Going on vacation with the whole family is a lot of fun, but that doesn’t mean it’s all fun and games. Although you may by dreaming of a trip to Disney World, Mexico, or Paris, lengthy trips with kids can be a nightmare, especially if it means taking time off of work or school.
That doesn’t mean you’re doomed to skip your vacation until they have flown from the nest! By choosing a small weekend getaway near you and preparing carefully before your trip, you can get away and have fun without the stress of airplanes and week-long stays in a hotel.
Theme Park
Just because you don’t live within driving distance of Disney World doesn’t mean there isn’t a theme park nearby that the kids will love! A few theme parks across the United States that don’t require you to fly to Florida or California include:
- The Island in Pigeon Forge in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri
- Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio
- Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, Minnesota
- Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Drive down on a Friday night, spend the day at the theme park on Saturday, and drive back on Sunday morning, all before school and work start again on Monday morning!
Zoo
Kids love zoos. There’s a lot to learn, and there’s nothing like seeing the animals you read about in books and watch on TV in real life. Even if your area only has a small zoo, the kids are sure to enjoy visiting, especially if they have never been there before!
Many zoos today feature more than just outdoor attractions with lions and bears. For example, the whole family will be blown away by the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and nothing compares to the desert dome at the Omaha Zoo.
One of the best things about choosing a zoo for your weekend getaway is that it’s a kid-friendly destination. You’ll do a little less work when planning a vacation at the zoo than you will some of the other ideas on this list.
Camping
If theme parks and zoos are still a little far from your home, look no further than the outdoors to have some fun with the kids. You can bet that they’ll love sleeping in a tent outside, roasting s’mores, and staying up late to look at the stars!
Camping with kids can pose some unique challenges, so make sure you’re prepared ahead of time. That includes knowing exactly what clothes to pack, using a cooler to hold food and drinks that you know the kids will like, and bringing things from home, like books and toys, to keep them entertained during downtime.
Have very small children? A tent may not be the best solution. Instead, consider renting a cabin or an RV to make the experience a little less stressful for infants and toddlers.
Museums
Although most kids wouldn’t pick a museum when choosing their own vacation, most kids enjoy the time they spend in a museum once they go. Not to mention, there are some really interesting museums out there that teach kids about a lot more than the past.
Some of the weirdest and coolest museums in the United States include:
- Museum of Bad Art in Boston, MA
- Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia in Burlingame, CA
- Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence, MO
- UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell, NM
- The Circus World in Baraboo, WI
- International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, ME
Shopping
If you’ve got older kids, you can think outside the box a bit and choose a more adult-themed weekend getaway. If you have tweens or teens at home, they may enjoy a quick shopping vacation!
Look near you for a small town with a quaint town square, or choose a shopping destination, like the Mall of America. Spend the afternoon shopping, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy relaxing in a hotel room before you return home on Sunday.
This is also a great option if you want to take a special trip with just one of your kids. Mom can take off with a teenage daughter while dad stays home with the younger kids.
Beach
The beach also makes for a great vacation getaway idea for the weekend! The beach doesn’t necessarily mean you have to live within a few hours of the ocean either. There are many wonderful lakes all across the country with sandy beaches that the kids are sure to love.
You can spend the day relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water, but many lakes also offer boat rentals. You can take the whole family out on the water or a few of you can escape in a canoe or kayaks.
Just make sure you practice water safety, as drowning is a real threat for adults and children. That includes making sure you’re watching your children closely when they’re playing in the water and requiring them to wear life jackets if they don’t know how to swim.
Staycation
You may want to get away for the weekend, but sometimes, it just isn’t in the cards. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a vacation at home!
There are many great staycation ideas that the kids are sure to love. Set up a fort in the living and let the kids sleep inside, pitch a tent in the backyard, or take a picnic lunch to a local park. This is an especially good idea if you have older kids who are itching to get out, but you also have a young infant at home who isn’t quite ready to go on his first trip yet.
You don’t have to plan a week-long getaway to Disney World in order to get the vacation that you want. There are many things you can do over the weekend that are fun and memorable, all without missing work or school on Monday.