8 Fun Ideas for Vacations With Young Grandkids

Kids 11 and under will love these destinations, from California to the Bahamas

grandfather holding granddaughter on a beach

When choosing where to vacation with kids 11 and under, think of scenic places with lots of outdoor activities for affordable fun, as well as a few child-focused highlights.

Getty Images

Terry Ward,

AARP

En español

Published January 17, 2020

/ Updated July 11, 2024

Grandparents who’ve had the pleasure of taking their grandchildren on vacation know just how rewarding it can be to get to know a little person in an environment removed from their home routine, and without their parents around (a “skip-gen” trip).

Road Scholar, a nonprofit organization that provides educational trips for adults, reports interest in grandparent programs is rebounding post-pandemic. There has been a 15 percent increase in Grandparent Program enrollments so far in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, says Kelsey Knoedler Perri, Road Scholar’s public relations director.

That’s not to say a grandparent/grandchild trip doesn’t come with challenges, of course — especially when you’re traveling with high-energy younger children.

When choosing where to go with kids 11 and under, think of scenic places with lots of outdoor activities for affordable fun, as well as a few child-focused highlights (interactive museums, theme parks) for a special treat. Sometimes the beach is all they need, of course, and that’s when a cruise can fit the bill, too.

These destinations, some of my favorites, are ideal for smaller children and their grands. Note: Prices fluctuate depending on when you book.

Kids under 17 get free admission at the Vero Beach Museum of Art in Vero Beach, Florida.

Courtesy VISIT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

1. Vero Beach, Florida

When to go: Winter or spring

How to get there: Drive about 90 minutes southeast from Orlando International Airport along Florida’s storied Treasure Coast (named for the many Spanish galleons that wrecked here during 18th-century hurricanes). It’s also about 90 minutes north of Palm Beach.

What to do: The Vero Beach area is a nature lover’s delight. Active grandparents can take children, if they’re old enough, on self-guided kayaking trips ($70 for two hours in a double kayak) through the mangroves along the Indian River Lagoon at the Environmental Learning Center, home to an interactive touch tank exhibit and aquariums ($10 for adults; $5 for children ages 2 to 11). Relaxing two-hour pontoon cruises ($40 for adults; $25 for children 6-11) to the nearby Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge are also offered from the center. Even the littlest kids will enjoy the boardwalk trails; they’ll also want to check out a cool nature-inspired playground.

The Vero Beach Museum of Art, where kids under 17 get free admission ($12 for adults; $11 for adults 65 and up), has a dedicated Art Zone for kids with multisensory exhibits that include an interactive sketch aquarium where they can draw sea creatures and watch them move through a virtual aquarium.

Plan your visit for early December through mid-March and it’ll coincide with strawberry season in these parts. At Countryside Family Farms, you can fill your baskets at the you-pick fields and treat the kids to one of the famous orange slushies to reward their hard work.

Where to stay: Fronting the ocean and a lovely beach, the Driftwood Resort is a collection of buildings with various room types made largely from driftwood that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll pay about $225 per night for two adults and two children in a non-oceanfront studio unit.

an instructor shows kids a fossil at Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

A trip to Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, can include guided walks to learn about the area’s glacial geography.

Courtesy TOURISME SAGUENAY-LAC-SAINT-JEAN

2. Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

When to go: Summer or fall

How to get there: There’s an airport in Saguenay, but opt to fly into Quebec City for far more affordable flights to the region. You’ll have a 2.5-hour scenic drive north from there to reach Alma, one of the main towns on Lac Saint-Jean and a perfect base for exploring.

What to do: The Blueberry Route bike trail (known there as Véloroute des Bleuets), stretching for some 160 miles around the lake, is a lovely paved trail for pedaling along the water’s edge. In summer, you can stop to pick blueberries. If biking’s not your bag, head out on guided walks for families to the open crystal mine at Cristal du Lac, just south of Alma. The kids will be thrilled to use little trowels to unearth quartz crystals while learning about the area’s unique glacial geography (about $41* for adults; $28 for children 8 to 14. Children under 8 are not allowed at the mine).

For the chance to see black bears in the wild from an elevated viewing platform, book a driving tour in an electric vehicle through the forest with Okwari Le Fjord (roughly $46 per adult; $30 for children 5 to 12). Note that the U.S. dollar has been holding strong against the Canadian dollar, so bargains abound.

Where to stay: Centre de Villégiature Dam-en-Terre has rustic cottages and campsites, as well as modern townhouse-style accommodations with three bedrooms and outdoor fireplaces near the lake. Beautiful, modern six-person townhouses start from around $238 per night during the summer.

*Prices are in U.S. dollars and dependent on the exchange rate.

Consider a riverboat tour along the San Antonio River in San Antonio.

Courtesy VISIT SAN ANTONIO

3. San Antonio

When to go: Winter, spring or fall

How to get there: If you’re arriving by air, you might find the most affordable fares on flights in and out of Austin, which is about 90 minutes northeast of San Antonio.

