Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards 2025: Best Family Trips, Resorts & Gear

Planning a family trip in 2025 can be overwhelming, but the Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards have returned to simplify your search for the best destinations, experiences, accommodations, and travel essentials for families of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are journeying with toddlers, teens, or grandparents, you’ll discover superlative options carefully vetted by experts and real-life families. This annual guide is designed to inspire, inform, and equip families for enjoyable, stress-free, and truly memorable travel.

How the Family Travel Awards Are Chosen

The Family Travel Awards program is a robust evaluation conducted by the Good Housekeeping Institute experts, which includes engineers, parents, and product scientists, alongside feedback from families who test and review travel experiences in real time. The process incorporates:

• Rigorous vetting based on safety, value, accessibility, and quality
• Hands-on testing of each service, destination, or product
• Evaluation of family-friendliness, convenience, and fun factor
• Consideration of both new standouts and perennial favorites across the travel landscape

This multifaceted approach ensures that each winner meets high standards and real-world needs, ultimately curating a collection of recommendations you can trust for family adventures big and small.

Outstanding Family-Friendly Destinations

This year’s winners represent a globe-spanning lineup of locations that impress with their unique blend of fun, culture, and accessibility for families.

Top Beach Destinations

• Coastal Towns: Outstanding runners for families include scenic spots in Florida, Rhode Island, Washington, and Mexico—each offering resort comforts and a safe environment for kids.
• Beach Resorts: Top picks span Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as unique destinations in Maine, Oregon, and even Turkey, promising both classic and less-traveled beach escapes.
• All-Inclusive Resorts: Many of the most raved-about are located in Mexico, offering comprehensive amenities, family programming, and meals rolled into one price for maximum ease.

Favorite City Vacations

• Cities for Exploration: The honored cities—Salt Lake City, Victoria (BC), San Antonio, and Orlando—stand out for their family-friendly attractions, walkability, and delicious food scenes.
• Canadian Standouts: Quebec province gets a special mention, especially Montreal and Quebec City, for their historic charm and accessible experiences for children and adults alike.

Exceptional LGBTQ+ Family Destinations

Good Housekeeping highlights welcoming destinations for LGBTQ+ families, focusing on inclusivity, safety, and community engagement. These cities and towns go above and beyond to ensure all families feel valued and can create lasting memories together.

Adventure and Nature Escapes

• National Parks: Acclaimed U.S. parks like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Acadia are praised for their excellent ranger-led programming, junior ranger activities, and accessibility for all ages.
• Outdoor Resorts & Glamping: Think elevated camping, complete with creature comforts, stunning natural settings, and activities like zip-lining, horseback riding, and hiking.
• Mountain Destinations: Family resorts in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Vermont shine, offering four seasons of recreation from skiing to summer adventure courses.

Unique Attractions, Experiences, and Activities

No family vacation is complete without standout activities to create lasting memories. This year, winners range from thrill-inducing experiences to cultural explorations and favorite animal encounters:

• Theme Parks & Amusement Parks: Winners offer a blend of top-tier thrill rides, immersive kid zones, cutting-edge entertainment, and allergy-aware dining.
• Museums: Recognized for interactive exhibits, accessibility, and opportunities for hands-on learning, honorees include science museums, children’s museums, and innovative art spaces.
• Wildlife & Nature Experiences: Top-rated zoos, aquariums, and animal sanctuaries exemplify ethical animal care and offer programs specially tailored for young learners.
• Tours and Classes: Guided city walking tours, farm visits, and cooking classes tailored for all ages stand out for their educational value and fun factor.

Accommodations: Resorts, Hotels & Cruises

Rest and rejuvenation are essential to every getaway. This year’s Family Travel Awards spotlight the best in:

All-Inclusive Family Resorts

• Resorts that simplify travel by bundling stays, food, activities, and child care—allowing parents to relax and children to explore in a safe environment.
• Standouts include properties with water parks, nature trails, and innovative children’s clubs.

