Imagine a trip where grandparents get to see the world through their grandkids’ eyes, parents get a break from their daily grind, and kids create memories with the entire family that they’ll remember forever. Multi-generational family vacations are growing in popularity, and for good reason.

Shared memories can often transcend generations and creating memories the entire family can talk about for decades to come is one of the many reasons to travel with an extended family. In todays busy world, carving out some much needed family time gets harder every year.

However, let’s be honest, balancing the needs of different age groups can feel like juggling flaming torches at times. Seniors often have health and mobility concerns, parents are often over stressed, and kids are either glued to their devices or have so many activities going on in their lives that they often don’t know if they’re coming or going.

The good news? With thoughtful planning and the right destination, you can craft a trip that’s as fun as it is stress-free for every member of your family.

How to Plan the Perfect Family Getaway: Ideas for Kids, Parents, and Grandparents

Step 1: Picking Accommodations That Work for Everyone

Your choice of accommodation can make or break a trip. For multi-generational groups, flexibility and space is key.

• All-Inclusive Resorts: These are great for stress-free family travel. All-inclusive resorts provide dining, entertainment, and childcare in one convenient package. Everyone can pick their own adventure while staying within arm’s reach of each other and all of them offer day trips if you want more culture or more excitement on your trip. Find the perfect multi-generational retreat with Escapes.ca’s all-inclusive vacations.
• Vacation Rentals: If you’re looking for a home-away-from-home vibe, consider an Airbnb or Vrbo. Shared spaces like kitchens and living rooms make family bonding easy, while separate bedrooms provide much-needed privacy. These can be initially cheaper than all-inclusives but make sure you budget in your meals, alcohol and any activities as those will all cost you extra.
• Cruises: A family cruise offers a floating resort experience, with options ranging from kids’ clubs to fine dining. Some cruise lines, like Disney or Royal Caribbean, excel at catering to multi-generational groups though you’ll likely pay handsomely for the privilege.

Why All-Inclusive Resorts Shine for Multi-Generational Travel

All-inclusive resorts take the guesswork out of planning. Here’s why they’re perfect:

• Everything in One Place: Dining, entertainment, and activities are all covered, so no one has to stress about logistics.
• Customizable Fun: Kids can join supervised clubs, grandparents can lounge by the pool have a spa day, and parents can enjoy activities like yoga or water sports.
• Budget-Friendly: Upfront pricing makes it easier to plan and avoid unexpected expenses plus a lot of resorts charge the same per 2 person booking as they do for shared rooms. That means that the grandparents can have their own room down the hall from you and the costs don’t double like staying in a hotel. If you have older kids, they could have theirs as well.
• Examples to Consider: Iberos Resorts in Dominican Republic, Bahia Principe or Barcelo resorts in Mexico, or Riu Resorts in Montego Bay Jamaica.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Destination

Picking the perfect destination is crucial to ensuring everyone has a great time. Start by considering:

• Accessibility: Choose a destination that’s easy to navigate for grandparents who may have mobility concerns. Think resorts with shuttles, flat walking paths, and minimal stairs.
• Family-Friendly Activities: Look for destinations that cater to all interests. For example, a beach destination might offer snorkeling and paddle boarding for the adventurous while providing serene beachfronts for relaxation.
• Weather and Season: Consider travel times and seasons that are comfortable for all ages. Not too hot for grandparents and not too cold for young kids. If planning a beachside holiday, make sure that the water is comfortable to swim in but not so busy you regret leaving your room.
• Top Picks: Mexico’s family-friendly beaches, Orlando’s theme parks, or European destinations like Italy and Spain, which combine culture with family-friendly attractions.

Step 3: Crafting a Balanced Itinerary

The secret to a successful multi-generational family trip is balance. While it’s tempting to pack your itinerary with activities, it’s better to create a schedule that allows for flexibility.

• Group Activities: Plan experiences that everyone can enjoy together, such as a guided walking tour, a family-friendly cooking class, or a wildlife safari. Often a shared experience can transcend the mundane because the whole family got to partake in it.
• Age-Specific Activities: Include downtime for grandparents, like spa treatments, while kids burn off energy at a pool or playground.
• Dividing When Appropriate: Sometimes separating the group for specific activities can allow everyone to get something from the trip that they can’t as a group. Whether that be ziplining through the jungle or going out for a romantic meal, realize that sometimes giving each person their own time can benefit the family as a whole. If nothing else, it gives the family things to talk about afterwards.
• Free Time: Build in periods of free time or down time for everyone to explore independently or simply relax if they’re feeling burnt out. We’ve learnt over our many years of travel with our family that when someone hits the burnt out stage that the entire group suffers. Factor that into your time equations when creating your plans and don’t fret about not doing every single thing a new place offers. The point of the trip is family and sharing and not tired and cranky.

Stress-Free Travel Tips

• Book Early: Multi-generational trips often require larger accommodations or group bookings. Planning ahead ensures you get the best options and if you’re planning for an all-inclusive getaway, often the best price is well before things start booking up.
• Travel Insurance: Cover everyone with a comprehensive policy. It’s especially useful for families traveling with young kids or older adults. There are cheaper plans that cover larger families so make sure you search them out for better deals.
• Meal Planning: All-inclusive resorts simplify meals, but for other trips, choose restaurants with varied menus that accommodate dietary restrictions. if you’re cooking for yourself, make sure that you make something your whole family will enjoy. When away from home and cooking for ourselves, we always try to include a few local flavored meals using local ingredients while also throwing in an occasional tried and true family favorite meal to give a small taste of home.
• Delegate Responsibilities: To reduce stress, assign roles, such as one person handling transportation while another manages bookings. This helps spread the load of planning a trip and ensures everyone has their say.
• Get Everyone On Board: The more each member of your family shares their input ahead of time, the more likely that they’ll enjoy that same activity when it finally arrives. We’ve learnt to prep our kids for our travels more as they get older so that they feel invested in the trip and have a personal activity they’ve chosen that they get to look forward to. It goes a long way to ensuring that the trip isn’t just what this person or that person wants but that there’s something for every member of the family.

Packing and Preparing for a Multi-Generational Trip

• Essentials: Bring medications, snacks for kids, and entertainment for downtime. If it’s a long flight, make sure to bring things to make the flight easier with little ones.
• Shared Items: Consider packing communal items like sunscreen, travel-sized games, and books. If you have a pool where you’re staying, packing or buying a few small inflatables when you get there isn’t a bad idea either nor is packing large refillable water bottles so everyone stays hydrated on days spent in the sun or on hikes.
• Tech Tools: Use apps like Google Maps or WhatsApp to coordinate schedules and stay connected. Look at getting a shared Wifi device or picking up eSims for data for a few of the group if you think you’ll be splitting up often enough.
• Light Packing: Encourage everyone to pack light to leave room for souvenirs. We still travel with only carry-ons but with a large family group, consider checking a few bags so that getting around the airport is easier on everyone and boarding/unboarding the plane remains stress free.

Wrapping Up: Embrace Flexibility and Have Fun

No trip is without its hiccups, but the magic lies in creating shared experiences and lasting memories. Embrace flexibility, focus on the moments that matter, and remember, the best part of a family vacation is being together.

What to do in San Diego

Here are our top picks for family things to do in San Diego. First here’s a little history on the city.

About San Diego

San Diego was founded in 1769, making it the oldest city in California. There’s a lot to love about San Diego, including its virtually perfect weather throughout the year. It also has more than its fair share of attractive tourist spots, including 31 lovely ocean beaches along 25 miles of shoreline from Sunset Cliffs to La Jolla, and a whopping 340 parks. The city is also culturally rich, with almost too many museums, galleries, and art studios to list in one place.

If your kids are up for it, Old Town San Diego Street Historic Park is a great place for a stroll and unique shopping. Kids will love learning about the natural world and varied wildlife in the expansive San Diego Zoo.

Feeling peckish? San Diego has a thriving food scene, with plenty of options for kids. Be sure to try San Diego’s own Cali-Baja cuisine, and the adults can try some of the hundreds of craft beer options.

Planning a relocation to San Diego? Thanks to it’s great locale near the Baja Peninsula and it’s fantastic weather, the city has been continuously growing for over 200 years.

San Diego, though it’s only a few hours south of LA, has a much chiller vibe than it’s famous neighbor and unsurprisingly hosts some of the best tourist spots in California. People from all around the world have had the time of their life here and in this article we’ve picked 5 of those places that you can visit on your next trip to San Diego.

The San Diego Zoo

Situated north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is one of the largest and most famous zoos in the United States and is known the world over for it’s inhabitants. It’s a non-profit wildlife sanctuary that houses more than 3,500 animals, which represent more than 650 species and subspecies. If your kids are plant lovers, there’s also a botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants.

This enormous zoo and safari park is home to rare, endangered, and vulnerable animals. Some of the most famous animals residing in the zoo currently are the giant pandas, which, thanks in part to the San Diego Zoo team, is now listed as vulnerable (rather than endangered).

Other kid-pleasing animals in the zoo include kangaroos, koalas, rhinos, leopards, polar bears, sloths, and bonobos. You can even sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour to get a closer view of the day to day responsibilities of the caretakers as well as have up close animal experiences.

The Zoo also has fun activities for it’s visitors, like the Kangaroo Express Bus and the Skyfari Aerial Tram, along with plenty of free-roaming animals that make the experience all the more real.

USS Midway Museum

Permanently docked at Navy Pier, the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway is open to visitors. During it’s heyday, It was one of the largest ships in the US Military.

Along with the USS Midway, the museum also has 30 restored Navy aircraft to see, plus incredible views of San Diego Bay. Kids will keep plenty busy with over 60 exhibits, including hangar, flight deck, and below deck exhibits. If you have time, there’s an incredibly popular audio tour that brings the history of the ship to light (bring your own headphones, if you can).

Balboa Park

San Balboa Park is much more than a green space. It’s home to 17 museums, theaters, as well as the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park is an open space urban cultural park, with enough to keep the kids (and adults) busy for days. There are dance classes, gardens, performing arts, museums, shopping, tours, and plenty to eat and drink.

Looking more closely, there are a dizzying number of attractions here, including the Balboa Park Carousel and miniature train, the Cabrillo Bridge, California Tower, El Cid stature, Escape The Nat escape room, the impressively large Moreton Bay fig tree, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, the Photographic Arts Building, the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society, Sefton Plaza, the Spanish Village Art Center, and of course the San Diego Zoo.

