The 25 Best Places To Travel With Your Grandchildren

Spending time with your grandkids is so important. You might not realize how much your being there for basketball games and having weekend sleepovers means to them, but it's big. What better way to make memories and enjoy your grandkids' company than to take them on a trip? These are the best family vacation ideas that every member of the family will love. Whether you're introducing the kids to the wonders of Disney World, watching their faces light up at the fascinating Georgia Aquarium, or making the life-changing trip to the nation's capital for the first time, there's lots of fun to find on a family trip in the South. With these vacation ideas, you can experience equal parts fun and education with your grandchildren in tow. Make the best memories you can with your loved ones on one of these amazing road trips.

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Atlanta, Georgia

Aerial view of Piedmont Park, Atlanta. Getty Images/WIN-Initiative

Georgia's capital has long been considered the big city of the South, and it's not slowing down anytime soon. Readers named Atlanta one of the South's Best Cities, and we weren't the least bit surprised. There's so much to do with your grandkids, you might not be able to fit it in during one trip! The Georgia Aquarium is a must-see, plus there's the World of Coca-Cola, the High Museum of Art, Centennial Olympic Park, the gorgeous Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the trendy Atlanta Beltline that not only offers outdoor activities but amazing dining options.

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Chattanooga, Tennessee

This family-friendly city has something for everyone. From the Tennessee Aquarium to the picturesque Tennessee Riverwalk, you can soak up the sun and the riverside views. Don't miss all the great restaurants (many are walkable from the aquarium), and be sure to cross the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge to get to the parks and shops on the North Shore.

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Branson, Missouri

It's easy to forget that this bustling theater hub in the Ozarks is actually a small town (and one of the best, according to our readers). With amusement parks, waterfront activities, and shows galore, you and the grandkids will never run out of things to do in Branson, and you might not know it's especially magical during Christmastime.

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Destin, Florida

Destin offers miles of fun along Florida's stunning Emerald Coast. With water parks, an outlet mall, incredible dining, and beach activities like paddle boarding and parasailing, this gorgeous coastline has endless options for the grandkids to enjoy.

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Louisville, Kentucky

If grandparents and their grandkids share a love of baseball, a visit to Louisville, Kentucky, is a must. That's because the city is home to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, a fun spot for a tour and a peek behind the scenes of the famous baseball bat maker. (Plus, you get a mini bat at the end of the tour!) Catch a baseball game with the Louisville Cardinals and visit the Louisville Zoo and Kentucky Science Center for more family fun indoors and out.

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Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

If you're looking for a Smoky Mountains getaway, there aren't many places more kid-friendly than Pigeon Forge. Of course, it's home to Dollywood, which has enough to do and see for multiple road trips. But there are also incredible outdoor opportunities to hike, bike, and more. New developments like The Island, an entertainment complex full of stores, restaurants, and music venues, and Pigeon Forge Snow, an indoor tubing winter wonderland, add to the fun.

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Orange Beach, Alabama

This Gulf Coast beach town is bursting with outdoor fun for the kids. Enjoy the white sandy beaches, ride the ferris wheel, see a concert, shop, and dine at The Wharf, and enjoy fresh seafood with a kid-friendly atmosphere at The Gulf. Head over to neighboring Gulf Shores to visit The Hangout or LuLu's (as in Lucy Buffett, as in Jimmy's sister) for kids' games, great food, and live music, or Waterville USA for a day of waterpark fun.

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Asheville, North Carolina

Although Asheville is a beer city full of awesome local breweries for an adults-only trip, it's a great place to bring the kids, too. You can't go to Asheville without visiting the Biltmore Estate, which is a once-in-a-lifetime event they'll always remember. From Asheville, you can easily access the famously beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway for views and hiking or biking among the Smokies, or you can kayak and raft on the French Broad River. The North Carolina Arboretum makes for a gorgeous visit, and Asheville's walkable downtown is perfect for easy access to shops and restaurants.

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Williamsburg, Virginia

A trip to Williamsburg offers an educational and beautiful setting. Colonial Williamsburg is the best place to learn something and have fun while doing it. Travel back in time to take carriage rides, visit historic sites, wander through museums, and watch colonial tradespeople perform their work, among other ample opportunities. Once you've gotten your history in, visit the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum for a wacky good time, enjoy the theme park rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, or take a river cruise to experience the city.

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Galveston, Texas

This coastal city is perfect for a Texas road trip with the kids. Visit Moody Gardens' incredible pyramids filled with aquariums, zoos, theaters, museums, and a ropes course, and take a ride on an 1800s paddlewheel boat. If you thought that wasn't enough, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier has its own rides and amusements, stores, and restaurants. Adults will love the beautiful historic architecture and amazing seafood thf

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Helen, Georgia

If you're within road-trip distance of Helen, Georgia, and you've never been, you absolutely have to go and bring the grandkids. This tiny, authentic Bavarian village is like a nostalgic trip back in time, tucked away in the beautiful Georgia mountains. It's famously popular during Christmas, and we'll admit—the kids would adore a holiday trip here. But if you can't swing a Christmas visit, Helen is beautiful year-round, and the shops, restaurants, and surrounding landscape offer adventure at every turn.

