Best Vacation Spots for Families

5 Destinations Our 90-Year-Old Grandma Rates a 10/10

Family-friendly vacations from the wee little ones to the great-wise ones.

Multi-generational travel is booming—and for good reason. Recent reports show that more grandparents than ever are joining family vacations, and kids remember these shared adventures far more than any toy or gift. It’s the togetherness they hold onto.

And yes… the planning, prepping, and packing can feel a bit like the opening scene of Home Alone—chaotic, loud, and slightly unhinged. But once you’re there? That chaos melts into connection, memories, and joy.

Finding a destination that works for everyone—the baby who needs naps, the teens who need space, the parents who need sanity, and the grandparents who need accessible accommodations—can feel daunting. But I promise you: adaptable spaces, inclusive activities, and accessible products do exist… and they can make your next family adventure a whole lot easier.

We’ve brought our 90+ year-old grandmother, lovingly known as Mee Maw, on every big family trip. Today, she’s sharing her top 10/10 destinations—and why each one earned her stamp of approval (plus tips and resources!).

1. Maui, Hawaii – Paia

A tucked-away home in the heart of local Maui—spacious, peaceful, and made for multi-generational families. Mom and Dad stayed in their own guest house while grandparents enjoyed the main house with the kids. Mee Maw had her own suite on the main level with a zero-step entrance, perfect after a long day of exploring.

Travel Tip: Break up long flights with walk-and-stretch breaks for babies and grandparents.

Read more about our Maui experience and tips here → LINK

Mee Maw’s Review:

“A dream come true. Being so close to the clouds. I thought I would never experience Hawaii. Best part? Being with family. P.S… it was extra special because some people discouraged me from going, saying I was too old to fly that far.”

2. Anna Maria Island, Florida – East Side

A private beachfront home with an elevator—life-changing for Mee Maw and for our uncle who lives with Multiple Sclerosis. The elevator also saved the day for grocery runs, strollers, and luggage.

Read more about this trip here → LINK

Mee Maw’s Review:

“Appreciating the beauty of the ocean and surroundings. Best part—being with family and being inspired by Chris’ (my brother-in-law) determination.”

3. Michigan City, Indiana – Beachwalk Community

A charming golf-cart community designed for families. The accessible beach wheelchair allowed Mee Maw to join us for the 4th of July fireworks right on the sand. Playgrounds, water activities, ice-cream shops, wide paths, and golf carts made it easy for every generation to explore at their own pace.

Tip: Many homes offer main-floor bedrooms, step-free entrances, and ramps.

Read more about our Northern beach town experience here → LINK

Mee Maw’s Review:

“I learned new and interesting facts. Best part—being with the entire Cross family. The unique ride through the sand to see the sunset and fireworks made me appreciate freedom in a new way.”

4. Park City, Utah

Mountains can feel intimidating for travelers with mobility challenges—but accessible options do exist. Our stay offered zero-step entry, wide open spaces perfect for rolling and walking, and panoramic views right from the living room. Exploring the outdoors by car—and stepping out in select locations—made the mountains feel magical for every generation.

Pro Tip: We stayed at Stein Eriksen Residences – Deer Valley right before peak ski season. Lower rates, experienced the snow, a little holiday decor and no crowds! At 7 months pregnant with a 24 month old…they made our stay a breeze offering a crib with our stay. It was an effortless and sweet memorable trip with our Mee Maw before baby #2 arrived.

Mee Maw’s Review:

“It seemed like a foreign country. The beauty of the mountains! Best part—being with family.”

5. Branson, Missouri – Table Rock Lake

Often underestimated, Branson surprised us with one of the most joyful Thanksgiving trips we’ve ever taken. Accessible homes with zero-step entrances, first-floor bedrooms, and main-level gathering spaces made it easy for the whole family to stay together comfortably.

Read about our Thanksgiving in Branson here → LINK

Learn more about our favorite rental company + promo code → LINK

Mee Maw’s Review:

“I enjoyed reminiscing and seeing it all anew. Best part—being with family.”

The Joy of Multi-Generational Travel

This list is just the beginning. Traveling with multiple generations—babies to great-grands—is completely possible with the right planning, the right tools, and the right mindset.

The chaos? Worth it.

The packing stress? Temporary.

The memories? Everlasting.

Our hope is that these destinations and reviews inspire you to dream a little bigger, explore a little farther, and experience the joy in the chaos—together.

Ready to Plan Your Next Family Adventure?