The Casa del Prado, often just called del Prado, is made of several reconstructed buildings first built for the Panama–California Exposition in San Diego’s Balboa Park. It’s a working site, and often home to weddings, events and activities.

The Casa del Balboa is a single building in Balboa Park. It was originally called the Commerce and Industries Building, and later called the Canadian Building, the Palace of Better Housing, and the Electric Building. Today, Casa del Balboa houses the Balboa Art Conservation Center, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego History Center.

Gaslamp Quarter

Built-in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Gaslamp Quarter takes up 16 and a half blocks in San Diego’s downtown. It’s a recognized historic district, with plenty of character and charm. It’s also known for being one of the most visited places in the city.

The Gaslamp Quarter is probably best known for city nightlife, and it’s the place to go to catch the latest theatre, comedy or jazz performance, see the trendiest clothes and people or eat the best cuisine. That said, there’s plenty for kids to do here.

The Gaslamp Quarter is easily walkable, but the kids may enjoy taking a bike taxi. It’s likely the most kid friendly during the day.

The Beaches of San Diego

San Diego is easily the city of the beaches, so visiting the beach is an absolute must when you visit. Some of our favorite San Diego beaches for kids are Coronado Beach, Del Mar City Beach, Moonlight Beach, Mission Bay, Cardiff State Beach, South Ponto Beach, La Jolla Shores, and Silver Strand State Beach.

Mission Beach is a great choice for families that want to relax, with great spots to sunbathe, and a buzzing beachfront Boardwalk, with a sea view café. It’s also a great spot for adventurous families that want to surf. Ocean Beach is a chic and relaxed vibe, while dog lovers will adore – you guessed it – Dog Beach.

Coronado Beach is great for beach volleyball, but it’s also home to a unique experience – ice skating! You can skate at Hotel del Coronado, with stunning view of the beach.

Looking for some more California and west coast fun and sun? Check out these great reads:

• Bucket List Oregon Coast Road Trip
• Why you need to visit Hot Springs Resort in Desert Springs
• The Best Road Trip Audiobooks
• Universal Studios Hollywood Tips to Save you Time, Money, and Hassle!
• Best Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

Do you have any other ideas for the best attractions in San Diego as a family? Let us know!

As frequent travelers with both a teenager and a tween, we’ve witnessed the good and all the bad when traveling with someone whose moods and hormones can fluctuate like a duck on a pogo stick.

The good news is that you can travel with a teen!

Benefits of traveling with a teen or tween

Mood swings and occasional disdain aside, teens can make great travel partners. Not only are they now better at communicating, they can sit still for hours and can better occupy themselves during extended travel or down times. Some can even tolerate museums, art exhibits, and even enjoy the odd architecture tour, which is something we dreaded when our kids were younger.

Teens and tweens can also better create and hold onto memories than younger children can.

We’ve traveled with our children since they were babies, and it always surprises us of what they do and don’t remember about our previous travels. We’ve definitely discovered that they retain way more now, as well as better understand the cultural and historical significance of the places we often stop at. They even sometimes surprise us with their knowledge of certain events and people that made a landmark important in the first place.

Another big plus of traveling with teens is that teens and tweens can generally do the same physical activities we as parents enjoy, such as extended hiking, ziplining, biking, waterslides, and even going on scary amusement park rides.

Travel memories with your teen

I can now look back at certain moments of my childhood with a certain clarity. That’s right, I can remember in perfect detail what that 14 year old teenage me was thinking as I walked into a Disney theme park and compare it to the first time I went when I was only seven. I can even compare it against the 21 year old me’s thoughts as well.

To say that my memories and mindset were in vastly different places would be an understatement. I was at a different place in my life at each age. Not only were my expectations and enjoyment different, but I was different both physically and emotionally.

Trust me, you probably don’t want to know exactly what’s going on in your teenager’s head, however, if you realize that they’re their own person and have their own thoughts, expectations, problems, likes and dislikes, you’ve just discovered the best secret to successfully traveling with a teen.

Why you should travel with a teen or tween

As I get older, I realize I have years of my childhood where I have no significant memories, outside of a few school events or family emergencies. I’m guessing this is common for most of you. We often don’t remember the day to day events of our past and really, why should we?

The fact that I can remember our family trips so vividly is important because it not only gives me glimpses of my past, but helps me realize that the memories my kids carry forward likely won’t be the hours of video games we’ve played together, or throwing the ball around in the backyard or the neighborhood hikes, but of places and events so out of the ordinary that they create a time stamp of their past.

The reason I say that is because even though our teens and tweens are constantly marching towards adulthood, the memories they look back upon will likely determine how they move forward.

Isn’t a memory of shared time, exploration, discovery, adventure and culture one of the best gifts a parent can give their child?

Don’t believe me? In terms of travel, many families will look back at shared trips with a certain fondness, even though regular day to day family life was a struggle for them.

I think the reason for this isn’t the location or sights you see. Often, just the fact that you spend quality time with your teen, experiencing things together, trying new things, getting out of your normal habits and putting their enjoyment occasionally over your own, creates these lasting memories. The rest is just a bonus.

Understanding your teen

Every time I go back to Disney Parks as an adult, I’m reminded not so much how it’s changed, but how I have changed over the years and what my mindset was each time I went there.

The first time I went at age seven, my family took three weeks off and we all drove down to California to check out Disneyland. I can still remember most of the rides and the thrill at being at my first true amusement park. To say it was magical would be an understatement.

Fast forward seven years and now I’m walking into Disney World in Florida for the first time. Considered the jewel of the Disney empire, what did that 14 year old have to say as he crossed the fabled gates? “Ugh, how long do we have to be here?“

So what had changed? The park still had its familiar castle and rides, it had characters I grew up with both old and new, it had everything I remembered from that first visit and much more.

The difference was obviously me. I was going through the awkward growing pains of adolescence. Yup, I was in my teen years.

To make matters worse, I was there with my cousins who were so excited to be there that they could barely contain themselves. The moment we walked in they were literally vibrating with enthusiasm.

My parents, who were supportive as usual, couldn’t understand why I was so bitter. The truth is, even I didn’t know why. They had just spent a small fortune flying with a teenager out to California, and tickets to theme parks aren’t cheap.

I’m not exactly sure when or why it happened, but somewhere that day the unhappy teen cynic that I had become took the day off and I ended up enjoying myself no matter how hard I fought against it. Some might say that it was just the magic of Disney, but given the right circumstances, it could as well apply to any place in the world.

So, what can make even the sourest teen laugh out loud in delight? Well, let’s go over a few suggestions on travel with teens and let’s find out.

Tips for traveling with teens and tweens

Now that we have a teenager and tween of our own, we’re constantly trying to figure out new ways to appeal to their likes and dislikes, and also keep the whole family happy and entertained when we travel. If you have a tween or teen of your own you’ll understand. If yours aren’t there yet, just keep some of these travel with tweens and teens tips handy. You’ll thank us later.

Keep your teen informed

The most important thing we’ve discovered when taking either a teen or tween someplace down the street (or anyplace in the world for that matter), is to give them options and keep them in the loop. Younger children are often happy to just follow along, but teens like to know what’s going on.

Don’t worry about giving them too much information (unless they ask for more details), but make sure they know what’s going to happen beforehand.

Yes, your first instinct might be to skip talking about the two hour bus ride you all have to take, or the overly long airport connection you’re going to have to sit through, but all that’s going to happen is they’re going to resent you once it happens. Give them the info beforehand and tell them that it’s required to make this trip happen.

If your child understands it has to happen regardless of anyone’s choice, they’re more likely to go along with it and hopefully make peace with it before it even begins. There’s also the added bonus that they’re now in the adult loop, which is what most teens crave for anyway.

Telling them beforehand puts them in the right mind space and lets you prepare for possible fallout before it happens. Having a plan to tackle inevitable boredom with video games, books or pre-downloaded Netflix movies isn’t a bad idea either.

Get your teen on board

If you want your teen or tween to feel like this trip isn’t all just about what you want, get their input in the planning stages. Everyone is much more likely to go along with a plan they helped establish.

It doesn’t mean giving in to every one of their demands, but give them options and let them choose from what you find acceptable. If they really don’t want to go, give them a small win by letting them choose the restaurant you’ll eat at that night or picking out the next movie you all watch together.

It doesn’t have to be much, but teens often feel like they have no control over their lives, and often rightly so. If they feel like they can control one aspect of the trip, it should help with the rest of it.

Let your teen help plan the vacation

Want to get your teen excited about your next trip? Give them some material to research before you leave, whether that’s a guidebook, a YouTube video or a couple websites for them to peruse.

YouTube videos are a huge hit with our kids. We often search for videos of the places we’re thinking of going to, and watch them as a family.

Given a little nudge, you might be surprised what interesting research your children do on their own. Whether they read about it in school, have a friend who talked about it, or whether they saw it online, searching for a few answers to a question they have about a place can lead to a desire to find the answer out themselves. This desire can even lead to excitement and that’s the best any parent can ask for in regards to their teen.

Give your teen some space when you travel

Nope, not talking about Space Mountain (but that is an awesome ride for teens), the trick is to give your teen and tween room before and after the days major events. Whether you’re checking out an amusement park, walking through ancient cathedrals or hiking the alps, everyone needs a little time to decompress after a long day of seeing the sites.

Whether that means getting them their own room or just upscaling your accommodations for a bigger sitting area, we’ve found giving our teenager space to relax and unwind pays for itself in peace of mind for everyone.

Tip: At this point in their lives, teens are going through changes, both physically and emotionally. Give them a chance to recharge their batteries at their own pace and they won’t be such a drain on yours.

Split up the group occasionally

It hurts me to say it, but the truth is, not everyone loves roller coasters and not everyone likes magical rowboats. If you find yourself traveling with two or more children of different ages, their interests might not crossover so well. Accept that and split the group up as needed to keep everyone happy.

If you do split up, arrange meet up times so you can swap parents and make sure to choose some activities you’ll all enjoy together so you can make family memories you share. Travel means different things to different people. It only makes sense that your growing children have their own passions they want to follow too.

