5 Race Vacations Fit For the Entire Family

Bethlehem Running Festival, Bethlehem, PA

October 16 – 18, 2026
For years, this was the Runner’s World Half and Festival. I ran my first sub-20 5K here when I moved to Pennsylvania, so the event has a special place in my heart. This year will be the fourth iteration of the Bethlehem Running Festival, which (slightly) reimagines the weekend’s events in the steel city of Bethlehem.

The race events include a Friday trail run and kids’ run—varying distances in front of the Bethlehem Steel stacks—Saturday’s 5K and 10K (the 10K starts an hour after the 5K, designed so runners can do multiple events), and Sunday’s title event: the incredibly hilly half marathon.

The kids’ race is a spectacle in the best way, with little arms and legs all over the place, sprinting way too fast for quarter, half, and mile distances. At the finish line, Ferrous, Lehigh Valley’s Iron Pigs farm league baseball team’s mascot, greets the runners with comical gestures and hugs. Kids walk away with a hefty finisher’s medal and baseball tickets for top finishers (but the event is not timed).

What to Do When You’re Not Racing

National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem

Lean into the city’s history as a steel empire with a visit to this small museum a stone’s throw from the race finish lines. You’ll move through the entire museum in maybe 90 minutes and learn about the city’s role in World War II.

Crayola Experience, Easton

Kids of all ages (and parents who have been mercifully desensitized to sound) will love this crayon-themed attraction. Its three floors feature activities like making your own crayon labels, creating your own melted wax art, learning how crayons are made, and scaling a massive indoor playground.

Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown 

The newly constructed science center is a kid’s dream, with hands-on activities and a permanent watershed exhibit featuring otters. Visitors will learn about static electricity, instrumental sounds (thanks to the local Martin guitar exhibit), and everything the human body can do with interactive experiences.

Social Still Distillery, Bethlehem 

Don’t miss a dining and libations experience at this distillery on Bethlehem’s South Side, close to the race activities. (You’ll need reservations, especially during race weekend.) Adults, try a seasonal cocktail with the distilled-on-site spirits, with a fan favorite burger or pierogi.

Monterey Bay Half Marathon, Pacific Grove, California

November 7 -8, 2027
There are fewer race locales with better scenery than along the northern coast of California, known for its cliffside view of the Pacific Ocean. Kick off the half marathon weekend with Saturday’s By the Bay 3K, a fun run open to participants ages 4 and older. (The race organizers also host April’s famed Big Sur Marathon.)

What to Do When You’re Not Racing

The Monterey Bay Aquarium

The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-see for kids and adults alike. The aquarium’s “life on the bay” dock looks out onto the Pacific Ocean, where you may spot a glimpse of dolphins and humpback whales. Inside, check out a two-story kelp forest and an open sea exhibit with 90-foot windows.

Dennis the Menace Playground

Designed by the Dennis the Menace comic creator, Hank Ketcham, this municipal playground features giant climbing structures, slides built into hillsides, and a maze, all with a scenic view of the water. Be sure to snap a picture with Dennis the Menace himself (in bronze form).

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Head south just 15 minutes for stunning, easy walking trails along the ocean cliffs. Keep your eye on the ocean for harbor seals, sea lions, and sea otters. Pack a picnic and take in the ocean air ahead of Sunday’s half marathon.

Buffalo Marathon + Buffalo Kids Mini Marathon, Buffalo, NY

May 29 – 30, 2027
Held over Memorial Day weekend, the city of Buffalo hosts something for everyone. Its marathon and half marathon are held Sunday, with the half runners moving alongside the marathoners until they veer off to their own finish line.

But Saturday is the day for families to shine: Joggers with an environmental mind can attend the plogging event; kids ages 8 and under can run the Mini Marathon and toddlers ages 2 and under can test their mettle in the Diaper Dash. Have a pup? Saturday also hosts the Ruffalo Stampede, a 1K event for your four-legged running buddies.

Every finisher, including those diapered, will receive a medal. Furry finishers receive a dog tag. And ploggers receive a T-shirt.

