The United States’ Best Kid-Friendly Cities

Indianapolis is home to the world's largest children museum—you could spend days exploring it. In addition to its rare, mummified dinosaur and "Power of Children" exhibit that highlights children who have shaped history, the museum hosts regular expert meet-and-greets with their in-residence underwater archaeologist, as well as a former astronaut who conducts a STEM camp in the summer. Beyond the children's museum, Indianapolis also is home to an impressive art center, zoo, Rhythm! Discovery Center, an interactive history park where you can travel back to the 1800s (and ride 350 feet in a helium-filled balloon) and GoApe!, a forest adventure filled with trapezes, Tarzan swings and zip lines.

Image via Children's Museum

The perfect blend of urban and outdoor, it's easy to see why Asheville is becoming the new "it" city to visit—whether you're traveling solo or with kids. With its sprawling 8 million acres of backyard, kids can take a ride down the natural water slide in Pisgah National Forest, paddle-board down the French Broad River, ride the rapids down the Natahala River or build sandcastles on the beach at Lake Lure. In the winter, the family can hit the slopes (for skiing or tubing) and, since the winters are often fairly mild, you can climb, bike or zip line at the Adventure Center of Asheville year-round. And during Christmastime, it's also home to the National Gingerbread House Competition.

Image via Flickr/The Mathew Knot

You probably aren't as familiar with Sandusky, Ohio, as you are with the renowned kid-friendly attraction that calls it home: Cedar Point. Though a bit off the beaten path, the "roller coaster capital of the world" has brought a surge of new restaurants, kid-friendly attractions (including the country's largest indoor water park, Kalahari) and a new boutique hotel to the historic district. And don't skip town without a visit to the Merry-Go-Round Museum and Put-in-Bay—a village nestled on the north side of South Bass Island in Lake Erie.

Image via Flickr/Joel

The list of kid-friendly things in New York City goes on and on. Sure, there are the obvious attractions—the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park. Or for a "hidden" New York experience that kids will remember forever, add these lesser-known spots to your itinerary, compliments of a local NYC mom and lifestyle blogger Tonia Steck of FO40: Take a ride on the historic Jane's Carousel, located in Brooklyn Bridge Park; check out Spin at 23

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and Park—an indoor ping-pong emporium; "Ride the Beast"—a high-speed water adventure that gives you amazing views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty; make a reservation for Eloise Tea at the Plaza—inspired by the iconic book; visit the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum (a former aircraft carrier that's super kid-friendly) and the Natural History Museum with Hayden Planetarium and theRose Center for Earth and Space (don't forget to find the Giant Humpback Whale in the Great Hall before you leave); and finally, indulge a little at Cool Mess, the new ice cream parlor in the Upper East Side where you choose your ingredients and watch your ice cream be made before your eyes; or make a stop at Serendipity for its famed frozen hot chocolate.

Image via Flickr/Paul Hudson

As if the magnitude of history our nation's capital has to offer wasn't enough, the kid-friendly museums will have your family constantly on the move. There's the National Air and Space Museum, the National History Museum, the International Spy Museum and the National Building Museum, to name a few. The best part is that most of these spots are free AND interactive, says Laura Hall of Kid and Coe, which specializes in family travel. Make sure to explore the National Mall (via bikes, if possible, suggests Hall) and don't forget to check out whatever event-of-the-month the city is hosting, especially the Cherry Blossom Festival or Cinco de Mayo. Oh yeah, and check out that big white house (the one with the American flag on top) before you leave, too.

Image via Flickr/John Haslam

San Francisco is a dream for any tot with a fascination of moving vehicles, thanks to its cable cars, trams, bicycles and ferries. While exploring the city's public transportation could easily fill your kids' days, experience them while en route to the city's other kid-friendly offerings: Playing at the Bay Area Discovery Center in Sausalito, seeing the sea lions at Pier 39, listening to summer music at the Yerba Buena Gardens or just checking out one of the city's many parks, says Hall. And the city's food is an experience in and of itself. Whether it be the mac 'n' cheese at the MH de Young Museum cafe or sampling the thriving food truck scene, let the city foster an adventurous palate.

