And if Mom and Dad can escape for a few hours to enjoy the Honolulu nightlife, so much the better. Last year, the City by the Bay took top honors, but this year, readers voted San Diego the coolest city. They cited the shoreline, with its gentle waves and sunny weather year-round, plus all the attractions, from trolley rides to the San Diego Zoo to nearby LEGOland. We've been here nine years, and we haven't done half of it. Not only did Yosemite in Northern California clean up as top nature escape in its region, but it was also the most highly rated attraction of any on this survey.
Stunning scenery is one reason.
2-mile trails take you to the brink of giddy overlooks, to the base of thundering waterfalls and deep into sequoia forests. When powder settles deep over Steamboat's slopes, families from all over the world flock here to play. From any of them, families can explore the quaint town. It's like they just paved the roads yesterday. The Goforths of Visalia, California, love poking around its many attractions with their four kids.