The 10 best places in the US to go with kids in 2025
If you're ready to start planning your family vacations for 2025, I've got some ideas about where you should go. From major milestones to new attractions and theme park thrills, these U.S. destinations have a lot going on in 2025.
Here are my picks for the best places to take the kids on vacation this year.
1. Orlando, Florida
Sure, Orlando could make this list almost any year. But 2025 brings the opening of a brand-new theme park in the Central Florida vacation destination. Universal Epic Universe officially opens May 22, 2025, and the fourth theme park at Universal Orlando Resort (after Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay water park) will feature worlds dedicated to Super Nintendo, classic movie monsters, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk, and the Harry Potter universe’s Ministry of Magic.
MAGICAL READS: 33 books like Harry Potter to binge on your next vacation
Beyond Universal, the new Disney Starlight nighttime parade will debut in summer 2025 (the first nighttime parade at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park since 2016) and SeaWorld Orlando will unveil its new Immersive Flying Experience (the world’s first fully immersive Arctic flying theater) in the spring. Fun Spot Orlando will introduce new rides and experiences at both its I-Drive and Kissimmee locations, and the region’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium will host 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches during the summer.
Where to stay: Immerse yourself in the new Universal Epic Universe by booking a room at one of the new theme park’s hotels: Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening January 21, 2025), Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening March 25, 2025), or Universal Helios Grand Hotel (opening May 22, 2025).
2. San Diego, California
San Diego is always a fun place to visit with kids, and there’s even more to love about the SoCal city in 2025. The new Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience opens at SeaWorld San Diego in spring 2025, offering an immersive way to learn about the fascinating creatures. Giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao made their debut at the San Diego Zoo in August 2024, and you can say hi by securing a complimentary timed ticket when you arrive at the zoo or by joining the standby line.
BEST TRIP EVER: 101 fresh new family vacation ideas for every age and budget
Belmont Park’s centennial celebration features special promotions and events, the chance to win a Lifetime Pass to the park, and rides on the refreshed Giant Dipper, the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the U.S. Balboa Park’s Botanical Building has reopened after a major renovation, San Diego FC (the city’s first Major League Soccer team) kicks off its season in spring 2025, and the first phase of the new T1 Terminal at San Diego International Airport is scheduled to open in late summer 2025. Visit in October and you can take advantage of the destination’s popular Kids Free San Diego program.
Where to stay: A years-long, $550-million restoration of the iconic Hotel del Coronado comes to an end in 2025, when newly restored Victorian building guest rooms become available for stays at the more than 135-year-old resort.
3. Indianapolis, Indiana
This midwestern metropolis had its best year for tourism in the city’s history in 2024, and that momentum will continue in 2025. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2025 with special exhibits and a 110-foot tall Centennial Ferris Wheel open from March 15 through November 2, 2025. Spring also marks the reopening of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum after an $89-million renovation, where visitors will be able to compete in a “pit stop competition” and get the sensation of being in an IndyCar via a racing simulator.
KID-FRIENDLY: 19 best family resorts and hotels in the U.S.
An expansion of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a new chimpanzee complex at the Indianapolis Zoo, and the new Riverside Adventure Park opening in spring 2025 provide more options for family fun. And Indianapolis will host Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games in the NCAA’s 2025 March Madness tournament plus the WNBA All-Star Game in July, where fan favorite and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will likely be on the court.
Where to stay: The InterContinental Indianapolis opening this winter will provide a new high-end lodging option for families. Or book a room at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, which offers a prime location for exploring the city.
4. Tucson, Arizona
This southern Arizona city celebrates a lot of milestones in 2025. The biggest is the city’s 250th anniversary, which will be marked with a celebration at the Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson on August 25, 2025, with multicultural performances, family crafts, and live music. Tucson will also celebrate 10 years as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2025, and families can sample some of the city’s great eats on a Taco Bike Tour with Tucson Bike Tours or the Downtown Tucson Tour from Tucson Food Tours.
HOME ON THE RANGE: North America’s top 10 dude ranch vacations for families
The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, will open a new exhibit called “Universe of Science,” and “Dinos in the Desert” is on view at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum through April 27, 2025. Round out a trip to Tucson with a visit to the Children’s Museum Tucson, a guided tram tour of the Pima Air & Space Museum, a hike at Saguaro National Park, and a stroll through Old Tucson.
Where to stay: Multiple pools, a 177-foot waterslide, and a kids club make The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa a popular choice with families.
5. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
There are already lots of reasons to head to this family-friendly vacation spot in the Smoky Mountains. But to add to the fun, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025 with a new opening ceremony at the beginning of each day, a new summertime drone and fireworks show, a refresh of the Country Fair area of the park, and other special events and experiences.
TOGETHER TIME: 11 best adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean
Country Cascades Waterpark Resort opened its new Braxton Beaver’s Shipwreck Bay indoor water park in November 2024, and the new WildSide adventure park offers mountain biking trails, guided UTV rides, and other thrills. The new one-of-a-kind Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster will open in spring 2025, and the Rafter’s Rage six-person waterslide will make its debut at Soaky Mountain Waterpark in summer 2025.
Where to stay: There are lots of new lodging options in the Pigeon Forge area to accommodate every family size and budget, including Cambria Hotel Pigeon Forge and Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Pigeon Forge.
6. Space Coast, Florida
For an out-of-this-world family vacation, head to Florida’s Space Coast in 2025. Start by visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to get a foundation in the area’s rich space history. New interactive attraction The Gantry at LC-39 opens there in the first quarter of 2025, a reimagining of the observation gantry at Launch Complex 39 that will offer immersive exhibits and incredible views.
