As a parent and a travel journalist, I know as well as anyone that sometimes you have no choice but to visit a popular family vacation spot during its busy season, especially if your life is dictated by school calendars and kids' sports schedules. But if you have a little bit of flexibility to travel during the off-season, even for a quick weekend getaway, the payoffs can be big.
Better hotel rates and availability, smaller crowd levels, more pleasant weather: The benefits of off-season travel can really stack up. And whether you're looking for a family-friendly long weekend, multigenerational getaway, or couples escape, there are spots all over the U.S. that really shine during their more secret times of year. You might not expect these places
to be so much fun in the off-season, but they definitely are.
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Jekyll Island, Georgia
If you think of Jekyll Island as just a summer beach town, you’re missing out on the magic of the Georgia barrier island at other times of the year. Visit in the fall, winter, or spring for milder temperatures that are perfect for spending time outdoors, riding bikes along 24 miles of paved trails, wildlife watching at Horton Pond, or marveling at the weathered wonders strewn across the sand at Driftwood Beach.
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The island has a fascinating history as a Gilded Age retreat for wealthy American families with names like Morgan, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt, and trolley tours offer glimpses of historic properties from that era. Fall brings annual events like the Shrimp & Grits Festival, and the Holly Jolly Jekyll holiday festivities illuminate the island with more than 500 light displays. In January and February, volunteer “Beach Buddies” hide clear plastic globes across the island’s beaches, trails, and historic areas for the annual Island Treasures tradition. Find one, and you can redeem it for a one-of-a-kind glass float made by artists from around the country.
Where to stay on Jekyll Island: Stay amid all the Gilded Age history at the Jekyll Island Club, or opt for its more modern sister beachfront property, Jekyll Ocean Club.
Marquette County, Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula draws visitors for summer days along Lake Superior and fall leaf peeping. But the U.P.’s Marquette County also embraces its status as home to one of the snowiest cities east of the Rocky Mountains, transforming itself into a wintertime playground.
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Think frozen waterfalls, more than 50 miles of scenic singletrack for fat-tire biking, downhill skiing and snowboarding at Marquette Mountain Resort, and hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails. There are acres and acres to explore by cross-country ski or snowshoe, and spots like Presque Isle Park take on a whole new look when covered in snow and ice. Start your morning off with some local Trenary Toast dunked in coffee or hot cocoa, and celebrate a successful winter day outdoors with a local ale or hard cider.
Where to stay in Marquette County: Landmark Inn offers a sense of local history, recently renovated rooms, and views of Lake Superior.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park gets a lot of visitors during the summer. But fall is also a great time to visit the park, with smaller crowds, better lodging availability, and milder weather for hiking, biking, wildlife watching, and other outdoor activities. Take in the fall foliage with a stroll through the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias or a sunset drive to Glacier Point for sweeping views of the Yosemite Valley and Half Dome.
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Wintertime in Yosemite means even fewer visitors and activities like winter hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Badger Pass Ski Area offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing, or you can glide around the Curry Village outdoor skating rink while taking in views of Half Dome.
Where to stay at Yosemite National Park: The Ahwahnee is considered a crown jewel of National Park architecture—aka “parkitecture”—and the fireplace in the grand lobby is the perfect spot for warming up after a day spent outdoors.
Fort Myers, Florida
Winter “snowbird” season brings visitors to Southwest Florida looking to escape chilly temperatures, and summer is prime time for family beach trips. That’s why a fall or spring visit to Fort Myers and its neighboring barrier islands is a smart move, offering just as much fun but with smaller crowds and a more easy-going vibe. The region is home to attractions like the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which are much more enjoyable to visit when the temperatures are pleasant and you have a bit more breathing room to appreciate the sites.
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It’s much easier to find a spot to spread out your towel on the beach, but the water’s still plenty warm for swimming. If you’re a wildlife watcher, migratory birds begin arriving in the area from their northern breeding grounds during the fall, and sea turtles continue their nesting and hatching season until October. Manatees also start moving to more inland and coastal habitats like Lovers Key State Park as winter approaches. And it’s easier to snag hotel rooms and restaurant reservations during the off-season, especially at spots like Liberty, which was spotlighted in The MICHELIN Guide for the first time in 2026.
Where to stay in Fort Myers: Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection and The Banyan Hotel Fort Myers, Tapestry Collection by Hilton put you right in the heart of downtown Fort Myers.
Catalina Island, California
After the summer season ends, things slow down a bit on Catalina Island, which makes it a perfect time to plan a visit. The weather’s still warm enough for hiking the island’s more than 165 miles of trails and roads, kayaking the coastline, ziplining above Descanso Canyon, and snorkeling at Lover’s Cove. Sitting under a cabana sipping cocktails at Descanso Beach Club is another good way to spend at least part of a day.
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The island was turned into a resort destination in the 1920s by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., and its history lives on today at spots like the Catalina Casino, Catalina Museum for Art & History, and Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden that are much easier to visit in the off-season when crowds have thinned out. End a busy day with dinner at Pier 24, the island’s newest oceanfront restaurant that’s located at the site of the island’s original Steamer Pier, or some roller-skating at the Casino’s Wrigley Ballroom.
Where to stay on Catalina Island: Hotel Atwater has been welcoming guests since 1920 and still retains its historic charm along with a sense of modernity for today’s travelers.
You wouldn't expect these places to be so much fun in the off-season originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com, LuxuryVacationist.com, and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These popular destinations are better when nobody else is there