Let the older kids play

This one is hard for most of us to accept, but your older teen is almost an adult. If they’re comfortable exploring an area on their own, and it’s safe, let them. Just make sure that, as above, you have pre-determined times and places to meet up so you can all have some shared memories as well.

This applies to major sites and activities, as well as amusement parks. Smartphones make it particularly easy to regroup later.

We used to travel with walkie-talkies when the kids were younger. When one of us went to run an errand or take the kids to the beach or someplace similar, it made splitting up into teams so much easier to regroup after.

Schedule some down time

After traveling to more than 30 countries with our children, often for months at a time, the one thing we always make sure to do is schedule in some down days. Whether you’re visiting Disney World or Universal Studios with your teens, exploring quirky and unusual things to do in London, checking out the Louvre in Paris, or gallivanting around the Galapagos Islands with your tween, everyone gets burnout eventually.

When you’re tired and cranky, standing in line or waiting around in the sun can make a good day become a bad day. Unless you’re a family whose members all have extremely high energy, don’t schedule something for every second.

Instead, enjoy a day off in the pool. Hit up a spa while letting your teen get a few solitary hours full of gaming, watching YouTube, reading a book or even checking out their social media and chatting with friends back home. It will go a long way to making every memory a good memory and the holiday a success.

These days, we’d rather miss out on an “OMG, we have to see this while we’re here” place than overburden the family. If it’s high enough on the list, it will happen regardless and if it’s not, there’s always next time. For us, the flow of travel is often more important than the destination.

Choose your destination carefully

Your children are getting older. Soon they’ll be traveling on their own. Try to pick out places today that you’ll all enjoy experiencing.

If you crave a tour of Ireland’s pubs, or a quiet remote island getaway, it might be prudent to visit those after the kids have moved out. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit certain places, it just means that you should consider what your family members will get out of the trip as well.

This realization has rearranged our travel lately more than anything. When our kids became teens and tweens, we realized that it opened up a lot of possibilities that we didn’t have when we traveled with young children.

For one, we can now go enjoy a parent’s night out since our kids are old enough to safely stay on their own for a few hours. We can now do activities that the kids were just too young to take part in like ziplining or mountain climbing. We can visit places we held off because the thought of little ones zooming around gave us panic attacks before we even got there.

On the down side, traveling with teens can get expensive quickly, since in most places they’re charged full adult fares. Don’t even get me started on their much bigger, and more expensive, eating habits. All these combined made us realize that traveling with teens is different than traveling with younger kids, but can still be just as rewarding.

Make your own memories

One of the biggest reasons people travel is to make new memories, to include special places and events that stand out from everyday life.

That’s why it’s just as important to not only see something you’ve only seen in print or online, but create a few strong memories to stay with you long after your trip has ended.

The truth is I’d rather have a single great shared memory of specific time and place with my teen than a jumble of memories all intertwined.

As an example I’m going to go back to the very first time I visited Disney when I was seven. After a very long day of rides, getting autographs signed and watching all the shows, my father and I were feeling burnt out. My older siblings wanted to go on a few more rides, but we needed a break.

My mom decided to take my brother and sister on a few of the bigger rides while my dad and I hung back. It turns out that my sister got motion sickness and my brother lost a shoe or something. It’s not my memory but it is one forever shared by my mother and her two tweens.

My memory is of my father and I stealing away into one of the little bakeries and each having a huge $5 piece of chocolate cake with a little blob of ice cream on it. Seeing this is well over 30 years ago, that was a lot of money for a piece of cake regardless of where we bought it.

The kicker? I can clearly remember my dad looking down at me and saying itwas worth it. To this day, I have yet to taste a chocolate cake that was as delicious and rich as that cake was and, for all the fun and excitement that day brought, that specific memory is still the most vivid of that entire trip and one of my most cherished.

Enjoy the moment

The fun part about when you travel with teens and kids in general is that you never know which moment will be the memory everyone keeps. For you, it might be having that perfect croissant while looking up at the Eiffel Tower with your children at your side. For your teen, it might be standing in line at the airport when someone’s bag failed to show up and their dad chewing out the poor baggage handler.

Teens have their own view of the world, and their own take on what’s important to them. Don’t be afraid to listen to them, they might shed light on things you’ve never thought of and have ideas you’ve never dreamed of.

Just realize that they’re people too and what’s important to them is what’s important to them. Understand that and you’re on your way to having one of the best trips of your life and a shared memory that will last forever.

We’ve done the leg work for you, and found some of the most fun, entertaining, and even educational things to do with your kids, whether they’re teens, tweens, or younger. Our kids, at 10 and 13, are a great age for almost all of these London attractions for kids, but we even included some fun picks here for visiting London with toddlers and preschoolers!

Things to do in London with Kids

While a lot of cities aren’t great for kids, London’s definitely an option for a family friendly visit. There are a lot of London activities and attractions that are specially geared to the under 18 set, with everything from museums to a fun nighttime show to playgrounds and restaurants as well as many indoor play structures. Getting around is easy as well: while the Tube can be a bit pricey, it’s definitely child friendly.

See a show in London’s West End!

Seeing a show is one of our favorite things to do in London with children. London is a wonderful place to catch a show with the kids, as they have choices for almost any age, from toddler friendly shows like Disney on Ice, to primary age shows like Matilda the Musical, and School of Rock, to other family friendly shows like Merlin’s Magical London.

No matter which show you check out, there’s something unique and special about catching a live show with the kids in London’s West End!

Set off on a Harry Potter Tour

Our entire family are huge potterheads (if you’re a muggle who’s never heard the term, a potterhead is a Harry Potter fan, who’s read all the books, and seen all the movies). In our case, we’ve even made the trek and written some Wizarding World of Harry Potter tips.

If your kids are Harry Potter fans (most kids over a certain age are), and you’d like to check out the world of wizards yourself, a guided tour that takes the participants to the most important and magical venues where the movies were filmed, is a great way to spend a day in London. Warner Brothers Studio (where the Harry Potter movies were filmed) is a great choice. The Muggle’s Guide to London walking tour is a great place to start, and a special, 2.5-hour journey around the city, where you’re guided to the venues where the movies were shot, provides exciting insight into the magical tricks of film making. See some options for Harry Potter tours in London here.

Visit the British Big 4 – The London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London

It’s not really a visit to London if you haven’t seen the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London, is it? Arguably, these are the most iconic answers to the question of what to do in London with kids.

The good news is that London is a fairly compact city, at least as far as seeing these iconic sights.

One of the easiest ways to see all of these great attractions in a day or so is to take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. You may even be able to fit in Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and even more. Sure, by the end of that day you’ll be exhausted, but it’s nice to see all of the big attractions in one fell swoop and then leave you time to check out the lesser known areas of London the folowing days.

Visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich

A great opportunity to have fun together while still learning something cool, a visit to the Royal Observatory is recommended for families with older kids and an interest in the natural sciences. Our kids, at 10 and 13, definitely fit that description, and are first in line for any cool, science themed attraction.

There’s a lot to see here, from standing on Earth’s most renowned Meridian Line, taking a journey back in time to learn how astronomy has developed and how the seas were first mapped, and then seeing the Great Equatorial Telescope, which changed how the world perceives the universe.

Go to an outdoor playground

London is full of areas where kids of all ages can take part in exciting adventures, while having fun and being suitably challenged.

Most of the bigger parks in London, and the city is famous for having lots of them, have at least one large outdoor play area for kids, with climbing frames, tunnels, mazes and lots of other opportunities for fun. There’s a great list of London playgrounds here.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the local wildlife. There are a surprising number of grey squirrels wandering around London parks, and they’re endlessly entertaining for little ones.

Visit a zoo

London has some spectacular, world-famous zoos as well. Any family visiting the city should spend at least one day exploring London’s zoo and farm areas.

The Zoological Society of London Zoo, the London Wetland Centre, the Sea Life Centre and Richmond Park all have areas where the entire family can see exotic and more common animals, including creatures of the savanna, the seas, and the mountains alike.

Grab a bite in a family friendly restaurant

London has plenty of restaurants that combine great food and fun. The Rainforest Café looks, well, like a rainforest, with tropical animals and lots of green and the meals also transport the guests to a lush, exotic place in an instant. On top of that, there are lots of other restaurants around London designed for keeping kids well-fed and entertained as well.

 

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Visit one of London’s parks

While most visitors to London likely think of the city as a bustling, busy place (and it can be), London is also home to plenty of lovely, quiet, green areas. There’s a great list of parks here from the city of London, with information on feature gardens, skateboard parks, playgrounds and much more.

One of London’s most accessible urban parks is Bishops Park, which is a great space for toddlers, teens and adults alike. The park has an urban beach that is like nowhere else and the skate bowl, the trails and the manicured garden areas are unique as well. Picnics are also allowed, so if the weather is nice, you can spend an entire day there together.

If you’re up for one of London’s quirky or unusual things to do, and are up for a swim, check out the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. A lido is an outdoor pool, and there are plenty in the city. However, unlike the majority of heated, chlorinated lidos with defined swimming lanes, the Serpentine is a non chlorinated, open lake in Hyde Park in the heart of London. If you’re in London over Christmas, take time to check out the Serpentine Swimming Club’s semi-famous Christmas Race, where brave souls battle the elements to become the champion.

Go Ape at Battersea Park

Battersea Park is right next to the river, with plenty of paths for walking, plus it has a zoo, playground and the Go Ape climbing experience. It’s always one of the most favorite family things to do in west London.

The Go Ape Park is an excellent opportunity to explore nature, get physically active and have loads of fun in the heart of one of the world’s largest and busiest cities. The Battersea Park is open from February through November and has plenty of variety in its courses and is suitable for anyone from the age of 4 and up. At Go Ape, everyone, even the fittest, most athletic adult can find challenging obstacles.

The canopy adventure takes visitors to the top of some of the tallest trees in the city and the Fisherman’s Net will make you climb on rope ladders, zip wires and wire crossings, to mention just two of the Park’s many attractions.

Things to Do in West London with Kids

For whatever reason, West London often gets neglected when talking about children’s activities in London. We’ve included a special section with our top picks for things to do in this fun area of the city.

We’ve already talked about checking out a show in West London, but it’s worth mentioning here quickly again. There’s just so much variety in terms of kids shows here, which is honestly quite rare, and it’s a unique family experience the kids will definitely remember!

