Though a large family trip tends to look slightly different, it’s still possible to organize a kid-friendly vacation with a little fun for everyone. As a matter of fact, many locations offer cheaper rates for large groups, making them the perfect spot for a large family vacation. Finding one of these great destinations is as simple as knowing where to look. On that note, here are our best vacation ideas for large families with kids and a few tips to create the most enjoyable trip for all!
Big families can benefit from the same discounts as weddings and other large events. So make use of the group hotel rate and let everyone book their own room(s) under the room block.
The key to succeeding with your large group vacation plans is to keep the itinerary as simple as possible. To make sure everyone can enjoy their time, limit to organize one communal meal and one communal activity. But make sure the resort, cabins, or camping site offers different activities for all ages and varied interests.
If you book cabins somewhere make sure they can all be reached by walking distance, or a very short drive, to keep everyone safe for those nights meet up and late dinners.
Download the GoWhee App to find things that kids will enjoy at their destination. There is even a filter for “large group” in the app, so you can quickly know if the restaurant, hotel, museum, etc… can accommodate you, regardless of your family size.
Find at least one tech-savvy group leader for all the extended families, so communication is easily streamlined. They will be the ones you keep updated on any major changes throughout your planning phase. They can then pass the information down to their respective group.
Use expense-splitting apps to make money transactions easy if multiple people pay for different activities, restaurants, etc… during the trip.
Use Google Forms early on, to gather preferences for your family vacations, with questions like, what is your departure airport, what is your budget, preferred month/dates…
Pro: Easy to access thanks to major airports, easy to find activities.
Cons: More expensive, harder to find hotels to accommodate big families.
Big Families Activity Ideas: Escape Room, City scavenger hunt, Private tour of the city with a bus or limo.
Pro: All-inclusive resorts are amazing vacation ideas for multigenerational families since everyone from little ones to grandparents can enjoy it, with very little physical endurance needed.
Con: All-inclusive resorts can be a bit overwhelming and lack privacy for your group.
Big Families Activity Ideas: Beach volleyball tournament, Sandcastle contest on the beach.
Pro: Perfect to allow everyone to spend quality time during the trip, great for families needing to relax after stressful times.
Con: Not suitable for everyone, since multigenerational travel often means different physical abilities, so some people may be left behind.
Big Families Activity Ideas: Photography driving tour, where you stop at major landmarks to take some great shots, Thermal Springs afternoon.
Pro: Regardless of family size, cruises allow the entire family to be together without a lot of planning, and on the ship, everyone can enjoy the day at their own pace. Between the meal plans and an array of excursions, everyone can find something fun to do.
Con: Pretty pricey, it is also harder to coordinate for large families living in different parts of the country.
Big Families Activity Ideas: Custom group excursions, Cooking class on board, an onboard scavenger hunt with a prize.
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Whether your family prefers to challenge themselves with hikes or just see the world’s natural wonders, Yellowstone National Park is the perfect place. From major tourist attractions like Old Faithful to its 900 miles of hiking trails, large families can split during the day based on their preference and meet up at night around a bonfire.
Large Family vacation activities: We recommend visiting the Mammoth Hot Springs for a relaxing family-friendly day in the park! You can also organize a family-friendly “secret gems” hike with a guide and a lunch picnic included for your group.
Good To Know: There are many campgrounds in the area. But to keep everyone comfortable, yet close to nature, the Explorers Cabins at Yellowstone is a wonderful option. Their cabins have bunk beds, full kitchens, and the main lodge has an indoor pool and kids’ activities. They also offer wheelchair-accessible and pet-friendly cabins to accommodate everyone in the family.
One of the Colorado Dude Ranches location is an amazing vacation idea for your big family trip because it offers fun activities for different interests. Whether it’s a group hike, horseback riding, or a day fishing on the lake, there is something for everyone. Plus they made organizing large family trips a breeze with their “family reunion” packages.
Large Family vacation activities: The trip gets even better for parents since kids stay busy all day with supervised activities for kids, such as kid-friendly horseback riding sessions.
Good To Know: Although the cost for a stay at the resort starts at $3,046 / week for one adult and $1,828-$2,741 for one kid, depending on their age, it includes all meals and activities
If you are looking to meet during the cold season, the Wisconsin Dells will be your large family’s paradise. The Kalahari resort offers a massive indoor water park, thrilling rides, indoor mini golf and arcades, and a spa.
Large Family vacation activities: Spend the day at the pool by renting one or more cabanas with a private whirlpool for your big family. If you want to go out of the resort, you can book a trolley tour great for all ages and end your night at the famous magic show, at Rick Wilcox Magic Theater.
Good to Know: Regular room prices are about $459 a night – Free water park admission is included. Their villas can accommodate groups as large as 44 people.