What to do: The Alamo City mixes historic sites, kid-centric fun and tons of culture into one terrific destination. Plan a few fun hours at Sea Life Aquarium San Antonio (ticket prices vary depending on time, day and other factors and are best explored on the website), where you can see 3,000 marine and freshwater creatures in a state-of-the-art facility that complement the fabulous San Antonio Zoo. The city’s long-standing Kiddie Park attraction ($3 per ride), especially for kids 1 to 12, has great rides for the little ones and is right next to the zoo.

All senses get stimulated along the San Antonio River Walk, where you can hop a 35-minute narrated riverboat tour with GO RIO River Cruises ($14.50 for adults and children 6 and up; $8.50 for kids 1 to 5, $11.50 for adults 65-plus). You also can try some authentic Texas barbecue at one of the many restaurants, tour 18th-century Spanish missions — if your grandchildren are the patient type — or shop for Day of the Dead-inspired souvenirs.

The city’s children’s museum, the DoSeum, targets kids 10 and under with incredible exhibits that include a puppet parade, a spy academy and a musical staircase ($18 per person; children under 1 are free). And Bakery Lorraine, onsite at the DoSeum, is a convenient lunch spot for grilled cheese sandwiches, kettle chips, macarons and other treats children love.

Where to stay: A good base for your explorations is La Cantera Resort & Spa, just north of the historic downtown in San Antonio’s hill country. It has a children’s pool, arcade and naturalist program, where kids can learn about armadillos, raccoons, deer and other animals that roam the resort property. Deluxe rooms for two adults and two children start at $304 per night.

a boy jumps into a pool at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort

Not far from Carbondale, Colorado, a trip to Glenwood Hot Springs Resort in Glenwood Springs brings access to warm thermal pools.

Courtesy Glenwood Hot Springs Resort

4. Carbondale, Colorado

When to go: Summer or fall

How to get there: Rent a car and drive about 3.5 hours west from Denver. There’s a closer airport — Montrose Regional Airport is about two hours from Carbondale — but flights there can be pricey.

What to do: The area around Carbondale is more affordable than nearby Aspen, while still offering tons to do. Start with a morning play session at the new outdoor splash pad and warm thermal pools at the historic Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, just north of Carbondale in Glenwood Springs (on weekdays: $46 for adults and teens; $30 for children 3 to 12; free for children under 3. On weekends: $50 for adults and teens; $31 for children 3 to 12; free for children under 3). Then drive about 20 minutes south of Carbondale to the tiny riverside hamlet of Redstone, home to a playground alongside a trout river and the cutest general store, which sells ice cream cones and old-fashioned candies.

The Rio Grande ARTway is a paved trail that winds right through Carbondale. It’s a nice spot to get some exercise with the kids after feasting on pancakes and waffles at the Village Smithy.

Where to stay: With gorgeous mountain views, Avalanche Ranch is an affordable hot springs resort just south of Carbondale. Its collection of rustic cabins and “wagon” rooms have one to three bedrooms, and guests get free access to the three onsite hot springs, generally open 24 hours a day. Studios that can sleep up to four people start at $255 per night.

5. Carlsbad, California

When to go: Spring, summer or fall

How to get there: Carlsbad is about a 45-minute drive north from San Diego International Airport.

What to do: This is the quintessential California beach town, a wonderful place to explore with young kids. Legoland California Resort (at least $84 per person) and Sea Life Aquarium ($25; free for kids under 2) are the big-ticket attractions for youngsters, but Carlsbad is also all about incredible nature — which is a lot less expensive. You can stroll with the grandkids along dirt paths to look for wading birds at Batiquitos Lagoon, one of Southern California’s last remaining coastal wetlands (free). And from March through early May, the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch burst to life with red, white, yellow and pink ranunculus blooms over 50 hillside acres. You can simply stroll among the gardens and fields on designated pathways or, for a few extra dollars, opt for a tractor-pulled wagon ride ($8 for adults for wagon tours, $4 for children 3 to 10, free for kids 2 and under).

Or consider group surf lessons along the wide stretch at Carlsbad State Beach with SoCal Surf Lessons (private lessons are $135 per person for 1.5 hours, with discounts depending on the size of your group). I’m always game for a surf lesson, but if you’d rather watch, treat the grandchildren to one while you take photos of them in action.

Where to stay: The Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach is located on cliffs overlooking the beach and has a heated outdoor pool where the kids can burn off any extra energy at day’s end. Rates are from $287 per night for two adults and two children.

a girl and a man in the distance search for fossils

A Savannah River Cruise can take you out hunting on an island for fossils like sharks teeth, whale bones and giant sloth teeth.

Courtesy Terry Ward

6. Bluffton, South Carolina

When to go: Spring, summer and fall

How to get there: Bluffton is about a 40-minute drive northeast from Savannah. Alternatively, fly into Jacksonville, Florida, and drive 2.5 hours north.

What to do: Explore some of South Carolina’s most beautiful inland waterways and oak-shaded biking trails in the quaint Low Country town of Bluffton and neighboring Palmetto Bluff (a grand dame Southern hotel and vacation rentals await within a gorgeous gated community at the latter). It’s all about appreciating and enjoying the land and waters with your grandkids in this beautiful place.

