If you feel like your brood is spending too much time connected to their devices and not enough time connecting with each other, it might be time for an unplugged family vacation. When you spend time outdoors and away from Wi-Fi for a few days, magic happens. Life slows down and forces you to be present in the moment. Away from the constant distraction of technology you have real conversations, you reconnect with each other, and most importantly, you share adventures together that will create forever memories. Not to mention, it’s good for everyone’s health and well-being to occasionally go offline and into the wild.
Ready to unplug your next family vacation? From budget-friendly to bucket-list worthy, these getaways will take you into nature and away from screens.
WEST COAST
- Paddle the San Juan Islands marine trail: Join Crystal Seas Kayaking for a multi-night kayak trip from a basecamp at San Juan Island, Washington, to a smattering of outlying islands along the famed marine trail. Camp in tents at night and learn to navigate your sea kayaks during the day.
- Overnight in a treehouse: Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort is located near the Oregon-California border along the Redwood Highway. Kids can climb rope ladders, pick their bunks and even zip-line the next morning.
- Experience the Wild and Scenic Rogue River: In the heart of Southern Oregon, the Rogue River offers 84 miles of wilderness untouched by roads, power lines, or cell service. Guided multi-day rafting trips on this scenic river are ideal for families seeking togetherness with a splash of excitement.
MOUNTAIN STATES
- Explore the backcountry of the Tetons: Families may think they’ve seen Grand Teton National Park…until they experience three days of Jackson Lake kayaking. The wilderness is stunning, and even in the peak of summer, no one else is in sight for hours.
- Raft the Lower Salmon: With an outfitter, a rafting trip through the gorges of the Lower Salmon River in Idaho isn’t as hard as it sounds. Mostly, it’s all fun and games, with sandy campsites and delicious food to round out days of sunshine and fun, Class III rapids.
- Cowboy up at Colorado Vista Verde Dude Ranch: At Vista Verde, families have no access to Wi-Fi and fill their days riding horses, hiking or, in winter, snowshoeing and skiing at nearby Steamboat Springs. That’s right, this all-inclusive luxury dude ranch with private cabins is open year-round.
MIDWEST
- Canoe the Boundary Waters: Start in Ely, Minnesota, where Boundary Waters Outfitters will get you geared up for a guided family trip of this remote wilderness area. Families will be removed from everything except the sound of an oar on the flat, calm surface of the water.
EAST COAST
- Channel your inner Thoreau at Spencer Pond camps: Stay in an off-the-grid mountain cabin in rural Maine at Spencer Pond where you can fish, hike, hunt, or paddle the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Chances are good of seeing moose!
- Hike hut-to-hut with the Appalachian Mountain Club: AMC lodges are located through New England along the Appalachian Trail. Families can hike hut-to-hut for a backpacking trip they’ll never forget, or plan to hike from the Highland Center, where they can be outfitted for day trips in summer or winter.
- Experience an old-fashioned family camp at Mt. Snow: If you’d rather someone else do the cooking during a Vermont getaway, head to Mt. Snow for their family camp, which includes an unplugged itinerary ideal for family reunions and multigenerational vacations.
Looking for more unplugged adventure inspiration? Check out 25 Unplugged Family Vacations Your Whole Crew Will Love.
Written by Amy Whitley & Cari Morgan