These Are the Multigenerational Trips to Take This Year

Consider these destinations that appeal to family members of all ages

people sitting or standing near a cliff overlooking the ocean

When planning a multigenerational trip, consider the needs and wants of all parties. These locations, including Traverse City, Michigan, are great options.

Courtesy Traverse City Tourism

Trudy Haywood Saunders,

AARP

Published August 27, 2025

So, you want to take the whole family on a vacation this year, but where can you go that will make everyone happy? If you’ve had this idea and this dilemma, you are certainly not alone. According to Squaremouth.com, a travel insurance marketplace, 47 percent of travelers are choosing multigenerational or family trips in 2025, exceeding all other types of group trips.

The writer and her daughter, Peyton, went horseback riding at Paws Up Montana.

Courtesy Trudy Haywood Saunders

Having participated in multigenerational travel trips to more than half of the destinations listed below, I’m aware of the needs and wants of different age groups. As my parents age, I’ve also become more conscious of accessibility features and mobility issues that should be considered when planning a trip. Based on my experience as a multigenerational traveler in my 40s and talking with friends and acquaintances in their 40s and 50s as well as destination professionals, I’ve highlighted 10 places that are worth a visit this year.

an indoor waterfall next to a restaurant

The Gaylord Opryland Resort is a good base to explore what Nashville has to offer.

Courtesy Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Nashville, Tennessee

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center

Before visiting Nashville, I was unsure if there would be enough to entertain my 13-year-old daughter. Boy, was I wrong. I would jump at the chance to go back with both my parents and my daughter. The iconic Grand Ole Opry celebrates 100 years this year, with special shows featuring popular artists and country legends. The Gaylord Opryland Resort, which has an indoor water park, is a short walk away. The Old Town Trolley makes accessing downtown attractions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Auditorium a breeze. Kids of all ages love the walk-through kangaroo habitat at the Nashville Zoo.

A Disney cruise, such as the “Treasure,” offers the magic of the theme park without the theme park lines.

Carolyne Parent/Shutterstock

Disney Cruise Line

Perennially topping U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cruise Lines for Families list, Disney is adding new ships and expanding its itineraries, and I can’t wait to book our next cruise. The Treasure, launched in December 2024, takes guests to the Eastern or Western Caribbean. Before the end of 2025, the Destiny will begin sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Adventure will sail from Singapore. For my family, one of the best parts of a Disney Cruise is experiencing the magic of meeting Mickey, Minnie and other favorite characters without walking miles in the theme parks (which resulted in a severe blister and subsequent hospital stay for my mother-in-law) or waiting in lines in the elements.

A trip to Sailrock, a resort in the Turks & Caicos, will provide a tropical vacation fit for the whole family.

Courtesy Sailrocks South Caicos

Turks & Caicos

Sailrock South Caicos

Sailrock, a resort that delivers a tropical vacation without the crowds, is now more accessible from the U.S., with direct flights from Miami on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Private Peninsula Villas with open-concept indoor/outdoor living, full kitchens and private infinity pools are ideal for multigenerational families. While the kids are off paddleboarding or learning to bonefish with a local guide, grandparents can unwind with a Balinese massage or relax by the sea.

people on a cliff looking out at mountains and trees below

In Rapid City, South Dakota, you can get your steps in with a hike.

Courtesy Visit Rapid City

Rapid City, South Dakota

Canyon Lake Resort

In Rapid City, “you can hike in the morning, then visit a museum or attraction in the afternoon,” says Carrie Gerlach, founder and owner of Black Hills Adventure Tours. “The museums do a great job of making their exhibits engaging for both kids and adults, helping everyone better understand the cultural history of the region,” which includes Mount Rushmore. Canyon Lake Resort provides a mix of accommodations, including motel rooms, cabins and a lodge that can suit a variety of multi-gen travelers and group sizes, with museums and hiking both nearby.

a sign that reads fort worth stock yards

The Fort Worth Stockyards has become a luxury hot spot that has maintained its rustic charm.

