Best Family Vacations: Places That'll Capture the Hearts of Adults and Kids
The World Has so Much to Offer
Traveling brings with it an opportunity for personal growth and an understanding of the world that just can’t be taught in school. Despite the difficulties in traveling as a family, especially with children, there’s no greater education than visiting a new place.
One of the first steps to planning a family vacation is picking the ideal destination. Some of the best family vacations might be close by or far away, depending on the unique interests of your loved ones.
As you narrow down your list of best family vacations, take a look at our family vacation ideas to get you inspired when planning a fun and memorable trip for all.
Hong Kong, China
A highly metropolitan city, Hong Kong is very much like the New York City of Asia. Big cities are naturally packed with sights and activities, which means there are plenty of fun things to do in Hong Kong with kids.
Kids will love watching the famous red-sailed junk ships in the harbor and riding the Peak Tram to the summit of Victoria Peak for the best views of the city.
There are many ways to fill your Hong Kong itinerary, as there are plenty of museums and historic sites like the Lantau Buddha (the largest in the world) and eight different UNESCO GeoParks that the whole family can enjoy. If you’re looking for a standby form of entertainment, you can always check out Hong Kong Disneyland or the city’s local amusement center, Ocean Park.
Monteverde, Costa Rica
There’s a reason why Costa Rica’s motto is “pura vida,” meaning pure life — it’s teeming with it. Monteverde is home to numerous beaches, adventure parks and wildlife preserves.
You can hang out on zip-line and canopy tours, go horseback riding or even tour a coffee plantation. And of course, no trip to Monteverde would be complete without a visit to one of the best family adventure vacation spots in Costa Rica, the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Nature enthusiasts will love exploring the misty rainforest and identifying the numerous species of wildlife that populates this unique natural attraction.
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London, England
London is bursting at the seams with captivating things to do for all ages and interests. If you’re planning on doing London with kids, a spin around the London Eye will give you a 360-degree view of the city including the famous Big Ben clock tower.
Check out the London Zoo, which is one of the best and most highly rated zoos in the world. Aside from the numerous art museums appealing to adults, the Science Museum and Horniman Museum both have hands-on exhibits for kids.
If you have any Harry Potter fans in your family, they can also get a taste of the magic from the films with the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, which even includes the original Diagon Alley set.
Orlando, FL, USA
If your family loves theme parks, you’ll have the best family vacation experience in Orlando, FL. Home to four different Disney parks, three different Universal parks, and a host more of smaller water parks, amusement parks and fun-filled attractions, it’s one of the biggest entertainment capitals in the world.
Even if you pick one park to take on, the experience can be overwhelming with so much to see and do. These Disney World tips will make sure you capitalize on your time there!
Many of the hotels and resorts in the area cater to a family-friendly environment with fancy pools, character breakfasts and unique transportation to and from the parks. Even if you can’t afford multiple days at a theme park, there’s plenty of shopping, food and entertainment at both Universal’s CityWalk and Downtown Disney.
Barcelona, Spain
Historic Barcelona will leave your family in awe. Taking a trip up Montjuïc hill aboard the funicular or cable cars to its 17th-century castle fortress is the perfect way to enjoy Barcelona with kids.
Admire Antoni Gaudi’s architectural marvels with a guided city tour of his most famous buildings. Old Town Barcelona houses a number of attractions appropriate for the whole family including a chocolate museum and zoo.
If you get tired of city life, there are beaches just a short metro ride away where you can rent umbrellas or work on your tan.
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New York City, NY, USA
Despite its size, New York City is consistently known for having some of the best family vacations in the world. Famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Central Park are fun for both adults and kids.
Dinosaur skeletons fill the halls of the American Museum of Natural History and The Met even has a Costume Institute for those interested in fashion. Everywhere you look there are familiar places seen in movies and TV shows, with the possibility of a celebrity sighting or two, especially in Manhattan.
There’s an endless list of things to do in New York City. Whatever else you do, don’t forget to visit Time Square and see a Broadway show!
Sydney, Australia
There are a number of things to do with your family in and around Sydney Harbour. Take a ride on the ferry at night for the best view of the iconic opera house.
Sydney’s Sea Life Aquarium houses an impressive array of over 700 marine species, including two types of sharks viewable from underwater tunnels. Try the Australian National Maritime Museum for budding pirates or The Royal Botanic Gardens for landlubbers looking for a picnic.
No Sydney family vacation would be complete without a romp on Manly Beach for surfing, swimming and sunbathing; Australia has some of the best surf schools in the world.
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Bali, Indonesia
Although Bali has often enjoyed a reputation as a solo traveler’s destination, it’s also become one of the best family vacation spots in the world. If you’re looking for a relaxing trip with beautiful, but kid-friendly, accommodations, look no further than one of Bali’s hotels, family villas or all-inclusive resorts.
Pick a theme for your Bali vacation with kids! Animal lovers will have a ball at the nearby Elephant Safari Park or Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud. Another option is an Indiana Jones-inspired adventure among the ruins and ancient temples.
Enjoy the local cuisine right on the beach in many locations or you can even take a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Indonesian dishes.
