Where to take the kids
Every destination graded on the four things that actually decide a family trip: cost versus budget, travel ease, kid fit, and downtime for parents. Pick one to see the full family-fit guide.
Orlando
Florida, USA
The theme park capital of the world. Disney, Universal, and endless family fun in the Florida sun.
Cancún
Mexico
Crystal-clear Caribbean waters, all-inclusive resorts, and ancient Mayan ruins make Cancún a perfect family beach getaway.
Maui
Hawaii, USA
From the Road to Hana to whale watching, Maui offers volcanic landscapes, stunning beaches, and endless family adventure.
San Diego
California, USA
Southern California's family beach city: calm Pacific coves, the world-class San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND a short drive north in Carlsbad. Warm dry summers, walkable Balboa Park museums, and a laid-back pace make it an easy first big trip for grade-school kids.
Punta Cana
Dominican Republic
Powder-white beaches and family-focused all-inclusives. Often cheaper than Cancun with shorter check-in lines, and the calm Bavaro and Cap Cana coves stay swimmable for younger kids.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Zip-lining, wildlife, volcanoes, and beaches, Costa Rica is nature's adventure playground for families.
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia, USA
The U.S. capital packs the country's biggest cluster of free, walkable attractions: the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall (Air and Space, Natural History, American History), the monuments and memorials, the National Zoo, and the U.S. Capitol. For an 8 and 11 year old it is a history field trip that doesn't feel like one, with green space to run between stops.
London
United Kingdom
History, Harry Potter, and fish & chips, London is an incredible first international trip for kids.
Barcelona
Spain
Gaudí architecture, tapas, Mediterranean beaches, and a vibrant city energy that excites all ages.
Lake Tahoe
California, USA
A high-altitude alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line, ringed by pine forest, sandy beaches, and granite peaks. Summer turns it into a freshwater playground: warm-enough swimming coves, paddleboarding, bike paths, and short family hikes, with affordable cabins and lodges in South Lake Tahoe and along the North Shore.
Banff
Alberta, Canada
Jaw-dropping Rocky Mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, and world-class hiking just a drive from home.
Interlaken
Switzerland
Cable cars, alpine lakes, and trails for every skill level, wedged between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz under the Jungfrau. A summer-hiking and winter-skiing dual threat with cogwheel trains kids actually want to ride.
Turks & Caicos
Caribbean
Grace Bay's shallow turquoise water is among the calmest beaches in the Caribbean, with a long sandbar that lets an 8 year old wade out a hundred feet and still touch bottom. The reef sits close to shore for easy snorkeling, and the island stays low-key with no high-rise sprawl.
Yellowstone
Wyoming, USA
Geysers, bison herds, and wolf country. America's flagship national park, easy to pair with the Tetons and Jackson for an active family week.
Tokyo
Japan
A mind-blowing mix of ultra-modern and ancient culture. Kids will love the arcades, themed cafes, and Disneyland.
Galapagos Islands
Ecuador
Snorkel with sea lions and walk past blue-footed boobies on Santa Cruz Island. A once-in-a-lifetime wildlife trip an 8 and 11 year old will talk about for years.
Grand Canyon
Arizona, USA
The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is a mile-deep, iconic landscape on the Colorado Plateau. Families come for the Rim Trail, Junior Ranger badges, mule-deer and condor sightings, and a free shuttle network that means parents can park the car for days. Pair it with a couple of nights in Sedona's red rocks to round out a Southwest road loop. Summer is the big-crowd, big-heat window, so early starts and water bottles are the rule.
Nashville
Tennessee, USA
Tennessee's music capital pairs honky-tonk Broadway with kid-grade museums, BBQ and hot chicken, and a walkable downtown small enough for an 8 and 11 year old to keep up. Summer brings river-walk evenings, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and an Adventure Science Center, with the Gaylord Opryland atrium and the Nashville Zoo a short drive out.
New Zealand
New Zealand (South Island)
Queenstown, Milford Sound, glaciers and gold-rush towns. Big-landscape adventure for the whole family with English-language ease and well-signed self-drive routes.
Kyoto
Japan
Temples, bamboo groves, and bullet-train day trips. A calmer companion to Tokyo with deep cultural payoff, and easy enough for kids who like trains, ramen, and gardens.
Lisbon
Portugal
Pastel-tiled hills, fresh seafood, and beach day-trips to Cascais. One of Europe's most affordable family city breaks, with easy train hops to Sintra's castles.
Iceland
Iceland
Waterfalls, geysers, and black-sand beaches strung along the Ring Road, with puffins and whales offshore. Adventure landscapes that feel like another planet, reachable in a long summer travel day from the western US.
Rome
Italy
Colosseum, gelato, and pasta. Ancient history in a city kids actually want to walk through, with ruins, fountains, and a different piazza around every corner.
Patagonia
Argentina & Chile
Glaciers, granite spires, and condors. Big-landscape adventure for families with hiking-ready kids who like real distance between them and a screen.
Santorini
Greece
Whitewashed villages on a volcanic caldera, black-and-red sand beaches, and the Oia sunset. Leans romantic but works well with older kids who can handle hikes, boat trips, and a slower pace.