This is part of a series of youth sports articles sponsored by IHG Hotels & Resorts. With more than 6,600+ locations, 20 brands, and amenities and convenience at every property, IHG Hotels & Resorts is making life easier for traveling sports families.
Sports families know the truth: vacations often revolve around tournament brackets, not beach calendars. But what if your next sports trip could double as a real family getaway? Across the U.S., some cities have figured out how to combine elite youth sports facilities with vacation-worthy experiences — where your athlete can compete hard and the rest of the family actually gets to breathe.
Cooperstown, NY: Baseball’s Hometown Experience
For baseball families, Cooperstown is more than a tournament — it’s a rite of passage. Every summer, 12U teams descend on Dreams Park and All Star Village for week-long tournaments that feel like baseball summer camp for the entire family. Parents trade pins, eat ice cream on Main Street, and share the quiet joy of watching their kids play in a place that feels untouched by time.
Between games, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field offer a sense of history that even young players can feel. And when you finally need a break from the buzz of competition, Otsego Lake gives families space to slow down — or just breathe in the nostalgia that Cooperstown always seems to hold.
Lake Placid, NY: Olympic Legacy and Mountain Adventures
Few towns mix sports and scenery like Lake Placid. Hockey players skate on Olympic ice, figure skaters practice in the same rinks where legends trained, and summer tournaments bring in lacrosse and soccer families. But between games, there’s just as much magic outside the arena — kayaking on Mirror Lake, ziplining through the Adirondacks, or grabbing fudge on Main Street after a long day of competition.
Families often stay close to the action in walkable downtown hotels, enjoying that rare mix of mountain air and easy logistics. It’s the kind of place where sports travel actually starts to feel like vacation.
Orlando, FL: Tournament Capital With Theme Park Balance
Orlando knows how to host a sports family. The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex keeps tournament schedules running like clockwork, while hotels nearby are built for families who live out of team duffels — early breakfasts, laundry rooms, and space to spread out homework between games.
When the final whistle blows, you’re minutes from Disney or Universal. One morning you’re cheering on the sidelines; that evening, you’re in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or riding Space Mountain. Orlando turns tournament chaos into a mini family vacation, no extra planning required.
For team travel or family tournaments, IHG Hotels & Resorts helps you balance it all—convenient locations near sports complexes, on-site food to keep everyone fueled, and flexible spaces that make homework between games less stressful.
Myrtle Beach, SC: Where the Ripken Experience Meets the Ocean
For baseball families, Myrtle Beach is basically paradise. The Ripken Experience delivers youth tournaments that feel like the big leagues — walk-up music, pro-style fields, and scoreboards that make every game feel like a championship. But once the last out is called, the ocean is waiting just minutes away.
Parents trade bleacher seats for beach chairs, kids body-surf between games, and the boardwalk becomes the team’s unofficial meeting spot. Mini golf, arcades, the SkyWheel — everything’s within reach. Coastal hotels make it simple: breakfast downstairs, cleats by the door, beach towels in the trunk.
Frisco (Dallas-Fort Worth), TX: “Sports City USA”
Frisco was built for sports families. Youth soccer tournaments fill Toyota Stadium, hockey takes over Comerica Center, and there’s even a lazy river beyond the outfield at RoughRiders games — the perfect reward for a long tournament weekend.
What sets Frisco apart is how effortless it feels. Between games, families explore The Star (the Dallas Cowboys’ world-class campus), grab Tex-Mex, or cool off at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark. IHG hotels nearby cater to the tournament crowd with family suites, easy dining, and quick routes to every major venue.
Indianapolis, IN: The Heart of Amateur Sports
Indianapolis isn’t just the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World” by name — it earns it. From Grand Park’s massive field complex to downtown’s walkable cluster of arenas, Indy does youth sports logistics better than just about anyone. Families can park once, walk everywhere, and still find time to catch a Pacers game, visit the Motor Speedway, or just share milkshakes on Mass Ave.
It’s one of those cities that reminds parents how fun sports travel can be when everything is close by.
Colorado Springs, CO: Olympic Spirit at 6,000 Feet
Every game feels a little more inspiring in Colorado Springs. From the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum to the high-altitude fields where youth teams chase their own versions of glory, this city gives sports families a front-row seat to greatness.
When the competition wraps, there’s no shortage of adventure — Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, mountain trails, and ziplining through canyons. Families can choose between downtown convenience or mountain-view stays, all with that perfect blend of rest and recreation.
San Diego, CA: Soccer, Surf, and Sunshine
If there’s a youth sports paradise, San Diego might be it. Between the Surf Cup and a dozen other elite tournaments, families flock here year-round. And when the games end, the beach begins — Pacific Beach, Coronado, Del Mar.
Parents unwind while kids keep the energy going with surf lessons or roller coasters at Mission Beach. Add in the San Diego Zoo, endless tacos, and weather that never seems to miss — and you’ve got a destination that keeps every member of the family happy.
Making It Work for Your Family
Sports travel doesn’t have to mean choosing between your child’s development and your family’s sanity. The best destinations get it — early breakfasts for 7 a.m. games, places for siblings to explore, and hotels that feel more like home base than pit stop.
When planning your next sports trip, consider timing that adds value—spring training season in Florida, Olympic-year energy in Colorado, or summer beach conditions in California. Look for IHG properties near venues that understand sports family needs: flexible check-in times, spaces for team gatherings, and amenities that support tournament schedules without sacrificing comfort.
Pack the jerseys and sneakers alongside regular luggage—your next sports tournament might just become your favorite family vacation.
Ian Goldberg is the CEO of Signature Media and the Editor of the largest and fastest growing sports parenting newsletter. He's been recognized as an industry expert by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, the US Olympic Committee's Truesport, and the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Ian is also a suburban NJ sports dad of two teenage daughters and has over 2,000 hours of volunteer time coaching them (which he calls the most fun form of R&D for his newsletter content). Ian and his team provide players, coaches, parents and program directors with the articles and content they need to have a great sports season. Ian has spent most of his career in digital product development and marketing and got his start at the White House where he worked for the economic advisors to two US Presidents.
This is part of a series of youth sports articles sponsored by IHG Hotels & Resorts. With more than 6,600+ locations, 20 brands, and amenities and convenience at every property, IHG Hotels & Resorts is making life easier for traveling sports families.
