10 Places Your Kids Need to See Before They Grow Up
Updated: Oct. 04, 2018
Before your kids outgrow the fun of a family vacation and start to go on their own trips without you, take them to one of these awesome destinations for an action-packed trip the whole family is sure to truly enjoy.
Niagara Falls, Ont.
Especially for Canadians, this is one trip every family should make before their children have outgrown the entire idea of family vacations. An undoubtedly wet ride on the Maid of the Mist and a view of the breathtaking falls are things the whole family can and should enjoy together. Plus, there are loads of other activities to entertain the kids, like festivals, parades, Canada Day celebrations and delicious restaurants. If you can manage to bring along a relative to watch the kids at night, Mom and Dad can visit the casinos and even a few nightclubs!
Grand Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are known for excellent scuba diving and snorkelling locations. While you may not want to bring very small children here, don’t wait until they’re fully-grown either. Adolescents and young teenagers will absolutely love the experience of diving into crystal clear waters and discovering loads of new marine life they’ve never seen before. In Stingray City, they’ll even get the chance to touch gentle stingray and examine them up close. Besides that, a Caribbean adventure is always action-packed and can give the children an opportunity to learn more about another country. Bonus: the all-inclusive resort options make travelling with the family easier and much more affordable.
Here are 10 Dream Vacations and What They Reveal About Your Personality.
New York City
You definitely don’t want to be chasing after your shopaholic teens in Manhattan, so plan your trip to the Big Apple when the kids are still young enough to enjoy the family-friendly excursions without looking for a way to ditch you! There are several family-friendly Broadway shows to see, and the best part is that your children will absolutely love being there with you. And the list of kid-friendly activities doesn’t end there. You can also bring them for a walk in Central Park, pay a visit to the giant M&M’S® store in Times Square, take a City Sightseeing Cruise, get on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, visit the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and even enjoy a yummy street hot dog.
The Grand Canyon
Though you may not consider anything near Las Vegas to be a family-friendly vacation spot, the Grand Canyon in Arizona actually is. There are tons of activities, including river trips, guided bus tours, camping, and of course, simply enjoying the amazing view of the awe-inspiring, immense landmark from the South Rim at sunset. Before the kids turn into teenagers and start complaining about having to camp outdoors or spend quality time with their siblings, take a few days to enjoy to beauty and the fun of the Grand Canyon as a family. Plus, the child-friendly activities will keep everyone amused and maybe even let Mom and Dad get a few minutes of peace and quiet.
Check out 6 of America’s Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Spring.
The Canadian Rockies
The Canadian portion of the northern Rocky Mountains should be visited while your children are still young enough to appreciate the experience with you. If you happen to visit the Alberta portion, a visit to Banff National Park will certainly not disappoint. There are so many great activities for the whole family to enjoy: wildlife viewing, aerial tours, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking. All while enjoying the convenience of a comfy log cabin with a cozy feel. Let your children experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and learn more about the history of this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site.
Discover our 50 favourite Canadian parks, from coast to coast to coast.
Walt Disney World
We’ll be the first to admit it: this trip can be very costly and very tiring with small children. But a trip to Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are plenty of ways to enjoy it without breaking the bank, like staying at nearby hotels and renting a car rather than staying at the resort hotels. And, although your children can be a handful, the joy on their faces when they get Mickey Mouse’s signature and visit Cinderella’s Castle for the first time is simply priceless and well worth the trouble. Don’t wait till your kids have grown out of the magical joy of Disney to bring them to this kid’s wonderland, that can make all their dreams come true.
Here are 13 Tips for Surviving a Disney Cruise with the Kids.
Quebec City
With loads of family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained, a visit to Quebec City is certainly a must. You can take a stroll through Old Quebec, visit the National Museum of Fine Arts or the beautiful Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, explore Quartier Petit-Champlain, and stop and enjoy Montmorency Falls Park. There is no shortage of fun activities to keep you busy, especially on a warm summer day. You’ll also find quaint restaurants and excellent hotels. Show your kids this beautiful old city while they’re still young enough to enjoy spending the whole afternoon with you.
Explore the attractions that make Quebec City one of the most exciting destinations in Canada.
Lake Titicaca
The name alone will definitely keep the kids entertained but the actual trip will, too. For the family who enjoys travelling, this is the place for you. Lake Titicaca, along the border of Bolivia and Peru is the largest lake in South America. The children will surely enjoy a boat tour around the many surrounding islands, and they’ll also get the chance to learn about the interesting history of Lake Titicaca. The basin of the lake is created by volcanic rock that is thought to be as much as 27-million-years-old. Once home to the Incas, there is much to learn about these ancient people and their culture at Lake Titicaca.
Alaska
A cruise through the icebergs is usually the best way to experience Alaska and the kids will love it. There are over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, more than anywhere else in the world combined. You can also spot whales and other wildlife, visit the famous Denali National Park, enjoy the landscapes and even learn about the roughly 20 different native languages spoken there. A rich cultural experience combined with an amazing cruise and a once-in-a-lifetime view of real arctic glaciers, make a trip to Alaska one the whole family can enjoy.
Cape Canaveral
There are few things in the world as cool as rockets that fly to the outer space, so obviously, a visit to Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Centre is one of the coolest trips you can take your children on. Though you won’t see any more launches from this space station and its retired rockets, you can find out what it feels like to be in one in the Shuttle Launch Experience flight simulator. Kids will absolutely love the awesome feeling of being near anything that has been to outer space and will love trying out the simulator even more. Older kids may outgrow the fun of rockets and outer space so this trip is best taken when they’re still young enough to appreciate it.
