For many families, vacation time often means a trip to Disneyland or some other well-known or iconic destination.

Far fewer families pack their bags and head to Cleveland or Milwaukee.

But as it turns out, the two cities are rapidly becoming a top choice, according to Gogbot's 2016 Family Travelers Rising Stars Destinations list.

"Cleveland, with its famous West Side Market and vineyards, appeals to foodie oriented families," says Krista Canfield, Gogobot's Getaway Expert, of the city that ranked number two on this year's list.

Issued annually by the website known for its tribe-based approached to travel planning, the list includes many vacation destinations that may not immediately spring to mind, but actually have a great deal to offer.

The 2016 list for example, also includes Fort Worth, Texas in the number three slot, St. Augustine, Fla. at number six, and Phoenix ranked number nine.

"Fort Worth, with its rodeo and its National Cowgirl Museum, is a place that attracts families with a sense of adventure," adds Canfield.

The list is developed based on the website's data about more than 60,000 destinations, the number of reviews from Gogobot travelers visiting the destination, the number of people creating trips on Gogobot for the destination and travelers recommending the city or location to the site's Family Travelers Tribe in 2015. The site has about 10 million users.

Coming as far less of a surprise is the fact that Florida is extremely well represented on the list, with St. Petersburg being named the top family destination by Gogobot, and Miami also appearing on the list, as well as St. Augustine.

Gogobot also issues an annual list of Declining Family Destinations Worth a Second Look, which as Canfield explains it, may provide a great selection of choices for families in search of places that are not overrun with tourists.

Among the locations topping this list are Puerto Rico, the Monterey Bay region in California and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

"Places like Puerto Rico, Myrtle Beach and the Monterey Bay region may initially appear to have lost some of their luster, since they made our Declining Destinations Worth a Second Look list, but they still shine brightly as affordable family-friendly locations," says Canfield.

For those still on the hunt for the location of this year's family vacation, here's a closer look at a handful of the hotspots identified by Gogobot.





Cleveland

For families in search of an alternative to the tried and true beach vacation, Cleveland may just be the place.

Known for having a number of intriguing ethnic neighborhoods, such as Slavic Village, (a community where Polish is regularly spoken and pierogis are a menu staple), Cleveland may be a fun exploration for families with adventurous eaters.



"Cleveland is a great family location," Canfield says. "There's a bunch of vineyards, including many family- friendly vineyards. And if you have a budding chef in the kitchen, and you're looking for something other than a beach vacation, this may be a good choice."

"You can really get a sense of other cultures here without traveling to Europe," Canfield adds. "But it's such a little city, and so it's easy to get around. You can stay right downtown and go to a football game, or go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It really is a great city, for kids. There's tons to do."

The city is also home to The Children's Museum of Cleveland; the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, which is said rival New York City's world-famous offering; and the Cleveland Orchestra, which offers many concerts for juniors.





Fort Worth

How often do young girls get to immerse themselves in a museum focused on groundbreaking female role models?

Maybe not often enough. But Fort Worth offers a chance to do that and more.

"For families looking for something more adventurous, the rodeo and National Cowgirl Museum are an opportunity to get away from the Disney princesses," says Canfield. "A cowgirl museum can be pretty awesome."

Families with particularly young children (who aren't necessarily ready for the formalities of museum time) might enjoy Fort Worth's Burger's Lake.

"One thing in particular about Fort Worth is they have a lot of outdoor locations, like Burger's Lake," she says. "If you were looking for water, not necessarily beachside, for little kids to build sandcastles, and to pack a lunch, you can do that here."

New Orleans

Kids love bugs. And New Orleans knows this.

The city is home to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, which is one of the top attractions recommended by Gogobot.

"If there is someone in your family interested in learning more about creepy crawlies, this is the place," Canfield says. "Kids can even eat bugs in the café."

Eating a bug may be pushing it for many kids, but it's not at all surprising that such an offering comes from a famously spooky city like New Orleans.

The appearance of New Orleans on the list is noteworthy, given the many challenges it has had to overcome in the past decade or more.

"New Orleans is a place poised for comeback, it's been a number of years since Katrina hit," says Canfield "It's nice to see New Orleans back on the list. It's not only a place for nightlife and food."





Philadelphia

We all know about Philly's famous Liberty Bell. But the city has far more to offer than just this single iconic stop, particularly for the youngest members of your family.

For toddlers and younger, the Please Touch Museum is a must-see. Every gallery at the museum offers an environment rich in stimulating activities and fun learning opportunities. The activities are aimed at promoting creativity, imagination, and critical thinking.

Among the permanent exhibits is River Adventures, where kids can race sailboats, play with bubbles and discover animals. There's also a Wonderland exhibit modeled after the famous and beloved children's book Alice in Wonderland.

Philadelphia is also home to the Franklin Institute, another highly-recommended interactive museum.

"Philadelphia is one of those cities that's great even when weather not cooperating," says Canfield.





Milwaukee

Finally, for families in search of slightly more adventurous quality time, or who simply prefer the great outdoors, there's Milwaukee.

Gogbot calls this a modern, rejuvenated destination where top activities include sailing, windsurfing, hiking, bike trails and visiting lakeside beaches.

One last tidbit however, in case a few moments indoors isn't out of the question, consider visiting the Sprecher Brewery, which addition to offering beer tastings for adults, creates soda tastings for children.

"If, after all that outdoor activity, you'd like a cold drink and want to do beer tasting this is great, because they also make soda for kids," says Canfield. "So kids can enjoy this activity with parents."