Once you have your first child, the instinct to nest can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to give up your love of travel. Traveling with children offers a chance to show them who you are while letting them experience the world’s wonder through fresh eyes. Family trips create lasting memories and teach kids about other cultures, landscapes and ways of life. As children grow, many become just as excited about exploring as their parents and may even start leading future adventures.
According to a recent survey by AAA, more than one-third of Americans (35 percent) plan a family vacation this year, and 51 percent of those intend to visit a national park. Dan Austin, president of Austin Adventures, notes that national parks continue to draw strong interest and that Yellowstone has consistently led domestic sales for two decades.
Yellowstone, straddling the Wyoming-Montana border, is America’s first national park and remains one of its most spectacular. One day you can watch Old Faithful erupt nearly 200 feet into the air; the next, encounter bison, elk and moose at close range. You can also take in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and admire the Upper and Lower Falls—scenes that capture the park’s dramatic beauty.
Tourists watching Old Faithful erupting © F11PHOTO | DREAMSTIME.COM
This summer, bookings to the Canadian Rockies are rising. In Banff and Lake Louise, families ride bikes past turquoise glacial lakes, hike gorges with cascading waterfalls and occasionally spot bears. A standout experience is walking on the Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway, the scenic route between Lake Louise and Jasper.
Europe offers rich history and culture that can be magical for children. London is an ideal introduction: watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, ride the London Eye, cruise the Thames beneath Tower Bridge, visit the Tower of London and enjoy West End theater. London’s parks are also family-friendly—Hampstead Heath, for example, offers woodlands, meadows and streams where kids can feed ducks and explore shaded paths.
Family in front of Windsor Castle © EZZIAN ~~~~~~~ | DREAMSTIME.COM
A quick Eurostar ride through the Channel Tunnel brings you to Paris, where children can climb the Eiffel Tower and visit world-class museums such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and Centre Pompidou. Take a boat ride on the Seine and explore Notre-Dame. For families interested in science and invention, the Musée des Arts et Métiers offers hands-on exhibits that appeal to curious minds.
From Paris, consider a day trip to Giverny to visit Claude Monet’s home and gardens. A short train ride to Vernon followed by a gentle bike route to Giverny makes for a delightful family outing. Along the way you can stop at a local market to pick up cheese, sausages and fresh baguettes, enjoy a picnic by the Seine and stroll across the iconic Japanese bridge that appears in many of Monet’s paintings.
Switzerland is another top family destination, celebrated for its scenery, hiking and easy access to neighboring France. The Swiss Alps feature efficient trains and gondolas that put adventure just outside your hotel door. In Grindelwald, a gondola ride above the village offers views of Eiger Peak, glaciers, waterfalls and alpine lakes. In Bern and Emmental, families can tube down the Aare River or take electric-bike rides through pastoral valleys. Swiss chocolate and fondue are added incentives for younger travelers.
Active family trip operators now often segment departures by age so children travel with peers. Backroads, for example, runs family trips for older teens and young adults (17+), teen-and-kid groups (9–17) and younger children (8 and under). Multi-sport itineraries are especially popular; Costa Rica is a great example, offering zip-lining through cloud forests, guided rainforest hikes to see monkeys and sloths in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking to secluded beaches and hot springs with views of Arenal Volcano.
Zip line in Costa Rica rainforest © WOLLERTZ | DREAMSTIME.COM
If wildlife is the draw, an African safari offers unforgettable encounters. Kenya and Tanzania remain top choices for family safaris, and many operators create small-group journeys that let children meet peers while experiencing wildlife up close. In Kenya, families often see hippos in the Mara River, plus elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos and leopards on morning game drives. Many itineraries include cultural experiences such as visiting Maasai villages. In Tanzania, highlights include the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, often paired with a relaxing beach stay in Zanzibar at the end of the trip.
Cruises are another family-friendly option that can simplify logistics while offering activities for all ages. New ship designs are pushing the envelope on family accommodations and entertainment, with suites and onboard amenities tailored to multigenerational groups and kids of different ages.
Whether you choose a national park, a European city, alpine adventures, tropical rainforests, an African safari or a family cruise, the most important benefit of traveling with kids is the shared experience. Up close encounters with wildlife, dramatic landscapes and cultural moments create memories families will cherish for years. Those memories are truly priceless.