The Americas cover eight percent of the planet’s total surface, with an area of more than 16.4 million square miles that spans from Greenland’s Kaffeklubben Island to Chile’s Cape Horn. Across this vast expanse are incredible destinations ranging from megacities and vast rainforests to arid deserts and snow-capped mountains.
Best Places in the Americas for a Family Getaway
Are you planning a holiday with your family? What better place to explore than the Americas? Whether you want to soak up nature, go on a road trip, or visit exciting theme parks, you will find loads of activities and adventures for every one of every age in the Americas.
With that said, here are the best places in the Americas for a fascinating family getaway.
Yosemite National Park, California, United States, North America
Tucked in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park is famous for its breathtaking landscape of sequoia trees, granite cliffs, glacier lakes, gushing waterfalls, and outstanding wildlife.
Several accommodations are available throughout the area, from cabins to mountain lodges to hotels to holiday homes. But if you want to be closer to nature, you can pitch a tent in one of the park’s many campsites.
One of the best hiking destinations in the park is Glacier Point, which offers striking panoramas of Yosemite Valley. On your way down from the viewpoint, stop by Taft Point, where you can see El Capitan, a granite rock formation popular among climbers.
You can follow the park’s scenic trails going to lakes and waterfalls. Among these is the Mist Trail, which starts at Vernal Falls and leads up to Nevada Falls. The massive Lower Yosemite Falls is a short, easy hike, but it can be crowded, especially during summer. If hiking isn’t for you, you can drive to Tunnel View to enjoy the sights.
Don’t miss seeing the majestic giant sequoia trees in Mariposa Grove. Go rafting in the Merced River, learn history at the Pioneer Village, discover interesting artworks at the Yosemite Village Museum, or look for wildlife at Tuolumne Meadows.
Walt Disney World, Orlando, United States, North America
Dubbed the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World is an exciting treat for kids and kids at heart. This sprawling property spans almost 25,000 acres and consists of four theme parks, two water parks, several golf courses, shopping centres, dining venues, and 40 hotels, of which 31 are Disney-themed. It even has a camping resort.
Walt Disney World opened in 1971, with Magic Kingdom, represented by the iconic Cinderella Castle, as its first theme park. In Epcot, launched in 1982, you can step into Frozen’s Arendelle or meet Nemo and friends in the deep sea. Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes you to Star Wars and Toy Story Land, while in Animal Kingdom, you can visit the World of Avatar or watch Simba in the Festival of the King.
Most people spend four days all inclusive visiting Disney World to fully enjoy the experience. If you don’t have that much time, you can still see many of the park’s highlights with careful planning. Not sure how to create your own itinerary? Don’t worry – there are some great holiday packages in Walt Disney perfect for a family trip.
Road Trip on Route 66, United States, North America
Route 66 is the most iconic highway in the United States and a staple of American pop culture, featured in songs, books, movies, and television shows. Running from Chicago to Santa Monica, it stretches 2,448 miles and passes Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The best way to explore Route 66 is on a road trip. It takes around three to four weeks to get from Illinois to California, but you don’t have to travel the entire route to find stunning sceneries and fabulous family attractions. Depending on where you start or end your trip, you can make stopovers in some of the world’s most specular destinations, including the Grand Canyon.
At a gift shop and snack bar in Kansas, you can meet the inspiration of Mater the Tow Truck from the Route 66-themed movie Cars. If you want to take a break from driving, have a picnic at the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma, one of the most famous landmarks in the area. For Cadillac fans, there’s a Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas, where you can see check out ten Cadillac models from 1949 to 1963.
Other attractions worth seeing include a dinosaur museum in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Mojave Trails National Monument and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in California. If you’re looking for a place to sleep in style, check out Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, where you can stay in a quirky tepee hut.
The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Central America
The UNESCO-listed Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago of 127 islands, islets and rocks in the Pacific Ocean. It is a province of Ecuador. Home to roughly 9,000 species, many of them found nowhere else in the world, the Galapagos is one of the planet’s top destinations for nature and wildlife viewing.
You can watch sea lions sunning on the shore, spot marine iguanas, look for rare tropical penguins, swim with manta rays and meet 200-year-old tortoises. The marine-abundant waters are perfect for snorkelling and diving. You can also go kayaking and sailing if you prefer not to get your feet wet. Then, there are lava tubes to explore and pristine coves to lounge on.
There is no better way to explore the Galapagos Islands than by cruise. It is one of the best ways to experience the islands and is undoubtedly an unforgettable adventure for the whole family.
Niagara Falls, Canada, North America
A real natural wonder, Niagara Falls is one of the most recognizable sceneries in the Americas. The main attraction, of course, is the waterfalls, but there are heaps of fun activities you can enjoy.
Table Rock Welcome Centre, set above Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three, offers some of the loveliest views of the falls. From there, you can join the Journey Behind the Falls tour to see the cascades from behind and below. Skylon Tower, a 775-foot-high observation deck, also provides stellar vistas.
After viewing the falls, head to Clifton Hill, the leisure and entertainment hub of the district. Enjoy the wax museums, video arcades, thrilling rides and haunted houses. For a unique birds-eye view of the area, ride the Niagara SkyWheel, a giant Ferris wheel that towers 200 feet above the ground.
Get closer to nature at the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve. Better yet, wander around Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and tour the Butterfly Conservatory, a tropical greenhouse full of exotic flowers and over 40 species of brightly coloured butterflies. If you have extra time, make a beeline for Dufferin Islands, a park where you can unwind and spot local wildlife.
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