Summer means freedom! Freedom to create lasting memories for the whole family.

Growing up, our family vacations included summer trips to see my extended family. We would load up the car, pets included, and drive from California to Texas. Some of my favorite memories of my childhood come from these trips. Maybe a road trip isn't up your alley and you prefer to jump on a plane with the family.

Well, you're in luck because we've found a list of the top places to see this summer.

U.S. News has compiled a list of the Best Family Summer Vacations with 15 locations across the globe. Some of these places seem pretty elaborate for the Mickey Mouse shirts and fanny packs of my youth, but they took into account the quality of family-friendly hotels and their prices along with kid-friendly activities and easy itineraries, so maybe they're onto something. So, where are we going this summer?

Here is their list of top vacation sites for the family:

1. Ocean City, Maryland

2. Puerto Rico

3. Whistler

4. Niagara Falls

5. Myrtle Beach

6. New York City, New York

7. Bahamas (Have you seen Atlantis?)

8. Minneapolis, Minnesota

9. Vail

10. Virginia Beach

11. Hamburg (Yes, as in Germany)

12. Boston, Massachusetts

13. Portland, Oregon

14. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

15. U.S. Virgin Islands

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