Check to see if there are any launches during your visit; if so, you can watch liftoff from multiple places around the area (maybe even outside your hotel, like I did on a recent visit). Several new hotels are slated to open in 2025, including Hyatt Place Cape Canaveral, Compass by Margaritaville Melbourne, and Hilton Garden Inn Cape Canaveral.
NO PASSPORT NEEDED: 21 best all-inclusive family resorts in U.S.
Both the Cocoa Beach Mercado Brewery & Food Hall and Destination Downtown Food Hall in downtown Cocoa Beach are opening in 2025, where everyone in the family should be able to find something to enjoy. Work up an appetite beforehand by taking a kayak tour or wandering around Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, then end the day with a sunset boat tour. If new cruise ships sailing out of Port Canaveral like Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure, Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Aqua bring you to the area, plan some time to explore before or after your sailing.
Where to stay: Enjoy easy access to the beach at Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites or stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Canaveral Cruise Port for a location well suited for exploring the whole area.
7. Portland, Oregon
Your Portland visit begins when you arrive at the recently remodeled Portland International Airport, where the wood ceiling was built using timber harvested from the sovereign lands of four Oregon and Washington tribes, trees and plants bring nature into the terminal, and concessions include local businesses like independent bookstore Powell’s Books. It totally sets the scene for a trip to the Pacific Northwest city, where bike trails and opportunities to get outside abound.
BRING THE WHOLE CREW: 15 best all-inclusive resorts for families of 5+
Phase one of the new James Beard Public Market will open later in 2025, as will an expansion and renovation of the Portland Art Museum. There’s a museum for almost every interest in Portland, from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to the World Forestry Center. A trip to the Oregon Zoo is always a good idea, and parks and playgrounds can be found all over the city. And the whole family can have some old-fashioned fun at Oaks Park, one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in America.
Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland is a great choice for families, offering family-friendly accommodation options and amenities like a game room and complimentary hotel bicycle rentals.
8. Raleigh, North Carolina
If you haven’t been to Raleigh lately (or ever), now’s a good time to plan a family trip to North Carolina’s state capital. The Gipson Play Plaza adventure playground will open in spring 2025 and serve as a new entrance to Dorothea Dix Park, the city’s largest green space that’s being turned into a destination park. Pullen Park’s another great spot for family fun, where playgrounds, a carousel and train, and pedal boats will keep the kiddos entertained for hours.
RIDE THE RAILS: Explore North America with these 11 scenic train rides and Amtrak vacations in the U.S. and Canada
Reserve a free timed-entry ticket to check out the Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, which features what’s thought to be the only 100% complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaur in the world and the first open-air paleontology lab in the world that’s free and open to the public. When hunger strikes, refuel at new restaurants like Drift Coffee & Kitchen; Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails; and Jaguar Bolera, an “eatertainment” spot that also offers duckpin bowling, shuffleboard, darts, and other games.
Where to stay: The new Hyatt House Raleigh Downtown/Seaboard Station offers a convenient location, a seasonal outdoor pool, and suites with full kitchens ideal for family getaways.
9. Mackinac Island, Michigan
In 1875, Mackinac National Park became the second national park in the United States. In 2025, what’s now known as Mackinac Island State Park will celebrate 150 years since that designation with special programs, events, and exhibits throughout the year. That’s just one reason to visit this car-free throwback vacation destination this year, where residents and visitors travel by bike and horse-drawn carriage around the island that’s only accessible by boat or small plane.
FAMILY FUN: These 13 Midwest vacations are the perfect way to bring the whole family together
History’s easy to find here, whether it’s on a self-guided tour of the circa-1887 Grand Hotel or while sampling the confections at Original Murdick’s Fudge, which still uses the original recipe from its 1887 founding. You’ll want to take a family bike ride to Arch Rock, and kayak and boat tours can help you see the island from the water. For even more fun, time your visit around one of the island’s beloved annual events, which include the Lilac Festival in June, an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration, and the Fudge Festival in October.
Where to stay: The Inn at Stonecliffe, which reopened after a two-year, $40-million, property-wide transformation in 2024, provides a scenic setting for a relaxing family getaway.
10. Hershey, Pennsylvania
Life’s always pretty sweet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and 2025 brings new additions to “the town built on chocolate” that families will love. That includes the new Twizzlers Twisted Gravity attraction at Hersheypark, which will be the tallest “Screamin’ Swing” pendulum ride in the world when it opens in summer 2025, and the addition of nine new villas to The Villas at The Hotel Hershey, a luxury accommodation option where guests enjoy amenities like dedicated concierges, exclusive Hershey character meet and greets, and a one-day Hersheypark Fast Track pass per person.
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: 11 budget-friendly family vacations in the U.S. that really pack in the fun
Take a trolley ride around the town with Hershey Trolley Works, then check out the vintage rides on view at America’s Transportation Experience. ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is home to everything from armadillos to vampire bats, and the year-round Butterfly Atrium at Hershey Gardens is always a magical spot. The kids should also enjoy eating their way along the Hershey & Harrisburg Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail.
Where to stay: Book a room at the circa-1933 Hotel Hershey for an elegant stay or opt for the Hershey Lodge, home to the candy-themed Hershey’s Water Works indoor pool complex.
The 10 best places in the US to go with kids in 2025 originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
More from FamilyVacationist:
- The 14 most anticipated new family hotels and resorts for 2025
- What’s coming to the Disney theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, and beyond in 2025
- 10 all-inclusive resorts even teenagers will love: Caribbean, Mexico, U.S., more
The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.FamilyVacationist.com andTourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using theFamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and selectfamily vacation ideas,family vacation spots,all-inclusive family resorts, andclassic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop coversguided group tours and tour operators,tour operator reviews,tour itinerary reviews andtravel gear recommendations.