The FamilyVacationist

Amazing places for really fun travel! August 6, 2025

Greetings Fellow Travelers on Substack,

Three facts — record breaking temps, a new war, and kids underfoot at home — are conspiring to force us to consider a summer vacation getaway. (We love traveling but are serious procrastinators.) So, to reach a cross section of families and budgets, we are focusing this week on an affordable mountain resort, a rodeo ranch and a European road trip.

Here are this week’s top 3 ideas:

Make the most of your Great Smoky Mountains vacation and save your pennies for the fun stuff in the region. Those in-the-know recommend the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg regions in late summer, when Southern families are already back in school. It’s quieter, rates start to drop, but it’s not yet the autumn Leaf Peepers rush. Book your hotel or cabin, dining options, dinner shows and attractions tickets online, and in advance, and you’ll discover even more savings.

Are you familiar with the Westgate Ranch? This ranch — not exactly a working one but an active family-focused place — is a real alternative to Orlando's theme parks. Guests say they value its fun, relaxing and hospitable vibe.

Doesn’t Iceland, where summer temps peak in the 70s, sound like the perfect road trip destination this season? Yes, Iceland. It is part of Europe! While it’s not as cheap as some of the Eastern European destinations like Estonia, it’s a wonderful destination for an offbeat road trip. Due to the weather, summer is the best time of year to try it.

And a bonus idea. How about a Summer festival? From Summerstage in New York to Shakespeare in the Colorado Mountains, to the arts n’ crafts shows in Tennessee, book fairs in Mississippi, or Satchmo Summerfest in New Orleans, there are great events — many of them outdoors and free — around the country.

Thanks for joining us on Substack!

Wherever you’re off to, safe there and safe home!

Kyle and Fran