We'd like to go to California so I recommend that. Otherwise you could do Colorado and Moab, Utah. I would only do the ABC Islands in the Carribean if you're worried about hurricanes. Or Cape Cod would be wonderful too.

Agree with the ideas to do a cruise out of Seattle and spend some extra days in Seattle in the beginning or end - really fun trip for kids that age.

San Diego, Disneyland

Or I'd drive down to Atlanta to do the aquarium and then come back through the Great Smokey Mtns.

We're doing a cruise to Alaska out of Seattle this August. Planning on getting to Seattle a couple days before cruise to visit Mt Rainier. So excited!

OP here. I love so many of these suggestions. Thank you dcum friends.

Rental house overlooking Lake Tahoe
Adirondacks or Acadia region of Maine
Colorado - RMNP loop
Yosemite + Big Sur + San Francisco
Yellowstone + Grand Tetons + Mount Rushmore

18:39 Colorado poster - that's the trip my DH and i were just considering! Can you recommend your Estes condo and Vail resort? Thanks!

PPs have great suggestions. I will add Nova Scotia. I recently found that flights there are reasonable. We are flying into Halifax and out of Sydney this summer. Or you could drive to Portland ME, take an overnight ferry to Nova Scotia, spend several days on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and then ferry / drive back.

When my kids were that age we went to Colorado - started at Estes Park/RMNP and drove trail ridge road to stay in Vail/Beaver Creek. We stayed in an incredible condo on the mountain in Estes Park through VRBO and then stayed in a nice resort with a pool, etc. in Vail. There are tons of activities in the ski resort area for kids that age over the summer, plus amazing hikes, biking, float trips, etc. Amazing family trip.

Many thanks to, PPs! Great suggestions.

We're doing San diego and Disneyland in late August -- crowds are lower then than in mid-summer, and the weather should be nice (hot but nice).

Boston and Cape Cod - a few days in the city with history and a few days relaxing on the beach (can do Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, too).

Quebec and Montreal - lots of history and exploring to do!

Maine - coast

Niagara Falls and Toronto

Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island

I'd stay toward the northern half of the country or in Canada as the south can be quite yucky in August.

I would avoid the Caribbean as it will be brutally hot, and there's the chance of hurricanes.

The Pacific Northwest is at its best in August and September. I love Oregon, Washington state, and British Columbia, so any of these would be my choice. I would take 10 days and go to Seattle, see the San Juan Islands or Mt Rainier, and go to Vancouver. Or you could go to Vancouver and do a cruise to Alaska - I've never done it but would love to.

How about somewhere in the west? Colorado, Utah, Grand Canyon, Montana are all fabulous at that time of year and a little less crowded in August as some schools have started back.

How about a cruise out of Baltimore?

Our family needs a fun trip to look forward to in August. We traditionally head over to the Delaware beaches in July for a week but my husband and I want to identify another trip for August. U.S. Canada, Europe, Caribbean, etc. are all options (so long at we can find reasonable flights; any place within a 5 or 6 hour time difference...more than that and a 7 day vacation doesn't seem worth it). I would really appreciate hearing from DCUMers about great family vacations for the dead of summer. I have two boys, ages 5 and 9. I honestly don't have a preference if it's a vacation that is focused on relaxing (resort) or one that is focused on a city where we'd explore each day. My husband would likely prefer the latter. I've always been intrigued by the idea of Newfoundland...not sure why! Help!