It's Family Road Trip Season

There’s no time like summertime for a family road trip. When you’ve got the whole crew with you, it’s so much easier to pile into the car and head out for a group adventure. Best of all, you get to ditch the security lines and the flight delays—and control your own playlist and stops along the way. Arriving at a family-friendly hotel with plenty of kid-approved activities and amenities is icing on the cake.

With road trips in these parts of the country, you can take advantage of all the ways we take care of families at Loews Hotels—and cross a few travel bucket-list items off your list while you’re at it. (Quick tip: click on each city name in this post to find dozens of other itinerary ideas in each destination.)

Explore the Northeast

Why not start your journey in one of the most historic cities in the US? Boston is full of great ways to immerse yourself in local culture while still enjoying the great outdoors, whether that means walking the Freedom Trail, having a picnic in Boston Common, or taking the kids out to the ballgame at the iconic Fenway Park. You can get out on the water to see the city from a new perspective and catch a sea breeze to cool off. And, since you have your car, you can even head to the beach for a day in the sun.

A few hours south of Massachusetts, you’ll find yourself in the Big Apple. Here’s a place where you’ll want to park the car and explore New York City by foot, or with the locals via the subway. Everyone has their list of must-dos when it comes to New York, but in the summertime, you really can’t go past Central Park, Prospect Park in Brooklyn or the High Line for some fresh air and plenty of space for the kids to roam. Other quintessential experiences to take advantage of when it’s warm out? Outdoor movies and meals at rooftop restaurants with amazing views.

Once you’ve had your taste of NYC, it’s a relatively short drive to another Northeast city full of history and culture—Philadelphia. Exploring the beginnings of the city is easy to do by foot—or a horse-drawn carriage. Then, to experience the best of modern-day Philly, you can hit popular outdoor spots like Race Street Pier and Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. Kids will love the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum, and a big Philly brunch will give you the fuel you need to do it all.

Hit The Pacific Highway

Highway 101 is almost synonymous with a classic Californian experience, and driving it with the kids in tow is a great way to explore the best of the west coast. Kick off your adventures with a bang in Hollywood, where you can make your kids’ entertainment dreams come true. Help them find their idols on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and visit the historic theaters along Hollywood Boulevard for a matinee. Then, high-tail it to Universal Studios Hollywood, for hours of non-stop thrill rides and family fun, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.

Super Silly Fun Land at Universal Studios Hollywood

Looking for some of that quintessential Cali beach time? Head west to Santa Monica, where the famous Muscle Beach and the iconic lifeguard huts await your selfies on the sprawling sand. Take a dip in the Pacific, rent bikes for a ride down to Venice Beach or simply wander and explore the local farmers’ market and festivals that take place throughout the summer. Of course, you won’t want to leave without a trip to the Santa Monica Pier and its famous ferris wheel and carnival-style amusements.

After you’ve conquered L.A., it’s time to head south to San Diego and Coronado for more gorgeous California weather and delicious food. The San Diego Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals, making it a great place to visit with the kids. It’s located in Balboa Park, where you can also check out more than 16  museums, performing arts venues, and beautiful gardens. To get some sand between your toes, drive on over to Coronado Island, where the beaches are perfect for sailing, swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding—and, if you’re game, surfing!

Savor Time in the New South

Driving between southern states like Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee makes for some truly unforgettable travel memories, with unexpected discoveries in small towns along the way. Southern cities filled with historic charm and fresh, modern places to eat and play, are also ideal destinations for family getaways.

As one of the most distinctive cities in the country, New Orleans makes a great jumping-off point for your Southern road trip. Immerse yourself in the colorful sights, energetic sounds and mouthwatering tastes of the Big Easy with a stroll through the French Quarter. This will give you a crash course in all things NOLA, and from there, you can branch out into other neighborhoods like the Garden District and the Arts/Warehouse District. Attractions good for all ages include the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden.

Drive on up to Atlanta and get ready for a summer packed with festivals of all kinds, from food and drink-themed celebrations to concerts and movie marathons. Eat your way through flavors from around the world along the Buford Highway, and keep your phone at the ready for plenty of great selfie and family photo opportunities throughout the city. Atlanta is also a great place to expose the kids to some education with their summer fun, with visits to some of the country’s best civil rights museums.

As you head to Nashville, get into a toe-tappin’ mood with some classic or new country playlists in the car. Once you arrive in Music City, it will be impossible to escape the sound of guitars, fiddles and world-class crooners wherever you go. Nashville is also a great place to soak up the outdoors, with a slew of festivals to check out all summer long. Music Row, the Grand Ole Opry and Adventure Science Center are all great places to take the kids, and before you leave town, you'll want to make time to sample some of the city’s famous hot chicken.

If your family road trip takes you through one of these fine cities, or any other Loews destination this summer, you may want to check out our Family Road Trip Package. This deal—available for stays of 3 nights or more—will give you a nightly parking credit, free breakfast for up to 2 kids (under 12), a $30 food and beverage credit per stay, and a second room at 50% off.

You’ll also have a whole host of family-friendly amenities at your fingertips, from cribs and coloring books and other things kids love, to the stuff that makes moms and dads' days (and nights) easier, like customized itinerary recommendations in the area, babysitting and family happy hours.

Happy Travels!