Holland Park Adventure Playground

The largest park in the Royal Borough, Holland Park occupies over 22 acres of land, and is packed full of fun attractions.

Kids, younger and older, can enjoy all sorts of physical activities. They can run around or have fun with the swings on the playground, they can test themselves on the climbing wall and they can explore nature in the wildlife area. There’s even a pretty Japanese garden that kids will love.

Kidtropolis

Great for kids from newborns to age 12, Kidtropolis has plenty of surprising inventive and perfectly safe toys and play areas. Children around the age of three will enjoy the artsy fun at Messy Play, while kids over the age of three can test their abilities driving around in Bumper Cars. Kids over the age of four can let off steam jumping on the Inflatable Assault Course – the name might sound aggressive, but it’s designed for little ones and a lot of fun.

Bay Sixty 6

Do your kids love to skateboard or BMX? Bay Sixty 6 is a great choice for families with older kids, aged from nine and up. Bay Sixty 6 is a skateboard and BMX facility with special design solutions. Some of the areas are challenging for advanced skaters and bikers, while others are used for beginners’ courses.

Pottery Café in Fulham

When the weather gets foul and you are looking for some creative fun, this pottery studio will keep everyone busy, including young kids and teenagers, parents and grandparents alike. This may be a little quirky and low key, but people swear it’s one of the best family experiences in London.

What’s especially cool for families visiting London is that you don’t need to have any tools or supplies. Everything you need for creating your own art is available at the venue and the place organizes lots of thematic events and programs that the entire family can take part in together.

Kensington Memorial Park

Kensington Memorial Park is another park where the entire family can have fun together, with tennis and football courts, a field where kids can play cricket and a great playground. The Park has a new water play facility as well, which is perfect for having fun not only on hot days, but in cloudy weather as well.

Do you have anything to add to these best things to do in London with kids? Let us know!

On this trip we rode a train, spelunked in a massive cave system, fed giraffes, played on water slides, explored nature, climbed a mountain, swam in giant pools, ate at some delicious restaurants and ran wild in a former elementary school.

It was a great experience, and since it was just my son Cole and I representing the family on this trip, we spent some amazing time together getting a chance to further strengthen our already great relationship. Read on to see our top picks for family fun!

Kid Friendly Things To Do in Colorado Springs: Day 1

So what kids activities did we enjoy in Colorado Springs? Well, the first day we rode a cog train up North America’s most visited mountain, Pikes Peak. We then wandered through the beautiful Garden of the Gods. Next, we descended to the depths in the Cave of the Winds and we ate s’mores as well as went on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs. And that was only a small portion of our time.

Before we even hit Colorado Springs, we had the opportunity to visit the area around Cañon City. At just over an hour from Colorado Springs and to the west of Canon City itself, is home to some of the best whitewater rafting in the state. Not only did we get our feet wet while white water rafting down the Arkansas River, we also checked out the newly opened Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience. We even had the chance to spend a night in the newly built Royal Gorge Cabins. If you’re curious, you can check out our Cañon City Colorado family experience here.

That said, overnighting in Cañon City was only one small part of our family Colorado tour.

The second day we had breakfast and a pint in the re-purposed sprawling Ivywild School, fed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and finally relaxed in class and comfort at the sprawling Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

Sound like fun? It was, and now here’s the lowdown on all the fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs.

Ride a cog train up Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs

The entrance to Pike’s Peak is just 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs in quirky and charming Manitou Springs. Hosting nine natural mineral springs and a collection of spiritualists, visiting Manitou Springs itself can be a great way to get the kids drinking water while you do the Springsabouts Walking Tour and sample the varieties of water the springs offer (and yes, each spring does taste different).

The entrance to Pike’s Peak highway is also found in Manitou Springs and though you can drive yourself up to the summit of Pike’s Peak (it’s about 19 miles of crazy switchbacks), or climb the 13 mile long Barr Trail (only for the fit and bold), we chose to go up via the old Pikes Peak Cog Railway train that runs year round (weather permitting).

Once we picked up our tickets and determined our departure time, we got in line and jumped into one of the three open aired coaches our train provided for that run. Luckily for us, the windows close because, as we got closer to the peak, our very hot day suddenly became much, much cooler.

On the way up the 14,115 foot summit of America’s most famous mountain, we saw waterfalls and rock formations, old miner cabins and a post office. We also saw deer and about 2/3rds of the way up we saw a bunch of yellow- bellied marmots known locally as whistle pigs. These huge woodchuck shaped ground squirrel relatives were fun to watch and the kids loved spotting them. Some days you can also spot bighorn sheep and even black bears.

Tip! Remember a jacket, even in summer! What started as a very warm summer day at the bottom became downright cold by the time we reached the top

Once you get to the summit of Pikes Peak, which takes just over an hour each way, you can stretch your legs and walk around the top before the Pikes Peak cog railway returns you to the bottom. The entire trip lasts three hours and 10 minutes, so it makes a great morning or afternoon getaway.

Up on Pikes Peak, you’ll find washrooms (there are none on the train so make sure you go before you leave) as well as a snack bar featuring some unique donuts (they had to be specially crafted to rise at a high elevation) and also a gift shop. Other than that, the view in all directions is simply beautiful so make sure you have a camera with you.

Note! Departure times, seating assignments and return times for the Pikes Peak cog train from the summit are all preset in advance, so make sure you pay attention to the times otherwise you could be left at the summit.

Descend to the depths in the Cave of the Winds in Colorado Springs

While we were in Manitou Springs, we also checked out the infamous Cave of the Winds. These caves were discovered over a century ago by a couple of young brothers and then later explored in depth by a slew of early adventurists.

Over the years, as new tunnels have been discovered, the Cave of the Winds has been opened up to the public and is now a major tourist destination. The huge complex features multiple cave trips, two adrenaline inducing aerial lines (the Bat-A-Pult and aptly named Terror-Dactyl free fall) as well as the Wind Walker climbing course that sits directly over a 600 foot drop. It also has a large concession area, a picnic area, a giant slide and a mining station for kids.

We did the 45 minute long Discovery Tour and that was perfect for the kids.  We walked up and down pathways and also stairs and ladders as we explored everything that a million year old cave system features. We saw tons of stalagmites, stalactites, amazing waterfall like flowstones, fossilized shells and other speleothems (cave decorations).

At one point, our guides shut off all the lights and, well, you haven’t experienced darkness until you’ve stood in the middle of a cave a hundred feet below ground. It really made me want to take the special Lantern Tour where the group travels only with handheld lanterns like the early spelunkers and explorers did while telling ghost stories and delving into the caves past.

For the truly adventurist, there’s also the well reviewed Cave 101 tour where you strap on your helmets, grab your flashlight and climb and crawl your way through undeveloped caves and smaller passageways. Claustrophobics need not apply for that tour.

Wander the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

If gods roamed gardens, you might find them in this oversize 480 acre garden of giant colored sandstone formations. The Garden of the Gods was donated to the city of Colorado Springs in the early 1900s from the head of the Burlington Railroad, Charles Elliott Perkins, after he passed away.

Set forth with strict provisions, the Garden of the Gods nature park is set to remain free for all visitors and free from all structures not prevalent to maintaining the park for all time. As such, you won’t find much in the park except the world class Visitor & Nature Center and the Café at the Garden. It’s simple, but still one of the many fun family things to do in Colorado Springs that’s worth a visit.

You can walk around the park, take a Segway tour or, go on an open aired Jeep excursion that drives around the park just like we did. A guide will tell you all about the history of the park and the formations you’re seeing. No matter how you see the Garden of the Gods you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the main 300 foot sandstone formation as well as all the different colors of the smaller formations.

Inside the sprawling Visitor & Nature Center is a museum featuring local flora and fauna as well as the cool multi screen Geo-Trekker theater experience explaining how all the red sandstone rocks were formed and how they became part of the amazing scenery. (Shows start every 20 minutes.)

Eat s’mores, enjoy waterslides and go on a MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs

What’s the best way to end a long day seeing all the sights and sounds of Colorado Springs? Well, if you’re a kid, or a kid at heart, not much beats water slides and s’mores.

The newly opened Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs has that and a lot more and the kids loved ending their day there. The rooms were a huge hit as well with many theme rooms and, every kids fave, bunk beds!

On the fun side, not only were there indoor water slides for the whole family, but there is an indoor ropes course, indoor mini golf and of course, MagiQuest! All it takes is a special wand and your kids will be running around the huge Great Wolf Lodge waving their magic wands at everything they see as they go on their very own magic quest.

Not only that, there are ice cream parlours, candy stores, restaurants, pizza joints, and, luckily for parents, a bar you can sit in, as your kids run around burning off whatever remaining energy they have. The kids might have their own favorite memories of Great Wolf Lodge, but mine will be sharing a few delicious locally produced beers with my fellow parents.

To be honest, sitting by the campfire roasting s’mores was definitely a highlight for everyone and we all vowed we would be back to Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs again in the future.

And so finished our fist day of fun things to do with the family in Colorado Springs. Want to see more things to do in Colorado outside of Denver? Check out our post of fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well.

Fun things to do with kids in Colorado Springs: Day 2

We had so much fun on our first day in Colorado Springs that the entire group was excited to see what was in store the second day. Luckily for us, it was a little slower than the first day but we all welcomed the relaxed pace and had a good opportunity to enjoy even more things to do with the kids in Colorado Springs.

Eat, drink and be merry at the Ivywild School in Colorado Springs

Ever had that dream where you’re walking through your old school but it’s not quite as you remember it? Even better, ever dream that your old school has turned into a happening place filled with delicious eateries, micro brewers, art spaces and a movie theater in the gym?

Well, the former students of Ivywild sure must when they walk through the revamped Ivywild School in Colorado City. This actual decommissioned school built back in 1916 was on the verge of being torn down in 2009 before an enterprising group of individuals decided that yeah, they could work with it.

So a dream became reality and the Ivywild School has been converted into a trendy boutique of shops, eateries and micro pubs with the expansive Bristol Pub headlining the site.

The interesting part? They left the majority of the old school in place. Nowhere is that more evident than when walking in and looking at the principals office or seeing the old style urinals and the crazy kids artwork in the boys washroom.

Even walking down the halls makes you feel like you should have a hall pass for skipping class, and the fact that you can order dozens of tasty micro brews in old classrooms just highlights the surreal feeling you get while walking through Ivywild School.

