Pacific Northwest Family Vacation Ideas

A short drive from Idaho Falls, Idaho, is a small town called Lava Hot Springs. Well off the beaten path from the normal vacation spots, Lava offers a host of family-friendly activities. While you soak your muscles in one of the natural hot spring pools, your kids can have a blast on the water slides or the wild tube ride on the Portneuf River. There are plenty of hotel rooms in Lava to accommodate your family, or you can camp in one of the many campsites that surround the property.

If you want to hit the coast, there is no better beautiful coastal area then Cannon beach, Oregon. Your kids can build sand castles, go tide pooling for cool sea creatures or even fly a kite on the miles of beach available for you to lounge on. You can even check out the Seaside Aquarium, where your kids can feed the seals and see many other sea creatures. There's plenty of lodging available for all budget levels, and campgrounds abound within a short distance of the ocean.

When people think of Washington, often they think no further than Seattle. However, on the other side of the mountains is a great city called Spokane. With major events such as Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the United States, and Bloomsday, a race that brings in runners from as far as Kenya, you can really experience what Spokane has to offer. Even when it's not hosting an event, Spokane is great for families. Your kids can slide down the big red wagon, take a ride on the historic carousel, see an IMAX movie or ride one of the many amusement parks available at Riverfront Park.

Just outside of Portland, Multnomah Falls is a great place to stop with your family to explore this incredible waterfall. This is the second-largest waterfall in the United States at 620 feet and offers stunning views from all sides. There are plenty of camping opportunities nearby to help your family have a great time enjoying the great outdoors together.

Couer d'Alene is a small lake community just outside of Spokane, Washington. This city has one of the most beautiful lakes in Idaho and plenty of activities for the entire family. Whether you want to get a Gooey at Dockside at the resort (Gooeys are ice cream sundaes as big as your child's head) or spend the day relaxing on the public beach swimming and building sand castles, Coeur d'Alene will keep your family busy for your entire vacation. There are plenty of lodging opportunities available ranging from the budget-conscious hotel to the luxury resort.