I have now got two sisters that live over across the pond, so we are always looking at flight prices to see when we could head over there to visit. But as the flight is a long-haul one, I definitely think it is worth spending at least two weeks in the States, as there is just so much to do and see there. I know that I have a US bucket list myself, and there are some places that I would love to get back to and to introduce my children to. So a combination of visiting family in Utah or Indiana, and then being able to visit a couple of other states, is my type of trip.
Here are a few of the places that I have on my bucket list to visit and see over in the USA. If there are a couple of things that you have on your list too, then looking somewhere like Travel Planners for their Twin Centre Holidays is a good way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Somewhere like Orlando and New York, and combining that into a twin-centre holiday would work for us.
New York
I don’t know if it is because of movies or things they see and read about, but New York is somewhere that children are really keen to visit. I would love to go back as I haven’t been since I was 18, and see things from a new travel perspective. The thing that they are most keen to see is the Stature of Liberty, and then go to Grand Central Station (I think the movie Madagascar had something to do with that one). They have seen Home Alone as well, so seeing it in winter and going ice-skating in Central Park is another options. Of course, this isn’t a place that we could spend days and days in, so combining it with another city would work well.
Florida
With kids, I don’t think you can really have a US bucket list without mentioning Florida. Even if you didn’t head to Orlando, the beaches are great, the weather is amazing, and the food is fab. Orlando is a must for us, though, especially with the new Star Wars Theme Park at Disney that has opened up (a bit Star Wars mad in this house)!
California
I have been to California a couple of times growing up and I loved it. But with two children that love to be outdoors, I would love to take them to Yosemite National Park. The redwoods are meant to be incredible there, and some hiking in the sun would be lush. San Francisco is another incredible city to visit, and with some really unique things like Lombard Street, it would be a cool spot to visit.
Arizona
There are two things that I’d love to experience with the children in Arizona; Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon. As I’ve mentioned, both of my children love to be outdoors, so these two sound like great options (and Lake Powell borders Utah where one of my sisters lives, so sure she could pop to join us too). The weather is pretty much always hot in Arizona too, so could work for a winter-sun trip as well.
Washington
Seattle is a city that I have always wanted to visit, but we have never made it quite that far north in the States before. The city itself looks like there is a lot to do with children, and the state is great for outdoor adventures and hikes. Plus, being relatively close to Vancouver, it would be worth ticking Canada off the bucket list too.
Yellowstone National Park
It is hard to just class Yellowstone as one state, as it covers three; Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. But with my nature-mad daughter and adventure living son, I know it would be a great spot to visit. Swimming in lakes, hikes, and exploring are things that they love. Not to mention that my daughter might have a fit if we saw a real-life elk or moose just walking by. I think we’d all have a fit if we saw a bear, though – ha!
Illinois
I was lucky enough to visit Illinois when one of my sisters used to live there, but I know there are a few things that the children will love. Chicago itself is a really cool city, with some fun museums for families and ‘the bean’ monument, and my daughter is affectionately nicknamed ‘bean.’ But the Home Alone house and the church that they film at etc are on the outskirts of the city too. So I think that would be really fun.
Have you ever been to these places before? Would you recommend for families? It would be great to hear what you think.
*this is a sponsored post, but all words and opinions are my own.