Courtesy Fort Worth Stock Yards

Fort Worth, Texas

Hotel Drover

The historic Fort Worth Stockyards, which is celebrating 135 years, has shifted from its cowboy roots to a luxury hot spot without losing its rustic charm. My family loved that Hotel Drover was within easy walking distance of the historic district, but be mindful that the brick streets can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Find a spot to watch the twice-daily cattle drive, take a horseback ride along the Chisholm Trail or explore the high-end shops such as Lucchese and King Ranch. The family-friendly Stockyards Championship Rodeo is also not to be missed. Expansions are underway with a second phase of the stockyards’ revitalization.

Nostalgic vibes are apparent along Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

Getty Images

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Mill Falls at the Lake

The area has a nostalgic feel, with a boardwalk along the lakefront and Funspot, the world’s largest arcade. For my family, the best and most convenient way to see the lake was from the Sophie C, the oldest floating post office in the U.S., which makes stops at islands on the lake to deliver the mail. Mill Falls at the Lake offers accessible rooms and is a great choice for families with mobility issues.

Fly fishing is one of the more than 70 activities at Paws Up Montana.

Courtesy Paws Up Montana

Greenough, Montana

Paws Up Montana

Paws Up Montana feels like you’re out exploring your own family’s 37,000-acre mountain property. My daughter says it’s her favorite place that we’ve visited. Glamping campsites on the Blackfoot River and luxury homes allow families to choose accommodations that meet their needs. More than 70 activities like horseback riding, rafting, archery and go-kart racing are available, and there’s Spa Town for those looking to relax. World-class dining, including a chuckwagon dinner, and authentic experiences, like a real-life cattle drive, create lasting memories.

Horseback riding is available at Bill Cody Ranch.

Courtesy Bill Cody Ranch and Cody Yellowstone

Cody, Wyoming

Bill Cody Ranch

Cody has to be one of the most authentic Wild West towns that I’ve visited; it’s easy to imagine stagecoaches and cowboys on the streets. “The location itself is a gift,” says John Jelks, Bill Cody Ranch owner, about the town founded by “Buffalo Bill” Cody. “Yellowstone National Park is only a short drive away, making it easy to spend a day exploring its geysers, waterfalls and abundant wildlife before returning to the quiet comfort of the ranch.”

At the Bill Cody Ranch, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, families can stay in log cabins to fully immerse themselves in an authentic dude ranch. One of my favorite experiences in Cody was horseback riding. There are plenty of less physically demanding but equally memorable things to do, like visiting the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which has five museums under one roof, or touring the Heart Mountain WWII Japanese American Confinement Site. CoveredGround Tours offers guided tours of Yellowstone with options to see the iconic landscapes and wildlife with limited walking.

people playing in shallow water at a beach

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is situated along the Great Lakes.

Courtesy Traverse City Tourism

Traverse City, Michigan

Great Wolf Lodge, Traverse City

I never considered Michigan when planning a coastal vacation until I started researching Traverse City and discovered the Great Lakes region known as the Third Coast. “Our family loved making the short drive to Sleeping Bear Dunes, a gorgeous national park along the coast,” says Ann Swindell, an author, teacher and multigenerational traveler. “There’s almost never a bad time to visit [Traverse City] in the summer. The gorgeous scenery, outdoor activities and classy shopping make for a lot of wins with multiple ages and stages of life.”

Even when the weather turns cold, Traverse City is a great place for families. Winter sport lovers come for skiing, skating and snowshoeing. As the “Cherry Capital of the World,” its wineries and agritourism are popular, and Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City’s indoor water park can be enjoyed by families all year long.

Panama City Beach, Florida, has mobility mats along the shoreline, accessible boardwalks and piers.

Courtesy Visit Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, Florida

Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach

Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach offers oceanfront standard rooms (some with private balconies), a lazy river and easy beach access. In addition, Panama City Beach has more than 100 feet of mobility mats along the shoreline, accessible boardwalks and piers that are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Sporty family members will find the “Wreck Diving Capital of the South” perfect for snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding. Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, which opened in June, and iconic seafood restaurants like Capt. Anderson’s ensure that no one goes hungry.

“People are really focusing on experiences that matter,” Gerlach says. “It’s a good time to slow down, spend time with people you care about and finally take that trip you’ve been putting off.”

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Trudy Haywood Saunders is a travel and lifestyle writer in North Carolina. She is also a teacher and mother to a 13-year-old daughter who shares her family travel adventures.