Travel with kids doesn’t have to mean kids clubs and children’s menus – it can involve adventure too. We’re not advocating taking your youngsters on a punishing trek up dangerous mountains, but experiencing something new as a family can be one of the greatest bonding experiences you’ll ever have. Here are some ideas for travel adventures with kids to get you started.
1. Meet nature face to face
Getting close to nature is an adventure in itself – and quite a different experience from a day at the zoo. Taking a trip to South Africa’s legendary safari parks, to Mexico to spot sea turtles or to Iceland to see migrating whales can open your eyes as a family to the incredible world out there to see. But it doesn’t have to be big, expensive or involve a long flight: you could take a well-planned trip to a national park nearby, with a ranger-led trek ideal for children, a hike up a smallish mountain or spend time bird watching by a lake. It all works.
Why not try… The Galapagos Safari
2. Get active as a family
Getting active as a family can be a great bonding experience too. Kayaking in lakes, bike rides in forests, and swimming in the ocean are easy ways to get started. When you know the whole brood will be into it, you can start planning a more in-depth adventure – hiking the Annapurna circuit in Nepal (with porters to help carry small children), cycling through Holland’s tulip fields and river rafting in the south of France just for starters. It beats lying on a beach.
Why not try… The Copake Lakehouse Residence
3. Be inspired by Richard Scarry
Little children love to see new forms of transport – whether that’s buses, trains and metros or cable cars and monorails. Vancouver is a great city for transport-spotters, with seaplanes to spot along with the SeaBus across Burrard Inlet and the SkyTrain around the city; Lisbon is built on a series of hills and has plenty of funiculars to help you reach them, and Sydney harbour is made for boat trips from one point to another.
Why not try… The Rua dos Acores Residence
4. Take your tastebuds on a trip
You don’t need your hiking boots for this one: a day spent trying new things in food markets is a special kind of exploration for the senses. Barcelona’s famous Boqueria market is one of Europe’s largest, with stalls selling fresh fruit piled high, fish on ice slabs, and great big legs of dried ham. The kids can taste some items from the stalls and there are plenty of cafés for resting up after all the excitement. Read out guide to the best foodie spots to visit this year.
Why not try… The Carrer de Pau Claris Residence
5. Find Nemo
Did you know that you could all be exploring the underwater world together from the age of around four? SCUBA diving lessons aren’t regularly available for children under the age of 10, but SNUBA – an underwater breathing system that requires no lessons – is possible from the age of eight, with an adapted system for kids aged four and up. Find Nemo, enter into the world of the Little Mermaid and get set for a family experience they’ll never forget. You can try it on many Caribbean islands, in Mexico, Sri Lanka, Australia, Costa Rica and multiple other destinations worldwide.
Why not try… The Coconut Cottage at Roundhill Resort
7. Stay home
Don’t stay at your home – stay in someone else’s! Adventurous as visiting another country with children can be, it’s also a time when you need somewhere comfortable to sleep, somewhere to play and somewhere to relax. Staying in another family home is an ideal travel adventure with kids, giving you enough space and bedrooms, and a kitchen to whip up meals you know the kids will eat, when they want them. Adventure by day, comfort by night – it’s a great combination.
Why not try… The Queen’s Park Residence
8. Adventurous destinations
Far flung destinations are certainly do-able with children. Want to visit Thailand? Iceland? Nepal? Patagonia? Be aware that people raise children in all of these locations worldwide, and you won’t be the first parents to visit. Go prepared, armed with guidebooks, having planned what to do in an emergency, fully researched what to do when you are out there, and with essential travel insurance, and you’re off to a good start. Learning a few words of the local language can be great fun for kids, and getting to know and understand a completely different culture is a fantastic life experience.
Why not try… The Villa Bloom Bali
9. Take notes
Depending on the age of your kids, giving them a travel diary, camera or notebook to record their trip is a great way to preserve the memories. For younger children, asking them to draw a picture and record in a sentence what they did each day can work; cameras are a wonderful way to see how they have viewed their trip, and what excited them.
Why not try… more family travel tips from parents who love to travel
10. Pack well
The days of throwing a few things in a suitcase are over – packing is part of the planning for a family travel trip. Make sure you remember the essentials: passports, medicine, plasters, travel documents and insurance, and where you can, leave a little room to bring back souvenirs. Remember that in most places, it’s easy to buy diapers and baby essentials so you don’t need to take everything with you – and check with where you’re staying to see if they can provide what you need too. Many properties have cribs, high chairs and toys, helping you cut down on the packing when traveling with tots.
Plan your next family travel adventure with kids
Planning your next adventure together is even more fun together. Grab a map, ask the kids for some ideas, and start planning. Once you break out of the confines of what a family holiday means and realize that the world’s your oyster, there’s no limit to where you can go. Want to learn tango in Argentina? To ski in Whistler? Take boat trips round islands in Brazil or visit the world’s greatest art galleries in New York? The world is out there waiting for you.
Browse our collection of snow and ski properties, global cities and mountain vacations, or get more inspiration for your next family adventure.