What to Do When You’re Not Racing

Delaware Park

Designed by the famed Frederick Olmsted, perhaps best known for designing Central Park in New York City, Delaware Park is 350 acres of “country” park in Buffalo. The park features a public golf course, a Japanese Garden, a casino, a lake for boating, and a playground. It also has a zoo, with, of course, bison. Marathoners will enter the park around mile 20 on Sunday.

Buffalo Harbor State Park 

Situated along the water is the state park, which offers biking and hiking trails, making it a fun way to see the waterfront. It also has a playground and splash pad. Marathoners and half marathoners run a portion of the park during their outer harbor loop.

Chef’s Restaurant

Restaurants in downtown Buffalo, particularly those near the race finish line, usually have special discounts or fixed rate meals for runners over race weekend. Race volunteers have recommended Chef’s Restaurant, but plan ahead: Race weekend is packed and most places have a wait if you don’t make a reservation. Chef’s is known for its traditional spaghetti parm and homestyle Italian cooking.

Flying Pig Marathon, Cincinnati, Ohio

April 30 – May 2, 2027
The name of this weekend-long event and all the puns that come with it (Finish Swine! Pig Pen corrals!) might be reason alone to check out this storied race in the Midwest. No matter your distance preference, there’s a race: marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, mile, dog mile, and the Flying Piglet, with varying distances for ages 1 and under through age 7.

When you’re not racing, take advantage of Cincinnati’s unique prehistoric past: The city and surrounding area are home to some of the Earth’s oldest fossils and a hub for fossil enthusiasts and paleontologists. It has some of the world’s best-preserved marine fossils that go back nearly half a billion years.

What to Do When You’re Not Racing

Cincinnati Museum Center 

Home to the Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati Museum Center might be best known for its dinosaur hall and special exhibits. Let the kids get up close and personal to T-rex bones and immerse themselves in pre-dinosaur periods.

Smale Riverfront Park 

You’ll find yourself at Smale Riverfront Park, which is home to the race festival, so be sure to check out the various playgrounds, a flying pig ride, and an extra-large piano. The splashpark opens May 1, 2027, during race weekend, as a fun way to cool off. Parents and kids will love Carol Ann’s Carousel, which features Cincinnati staples like the Cincinnati bengal and a flying pig.

Loveland Castle 

Spend an afternoon at this breathtaking castle, whose creator, Harry Delos Andrews, has a wild backstory. Kids can explore the grounds, including the gardens, and try their hand at Chess or checkers and various puzzles. The castle has an extensive sword collection on display, and you can book private ghost tours.

Sugar ‘n Spice Diner 

If your race medals aren’t enough of a Cincinnati souvenir, kids love the Sugar ‘n Spice diner rubber ducks. The Reading Road location has been in operation since 1941, serving its signature “whispy thin” pancakes. Race weekend promises to be busy, so call ahead or check out its other two locations.

Toronto Marathon, Toronto, Canada

May 2, 2027
If you’ve got an international race on your bucket list, hop over the border to our northern friends for a memorable weekend on the waterfront. Although there isn’t a specific kids’ event, young runners ages 8 and older can participate in the 5K, which runs along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and finishes in downtown Toronto. Can’t get enough Toronto waterfront? The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is held in October (and is currently sold out for 2026).

What to Do When You’re Not Racing

The Toronto Islands 

Hop onto the ferry for a short ride to several car-free islands, including Centre Island, which features an amusement park kids will love. Depending on how everyone’s legs are feeling, rent bikes on Centre Island or Ward’s Island and ride along the coast.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada 

Surround yourself with underwater wildlife with Ripley’s underwater tunnel where sharks, sea turtles, and sawfish swim directly overhead. There’s something for everyone at this Toronto must-see locale: octopus and other Canadian locals, a hands-on experience with rays, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the aquarium operates.

Waterworks Food Hall

Refuel at this massive food hall with options for everyone, including sushi, Indian, German, Vietnamese, and Jamaican cuisines, to name a few. And, of course, there’s coffee, ice cream, and beer.