Image via Flickr/Sam Leite

Kids and water parks go together like kids and ice cream. So, of course, Wisconsin Dells—the water park capital of the world—is an obvious kid-friendly destination. And if water parks aren't your (or your kid's) thing, there's always boating, horseback riding, amusement parks, zip lining or the wildlife park to check out, says Melissa Smuzynski of Parenthood and Passports. Also, don't rule out the Dells in the winter. In addition to the indoor water parks, their "Ice Castle" attraction debuts this year. A sure-fire favorite among "Frozen" fans, Ice Castle features ice-carved tunnels, and thrones and slides that light up at night (and are set to music).

Image via Wisconsin Dells

Obviously, a kid-friendly city list wouldn't be complete without the home of the "Happiest Place on Earth." But Orlando has plenty of kid-friendly options beyond Disney World and Universal Studios. For one, there's the beaches. "The Atlantic Coast beaches are gorgeous—white sand, clear water and miles and miles of space to play," says Hall. There are also natural springs where you can swim or kayak and coves that house many manatees and dolphins. The city is also unveiling 17 new attractions this coming year, including a new tropical water park called Volcano Bay and Pandora, the World of Avatar in Disney's Animal Kingdom, says Hall.

Image via Flickr/Robert Ciavarro

Sweet home Chicago is also home to oodles of kid-friendly activities —including the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, water taxis on the Chicago River, incredible museums and a planetarium, and a massive playground at Maggie Daley Park that features rock climbing, mini golf, a play garden and a "skating ribbon" that circles the entire park. For young baseball fans, a tour of the legendary Wrigley Field—home of the newly minted World Champs—is a must. And, for a well-worth-it splurge, a stay at The Peninsula will be the topper of your trip. In addition to its interactive kids program, the hotel also has an amazing location and a rooftop ice rink, says Suzanne Wolko of the blog PhilaTravelGirl.

Image via Flickr/Roman Boed

About 2.5 hours west of Detroit is Grand Rapids, Michigan—a spot brimming with kid-friendly festivals, art events and free concerts in the summer, not to mention a great firework show on the river twice a year, says Paul Kortman, a full-time traveler with his family of six who writes about their adventures on his blog Home Along the Way. Make sure to also check out the children's museum, the Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Millennium's Park beach, miles of paved walk and bike paths and a splash pad. For winter adventures, take advantage of the city's outdoor ice skating rink at Rosa Parks Circle or the snow tubing at Pando, Kortman suggests.

Image via Flickr/Steven Depolo

The River Walk is the gem of San Antonio along with the Do See Um Museum, says Kortman. Instead of walking it, see the famed Texas river with a boat tour (a 24-hour pass costs $10 and is worth it considering a one-way stop is $4). Other highlights include a trip to Scobee Planetarium and Challenger Learning Center where they can explore Mission Control, the Orion Launch Vehicle and a visit to the Star Deck for a stargazing party at night; an afternoon at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens in the heart of the city; a day at the Witte Museum, especially the H-E-B Body Adventure which involves four floors of interactive activities that teach about health and wellness or a visit to the Kiddie Park—a kid-friendly San Antonio theme park that's been in business since 1925 that features the original 1918 carousel and other iconic rides.

Image via Flickr/Pedro Szekely

While most associate a kid-friendly San Diego with its attractions (the San Diego Zoo, Legoland or SeaWorld), there's so much more the city has to offer, says Hall. Its continual sunshine and 70 miles of beach make for an all-day playground of building sandcastles, boogie-boarding the waves or digging for sand crabs. The city also boasts some fantastic water parks as well as an oceanfront boardwalk at Mission Beach, which features a roller coaster, miniature golf, bumper cars and an arcade. And don't forget to explore the nearby Coronado Island.

Image via Flickr/Geraint Rowland

For aspiring cowboys and cowgirls, Fort Worth—a big city with a small-town cowboy feel—should definitely be on your list. But the best part about Fort Worth? The sheer number of budget-friendly things to do there with kids. For starters, there's the Historic Stockyards, where you can watch a cattle drive through the streets twice each day for free and then, for a small cost, check out the petting zoo, pony rides, a train ride and maze. The Water Gardens—a large bowl-shaped fountain located downtown—is a guaranteed kid-pleaser as well as the Botanic Gardens. And finally, there's Sundance Square (otherwise known as the downtown area). "It's one of the most kid-friendly urban areas I've ever visited," says Smuzynski. "They constantly have a free festival or family-friendly event going on." And fun fact: Fort Worth is one of two cities where you and the kids can watch money being made (literally).

Image via Flickr/Alex Butterfield