✨ Subscribe to The Joyful Blueprint for travel tips, accessible design resources, and multi-generational travel guides sent right to your inbox.

Stay connected with us on Instagram @thetiffanydill for real-time adventures, behind-the-scenes family travel, and joyful home design inspiration.

Hey, It's Tiffany!

Click around and read up on everything family, home and travel related!

Share Your Thoughts!

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

You May Also Like

Highland Retreat verticall (800 x 1200 px)
1
11
2

Meet the Blogger

Hi, I’m Tiffany Dill!

As a mom with profound hearing loss, I know firsthand the beauty and chaos of navigating life with young kids, extended family, and all the little surprises along the way. At Blue Day 2, I’m all about creating spaces and experiences that bring joy to families of all ages and abilities. From home designs that work seamlessly for everyone to sharing my favorite picks from my LTK and Amazon shops, I’m here to make life and travel simpler, more accessible, and filled with joy. Stick around for plenty of inspiration, a little less stress, and a whole lot more fun as we embrace life’s perfectly imperfect adventures together!

Let's Get Personal!

Click on the tabs below to learn more fun facts about me. Do we have anything in common?

Tiffany, you've been married to Andrew for over 16 years now. Any special anniversary traditions?

Oh, absolutely! Every year since we got married in September 2008, we’ve worn the exact same clothes we left our wedding reception in. Yup, I'm talking my gold cocktail dress, wedding jewelry shining, and Andrew rocking his wedding suit. We’re not about to let that tradition slide. It’s been 16 years of pure anniversary magic. I guess you could say we’re "stuck" in our wedding day outfits, but in the best way possible!

Completing an Ironman and earning a doctorate in occupational therapy in the same year sounds intense. How did you pull that off?

Intense is one way to put it! But honestly, raising two energetic boys might just be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The Ironman and doctorate were definitely tough, but mom life? That’s the ultimate endurance race. It’s the one that keeps me—and even Andrew—on our A-game, every single day. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though. There’s nothing like their opposite personalities and they surprise you with so much joy even in the chaos, and that's where my energy goes—no finish line required.

You’ve set a pretty ambitious goal with playing ‘Sweet By and By’ on the piano. What’s the story there?

Ah, yes! I miss playing the piano. I started playing piano since second grade and even made it to an advanced level through college. But now, my life goal is to master Sweet By and By (again) before I leave earth. It’s definitely a stretch, but that’s the fun part, right? First, though, I need to add a piano in a room I’ve been dreaming of since we built our home. Playing piano was always my outlet. Until then, running is my stress reliever.

Hidden talent alert: You can read lips. How’d you discover that one?

Oh, this one goes way back! When I was four years old, I managed to fool five different audiologists during my hearing tests. It wasn’t until a doctor noticed that I wasn’t repeating what she said when she turned around (back in those days they didn’t cover their lips nor did they have tinted windows in the sound booth)! I had spinal meningitis at 13 months, which nearly took my life and left me in a coma for a week. As a result, I had to start over on a few developmental milestones and missed a lot of early speech and language development. Thanks to years of speech therapy and a knack for lip-reading, I still manage to fool people with my profound hearing loss. It comes in handy when someone wants to know what the ref said on the field or TV, or if I’m in a crowded room and want to eavesdrop—just kidding. Sort of.

On the flip side, what are some things you’re not a fan of?

Confined spaces. Cilantro. Olives. Blue cheese. I could live without all of those. And don’t even get me started on being stuck inside for hours at a time. I'm much more suited to wide-open spaces, the great outdoors, and pretty much anything that involves fresh air.

We all know you’re a planner, but what do you hold closest to your heart?

Sentiments. They’re irreplaceable. There’s something about the things that carry emotional weight—whether it’s a moment or an object—that just can’t be duplicated. I’ve learned to really appreciate the simple, meaningful stuff in life. In fact, our Christmas tree is adorned with over 20 years of ornaments symbolizing memories from a loss of loved ones to trips and even sour times. It’s like finding joy in the simple little things whether they are happy or sad or even bad memories.

You’re a busy mom and entrepreneur, but how do you manage to squeeze in family time?

Time? What’s that? Ha! Honestly, there’s just not enough of it. And the thing is, we can’t get it back. So I prioritize memory-making with my family. That’s my top priority. Whether it’s hiking, running, biking, traveling, or exploring the great outdoors with my boys, I live for those moments. In fact, I devote one day off work a week to be with my little guys and my husband and I carve out a weekly date night.

Scroll to Top
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Skip to content