When parents think fun for the kids, Disney usually comes to mind. Both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida excel at offering attractions that appeal to adults and kids alike. The advantage of the larger Walt Disney Resort in Orlando lies in its sheer size and number of attractions. The big draws are Epcot Center; the Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom theme parks; Downtown Disney and the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks. Disney World offers many hotel and theme park packages. There are also customizable tickets for people staying off-site. Park restaurants offer everything from casual to fine dining. Disney World offers many on-site hotels ranging in quality and price from value to deluxe. All Disney properties offer free trips to and from Orlando International Airport, free transportation throughout the park and extended theme park hours for hotel guests.

Disneyland, on the other hand, lacks water parks but offers Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney District. It also has shorter lines than its Florida cousin. Parents might want to keep in mind that attractions are more accessible in Disneyland, especially if they have only a couple of days to spend at the resort. Disneyland is home to three Disney hotels. The resort recommends a mix of economy, deluxe and moderate nearby Good Neighbor Hotels for those wishing to stay off-site.

Also in California, San Diego offers as much entertainment for adults as it does for children. The kids will love the 70 miles of beaches, the world-famous zoo and the Wild Animal Park. Parents will enjoy the restaurants and shopping of Seaport Village, the markets and history of Old Town and the museums of Balboa Park. The whole family will be entertained by animal shows and visits to penguins, dolphins and sharks at Sea World. For an old-fashioned amusement park experience, families can take in Belmont Park on the Mission Beach boardwalk. The Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster will thrill adults and older kids alike. There are also gentler rides for the younger children. The park is also home to restaurants, shops and the Mission Beach Plunge swimming pool. And for really hot summer days, Knott's Soak City U.S.A offers 22 wild water rides with a 1950s San Diego coast theme. San Diego boasts a wonderful sunny climate, with April and the months of July through October providing the very best weather.

For families who cannot get enough of the outdoors,three national parks stand out as superior destinations for vacations. The Grand Canyon offers spectacular, unique scenery and a number of activities sure to please the adventure-loving family, including rafting, kayaking, hiking, the Grand Canyon Railway and numerous restaurants. Yosemite, meanwhile, offers the benefit of being close to San Francisco and offers both lodging and camping. Families can fish, hike, bike, ride horses and swim in pools or the Merced River. 

Yellowstone, which straddles Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, offers diverse wildlife, boating, biking, camping, picnicking and fishing. Kids 5-12 are welcome to participate in the Junior Ranger program.
City-lovers will find a lot going on in Washington, D.C. Best of all, a number of the most interesting attractions are free. There is no admittance fee for the National Zoo and the 17 museums of the Smithsonian complex, including the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Portrait Gallery. 

 Tours of the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol Building and the White House are also available. The city provides a number of great restaurants for hungry families. In summer, visitors can take in a multitude of concerts, parades and festivals. July and August are also good months for the best hotel deals. The city offers a wide selection of bus tours of major sites as well as bike and boat tours. As far as transportation goes, the Metro covers the whole city and offers free rides to children under the age of 4.

The thrill-seekers in the family will be happy to learn that Six Flags America is located just 30 minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. The park operates from April through October and offers over 100 rides as well as the area's largest water park. Parents should note that Washington, D.C., weather is hot and humid in July and August. Families will need to stop often for drinks and remember to wear hats and sunblock.
Another destination mixing education and fun is Colonial Williamsburg. All family members will enjoy the presentation of hands-on history of colonial life. Entertainment includes historic speeches, parades, arts performances and walking tours.

 Revolutionary City is a street theater program presenting scenes of everyday colonial life against the backdrop of momentous historical events. Educational opportunities include a representation of the Great Hopes Plantation, which shows the lives of African American slaves. Colonial Williamsburg offers value, deluxe and premium hotels rooms from $59 to $799 a night. Hotels offer spring, summer, fall and holiday packages. Nearby Kingsmill Resort has its own recreational opportunities such as golf courses, tennis courts and a sports club with indoor and outdoor pools and exercise classes.

The more variety of experience a family packs into a vacation, the more they will remember it for years to come. These eight family vacation destinations incorporate a good mixture of educational, fun and economical activities. Best of all, they will provide opportunities for a lot of fun together time, which is really what family vacations are all about.