Top Family Hotels

• Family suites with bunk beds or connecting rooms, flexible layouts, and amenities designed for little travelers—such as cribs, bottle warmers, and robust breakfast offerings.
• Hotels near key attractions, theme parks, or kid-friendly museums, offering perks like shuttle services and kid-centric concierge programs.

Best Family Cruise Lines

• Sun Princess leads as a Family Travel Award Winner for its innovative blend of amenities, from supervised kids’ clubs to multi-generational entertainment and top-notch dining options. The ship combines luxury and convenience with enriching experiences at sea.
• Cruises with thoughtfully designed staterooms and tailored schedules for families with infants, school-aged children, and teens.

Winning Services and Planning Tools

Seamless planning boosts your vacation experience. These service winners revolutionize family travel organization and support:

• Booking Platforms: Viator clinched an award for its 300,000+ activity options, flexible cancellation, extensive reviews, and round-the-clock customer support—enabling stress-free, customizable itinerary building for every travel style.
• Trip Planning Websites: Trusted online tools helping families uncover new destinations, compare options, and create detailed day-by-day itineraries.
• Loyalty Programs and Travel Subscriptions: Programs that reward frequent family travelers with upgrades, free nights, or exclusive perks.

Travel Transportation & Getting There

The Awards recognize the best airlines, car rental services, rail companies, and associated transportation providers making arrivals and departures smooth and family-friendly. Winners excel through flexible policies, kid-friendly in-flight entertainment, easy car seat rentals, and on-time reliability.

• Airlines: Acknowledged for generous family boarding, kid meal options, and amenities like bassinets and activity packs.
• Rental Services: Honored for ease of use, flexible return policies, and vehicle options suitable for larger families.

Travel Gear and Essentials

This category celebrates the tried-and-true gear that withstands airports and road trips, as well as new innovations designed with traveling families in mind. Featured winners include:

• Luggage and Bags: Suitcases and backpacks that offer durability, ample storage, and ease of movement, whether rolling through terminals or navigating city streets.
• Strollers and Baby Gear: Compact, lightweight strollers that fold into overhead bins, travel car seats for every stage, and babywearing options for families on the move.
• Portable Health & Safety: Innovations in portable medical kits, children’s sunscreen, and travel-specific first aid—prioritizing safety without slowing families down.
• Entertainment Tech: Child-safe tablets, headphones, and interactive games proven reliable for keeping kids entertained on flights or long car rides.

Tips for Stress-Free Family Travel

• Book accommodations with flexible cancellation policies for peace of mind.
• Look for destinations that offer all-inclusive packages or kid-focused activities to simplify planning.
• Pack smart: versatile clothing, snacks, and compact entertainment keep everyone happy in transit.
• Leverage review sites and award lists like Good Housekeeping’s for tried-and-tested family recommendations.

Table: Award Categories and Standout Sample Winners

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How does Good Housekeeping select Family Travel Award winners?

A: The program involves a rigorous process including hands-on expert and family testing, criteria based on safety, value, accessibility, and family-friendliness across destinations, experiences, products, and services.

Q: What types of destinations are recognized in the 2025 awards?

A: The awards honor a wide range, including beach towns, city escapes, LGBTQ+ friendly destinations, outdoor resorts, national parks, and all-inclusive family resorts.

Q: Are there family-friendly transportation and service winners?

A: Yes, top performers in airlines, rental cars, booking platforms, and cruise lines are specially highlighted for their family-oriented features and flexible policies.

Q: What travel products are featured?

A: Awarded products include durable luggage, strollers, car seats, travel health essentials, and tech for kids—all tested for real family use.

Q: Can I find tips for less stressful family trips?

A: Absolutely—alongside award-winners, the guide shares practical advice for packing, booking, and maximizing family fun with minimal stress.

Ready, Set, Go: Plan Your 2025 Family Adventure

The Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards 2025 list empowers families to travel with confidence—no matter your preferences or group size. Use this trusted guide to simplify planning, discover fresh destinations, and unlock exclusive experiences that everyone in your family will cherish for years to come.