Kids will love that there’s no teaching at Ivywild School in Colorado City and it will definitely fuel a few daydreams of what their own classroom might look like if they put in a restaurant or a few vats of cider in the broom closet. It also doesn’t hurt that the food you can get at Ivywild School is much, much better than anything I ever got in my school canteen.

The hard fact is that the Ivywild’s Old School Bakery had some of the tastiest cinnamon buns I’ve had in some time. Even better, all the eateries in Ivywild School also practice the food to table approach with gardens planted throughout the old schoolyard and close ties with local farmers. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.

Feed giraffes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs

What has four legs, a blue tongue the length of a small child and has to be standing 10 feet below you to look you squarely in the eye? No, it’s not a giant lizard, it’s a giraffe and they’re just one of the many highlights we found while walking around the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

The coolest part about having these gentle giants at eye level is you can feed them lettuce right from your hands. It’s still a little unnerving to see those huge giraffe tongues come out but the look of happiness they have as they grab their lunch from you is undeniable. Who knew lettuce could taste so good?

As well as hand feeding giraffes from the largest giraffe herd in the Americas, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo you can take a chairlift called the Sky Ride that will have you soaring above it all. Not only do you get some amusing bird’s eye views of the many animals below but you get some amazing views over Cheyenne Mountain and a good portion of the valley around Colorado Springs.

Love animals? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has over 750 animals and 170 species from all over the the world. We thought we walked just about everywhere while we there but, as we left, we realized we still hadn’t seen everything.

From lions, tigers and snow leopards in the African and Asian exhibits to learning about and interacting with chickens and goats in My Big Backyard, there are tons of things for kids of all ages.

They also have some great wildlife encounter shows that get you up close to the animals and we both enjoyed the elephant exhibit and the hippo section. Their monkey and primate section were also quite extensive, especially the gorillas and orangutans.

Since the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is also the only mountain zoo in America, they also have an extensive collection of local wildlife like mountain lions, grizzly bears, moose, river otters, lynx and porcupines. Even though all these animals exist back home, it’s still nice to see them in an authentic mountain setting.

One of the kids favorite areas at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was their walk-through aviary in their Australia section, where you can have budgies and parakeets eating right from the palm of your hand. As you leave this area, you walk through the wallaby walkabout which has small wallabies hopping about freely everywhere around you. We had to usher the kids out of this area otherwise they would have spent all day following the little kangaroos around.

Ever dreamed of being a zookeeper? Who hasn’t? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has an area called The Loft where you get to go behind the scenes and see what it takes to make it all happen. From training and weighing, to feeding and cleaning, The Loft is designed from the ground up especially for kids (and would be kids). It’s not only a great space for hands on training and learning, it also preps them for all the responsibilities that comes with taking care of animals themselves.

Relax in comfort at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs

Ever watch a summer movie of teens hanging on the beach, then playing a little beach volleyball before heading to one of a half dozen different swimming pools, tennis courts or basketball courts while the parents are off enjoying a round of golf or maybe spending the day being pampered at the spa? Well, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that place.

It turns out that this huge sprawling mountainside resort with their own private lake is the dream resort of my childhood. Before arcades, wave pools and fancy electronics were a thing, the Cheyenne Mountain Resort would have been my epitome of resort high life.

With their own private 35 acre lake complete with a sandy beach, volleyball courts, canoes, kayaks and SUP rentals, they have the outdoor enthusiast covered.

They also have an aquatics center complete with four outdoor swimming pools, including a huge 50 m Olympic sized pool with water slide, a splash pad and a kiddie pool as well as an adult only pool and spa. They also have another heated pool in the main complex.

If you’re a tennis fan, they do tennis with 17 covered and uncovered tennis courts including two outdoor clay courts. For the fitness buff, there’s an expansive 9000 sq. foot fitness center complete with yoga, spin and cross training group classes.

One of the coolest features of Cheyenne Mountain Resort is that the resort has its own championship grade golf course surrounding it that makes this mountain sided, lake adjacent course not only one of the most beautiful in Colorado but also one of the best. With over 300 days of sunshine in Colorado Springs, and separated by the Rocky Mountains from snow loving Denver, you can enjoy golf 365 days of the year here. For the kiddos, they even open the course at night with a mini putt glow golf course.

Not only were the grounds beautiful at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, the food was tasty as well. From their award winning Sunday brunches at Mountain View Restaurant, to tasty bites and local brews from Elevations Lounge, I always left the table satisfied.

Staying at Cheyenne Mountain Resort was a treat not only for adult me but also for 12 year old me who never got to go to a cool camp in summer. To say that I was a little jealous of my son Cole getting to stay here probably speaks more about the place than all those sentences I just wrote. It’s a lovely place and you and your kids will definitely enjoy it.

Some final words about Colorado Springs

Well, that about wraps up our time in Colorado Springs. We saw and experienced some amazing things and my son and I both had a great time checking out everything the area had to offer.

If it’s your first time heading to Colorado Springs in Colorado, USA, know that it borders the Rocky Mountains. It’s a gorgeous hilly area with beautiful vistas and stunning plateaus’s around every corner.

There are so many great things to do in Colorado Springs with kids that you might just need to come back more than once. That’s okay, I’m sure you’ll discover even more to do the second time. For even more ideas, make sure you check out my previous post on fun things to do in Canon City Colorado as well.

How to get to Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is about 70 miles due south of Denver down highway I-25 S. It’s just over an hour by car from the Denver International Airport (DEN) or you can fly directly into Colorado Springs (COS) from 15 cities across the USA.

What are you favorite family things to do in Colorado Springs? Let us know; we’d love to hear!

Many thanks to Colorado Tourism, who hosted us. We definitely had a great time in Colorado. You guys were the best!

With perfect weather, good family hotels and many activities for children, Greece and its capital are a great destination for family holidays. In summer, a city visit to Athens can be combined with the beaches along the Athenian Riviera or the islands nearby.

Athens in August is almost empty as most Greeks go to the islands for their holidays. In winter time, Athens is an ideal destination for a weekend escape or city break. So take the kids, put on some comfortable shoes and explore one of the oldest cities in the world.

Things to do in Athens Greece with Kids

Looking for some family fun? Here are the 10 things to do in Athens, Greece with kids:

Climb up the Acropolis

On top of the list and a definite must see when visiting Athens with your family is the Acropolis. Travel back to ancient Athens and show your kids the birthplace of democracy. If you enter the Acropolis archaeological site from the main entrance, you will see not only the world-famous Parthenon but also the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes. The Acropolis is suitable for children starting from 3-4 years old; it is not easy to use strollers inside the site. 

Visit the New Acropolis Museum

Combine your visit to the Acropolis rock with the exhibits in its nearby museum. The impressive New Acropolis Museum offers family back packs with educational games and organises family tours. A family-friendly restaurant, a kids’ reading corner and a Lego model of the Acropolis guarantee a fun family day visit.

Take a Mythology Tour

Do your kids love mythology? Then a specialised interactive family tour around the ancient monuments of Athens is a great way to explore the city and its history. Under the guidance of a dedicated educator, your kids can become actors in the ancient Theatre of Dionysus, picnic in between the olive trees, search for goddess Athena inside the museums or draw like an ancient architect at the Parthenon. These tours are suitable for children from 5 years old.  

Ride the Athens Happy Train

Are the kids tired of walking around or do they just love Thomas the Train? The little red or green toy-like street Athens Happy Train makes a 40 – minute tour in the historical centre of Athens and the most famous ancient sites and monuments. You can hop-on-hop-off from different points in the city and see Athens as you please at your own pace.

Coffee and snack at the Little KooK cafe

No other place in Athens appeals more to kids than this fairy tale themed cafe in Psiri neighbourhood. Little KooK transfers your family to fantasyland and is amazingly styled around Halloween and Christmas. Enjoy delicious cakes and (savoury) crepes in a fairytale setting and don’t forget to wander around the beautifully decorated streets in hip Psiri.

Admire amazing views from Mount Lycabettus

A unique experience for all kids and adults is the cable car that goes up Mount Lycabettus. There are also telescopes guaranteeing views as far the island of Aegina. Buy an ice cream at the cafe on top and enjoy a panorama over the city.

Syntagma Square and the Parliament

All children will love feeding the pigeons and watch the impressive changing of the guards at the central square of Athens. These ‘Evzones’ are members of the Presidential Guards wearing traditional Greek outfits. They stay completely still next to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Parliament building until the moment that they can move for the change of the guards.

Get lost in the National Gardens of Athens

For a picnic or an escape from the summer heat, go to the National Gardens or Royal Gardens right next to the Parliament Building. A very stroller friendly place that is also suitable for kids of all ages. Inside the National Gardens, you will find a small zoo with farm animals, a turtle pond, a large shaded playground, lots of grass areas for babies to play on and a section with botanical gardens.

Discover Street Art

Travelling with teenagers and tired of ancient monuments? Athens has a blossoming street art scene. Many hip neighbourhoods have transformed into an open art gallery with stunning graffiti that places the city into the top places to see street art around the world. Several tour companies offer guided Street Art Tours.

Taste a traditional Greek sweet

Buy a ‘koulouri’ from one of the street vendors on Syntagma square. Young kids will love nibbling on this healthy large bread-ring with sesame seeds. And don’t miss a chance to try ‘loukoumades’, a small Greek doughnut covered with honey. You can find them in any bakery or ‘loukoumades’ shop.

Athens for the family

Athens is a fabulous place for a family vacation or a weekend trip with kids. It is a safe city to visit with an excellent public metro system, many hotel options, lots of sun and warm winters. Your family will enjoy being outdoors surrounded by historical monuments, good family food choices and easy to visit activities.

What to do if your flight is delayed

It’s always annoying when travel time is eaten up by unexpected flight delays. Luckily, there’s legislation in the EU that can help make the financial hit a little bit easier. Specifically, European legislation EC 261 may let you claim EU flight delay compensation of up to $700 per passenger.

Chrysoula Manika bio:

Chrysoula Manika is a travel blogger and tourism professional based in Athens, Greece. She writes in both English and French for Travel Passionate, her blog focusing on luxury travel around Europe. She’s traveled extensively throughout Europe for the past 25 years and has no intention of slowing down. She loves to explore the local culture and gastronomy of the places she visits.