Browse watermelon, okra, corn and other local produce with the kids at the Bluffton Farmers Market, open year-round, and pop into the Bluffton Oyster Co. to watch oysters being shucked by the pros during the Oct. 1 to May 31 season.

Getting out on the waterways here is a must. For the most exciting trips with lots of fun storytelling in the mix, request Captain Boo Harrell on forays with Outside Palmetto Bluff. He grew up in Bluffton and can take you out hunting for fossils like shark teeth, whale bones and giant sloth teeth ($850 for a group of six) on an island in the Savannah River, among other waterborne adventures.

You can also take to the waterways with May River Excursions, which leaves from Bluffton for dolphin-watching tours in the May River ($45 per person for adults; $35 for kids 12 and under).

Where to stay: A very worthy splurge, the Montage Palmetto Bluff is at the heart of everything and feels like a luxury summer camp for everyone with complimentary bikes, nightly s’mores around a firepit, tennis, fishing and more (rooms from the high $400s per night).

aerial view of a cruise along Lake George, New York

Take in the view of Lake George, New York, while on a lake cruise.

Credit: Luke Dow

7. Lake George, New York

When to go: Summer

How to get there: Drive about an hour north of Albany, New York. Alternatively, you can reach Lake George from New York City (to the south) in about nearly 4 hours.

What to do: For an old-fashioned and family-oriented lake vacation in the northeast, New York’s gorgeous Lake George is the stuff of dreams. The 32-mile-long lake in the state’s Adirondack region has 109 miles of shoreline lined with hotels, cabins, vacation rentals and campsites, depending on the kind of vacation you’re after.

Kayaking, paddleboarding or swimming together in the lake — consistently ranked among the cleanest in the United States — is a favorite summer pastime.

You’ll want to step back to the stern with the grandkids for a view of the churning wheel during hour-long lake cruises aboard Lake George Steamboat Company’s Minne Ha-Ha, a classic paddle wheel ship with a calliope powered by steam from the boiler that always delights.

Drive about 30 minutes to the northwest to reach the hamlet of North Creek, where Beaver Brook Outfitters can take you out on guided tubing trips in the Middle Hudson that feel like a much wilder, all-natural version of a resort lazy river ($35 per person).

Where to stay: Lakefront Terrace Resort has a private lakefront beach and heated outdoor swimming pool and is just a half mile from Lake George Village. There are picnic areas and charcoal barbecue grills overlooking the lake on property, too, if you want to save on meals out (rooms from around $165 per night).

an MSC cruise ship docked in the Caribbean

Cruises to the Bahamas are an option when traveling with your grandchildren. Here, MSC Cruises’ private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Courtesy MSC Ocean Kay

8. A Bahamas cruise

When to go: Year-round

How to get there: There are major cruise ports in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral (about 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport) and Tampa in Florida — all of which offer cruising options in the west Atlantic Ocean.

What to do: If you’ve been on a cruise lately, chances are you noticed more than one group of multigenerational families traveling together. According to the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) 2024 State of the Industry report, 28 percent of cruise travelers sail with three to five generations. Embarking on a cruise with a grandchild comes with an inherent sense of adventure — especially if it’s their first time — and offers the chance to visit multiple destinations and engage in lots of onboard fun, too, while only having to unpack your suitcase once.

Cruises to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda represent the lion’s share of cruise itineraries worldwide, according to CLIA’s report. You can sail out from ports within minutes of cities such as Cape Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa in Florida, in addition to Baltimore, Cape Liberty in New Jersey, and New York City.

If you prefer lots of beach time in the mix and fewer at sea days, MSC Cruises offers four-night cruises from Port Canaveral and Miami that include two full days at the cruise line’s beautiful private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, as well as a port of call in Nassau, Bahamas. Onboard, there are shows, kids, preteens and teens clubs and waterslides and pools to enjoy.

Disney cruises are always a hit while they’re young enough that the magic still seems real. The newest ship in the line, the Disney Wish, has a Frozen-themed theatrical dining experience complete with Olaf and Elsa, the AquaMouse water coaster and dedicated spaces for kids, tweens and teens. Itineraries range from three- and four-night Bahamian cruises from Port Canaveral.

Royal Caribbean offers three-night Bahamas cruises from Miami and Fort Lauderdale and eight-night Bahamas cruises from Baltimore. All three call into port at the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CoCo Cay (a waterslide and waterpark paradise kids go wild for) and Nassau. The Baltimore cruise also visits the island of Grand Bahama.

Where to stay: MSC’s Bahamas four-night Bahamas itineraries start from $355 per person. Three-night Bahamas itineraries on the Disney Wish start from $3,950 for two adults and two children in veranda cabins. Interior cabins on Royal Caribbean’s Bahamas cruises from Baltimore start from $709 per person, from $397 from Miami and from $398 from Fort Lauderdale.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 17, 2020. It has been updated to reflect new information.

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Terry Ward is a longtime travel writer who has lived in Australia, New Zealand and France. She’s now based in Tampa, Florida, and has cruised to the Bahamas with her family from Miami and Port Canaveral.