Parents love the idea of a family vacation – you get to spend time with your loved ones while traveling around the world. However, you need to do a lot of research and preparation when you travel with kids. Choosing the right destination is essential as you need to pick a place that offers the right mix of entertainment, accessibility, and affordability. Everything from safety levels to the number of kid-friendly activities has to be considered. While traveling with kids is never easy, it can be a joyful experience for the whole family by choosing the right place. So, we’ve made a list of some of the best places to travel with your little ones.
Pittsburgh, USA
Pittsburgh is known for being a kiddie’s paradise with good reason. No matter what season you visit, it has a huge number of activities to keep your kids entertained. The Pittsburgh zoo, aviary, botanical gardens, and the children’s museum are great when parents need a relaxing day. Little curious minds would love a visit to the Carnegie Science Center, Museum of Natural History and the Heinz History Center and Sports Museum. Sports buffs can cheer for their team at PNC Park or Peterson Sports Complex. Bike along the 150-mile-trail of the Great Allegheny Passage if you’re looking for some adventure. Enjoy the waterparks, local festivals, and delightfully quirky shops at Lawrenceville, Bedford, and Carlisle.
Brittany, France
For unspoiled French beauty, skip Paris and head over to Brittany. This place has it all – white sandy beaches with deep turquoise waters, delicious French cuisine, stunning palaces, and jaw-dropping milieus. Charming villages like Rochefort-en-Terre and Dinan have well-preserved medieval-era city centers with quaint half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. Roam the megalithic sites and seep yourself into the medieval Breton Celtic tradition for a unique experience. Kids can appreciate the dramatic vistas and cliffs, enjoy the 68 aquariums at Océanopolis, watch the stars at Planétarium de Bretagne, and relive 19th century Breton life at the restored village called Village de Poul Fetan.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Whether you want to explore a bustling metropolis, go on a family-friendly adventure or prefer a relaxing holiday, Rio can offer all that and much more. Witness Rio’s colorful biodiversity by exploring the botanical gardens and thick jungles, relish the vibrant local cuisine, enjoy a good game with your family at the Maracana stadium, and relax at the Leblon or Ipanema beaches. Funicular railways, cable cars, the Museum of Tomorrow, Sugar Loaf mountain, and the mighty Christ the Redeemer statue all make Rio a popular family destination. Contact your tour agency and plan your itinerary beforehand to ensure that your Brazil vacation goes on without a hitch.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is known for its mesmerizing heritage structures, spellbinding Hindu culture, stunning vistas, and perfect tropical weather. You can find accommodations to suit every budget and lifestyle. Kids will also love the delicious Balinese cuisine at local restaurants. Temple visits don’t have to be boring – Goa Gajah is a cave temple with a stone sculpture’s mouth as its entrance and Pura Luhur Batukaru is a temple shrine next to a fast stream and a beautiful lake. Bali also offers many surf schools, water parks, and adventure parks to enjoy. Spend some time with nature at the Ubud monkey forest, Bali safari and marine park, and Kemenuh butterfly park.
Osaka, Japan
This port city is known for its modern architecture, vibrant nightlife, and delicious street food. However, Osaka is also an amazing family destination. Universal Studios Japan, Kid’s Plaza, and the Tempozan Ferris wheel are major kiddie crowd pullers. Places like the Asahi Brewery Tour and Osaka Palace offers something for both kids and adults to enjoy. Head over to the Kema Sakuranomiya Park, featuring over 4,800 blooming cherry trees during spring, to spend some time with nature. Exploring the bustling shopping streets like Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori is also well worth your time.
Taipei, Taiwan
In Taipei, every street provides a unique experience of its own. There are many family-friendly accommodations at affordable rates. Taipei is a foodie’s paradise as there are numerous street food stalls that offer a variety of popular dishes. Enjoy the natural hot springs at Yangmingshan National Park that lets you unwind among the chaos. The breathtaking observation deck and the imposing Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall are definitely worth the visit. You can also indulge in night shopping and get good deals on souvenirs. Places like Taipei 101 Observatory, which offers stunning 360º views of the entire city, and the Taipei zoo, with its gondola rides and beautiful views of the hills, are a sure winner with kids.
Vienna, Austria
Offering the perfect juxtaposition of imperial architecture and the modern world, Vienna is often touted as the most beautiful city in Europe. Since it’s a geographically small place, you can explore Vienna through cycling and walking tours. There are many kid-friendly museums, galleries, palaces, and other historical buildings – the Vienna State Opera offers interactive games on classical music history, there are exciting activities at Museum of Modern Art during the weekends, and the children’s museum at Schönbrunn Palace is a true delight. Do your bank account a favor and get the Vienna Pass; it lets you visit over 60 top attractions across Vienna for free.
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is as kid-friendly as they come. There are many places worth visiting: CN Tower is the tallest building in Toronto, Whistler is a winter wonderland for summer tourists, and La Ronde is the largest amusement park in Quebec. Spend a day at the Toronto zoo – it’s the 3rd largest in the world and features its own kiddie zone. Ripley’s aquarium has a touch pool where kids can feel aquatic rays and sneak a peek into fish tanks through underwater tunnels. The Ontario science museum and Toronto railway museum are quite popular among children. If you have some time left, head over to Toronto Islands for a variety of family-friendly fun like a petting zoo, train rides, children’s gardens, and splash pads.