Before we traveled with our kids, we just had to worry about airfare for the two of us, and hotel rooms that would fit a couple. Today, our airfare costs are now times four instead of two and while we’re gone, we also need more room for the kids to sleep. Plus, we need more reliable access to laundry since kids are messy.

In hot countries, we also find that the kids are a lot more susceptible to extreme heat and humidity, so we often use air conditioning to keep them happy and comfortable. All of that adds up to spending more on family trips than when traveling as a couple.

Despite the extra cost and logistics, we love to travel with our kids, and we’ve traveled with them to every continent except Antarctica.

No, we definitely didn’t win the lottery, and we don’t have a huge trust fund. We can travel with our kids because we’ve discovered ways to save money on family vacations that lets our dollar go farther and last longer.

So whether you’re staying someplace for a day or a week, here are some tips for saving money when traveling with kids.

Stay Longer

Yikes, that doesn’t seem to make sense, now does it?

However, we’ve found that that the longer a trip lasts, the lower the per day cost.

The reason for this is simple. When you have more time, you have time to do things differently. Instead of renting a car or taking expensive tours, you can can jump on a bus, or grab a campervan with Goboony, and see something on your own.

Even better, arrange for an affordable campervan to rent, pack the kids in the RV, and head off on an adventure! You can slow your schedule down to see what you want to see, exactly how you want to see it.

Expert tip: Condo and house rentals can be less expensive the longer you stay. We’re found time and time again that we’ve been able to rent a condo for two weeks for the same prices as for a full month. We’ve found this to be true for rentals we’ve booked in Spain, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Mexico, among other places.

Bonus: Longer vacation.

Con: Figuring out a way to get extra time off work and potential lost income (though you’d be surprised how much time you can get if you ask and make sure it’s not your companies busiest time of the year).

Travel Farther

We realized long ago that there’s a cost to living no matter where you hang your hat at night. It’s just that there are many places where you can live much cheaper than in North America.

So while it might be tempting to jump in the car and tour a few States or Provinces over, jumping on a plane and heading someplace different might end up costing you less. This is especially true if you do some of your own cooking while you travel.

Bonus: Wine in Southern Europe is $2 a bottle

Con: Getting out of your comfort zone (but maybe this is actually a plus!)

Eat in

Now eating in on holiday doesn’t sound appealing, but the reality of eating out with kids everyday for a week or two is enough to deter even the hardiest of family traveler.

Let’s face it, kids can be temperamental and fussy at times, and making sure they’re always on their best behavior can get tiring awfully quickly. I wish I could say our kids ate everything we set in front of them, but that’s not the case. We have days where the kids both turn up their noses if the mac and cheese is simply the wrong consistency.

My suggestion? Eat breakfast in your room before heading out and eat every third supper in. Keep it simple, with a bowl of cereal and fruit for breakfast and make your simplest (yet favorite) supper. The kids will enjoy the comfort of home and you still get to eat out most nights on your trip.

There’s one surprising bonus to this – you get to shop at your destination. It can be a lot of fun to browse markets and find new foods and products all over the world!

Bonus: The kids will have more energy for the day if they can eat and then play while you get the day’s activities ready.

Con: You have to buy groceries and cook (though we love browsing in different grocery stores around the world since it gives us a great understanding of popular dishes and eating styles).

Snack time

It doesn’t matter if they’re two or ten, kids have smaller stomachs and need to eat more often than adults. Instead of wasting the entire family’s time and money in a restaurant, pack snacks for on the go.

Whether that means cutting up some local fruit to take with you, or a couple of packages of Handi-Snacks or squeeze applesauce packages, it’s up to you. The reality is that no one wants to deal with a hangry child, at home or on vacation, so take something with you whenever you go.

Bonus: Not having to stand in long lines for things you can buy at the corner store for a fraction of the price.

Con: Snack prep time (however checking out local fruit and snacks can be an adventure in itself).

Get comfortable

It may seem counter-intuitive, but making sure the kids (and you) are comfortable can save you money!

When we first traveled with our first baby when he was a little over a year old, we decided to save some money and stay in a room without air conditioning in the Philippines. Big mistake! The little guy wasn’t used to the heat, and he developed a case of heat rash.

By the time we bought ointment, upgraded to the (pretty expensive) air conditioned unit in the same hotel, and lost a lot of sleep and beach time, we were wishing we’d just planned to keep him cool and comfortable the whole time!

The same can be said for most travel gear! Plan to keep your kids comfortable with great toddler travel beds, a diaper bag that’s big enough to hold all the essentials, and even packing cubes to keep everything organized.

Bonus: Hopefully not needing to deal with more crises (like a toddler with heat rash) than you can handle!

Con: A bit of pre-planning.

Bundle and save

Just like shopping in bulk saves you money, buying attraction passes all at once can save a lot as well.

I’d love to say that we practice this ourselves, but we find that we travel too last minute, and like to leave our options open most of the time. That said, using multi-passes and city cards can save you a lot of money if you plan on visiting a lot of attractions.

Using a company that offers city tourist passes for multiple places all on one card not only saves you from standing in long lines (especially in summer) but if you’re an energetic family it allows you to save tons while getting to see some of the best sites a city offers. We like CityPASS cards, as they cover a lot of European and North American cities.

Get CityPASS deals here.

Bonus: Families can split up and visit different attractions depending on what their interests are.

Con: If you don’t visit enough attractions, these multi-passes aren’t a great value (though it does force you to get out and see more).

Family Discounts

Does your family size make the Brady Bunch look small? If so, many major attractions around the world have deals for large families.

We usually find that our family of four doesn’t get much of a deal, but if you have five or more in your family then the savings can add up quickly. If you’re a group of eight or 10 you can usually get group rates (sometimes even on airfare!) so if you’re traveling with another big family it’s worth looking into group savings.

Bonus: Renting a limousine or van for a big group is often cheaper than taking a bus.

Con: The logistics of group travel can be a challenge (though you might get to ride around in a limo!)

Kids stay or eat for free

This is one of our favorite discount tips for travel with kids!

Some parents don’t know that most hotels, even all-inclusive hotels, don’t charge for kids under 12. Sure, you might need to pay for their flights if you’re going somewhere far, but once you’re there, the kids may not cost you a dime. The same goes for restaurants, lots of restaurants offer free food for toddlers and even small children.

Bonus: Most resorts offer free kids clubs during the day that will occupy your kids while you relax by the pool and drink margaritas.

Con: Kids over 12 often don’t qualify. Our oldest just turned 12, and we’re feeling the pinch a bit (though he can now babysit so that’s a plus).

Rent a house

Sure, an all inclusive down in Cabo might sound divine, but you can likely stay twice as long if you stay in a VRBO house or condo.

You might have to do a little more cooking, but with the money you save you can hit some of the nicer restaurants. You’ll also have more space for a little extra privacy than a hotel room would offer and there will be more areas for the family to spread out so when you’re tired from your long day of adventures, everyone gets their own space to relax.

Bonus: You can even do your own laundry.

Con: You can do your own laundry (though at least you can rest assured it will come back and be in one piece when it’s done).

Kids fly free before age two

Want to sit on the beach in Bali or go visit family on the other side of the country, but the thought of three airplane tickets leaves you in a cold sweat?

If you have a child under age two, there’s good news, as nearly every airline offers free flights to kids under age two. Sure, they have to sit on your lap for the entire duration but chances are, at that age they’re going to anyway.

Bonus: Strollers and car seats aren’t included in your baggage restrictions.

Con: You’ll have a wiggly kid in your seat for the flight (though that might make your neighbor move to another seat giving you and your family the entire row).

Free museum days

Want to go check out the Guggenheim museum, but know your kids won’t last an hour?

The good news is that a lot of museums around the world, like Madrid Spain, have free museum days. Sure, they can be a little busy, but with that extra bit of saved cash you can afford that extra large mocha cappuccino. Just make sure you don’t take it into the museum, they frown on that.

Bonus: There are usually more kids on free days so if yours are a little hyper they’ll fit right in with the rest.

Con: Museum time with the kids (though there are some great children museums out there too).

Extra carry-ons

With the abundance of low cost airlines out there, you can save a pretty penny by sticking to a budget airline. Unfortunately, that low cost can get quickly eaten up if you have to pay for every bag you carry.

The good news is that every person, regardless of size, gets the same luggage allowance. That means that with many airlines, even budget airlines, your three year old is allowed a full size carry-on and a personal item. So instead of packing one massive bag for everyone, split your stuff up with a bag for each of you and get the kids to carry little backpacks with a few of their stuffies or toys so you don’t have to.

Don’t think you can manage carry-on only? Check out our post on how we travel carry-on only for a family of four.

Bonus: Smaller bags are lighter to carry, easier to throw in a trunk or boot and make looking for your kids socks much easier.

Con: If your kids are little, you’ll need to manage more little suitcases (though they will be lighter than a massive one and kids love pushing rolling suitcases around).

Bonus miles

Whether you generally fly with one airline or many, most companies won’t let you use your reward number for your kids flights.

It might sound like more work than you want to do, but if you fly with one airline more than the rest it makes sense to sign up each person in your family so they can start earning miles. Some miles can be spent on things like lounge passes and even on plane refreshments so they won’t go to waste.

Bonus: A lot of companies use the membership number to prefill your flight information when you go to book so you won’t need to enter everyone’s info every time you book a flight.

Con: The hassle of applying for, and managing, multiple rewards cards (sorry, no upside to this, it sucks but it’s worth it).

Bring your own car seats

This may sound like a no brainer, but if you’re flying somewhere and planning to rent a car once you’re there, you can save money by bringing your own child seat.

Car rental places often charge $7 to $15 a day for car seat rentals, so you can save a bundle if you’re renting for a while.

Pro tip! We used to buy car seats in foreign countries when the kids were young since it was less than half price to buy a brand new one than rent a beat up one for the week. We just gave them to other harried parents as we returned the car or left them in there. We even brought a few home and sold them since child seats fly free.

Bonus: You’re guaranteed to have a good seat if you bring your own.

Con: You need to lug the seat on the plane and to your hotel (though you can use some car seats in the plane to make the kids more comfortable).

Travel off-peak times

Yes, winter break, summer holidays and spring break make the most sense to take the kids on a cross country trip, however everyone else is also doing it. What that means is that prices are jacked way up, availability is limited, and you’ll face lineups everywhere you go.

