Tour operators cite Grand Canyon as tops
The top US destination for families? Try the Grand Canyon, said a poll conducted by the US Tour Operators.
Grand Canyon’s natural wonders “that leave adults and children in awe,” along with parents’ desire to show children their own country were cited as major draws by companies such as Collette Vacations and Tauck World Discovery.
Other popular destinations were:
• The Galapagos Islands. “Our clients tell us that taking their children (and even grandchildren) to the Galapagos Islands is an immensely rewarding experience, and it has become our most popular family destination. Often a family’s interest starts with what the children are studying in school, and then an outing to the Darwin exhibit, or the Galapagos 3-D IMAX fires their imagination,” says a spokesperson for Abercrombie & Kent.
• Australia Unique cultural heritage and wildlife, absence of language barrier and safety as a destination, attracts families, according to Goway Travel.
• River cruise trips in Europe, including Amsterdam to Basel and Amsterdam to Paris are particularly popular for families, largely due to the fascination of castles which capture the imagination of children and parents alike, according to Uniworld River Cruises.
For a list of USTOA member companies offering family-friendly vacations, try www.ustoa.com or www.ustoa.travel.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools