Arches National Park, Utah
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Summer Break:What Are Your Plans?
By Jason Frye
It seems that summer break was built for family getaways. The weather’s good, the days are long and everybody is ready to play. But where do you go? Whether you and your family get your thrills at a theme park, prefer hiking trails and nature in U.S. national parks, or look forward to an epic international adventure, the options are plentiful. Read on for ideas on where your summer can take you.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure rendering
disney
Theme Parks Coast to Coast
Walt Disney World Resort continues to grow in Orlando, so expect to be wowed in 2024 by new rides and experiences. Opening later this year, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will follow Princess Tiana and jazz-loving Louis (her alligator friend) as they travel the bayou and prepare for Mardi Gras. This experience reveals new audio-animatronics figures “performing” the music of New Orleans. Country Bear Musical Jamboree will replace Country Bear Jamboree, bringing in new songs and genres of country music.
Even after EPCOT’s exciting 2023—which saw the opening of the Moana-inspired Journey to Water and World Celebration Gardens—the amusement park has more in store for 2024. CommuniCore Hall and Plaza opens this year to become the hub of EPCOT’s Future World and the center for its festivals. A new Mickey and Friends meet-and-greet area in CommuniCore Hall will provide another place to interact with favorite Disney characters. And 2024 will see the first full year of World Celebration Gardens, the already-iconic Dreamers Point and new statue of Walt, and Luminous: The Symphony of Us.
Ahsoka, Star Tours—The Adventures Continue
Star Wars fans will love 2024 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as Star Tours will “visit” new worlds from the Star Wars galaxy, including some that haven’t been seen on screen yet. Fan favorite Ahsoka Tano, the Jedi who previously appeared at Star Wars Weekends, will become a permanent fixture in the Star Wars areas. Disney’s Hollywood Studios also will open The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure in late 2024.
Universal Epic Universe rendering
Universal studios
At Universal Studios Florida, you’ll soon be able to immerse yourself in the world of DreamWorks Animation. Characters from Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Trolls and other films will roam this imaginative section of the park. Looking forward to 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will introduce Universal Epic Universe, composed of five themed worlds. In those areas will be more than 50 unique experiences. Enter first into Celestial Park, a lush green world where you can ride a shooting star. From there, portals will lead to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Ministry of Magic, including 1920s wizarding Paris and 1990s British Ministry of Magic; How to Train Your Dragon—Isle of Berk, recognized by soaring dragons; Super Nintendo World, home to Mario Kart’s Bowser’s Challenge and Donkey Kong Country; and, finally, Dark Universe, where Universal’s most famous monsters lurk.
Aquatica
seaworld orlando
In 2024, SeaWorld Orlando debuts its eighth roller coaster—the family-friendly Penguin Trek—and new features at the Aquatica water park. In Aquatica, Tamariki Twirl offers a kid-sized wave slide, and Tassie’s Underwater Twist—an immersive, 129-foot slide—sends two-person floats through a vibrant underwater world inspired in part by the seagrass meadow in Australia’s Shark Bay Cove.
Pixar ball sculpture at the front lobby entrance of Pixar Place Hotel
California’s theme parks are seeing similar updates. Disneyland has a newly refurbished hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, to delight guests, and Ahsoka will join Star Tours and appear as a regular in the Star Wars section of the park. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will replace Splash Mountain, and new dining venues in the park will delight hungry Disney fans. A bevy of new eateries, featuring Korean cuisine, Caribbean-inspired bites, homey chicken dishes and even Cuban pastries, will add to Downtown Disney’s already incredible options.
At nearby Knott’s Berry Farm, the biggest change is coming to Camp Snoopy. New family-friendly rides, including Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster, Sally’s Swing Along and Camp Snoopy’s Off-Road Rally, deliver wholesome Peanuts fun with plenty of characters around.
Consider a rental car when hopping between theme parks and national parks. Hertz offers exclusive benefits to AAA Members: Save up to 20% on car rentals; add a free additional driver; and enjoy free use of a child safety seat*. Visit AAA.com/CarRental to see your savings.
*Restrictions apply.
The Bright Angel Trail offers excellent views of the Grand Canyon.
getty images
Must-See Western National Parks
A visit to a national park—or two—is a quintessential summer vacation. This year, launch your national parks journey in Arizona, where access to Grand Canyon National Park is easy. Several AAA preferred travel partners offer unique national park getaways, including itineraries designed specifically with families in mind. Trafalgar’s Pioneer Adventures of the Old West is an eight-day tour of Arizona and Utah, featuring Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon and a ride aboard Grand Canyon Railway to visit Grand Canyon National Park. The historic train portion promises an authentic experience of yesteryear’s rail travel while offering huge scenic views at nearly every bend in the track. As time allows, lace up your boots and hike into the canyon along the Bright Angel Trail (it’s a tough hike, but worth it). You likely won’t be able to do it all if you’re on a guided itinerary, but you could maybe hike a bit.
Tauck's Red Rocks & Painted Canyons itinerary whisks you to Utah's Zion and Bryce national parks. Hike the famous “Narrows”—an otherworldly canyon—in Zion, or stick to the top of the canyons for hikes good for youngsters and picture-worthy vistas. Rust-colored hoodoos have made Bryce Canyon famous, and they are truly a sight to behold.
If you venture to Utah on your own, start in Moab, an outdoorsy town that’s the gateway to Canyonlands and Arches national parks. Arches offers short, easy hikes that lead to wind- and water-carved natural arches in the stone. Every view is Instagram-worthy.
West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is another bucket-list park, thanks to its accessible walkways leading to geysers, thermal pools and overlooks. Plus, the wildlife. While never a guarantee, it’s likely you will see bison and birds of prey. If you’re lucky, you might spy a grizzly bear, a wolf or a moose. Many tours, including Tauck’s Cowboy Country and Trafalgar’s Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos, visit Yellowstone. Guided vacations that stop by the well-known national park often also include visits to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore. In Yellowstone, these tours lead to Old Faithful and to one of the most popular overlooks in the park, Artist Point.
Squirrel monkey in Costa Rica
Extraordinary Vacations
With school out and two months unscheduled, summer is THE time for family vacations that are typically longer than a week and farther afield. Take Costa Rica in Central America, for example, where the biodiversity and pura vida (pure life, simple life) philosophy inspires you to come back year after year. AAA partner Trafalgar offers a pair of 8-day trips to Costa Rica that call on jungle, mountain and seaside national parks; visit cloud forests and offer experiences to zip line; and give you plenty of time to admire the wildlife. Check out Costa Rica Eco Adventure or Monkeys, Jungles and Volcanoes to see which one fits your family’s travel wish list.
Llamas watching over misty Machu Picchu
Another popular destination pairs education with adventure, while giving you an opportunity to practice your Spanish. Tauck’s Mystical Peru takes you from the metropolis of Lima to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the so called “Lost City of the Incas,” in the Sacred Valley. On Mystical Peru, you can go rafting, pet a llama, learn how chocolate is made (and sample some, of course) and embark on a high-altitude train ride through the mountains.
Galapagos sea lion on the beach of Espanola Island
Tauck also offers trips to the storied and wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands. Whether you opt for Cruising the Galapagos Islands or Galapagos: Wildlife Wonderland, discover a wild, wonderful place where blue waters and white-sand beaches are home to seals, sea turtles, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, sea lions and more. As part of the tour, set sail on one of Tauck’s expeditionary-style yachts, where adventure and luxury blend.
Finally, when you really want to escape your ordinary, head off to Japan with Tauck. Journey Through Japan: A Family Adventure provides 10 days in this island nation, exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Hakone. See where samurai once walked and ninja trained, ride a bullet train and a rickshaw, take lessons in calligraphy and sushi making, and immerse yourself in the cultures, flavors, and history of Japan.
Extraordinary family vacations, whether halfway around the world or an easy domestic flight away, await and provide enviable answers to the inevitable question, “What are your plans for summer break?”
Summer is not far away, so start planning your family vacation today. Contact your AAA Travel Agent to learn more about theme park packages, national park escapes and bucket-list vacations in far-flung lands, including Costa Rica, Peru, Japan and the Galapagos Islands.