Want to change from your traditional Florida beach vacation or Disney meet-up? Busch Gardens is a unique theme park experience, combining your typical roller coaster thrill rides with the excitement of getting to meet real animals from all around the world. All of this with a fraction of the cost of Disney parks.
Large Family Vacation Activities: Your kiddos will love the Sesame Street Safari of Fun, where they can experience the park alongside all their favorite Sesame Street characters!
Good To Know: Busch Gardens offer big family hotels and resort partners, which are just a short drive away from the park – There are also lots of Hotels and vacation rentals in Tampa to choose from.
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For all the history buffs and sightseeing families out there, Colonial Williamsburg is a great destination. Kids and adults will enjoy the old American traditions, interesting historical sites, great fine dining options, and different outdoor live music happening on the main strip.
Large Family Vacation Activities: The restaurant Food For Thoughts near the main strip, is a great option for large families. It offers an elegant take on southern classics, a great kids’ menu, large tables upon reservations, and even booths to keep everyone comfortable. Plus the whole menu is a play on word… Fun!
Good To Know: The Bluegreen Parkside hotel has suites-style rooms accommodating up to 12 people in one unit with a kitchen and laundry. The resort offers a great pool and a game room to gather and keep kids busy after a day of sightseeing.
The Outer Banks in North Carolina is perfect for big families wanting to stay under the same roof ad enjoy some R&R at the beach. The area is known to offer large homes, of multiple levels, so everyone can spread.
Large Family vacation activities: Visit Fort Macon, Take a night stroll to the beach with flashlights and look for ghost crabs, or Take a 4WD tour to see wild horses.
Good To Know: The Outer Banks have an array of large houses with pools (sometimes even lazy rivers), most of them are kid-friendly and lots of them accept pets. This is an ideal location if you want to plan your family vacation easily.
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If you travel with an athletic, thrill-seeking group, you just can’t beat a trip to the mountains of Colorado destinations. Although Vail is a well-known spot, it may break the bank if you try to book something for a large family in the winter. Instead, enjoy all the same group activities such as a ride on a scenic lift, some great apres ski dining options, and of course, some good old-fashioned skiing, at a fraction of the cost at Loveland Ski Mountain.
Large Family vacation activities: The Garden of the Gods resort is located in downtown Denver and offer some great rooms for large groups.
Good To Know: The Mountain offers ski and snowboarding lessons as young as 3 years old for the budding young adventurers of your big family. Parents can also make use of the childcare option available or book a private family lesson to stay together.
If you want to introduce glamping during your next big family vacation, the Out N About resort, located a few hours from north California, is the perfect place. Tree cabins are comfortable, they accommodate kids and adults with bunk beds and king-size beds in a fun setting.
Large Family vacation activities: Starting at 4 years old, kids and adults can book a zip line experience through the trees in the resort, they also offer arts & crafts fun for the less active member of your family, and for the thrill seekers, there is a rafting experience that can be booked as well.
Good To Know: They have a “no online booking” policy, so make sure you call and chat with the owner to plan your large family vacation. The cabin cost starts at $210/night in summer and the base price cover 2 people per cabin (Add $25/guest after that).
With a welcoming small-town feel and plenty of gorgeous sights to see, Asheville is a great vacation for urban tourists and outdoorsy families alike! Between its countless nature trails, bustling restaurant scene, and rich art culture, we can’t recommend it enough.
Large Family vacation activities: If your kiddos are feeling adventurous, they’ll enjoy rafting down the French Broad River! If you are looking for something a little more relaxing, take the Art District tour in the heart of Asheville, strollers are welcome, and Gelato tasting is included!!
Good To Know: Live your best vacation life and book rooms at The Windsor Hotel. Located in the heart of the city, the suite-style rooms can easily hold a family of four, are equipped with a kitchen, and are all decorated in an elegant southern style by local artists. Your family can enjoy a dip in the indoor pool, an array of free amenities like snacks and drinks, games, and free parking. But we think that everyone will talk about their complementary Chocolate Truffle Bar for years to come.
Boston is a great hub for organizing a city escape. It offers all the amenities of other large cities on the east coast but is much better on the budget. The Inn at St Botolph is a great option to accommodate bigger families. It is located in a quaint residential neighborhood and offers an elevator and accessible amenities, laundry on-site, and breakfast. The bedrooms are spacious, have kitchenettes and the staff is very accommodating.
Large Family vacation activities: Rent a duck bus, go on a self-guided walking tour of the city with this app, and if you visit in the fall, we recommend a spooky day trip to Salem with their fantastic witch trial tour.
Good To Know: Fire and Ice is a local restaurant offering a buffet-style dinner but with a more luxury flare. Think shrimp station and filet mignon bites, cooked to order. Call ahead.
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All inclusive sailing cruise with private chef, beautiful sceneries and water fun everyday! Rene and his wife are making you feel so welcomed & share their love for the Turkey coast. Kids have their own cabin and menus can be adapted to them. You can be matched with another family to ofset the cost.