Instead, go a week before or a week after the holidays. You’ll get the same weather and the same experience, but with a fraction of the people and a fraction of the price. If you can, book travel before and after peak times.

Bonus: It’s easier to book time off from work in the shoulder seasons and you might be eligible to get double time if you’re the only one working over the holidays to help pay for the trip.

Con: You may have to pull the kids out of school for a few days.

Do you have any tips for saving money on a family vacation? Let us know! 

Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare. In fact, it can be a wonderful experience.

The truth is we are not super parents with amazing powers that let us travel effortlessly with our little ones. We just know a few family travel tips that seem to work for us.

Get everyone involved from the beginning.

Whenever we plan a trip, we get the kids involved from the very start. We ask their opinions on where they’d like to go, get them to help pick out a place to stay, and let them choose an activity or two that they’d like to do. Of course we always have final say, but we find involving the kids from day one keeps them excited about the trip and seems to really reduce any anxiety about travel.

Give them something concrete to look forward to.

It also helps them to have a goal our kids can visualize in mind. Small things like going to the beach when we get there, swimming in the pool, having some ice cream, going on a hike to a waterfall or searching for something cool like a local animal helps them stay focused on why we’re going there and the reward they’ll get once we get there.

Prepare them.

In the same vein, we always prepare the kids for a day of travel by telling them what to expect. We’ll let them know that we’re driving to the airport, then waiting there a while, and even tell them what will happen during security screening, on board the flight, and that we’ll have to wait at customs when we land. It seems to really calm them to know what will happen.

Slow it down. Way down.

One of the fastest ways to make your trip miserable is to try to cram in too much. Kids (and adults) need some downtime to play and explore, or just have some quiet time. Instead of packing every second full of activities, budget some quiet time to help you all unwind. When kids get burnt out, no one is going to be happy so don’t push anyone past their breaking point.

Get a kid-friendly place to stay.

While you’re traveling, your accommodation can be a great refuge from the demands of travel. Make sure it’s somewhere you can all relax. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time there, consider upgrading to someplace with a nice pool or amenities that you and your kids will enjoy. As much as you wish the kids love the amazing cathedral or ruins you just walked through, there’s a better chance they’ll remember the pool.

Make sure your room is comfortable.

If you’re heading someplace hot, make sure there’s air conditioning or plenty of fans and opening windows. If it’s someplace colder, make sure there’s proper heat.

One of our first travel mistakes with kids was booking a room right after landing in a hot country and finding the only fan in the whole room was broken. Cole, who was two at the time, ended up with a large heat rash and was miserable for days. We had to find other lodgings and it took a few days out of the heat and sun for the rash to finally go away. The few dollars we saved by going with a cheaper option ended up costing us days of downtime.

As our trip progressed and we all acclimatized to the hot and humid weather we were able to stay in more a rustic place, but it took a while for us all to be comfortable in the heat. If you’re coming or going from one climate to another, make sure you stay someplace comfortable the first few days you get there. It might cost a few dollars more, however it’s worth it in the long run.

Get a place with a bathtub.

It’s much easier to wash a kid in a tub than a shower and putting the kids in the tub can give you a short break at the end of the day. Tubs also work as great places to wash a shirt or two. If you don’t have a tub, ensure there is a pail or jug for the kids to play with and wash off with in the shower. When Jordan was little she hated the shower, but after we threw in a couple of pails she never complained.

Make sure that your room is child safe.

Depending on your child’s age, this may include blocking off electrical sockets, and ensuring that there is nothing dangerous at kid level. Check the windows to make sure that they can’t be opened by small hands. We once stayed in a seventh floor hotel room that had windows that reached the floor and an opening window on the bottom. When we checked, the window was unlocked without a screen and the window easily opened.

Try to get cartoon channels on the TV.

Even if you’re staying in a country that speaks another language, kids will still love watching them. We speak from experience here. Our kids have enjoyed cartoons in Greek, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese and Arabic just to name a few. Sure, you’re not traveling to watch cartoons, but a cartoon can be a great way to buy a few minutes of peace and quiet at the end of a busy day. Your kids might even learn a few words in another language.

Make sure your place has easily accessible laundry.

Having kids equals having a mess. Having laundry (or laundry service) close by is a great perk. It’s not vital if you’re only traveling for a few days, however if you’re going away for over a week you’ll definitely want someplace handy to throw a few loads in.

If available, arrange for a mini fridge and a microwave in your room.

These are lifesavers for preparing impromptu meals if you’re staying in a hotel. You can also save a small fortune if you eat a yummy breakfast of fresh fruits, yogurt and warm or cold cereal, not to mention the occasional lunch in your room. It also gets you out of the hotel and into your next adventure faster than having to go sit down in a restaurant for the first hour when the kids and everyone is raring to go.

Consider renting a condo, apartment or house instead of a hotel room.

For any trip longer than two days, we almost always rent an apartment through Airbnb or a similar service.

Looking for a great deal on your next Airbnb? Follow our link to get a $35 USD credit when you sign up with a new email (and we get a credit, too).

Apartments and condos have a lot of advantages over hotel rooms, including private bedrooms, a kitchen for preparing meals, laundry facilities nearby and privacy. It’s usually also a much better deal the longer you stay and gets you living like a local.

Carry a supply of small gifts.

We always swing by our local dollar store (or the discount section at our local toy store) and pick up a few inexpensive items to give the kids during our trip. Our kids love things like sticky spiders, glow sticks, stickers, Pez dispensers, small stuffed animals, washable dry erase markers and boards, and small books.

Whenever we’re on the road or in a plane for extended times and the kids are getting restless, we magically provide a new distraction that usually keeps them happy for another hour or two. $10 worth of cheap toys can go a long way to making everyone’s journey much happier. We’ve also made the day for a lot of little boys and girls on our travels as we gave them the toys as we left the country.

Road trips.

We always try to keep the electronics to a minimum. It seems that the minute the electronics come out, our kids lose all interest in other activities. That said, after a few hours they’ll be bored and things can start to get ugly.

Instead, early in the trip, when our energy is higher, we play games like I Spy and sing songs. As our energy wanes, we break into the bag of small gifts or toys for the kids. We only give out one at a time and don’t ever let them have the whole bag. Hopefully one of these will spark their imagination and they’ll entertain themselves for hours.

When the novelty of a new toy starts fading, you can provide a snack, play a game or give another one. A few of the disposable toys we’ve given this way have lasted for years and still hold the kid’s attention on trips, so you never know which one might be a hit.

We save the electronics like phones, tablets, game systems or movies for last, when the kids and us are running out of steam. It’s also a reward they can look forward to if they behave.

Are we there yet?

Oh, the dreaded “are we there yet” questions. We’ve definitely had our share of those over the years, however we’ve gotten better at dealing with it. We’ve found that giving them a visual indication of how far we’ve already traveled and how far we have left goes a long way to settling there minds.

On the road we use the bottom of the rearview mirror as a gauge and show them where we are in relation to where we’re going. They love seeing how far we’ve progressed already and the fact that they can tell we’re getting closer to the edge of the mirror means that the ride is almost over.

We also explain trip lengths in language they can understand. Telling a young child it will take four hours to get somewhere is wasted on them, however when you tell them it’ll take the length of two Disney movies or from breakfast to lunch they can sort of wrap their heads around it.

Plan play breaks during long road trips.

We always make time to stop for play breaks while on the road. Whether we’re off the beaten path or in a busy city we’ll look for playgrounds, parks or a beach to stop and let the kids run around for a while or have a snack. The more energy they spend running and playing the more likely they’ll relax when they’re back in the car. On the rare occasion, our kids might even nap after an especially tiring stop.

In terms of snacks, make sure you always have snacks on hand to pass out to the kids. Ideally, the best snacks take a while to eat (think Cheerios or Goldfish crackers), so they’ll occupy the kids for a while. In the car, small fruit like grapes and strawberries are quick to serve as well as small veggies like cherry tomatos and mini carrots. If you have time before leaving you can cut up larger fruits and veggies and give them as well.

This brings us to the next tip:

Bring snacks. Everywhere. All the time.

A hungry kid (or adult!) is likely to melt down and make traveling that much more difficult. We usually carry large packages of multi-grain Cheerios and Goldfish crackers, and divvy them out in small resealable plastic sandwich bags. Just remember that you can’t bring drinks (or any liquids, except for a baby) on a plane, and it’s best to avoid unpackaged fruit or veggies when flying as well due to possible issues at customs.

Don’t forget the paperwork.

When you’re traveling internationally, all kids require a passport, regardless of age. Domestic travel requirements for kids differ between countries, so make sure you check what’s required and make sure the documents are current and up to date. If you share custody, bring a notarized letter from the other parent that gives you permission to travel. Bring adoption papers if your child is adopted, and be prepared for extra scrutiny if your child has a different last name than yours.

Remember why you’re doing this.

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of travel, and start stressing over things like flight deadlines, restaurants that have a less than perfect menu, lines for your favorite attractions and crazed taxi drivers. If you can, take a step back, take a deep breath, and try to remember that one of the key benefits of travel can be to get you out of your routine and out of your comfort zone.

Taking to the skies.

We’ve taken a lot of flights, both domestic and international, short and long haul, and there are a few tips that hold true for every flight. We’ve flown nearly halfway around the world in a single leg with our kids and it was fine.

Consider booking seats together.

If you haven’t flown recently, it may come as a shock that kids aren’t guaranteed a seat next to their parents on general boarding. Mare sure you book early enough or get into the front of the line if it’s open seating to ensure you can all sit close to each other.

We’ve had numerous times where one of us was in the back of the plane with the kids while the other parent was in the front. This can be a good thing if you’re allowed to swap seats and trade off halfway as you’ll each get a chance to relax for a bit. Just realize that sometimes you aren’t allowed to move seats at all. If possible, find out before booking.

Help children equalize the pressure in their ears.

Babies and little kids don’t know how to equalize pressure in their ears on takeoff and landing. It can be painful or scary for young ones, especially while landing. For older kids, suckers and chewing gum helps tremendously. Letting a baby suck milk does a great job as well. If one of the kids has a cold or is congested, talk to a pharmacist or doctor and consider giving them a decongestant for that portion of the flight.

Don’t count on in flight entertainment.