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Nashville, Tennessee

You might think the Nashville scene is only for adults (and bachelorette parties in particular), but there are tons of opportunities for kid-friendly fun. You have to make time for a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and visit historic RCA Studio B, where the likes of Elvis and Dolly Parton recorded countless songs. Depending on the weekend you decide to visit, there's bound to be an arts festival or amazing concert to see, and you might catch a Nashville Predators hockey game or a Tennessee Titans football game. Nashville has grown into quite the foodie city, so the adults will be content with incredible dinners. Bonus: Kids would love a stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, especially during the holidays.

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Washington, D.C.

Every kid deserves a chance to explore our nation's capital if possible. There are some experiences you truly don't ever forget, and your first time to D.C. is definitely one of them. Of course, you have to see all the monuments (we know Honest Abe will be their favorite), the Capitol, the White House, and the Library of Congress, but that's just the start. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the Newseum, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Botanic Garden are all worth seeing. Mount Vernon and the Arlington National Cemetery are both worth a short trip, and Georgetown's famous architecture is a must-see. There are a million ways to experience D.C., and not one of them is wrong.

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Huntsville, Alabama

If you have an aspiring astronaut or kids who love science, Huntsville, also known as The Rocket City and the home of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, should be the start of your next family vacation. EarlyWorks Children's Museum, the Alabama Constitution Village, and the Huntsville Museum of Art all offer ample educational and exciting experiences. Even if you don't make it to all the museums, you have to promise us you'll try Little Rosie's Taqueria. You won't regret it.

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Orlando, Florida

It wouldn't be a list of great trips to take with kids if we didn't include Orlando. Home of both Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando is bound to be an action-packed trip that the kids will remember forever. One of the most special memories a child can have is one from a first trip to Disney World, so who better to take them than the best grandparents in the world? Plus, Disney World and Universal Studios (plus its Wizarding World of Harry Potter) are fun for kids and adults alike, so you can create new memories with each repeat trip as the kids grow into adults.

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San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio's famous River Walk is an attraction both adults and kids can appreciate. Not only is it beautiful for a leisurely river cruise, it's filled with amazing shops and restaurants to try via walking tour. To add in a little educational value to your trip, the Alamo is a free and interesting site to bring the kids that you absolutely have to see if you visit San Antonio. The Natural Bridge Caverns, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, The Witte Museum, Morgan's Wonderland, and the San Antonio Zoo or San Antonio Aquarium are all great options (among tons of others) for kids of all ages.

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Outer Banks, North Carolina

Long a favorite destination for families seeking off-the-beaten-path coastlines, the Outer Banks is filled with great, small beach towns and rental homes, ensuring everyone has plenty of space to spread out. Try Manteo or Duck for laid-back experiences on North Carolina's favorite stretch of sand.

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St. Louis, Missouri

You know you have to see the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis, but what else is there for kids to do? Let us tell you—tons. The City Museum is full of absolute wonder for kids and adults, and there's also the Saint Louis Science Center, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, Myseum, and tons of other learning opportunities. Check out amazing animals at the Saint Louis Zoo and the incredible Budweiser Clydesdales at Grant's Farm. You can't visit St. Louis without chowing down on some incredible barbecue.

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Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola is no longer a best-kept-secret beach spot, but it's no less inviting for a family getaway. Beyond the obvious attractions on the shore (sandcastle building, frolicking in the surf, etc.), there's more to explore. Take kids to The National Naval Aviation Museum to learn about planes, to Blue Wahoos Stadium for a fun-packed baseball game, and on a boat tour to see dolphins in their natural habitat.

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Athens, Georgia

College towns can be great getaways for families because there's always something fun happening. Walk around Athens's historic downtown for shops and restaurants, and don't forget to visit Insomnia Cookies and Zombie Coffee & Donuts for afternoon treats. Also be sure to visit Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia for outdoor adventures and plenty of room to run around after the sugar hits.

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Knoxville, Tennessee

Downtown Knoxville, TN — Sean Pavone/Getty Images

The Sunsphere beckons from World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, where you'll find plenty of exciting family-friendly attractions. Grab a scoop of ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy, which has a shop downtown; check out the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, Ijams Nature Center, and Zoo Knoxville; and don't forget to catch a game at the University of Tennessee.

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Charlottesville, Virginia

Outdoor adventure is everywhere to find in Charlottesville, where you can launch a kayak in the Rivanna or James rivers, visit the Virginia Discovery Museum, and explore the many shops and restaurants in the Downtown Mall. No matter what season you experience here, it's always a beautiful one in Charlottesville.

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Oxford, Mississippi

This college town isn't just for students. Grandparents and their grandkids will find lots of room to roam and things to do in and around Oxford. Don't miss Avent Park and Rowan Oak to see the sights. For bookworms, there's no better place to visit than Square Books and Square Books Jr., the latter of which has storytimes and lots of children's books to peruse.

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Savannah, Georgia

USA, Georgia, Savannah, Savannah river at dawn looking towards central Savannah — Christian Heeb/Getty Images

New developments along the river make this walkable city an even more attractive destination for a family getaway. Start with riverboat cruises and city tours to see Savannah and learn about its history, then take a walk along River Street, buy a bag of saltwater taffy, and check out the Savannah Children's Museum or the Jepson Center, interactive spaces that kids will love.

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Raleigh, North Carolina

A great spot for a family trip, Raleigh has a little bit of everything. The Marbles Kids Museum and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are must-visit spots for curious kiddos, while Pullen Park is the spot for outdoor escapades. It features a carousel, playgrounds, and rides via both boat and train.

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