail to Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary to see whales, dolphins and other sea life, or you can take a two-hour Weekend Lighthouse Brunch Cruise that will explore some of the harbor's most treasured landmarks, including Graves Light, Deer Island Light, Boston Light and Long Island Light. For an all-day affair, take a trip to Cape Cod on BHC's Provincetown Fast Ferry. You'll leave Boston at 9 a.m., and in 90 minutes you'll be beachside on Cape Cod's National Seashore, where you can enjoy a picnic on the beach, afternoon shopping and dinner before catching the 8:30 p.m. ferry back to Boston.
After their Sandusky, Ohio, property was named "World's Coolest Indoor Waterpark" by Conde Nast Traveler in 2014, the folks behind Kalahari Resorts decided to take their African-themed water fun to the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania.
The requisite water slides, splash pads and wave pools are all there, but there's plenty more to enjoy for families who don't want to stay wet during their entire vacation. In addition to three on-site, signature dining experiences, there's also a full-service salon/spa and a 30,000 sq. ft. family entertainment center with activities including mini-bowling, arcade games, a 5-D theater and black-light mini golf.
Think an over-the-top vacation to Florida's Palm Beach has to cost a couple arms and a few legs? Think again. Thanks to Discover The Palm Beaches new summer travel deal site, PalmBeachSummer.com, families can enjoy the best of the beaches and local attractions at a fraction of the normal cost.
Dubbed "The SunnySide of Louisville," the Clark-Floyd Counties region of Southern Indiana is located just across the Ohio River from Kentucky's largest city, but there's enough fun in this small town that you'll never miss the bright lights-or high prices-of the big city.
Within an 8-mile radius, families can watch live candy making demonstrations at Schimpff's Confectionery and Candy Museum in Jeffersonville (and wash down their treats with and old-school fountain drink poured from Schimpff's 1950's soda fountain), or they can walk down to one of the largest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world at Clarksville's Falls of the Ohio State Park. Meanwhile, New Albany's Bicentennial Park features live music, entertainment and movies all summer long.
No state does outdoor fun like Colorado, and Breckenridge (located in the northeastern corner of the state) is the perfect vacation spot for nature-loving families.
At Breckenridge Stables, kids and adults can choose among more than 100 horses to ride, while the Breck Summer Fun Park offers a bevy of activities to please everyone-from the Gold Runner Coaster to the Alpine Superslide, plus Superputt Mini Golf, the Mineshaft Maze and Ripperoo's Bounce House. But perhaps the best way to experience Breckenridge is via a walk-or bike-around town that allows you to take in the breathtaking scenery without spending a dime.