We’ve had in flight entertainment malfunction, and sometimes it’s just not available. Don’t expect to easily being able to throw on a movie for them to keep them busy. Have some sort of backup, even if it’s a fully charged iPad with some great kids’ drawing apps. You can also check out our post on flying with kids for other ideas.

Bring a change of clothes for the kids in your carry on.

Kids are prone to making a huge mess just when you don’t need it (like in the middle of a flight). Make sure you have a change of clothes for them in a carry on. The confined space of a plane makes it almost inevitable that something will happen. Ours have spilled juice all over themselves countless times. This tendency to spill brings us to our next item.

Bring a resealable cup wherever you go.

A sippy cup (or just a resealable water bottle) can save not only on messes, but it’s also a great way to cut down on the cost of drinks. One of our favorite tips for traveling as a family is to refill a child’s cup from water fountains or even just split large waters or juices with the kids. We now ask the flight attendants to just pour their drinks directly into their cup when they’re serving refreshments and avoid the hassle of spills altogether.

The fun stuff is almost always free.

Paid attractions can cost a small fortune, so consider checking out what’s free at your destination. We spend a lot of time walking when we’re traveling; it’s a great way to see the area and get some exercise in as well.

Trips to the local park or beach can be a great way to let the kids run off some energy, get some relaxing time in, and even check out some of the local atmosphere. We even love simple things like grocery shopping in a new destination; it can be a lot of fun to peruse the aisles and see what’s for sale somewhere new.

Don’t over pack.

After lugging far too many suitcases and two kids through four continents on our last trip, we both wholeheartedly agree that we should have carried less stuff. We made this mistake on our first trip as a new family, and we’re still working on keeping our luggage at bay. Remember, you can almost always buy whatever you need at your destination if you truly need it.

Remember what it’s like to be little.

It’s easy to get impatient with kids when they’re getting whiny in the line at customs or attempting to bolt around the restaurant after dinner. All the newness of travel can be overwhelming, so take a second to think of what it must be like from their point of view. You were little once too. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute and try to come up with something that works for everyone.

Parenting is challenging, no matter where you are.

Whether you’re at home or on the road, kids will at some point act out, refuse to eat their vegetables, cry because you asked them to wear their mittens, or any other of 10,000 little things that kids do every day. There really is no thing as stress-free family travel.

That said, we think of it this way: We could either be at home dealing with the unending tasks of being a parent, or we could be traveling somewhere new and interesting. Yes it’s a bit of work, however it’s work wherever we happen to be.

The perks of travel.

Remember there are perks to traveling as well. Not only do you get to see amazing new things, but you might also be getting away from regular meal making, cleaning the house, doing chores, running errands and the other thousand tiny things you have to deal with on a daily basis back home. It’s also a great way to spend one-on-one time with your family and try out something new.

Remember that it’s new to all of you so it might be the perfect time to try new foods or teach your kids new things that you can bring back to your everyday life and make it better. It’s also a great time to break bad habits and teach your kids responsibility.

Finally, take care of yourself.

It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done that a lot of time we don’t take the time we need for ourselves. The problem is that when we’re stressed and overtired, our kids can sense that, and it often brings out the worst in the entire family.

To help combat travel fatigue, take some me time (away from the kids if possible) and let yourself relax. Whether that’s going for a walk, soaking in a pool, getting a massage or just sipping a nice glass of wine or a delicious lager, travel should be enjoyable. Don’t push the kids or yourself too hard and learn to enjoy what your location has to offer.

It’s not about seeing everything, it’s about seeing things differently.

What are your favorite, helpful family travel tips? We’d love to hear.

Check out La Paz Waterfall Gardens

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens are a fantastic way to see Costa Rica’s wildlife and lush rainforest up close. There are over ten animal exhibits, where you can see monkeys, snakes, frogs, birds of every color and size imaginable and jungle cats. Don’t miss the lovely butterfly and hummingbird gardens, where you can have hummingbirds eating out of your hand.

The waterfall walkway leads through lush dense rainforest, and delivers amazing views of waterfalls. You can even stand underneath one of the waterfalls, close enough to get soaked from the spray landing on your face. Make sure you bring a rain jacket.

Soak up the sun on the beaches of Guanacaste Province

Costa Rica’s amazing Pacific coast offers some of the longest stretches of beach imaginable. While best known for surfing, many of the beaches are great for little ones during low tide or days when the swells are mild. Playa Longasta, just south of the famous Playa Tamarindo, is a great family alternative, as is Playa Samara.

Visit the rainforest canopy

Costa Rica is one of the few places in the world that makes it easy to get a unique view of the rainforest canopy. If you have older kids, or your risk tolerance is high, many zip lining companies in Costa Rica are kid friendly. If zip-lining’s not your thing,  the treetop canopy sky walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest lets you walk on bridges suspended in the treetops. For those with little kids, the rainforest aerial tram lets you have the same great views from the relative safety of an enclosed gondola.

Peer into a volcano

Kids love volcanos. We checked out the Poás volcano (an easy afternoon trip from San Jose) and the famous Arenal volcano. While we were there, Arenal was quiet, but visitors often hear deep rumbles and the lucky ones see trickles of lava coming from the cone at night.

Soak in the hot springs

The Tabacon Hot Springs Resort has over nine pools and three cascading thermal waterfalls. Daily admission for adults is fairly steep at $60, but admission is included with a night’s stay at the luxurious Tabacon Grand Spa, where we splurged for a three night stay. It was expensive, but well worth it. For the budget minded, check out the private Eco Termales Hot Springs or the more developed Baldi Hot Springs.

Spend a weekend in the city square

Almost every city and small town in Costa Rica has a parque central, or city square, flanked by a prominent Catholic church. You’ll see some great architecture, and on weekends most city squares are transformed into a family friendly playground. Our little ones alternated between playing on the bouncy castle, watching the clowns, and chasing pigeons around the square in Parque Central in Heredia.

Watch an endangered leatherback turtle lay her eggs

From Junuary to April, endanged leatherback turtles come back to Costa Rica to lay their eggs on the beach where they were hatched. The Las Baulos National Park (Parque Marino las Baulas) offers an opportunity to tag along with their wildlife officers to watch the leatherbacks. The Las Baulos National Park is located in Playa Grande, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The cost is $25 per person, and kids are free.

Check out the wildlife

Costa Rica’s abundance of wildlife is well known. A troupe of howler monkeys visited the trees just outside our balcony in Tamarindo every morning. Every day, we found fabulous (well, the kids thought they were fabulous, anyway) insects in the walkway by our condo. We were even lucky enough to see a sloth hanging from a tree on the road to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Just don’t lick the blue frogs.

Before we had children, countless friends and relatives told us to enjoy travel while we could, assuming we’d stop traveling when our kids arrived. But we persevered, and as a family, we’ve visited Cuba, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines and Costa Rica.

We’ve traveled through diapers, the terrible twos, toilet training and all the way to first grade.

After all that, I’m here to announce loud and clear:  It is possible to travel with children and have a wonderful time.

Why travel with kids is amazing

A deeper connection to the people and places you visit. Many cultures are child friendly and family focused. We found, especially in Mexico and the Philippines, that our children were warmly welcomed everywhere from restaurants to stores. Little old ladies gave them candies, and people walked up to us on the street to strike up a conversation. With kids, we were approachable. When we traveled alone, we were just tourists passing through.

Quality and quantity time with your family. Time together is one thing that’s missing from most of our daily lives. When you travel, you’ll share unique experiences that will bond your family. Sure, it can sometimes be a bit tough, but there are some moments so magical that you’ll never want to go back home. You’ll always have those special memories that bond your family together.

Kids slow you down. And yes, this is a good thing. As adults, we’re often tempted to try to see it all, and in doing so, we miss a lot. Having kids forces you to slow down and really enjoy where you are, and what you’re doing.

Kids help you grow. Kids constantly challenge your assumptions, and make you face some tough realities. Kids see so many things that parents miss. Ever tried explaining to a three year old why there’s a family sleeping on a cardboard sheet in front of a convenience store in the Philippines? I have, and it made me realize I hadn’t faced some ugly facts about poverty and inequality in a while.

You’re more prepared. Hitting the road with kids forces you to be more prepared. We now hit the road with a traveling pharmacy, stocked with a first aid kit, kids’ Tylenol, Gravol, Pepto Bismal, rehydration salts, cough drops, and on and on. Not only is it essential for the kiddos, but it’s sure nice to have the supplies for us adults.

Creature comforts. As single backpackers, Charles and I stayed in some truly skeevy hostels in the name of saving money. As a family, we want more space (and sanitation), so we’ve started renting houses and apartments for a month or so at at time. While this costs us a bit more money, it’s wonderful to stay in places that are roomier and cleaner. On top of this, we tend to eat better and more regularly with the kiddos around.

You might just become a better parent. Being on the road has forced us to rely less on toys and electronics for amusement. Instead, we’ve had to make our own toys as we go (not surprisingly, sticks and rocks are always a hit) and (the horror!) play with our kids.

Joy! Unlike most adults, kids wholeheartedly embrace the fun in life. Kids make you do goofy things that you never would have tried as an adult. It’s fun to let our hair down once in a while, and having kids is the perfect excuse. I’ve played on playgrounds across the world, thanks to my kids. When’s the last time you played on a swing?

You’ll give your kids some amazing gifts, too.

Life becomes an amazing field trip. Instead of learning about the world in textbooks and through lectures, they’ll be learning live and in person. The whole world will be their classroom, and you’ll be learning with them. We could have taught our kids about endangered leatherback turtles. Instead, they watched a leatherback lay her eggs and make her way back to the ocean. To this day, Cole talks about how people shouldn’t throw garbage into the ocean because it hurts the turtles. He never would have learned such a deep and lasting lesson in school.

The big picture. You’re giving your kids a great gift by letting them develop a perspective that the world extends beyond their own friends, family and neighborhood. Our kids know that children who speak a different language can make great playmates, and that the strange looking food can be surprisingly good!

You’ll open up a world of possibilities. Your children will see and try things they’ve never done before. Cole, then five, learned to boogie board and zip line Costa Rica. I’m not sure I’ll ever get a better gift than the look of accomplishment and pride in his eyes.

Far from being the terrible experience that we were warned about, traveling with our kids has been a wonderful way to explore our world.

What do you think about traveling with kids? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!