I’ve Taken My Family To 10 Gorgeous Destinations That Were A Breeze With Kids + 3 That Had Us Drained Before Lunch
Traveling with kids can be magical or maddening, depending on where you go. After years of family adventures across the globe, I’ve discovered some destinations are naturally kid-friendly while others left us wondering why we didn’t just stay home.
My travel journal is filled with both victories and defeats – places where my children thrived and others where we all melted down before our first attraction.
1. San Diego’s Beach Paradise
From the moment we arrived, San Diego’s laid-back vibe made everything easier. My kids couldn’t get enough of the gentle waves at Coronado Beach, where the sand literally sparkles in the sun!
The compact city layout meant minimal transit time between attractions. We bounced from the world-class zoo to seaside tide pools without a single “are we there yet?” Plus, most restaurants offer crayons and children’s menus without prompting.
2. Copenhagen’s Fairytale Appeal
Who knew Denmark would be such a hit with the little ones? Copenhagen feels like it was designed with families in mind. Tivoli Gardens amusement park enchanted my children with its old-world charm and gentle rides suitable for all ages.
Walking and biking paths connect the entire city, making stroller navigation a dream. The compact size means you’re never far from a playground or ice cream shop. Even the public transportation system has special spaces for families with children!
3. Japan’s Surprising Kid-Friendliness
Despite the language barrier, Japan turned out to be remarkably family-friendly. The Japanese adore children, and locals often offered help without us asking. Clean public restrooms with changing tables appeared everywhere we went.
My kids loved the interactive exhibits at TeamLab Borderless digital art museum in Tokyo. The efficient train system made day trips easy, and even fancy restaurants welcomed our children with special chopsticks and kid-sized portions. Convenience stores stocked healthy snacks that saved us during hunger emergencies.
4. Orlando’s Well-Oiled Machine
Say what you will about tourist traps, but Orlando knows how to handle families. Every aspect of the major theme parks is designed with children in mind, from ride height requirements clearly posted to character dining experiences that made my kids’ jaws drop.
Even outside Disney and Universal, hotels cater to families with kid-friendly pools and activities. We appreciated the abundance of rental strollers, family restrooms, and shaded rest areas throughout the parks. Many restaurants offer early bird specials perfectly timed for younger eaters.
5. Costa Rica’s Natural Playground
The abundance of wildlife in Costa Rica turned my kids into budding naturalists overnight! Spotting monkeys swinging through trees right from our eco-lodge balcony beat any zoo experience hands down.
Many resorts offer guided nature walks specifically designed for children, with patient guides who answered endless questions. The gentle beaches of Manuel Antonio provided perfect swimming conditions. Even the rainforest ziplines had options for younger adventurers, making this destination surprisingly accessible for families seeking nature without roughing it.
6. Barcelona’s Family-Friendly Flair
Barcelona surprised us with its welcoming attitude toward children. Locals didn’t bat an eye at kids in restaurants, even during later Spanish dinner hours. The colorful mosaics of Park Güell captivated my children’s imagination far longer than I expected.
Beach days provided perfect downtime between cultural attractions. The city’s Gothic Quarter features plenty of plazas where kids can run while parents enjoy coffee. Many museums offer family-specific tours that kept even my fidgety youngest engaged. The city’s transit system proved easy to navigate with strollers.
7. Washington DC’s Free Museum Heaven
If you’re watching your travel budget, DC delivers major value with its free Smithsonian museums. My space-obsessed son spent three hours in the Air and Space Museum without a single complaint!
The National Mall provides plenty of running space between educational stops. Most museums feature hands-on children’s sections that make learning feel like play. Hotel locations near the mall meant easy mid-day breaks when attention spans waned. Even restaurant options surprised us with kid-friendly fare beyond typical chicken nuggets.
8. London’s Magical Mix
Harry Potter fans in my family were beside themselves with excitement in London. From Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station to the Warner Bros Studio Tour, the magic felt real to my wide-eyed children.
Beyond wizarding attractions, London’s parks provided perfect places to decompress. The Natural History Museum’s dinosaur exhibits fascinated even our youngest. Free museums meant we could pop in for short visits without pressure to stay all day. Double-decker bus rides doubled as sightseeing adventures that kept the kids entertained between destinations.
9. Singapore’s Clean, Green Appeal
Few destinations match Singapore’s combination of cleanliness, safety, and family-friendly attractions. Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove had my kids convinced we’d landed on another planet. The nightly light shows captivated even our teenager.
Moving around the city was stress-free thanks to the immaculate public transportation system. Singapore Zoo’s open concept impressed us all, especially the breakfast with orangutans. Street food markets offered adventurous eating opportunities with enough familiar options to satisfy picky eaters. The city-state’s compact size meant minimal travel time between attractions.
10. New Zealand’s Outdoor Paradise
Adventure-loving families will find their match in New Zealand. My kids still talk about watching geysers erupt in Rotorua and hiking through landscapes that looked straight out of fantasy movies.
Despite its reputation for extreme sports, we found plenty of gentle activities suitable for younger children. Farm stays let my city kids experience feeding lambs and collecting eggs. The compact size of most towns meant we could park once and explore on foot. Kiwi hospitality extended to children, with most accommodations offering family rooms without charging excessive fees.
11. Venice’s Chaotic Canals
While undeniably beautiful, Venice quickly became a logistical nightmare with children. Navigating narrow bridges with a stroller felt like an Olympic sport. My youngest melted down after getting lost in the maze-like streets for the third time.
Finding affordable, kid-friendly food proved challenging among tourist-trap restaurants. The crowds made it impossible for children to see anything at major attractions without being held up constantly. Water taxis were exciting at first but lost their charm when we realized how expensive multiple trips became for our family of five.
12. Paris’s Mixed Reception
Despite its romantic reputation, Paris presented unexpected challenges with kids. The magnificent Louvre quickly overwhelmed my children, who couldn’t appreciate Renaissance art after standing in entrance lines for over an hour.
Many Parisian restaurants seemed annoyed by our family’s presence, especially when my youngest inevitably spilled something. The metro stations rarely had elevators, making stroller navigation a nightmare. Though we found moments of joy at Luxembourg Gardens and atop the Eiffel Tower, much of our visit involved managing meltdowns and searching for child-friendly bathrooms.
13. Rome’s Beautiful Chaos
My history-buff dreams crashed into reality when taking children to Rome. The ancient ruins that fascinated me held little interest for my kids, who couldn’t visualize what once stood there despite my enthusiastic explanations.
Summer heat made long walking tours unbearable, yet attractions were too spread out for little legs. Finding public restrooms became our primary activity some days. Though gelato provided temporary mood boosts, navigating crowded streets with tired children proved exhausting. The city’s beauty remained undeniable, but the experience left us all needing a vacation from our vacation.