One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the year is nail down the destination where my family will be traveling to for our yearly family getaway. As a self-proclaimed travel planner (and proud of it), making a trip itinerary truly excites me. Researching possible destinations gives me something to look forward to as the summer time nears. And besides picking a vacay spot based on vibes, one way I like to start my travel research is by looking into the travel trends of the year.
From the trend of “slow travel” to milestone vacations to the rise of road trips, I’m sharing the best family-friendly travel trends to take note of in 2026. Keep scrolling for 13 travel trends that will give you inspo for your next family vacation.
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Slow Travel
Travel expert Katy Nastro discussed the interest of “slow travel” on Good Morning America. Nastro stated, “People are looking to spend a little bit longer in a destination [to] really have that restorative type of trip versus this frenzy-type of travel.” With kids, especially, family trips can sometimes feel overwhelming with so much to do and so little time. But with the concept of slow travel and prolonging your stay, the intention is to have rest days, too. For parents, this travel trend is one to definitely take note of.
Quietcations and Hushpitality
The rise of “quietcations” or “hushpitality” means that travelers are seeking destinations that allow them to unplug from the digital world with quiet scenery. While quietcations are places that provide a peaceful escape, hushpitality takes it one step further by providing quiet spaces, like having a library or a reading room available for guests. For quietcations and hushpitality living, think off-grid cabin life: hiking, slow mornings, afternoons reading, and leaning more into analog activities. These types of vacations are perfect if you want a digital detox for the entire family.
Milestone Vacations
Milestone vacations are on the rise, turning celebratory moments into opportunities to travel. For adults, celebrating 30th and 40th birthdays is perfect for getaways (without the kids). However, nowadays, parents are celebrating special milestones with their kids, too. Milestone trips are meant to celebrate birthdays, send off the first (or last) kid to college, and more. Whether the trip is local, out-of-state, or international, milestone vacations are core memory moments for parents and their kiddos.
The Rise of Road Trips
In 2026, it’s time to pack your bags and hit the road. For families, road tripping can be the less expensive option, with chances to make intentional pit stops along the way. Maybe there’s an amusement park perfect for kids halfway through the trip or a national park you’ve been wanting to explore before you arrive at your final destination.
Underrated Travel Destinations
It’s no surprise that the media has increased tourism in certain areas of the world. For example, since the popular TV series White Lotus debuted, tourists have been flocking to each season’s filming location, like the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand. And after the Lilo & Stitch live-action movie was released in theaters in 2025, there was a spike in interest for travel to Hawaii. However, for 2026, travelers are opting for the underrated travel destinations that are off-the-beaten path—with the intention to avoid inundated tourism. If you’re looking to steer clear of overcrowded spots, look for hotels and resorts that are outside big cities.
Off-Peak Travel
One way to avoid overtourism and high travel prices is to book family vacations during the off-peak travel season. The timing depends on where you’re staying. According to Booking.com, the low season in the U.S. generally happens during the winter months and before schools let out for the summer. Some things to consider when opting for low-peak travel dates are whether or not your destination has unpredictable weather, limited transportation, and if attractions are closed during the given season.
Multi-Generational Travel
A multi-generational trip isn’t anything new, and 2026 is the year of fully embracing it. This year, invite the grandparents and the rest of the family, too. Traveling with extended family means it may take a little more planning and effort in coordinating everyone’s schedules. However, there are some added benefits. Besides having extra babysitters on hand, a multigenerational getaway allows for more connection and making memories together.
Nostalgic Vacations
Is there one trip in your childhood that brings back all the nostalgic feels? Maybe it’s the lake house your parents took you to every summer or the ski trip where you learned how to hit the slopes. Tapping into the best vacations you’ve had in the past (and in your pre-kids era) might just help you nail down a family vacation spot—recreating the same childhood memories for your own kids.
Farmer’s Market Tourism
Explore the culture and interact with the locals by visiting some of the most famous farmers’ markets around the world. Adding a farmer’s market to the agenda can be a fun experience for you and the kids. Eat street food and buy keepsakes from local artisans! In the U.S., visit the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan, and the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market in San Francisco. Other notable markets around the world include the Borough Market in London, the Markthal in the Netherlands, and La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.
Period Drama and Literary Travel
Take a blast to the past with an experiential vacation. Period drama travel puts you into a certain time period from some of our favorite literary classics and films. With book-to-movie adaptations like Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah hitting the theaters, people are choosing travel destinations where filming of historical movies and TV shows took place. Visit locations where Bridgerton was filmed across the United Kingdom. Tour across Scotland to get a feel for the popular TV series Outlander. Or see the filming locations for The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand and The Sound of Music in Austria—an editor’s travel bucket list item. It’s pop culture meets a history lesson!
Ancestry Travel
Dive deep into your ancestral roots by tracing your genealogy, and make a whole trip out of it by visiting the very places your long-lost relatives came from. Taking an ancestry trip or a “heritage trip” to understand your familial history can be both healing and fun by immersing yourself in the culture, honoring traditions, eating the cuisine, or connecting with family members you’ve never met before.
Night-Sky Tourism
Put night-sky tourism—witnessing the solar eclipse and chasing the Northern Lights—on your 2026 travel bucket list. According to the National Solar Observatory (NSO), a total solar eclipse will occur in August of this year across Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, and Northern Spain. For other celestial sightseeing, you may want to look into the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis, are a beautiful light display in the sky caused by “when energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules.”
Witnessing the Northern Lights in person can be quite an experience, and some travel destinations are honing in on their ability to see these lights clearly: travelers can book a trip to the town of Narvik in Norway or Alaska and hop on a train to see its beauty.
The Rail Renaissance
Mix it up a little this year and forgo plane rides and traveling by car. In the early to mid-1900s, traveling by train was the most popular way of transportation. 2026 is the year of the railroad renaissance, with more Americans deciding to travel by train. Not only are trains a sustainable option for travelers—lower carbon emissions, reduced traffic, and lower light pollution—but they’re also a great way to soak in all the breathtaking views. Whether you’re catching a quick ride through the Canadian Rockies and Cape Cod or a luxury train stay through Europe, a railroad getaway might be for you and the whole fam in 2026.
FAQs
What will be the biggest travel trend in 2026?
For families, the biggest travel trend this year is the concept of “slow travel.”
Is travel expected to be more expensive in 2026?
According to experts, plane tickets in the US are down by 3.4 percent compared to 2025. Hotel rates are down by 1.8 percent. However, the cost of food and entertainment is up.
What destinations will be popular in 2026?
The travel magazine, Travel + Leisure, shared that some of the best family-friendly destinations include Carlsbad, California; Sancerre, France; Umbria, Italy; Melbourne, Australia; Mexico City, Mexico; Seattle, Washington; Brazil; and more.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
Images in feature graphics credited to Madeline Priestap | Dupe, Juliana Dalla Costa | Dupe, Margaret Molloy | Dupe, Camila Lopez | Dupe, Julie Stenstrøm | Dupe.
