The Northeast

The Northeast is the USA at a gentler, greener scale, and it makes a wonderful trip for families who want history and mountains rather than desert and distance. New York and Pennsylvania are stitched together with rolling forest, lakes, waterfalls and walkable historic towns, and the drives between stops are short enough that no one spends the day staring out of the window. It is a region built for curiosity as much as scenery.

Niagara Falls is the natural centrepiece and lives up to every expectation. The sheer scale and noise of the water is genuinely awe-inspiring for children, and the boat trips to the base — ponchos on, spray everywhere — become the story everyone tells afterwards. There are plenty of family campgrounds within easy reach, so you can make it a proper overnight stop rather than a rushed detour.

Inland, the Adirondacks and Catskills of New York, and the Poconos and Finger Lakes country, are the region's outdoor heart. Expect swimming lakes, gentle forest trails, canoe hires and classic American summer-camp scenery. These are low, friendly mountains rather than intimidating peaks, which makes them ideal for young hikers building confidence — pick a short trail to a waterfall or a lookout and let the reward do the motivating.

Philadelphia adds the history that makes the Northeast special. The old city is compact and walkable, and standing where the country was founded turns school-book names into something real for older children. As with any city, park the RV at a campground outside the centre and come in for the day by public transport rather than negotiating narrow streets and tight parking in a big rig.

Timing shapes this trip more than almost any other. Summer brings warm, reliable hiking and swimming weather, while the last weeks of September and into October deliver the famous fall foliage — hillsides turning red and gold — that draws visitors from around the world. Book ahead for foliage season, be aware that many campgrounds close for the cold winter, and pack layers whenever you go, because mountain evenings cool down quickly even after a warm day.