Most people tend to imagine their lives filled with travel: every year bringing a new and exhilarating trip to some exotic location overseas. However, if your life plan includes having kids, you should know right away that travel won’t be nearly as easy and breezy as you expect.
For families that already have toddlers in tow, travel isn’t totally out of the question — but the viable destinations and the types of activities planned will likely be much changed. For an idea of where you can go and what you can do when you have little ones to look after, read on for a handful of destination ideas perfect for young families.
Niagara Falls
While Niagara Falls maintains its moniker “The Honeymoon Capital of the World,” in truth, the destination has modeled itself much more appropriately for young families. The thundering waters are an unbelievable sight for little ones, and most of the major attractions around the falls — like the river cruises, the amusement rides and even the museums — are operated with young kids in mind. Even better, you can find affordable vacation packages at Niagara Falls Hotels, making this one of the top spots in the world for family travel.
Washington, D.C.
Toddlers aren’t quite old enough to start understanding the importance of American history and government, but that doesn’t mean they won’t love a trip to Washington, D.C. For adults, D.C.’s allure is its connection to power past and present; for little kids, the grandeur of the monuments and the movement of the museums is where it’s at. You can lay a foundation for knowledge by visiting these places of significance early and often in a child’s life.
Bahamas
Parenting is hard work, so sometimes, you just want to relax. The Bahamas make for a near-perfect tropical vacation with the family. There are dozens of family-friendly hotels and resorts around the islands, where you can trust your kiddos won’t get into trouble while you rest near the gorgeous sand and surf. Many of these resorts, like Atlantis, have dedicated children’s areas and activities, like learning about Caribbean creatures, training dolphins, learning to swim and playing in playgrounds and arcades.
Tokyo
Most big cities offer more toddler-friendly activities than you might expect. Because Japan is so different from any place kids might have experienced before, Tokyo makes for an excellent destination for travel with your toddler. You shouldn’t hesitate to take your little ones to museums and lookouts, like the Mori Tower, as well as city parks and markets. However, you should also be willing to use a service like Babysitters.jp, so you can make the most of your Tokyo trip sans-kids.
Morocco
It can be intimidating thinking about taking your tot to someplace exceedingly exotic, like Morocco. However, it’s important to remember that little kids are everywhere, which means travel with your toddler will be safe and fun even in this locale. Believe it or not, Morocco offers some of the most kid-friendly cuisine — even picky eaters won’t snub fruit smoothies, pancakes (beghrir), fried dough (msemmen) and Moroccan pizza. Plus, the utterly unfamiliar architecture, markets and greenery will leave most little ones captivated for most of the trip.
Yellowstone
A trip into nature is a trip most toddlers love, but taking a tot camping can be a hassle. A good compromise is a cabin in Yellowstone, where you can explore one of the world’s most unique landscapes and enjoy comfort and safety after dark. Yellowstone is filled with excitement for adults and kids alike; the wildlife, the geysers, the hot springs and even the regular mountains and lakes are simply beautiful. You can take the opportunity to teach your little one about ecology, geology and conservation during your trip.
Orlando
When it comes to travel with a toddler, Orlando has to be the holy grail. Amusement parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, LEGOLAND and others are exactly what little ones want out of a vacation: the characters they worship, the foods they crave and the excitement they rarely experience. While Orlando, Florida might not be a bastion of culture or history, it certainly will make your kids excited to get out of the house and explore the world around them, so it might just be a good first trip for your young family — but an expensive one, no doubt.
Have you got any of the above in mind for travel with your toddler? What’s on your travel wish list? Do share in a comment below. And don’t forget to bookmark our family travel checklist for your next holiday!
