Best U.S. Family Beach Vacations; How Canadians are Travelling This Summer (Hint: Muskoka and Alberta)

A look at where Canadians will be travelling this summer, as well as a new list of the best family beach vacation spots in the U.S. That and more in today’s blog post.

BEST U.S. FAMILY BEACH VACATION SPOTS

With the U.S. Memorial Day weekend pretty much here (it’s the unofficial kick-off to summer in the States), here’s a nice U.S. News list of the top 18 places in the US of A for a family beach vacation. Florida took home the top two spots and had a remarkable five places in the top 10. South Carolina has three spots in the top 18, while Hawaii  and California had two entries each.

The beach at Cedar Cove Cottages on Anna Maria Island. Jim Byers Photo

1. Seaside, Florida (I haven’t been to this specific stretch of sand, but the white sand beaches of the Florida panhandle are spectacular)
2. Anna Maria Island (a personal fave spot I visited in the winter of 2025)
3. Gulf Shores, Alabama
4. Outer Banks, North Carolina
5. Destin, Florida (another great spot in the panhandle region)
6. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
7. Hawaii Big Island (it doesn’t have a great beach, but don’t miss the fun and funky town of Hilo)
8. Hilton Head, South Carolina
9. Sanibel Island, Florida (a delightful spot near Fort Myers)
10. Amelia Island, Florida (another personal fave that’s located near Jacksonville)
11. Cape May, New Jersey
12. Isle of Palms, South Carolina
13. Maui (one of the best places on earth in my humble opinion)
14. Kennebunkport, Maine
15. Jekyll Island, Georgia (lovely, old-time feel)
16. Laguna Beach, California (breathtakingly beautiful)
17. Saugatuck, Michigan (I haven’t been but the Great Lakes have spectacular beaches on both the US and Canadian sides)
18. Carmel-by-the-Sea (a sensational white sand beach, the lovely town of Carmel, and Pebble Beach Golf Links just up the road)

WHERE CANADIANS ARE HEADED THIS SUMMER, INCLUDING JASPER, MUSKOKA AND HALIFAX

The new Unpack ’26 Summer report from Expedia Group reveals fascinating trends that are shaping how Canadians are travelling this summer. 

Canadians are rediscovering their own backyard. Jasper, Alberta, has seen a 55% rise in searches, while hotspots like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Blue Mountain in Ontario are both up by 25%.

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. JIM BYERS PHOTO

Jasper, of course, is one of Canada’s greatest outdoor treasures. The area also is home to the outstanding Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the spectacular Fairmont Jasper Park Golf Course.

I’ve spent a good deal of time in Niagara-on-the-Lake, including a fine lunch at the scenic Niagara-on-the-Lake golf club a couple weeks ago, a wonderful visit to the Prince of Wales Hotel last fall, and a visit to the wine-tasting cabanas at Chateau des Charmes winery last summer.

Expedia said this summer is about unique, personalized experiences.

• Set-Jetting continues to inspire, with Ontario’s Muskoka region seeing a 110% surge in interest after Heated Rivalry’s grand debut, alongside cities like Montreal (+65%) and Toronto (+55%). Muskoka, roughly 90 minutes from north Toronto, is one of the top summer destinations in Canada, with wondrous lakes and small towns such as Bracebridge, Bala and Port Carling. The town of Gravenhurst is home to three amazing ships that ply the lakes of Muskoka; the Wenonah II, the newly electrified and stunningly beautiful Wanda III (the former Eaton family yacht) and the historic R.M.S. (Royal Mail Ship) Segwun. The Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in North America, is currently undergoing renovations and repairs and is scheduled to sail again in September, just in time for late summer cruising and spectacular autumn colour cruises. Gravenhurst also is home to the award-winning Muskoka Steamships Discovery Centre, which tells the story of the importance of the region and also has a terrific exhibit on local indigenous history. The centre also has been renovated and upgraded, so if you haven’t been lately you owe it yourself to check it out. As a member of the centre’s board of directors, I’m a tad biased, but I do think it’s a marvellous place to visit.

Aboard the R.M.S. Segwun on Lake Muskoka. JIM BYERS PHOTO

• Hotel Hopping is gaining momentum, allowing travellers to combine city excitement with serene escapes. Think cheering on the Blue Jays in Toronto before unwinding in Niagara-on-the-Lake, or experiencing the Calgary Stampede then retreating to the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs. Road trippers are also “hotel hopping” along iconic routes like B.C.’s Sea-to-Sky or Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail, which is one of the best driving trips in the world.

• Beach Readaways are taking off, with social buzz for these book-centric vacations up an impressive 213%. Places like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are perfect for literary escapes.

• And with major global events such as the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, we’re seeing a clear split: some travellers are ‘Kicking Off’ to host cities like Vancouver (+40%) and Toronto (+25%), while others are ‘Taking Off’ to international destinations where average daily rates are down nearly 25% for incredible value.

THAT AND THIS

Vivid Sydney Exhibit in Australia. Photo Courtesy Destination NSW.

Hyatt Hotels is intent on expanding its all-inclusive offerings in Europe. According to a story at TravelPulse Canada, Hyatt Hotels Corporation says demand for all-inclusive resorts is helping reshape the region’s traditional vacation model. Europe already accounts for nearly one-third of Hyatt Inclusive Collection’s portfolio, with roughly 50 resorts across Spain, Greece, Portugal and Bulgaria. Company officials say they see “significant opportunity” for continued growth throughout the region.m Recent Hyatt-commissioned research conducted by Skift found that nearly 60% of Canadian and American travellers are now more likely to consider an all-inclusive stay than they were five years ago. … Vivid Sydney has kicked off its 16th year, with “curated Light, Minds, Music and Food events and experiences” on tap for visitors. Festival-goers can experience more than 200 events over 23 nights in a program “that will ignite the senses, stimulate their minds, and tap into unexplored wonder, giving both locals and visitors a unique opportunity to experience Sydney in a whole new light.” This year’s program is home to more than 80% free events across both daytime and evening, a condensed 6.5km light walk with 43 installations, projections and large-scale public artworks, as well as the eagerly-awaited return of the drone show – this year, shining bright over Cockle Bay across 22 performances. … Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas welcomed Porter Airlines as its newest airline partner on Thursday, celebrating the launch of the carrier’s inaugural nonstop service between Austin and Toronto Pearson International Airport.  The new route marks an important step in strengthening international connectivity between Central Texas and Toronto, while expanding Porter’s growing North American network. The year-round service will operate five times weekly, providing travelers across the Austin region with a direct connection to Toronto, while opening the door to onward travel across Porter’s Canadian network. I was only in Austin once, and that was for two days six or seven years ago, but I thought it was a terrific spot.