10 Dream Destinations That Are Actually Family-Friendly

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Sure, I’d love to visit… when my kids are older.” It’s easy to believe that homework and soccer practice (or diapers and strollers) have pushed far-flung vacations out of the question. However, Disney World and family-friendly cruises are not your only options.

“It’s really not that difficult, and it’s actually important to treat yourself to seeing places you want to see,” says Anna Davies, a New York-based writer and mother of a 2-year-old named Lucy who shares her travel tips and adventures on Instagram. She was terrified before her first flight with Lucy, but now they’ve flown together more than 30 times and visited six countries and about 15 states. “What I’ve discovered is that kids — even young children — love traveling for the same reasons we do: they get to have a new routine, spend time with the people they care about, and eat fun snacks!” she says. And being on the road allows her to visit places she enjoys, which makes her a happier mother.

These 10 destinations are more than just “family-friendly” — you’ll love them, and they also have advantages for young children. Prepare to begin pinning to your Travel Board.

#1 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The city isn’t just flashy cars and gleaming skyscrapers. It also has non-cheesy activities that your kids (and you!) will enjoy, such as feeding a three-foot-wide turtle at the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project or watching a free show at Dubai’s massive musical fountains. Camel rides, sand skiing (hot-weather sledding!) and dune-bashing (where your Jeep guns it over sand hills, making you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster) through the Arabian desert are available once you leave the city limits. More family-friendly activities can be found at Atlantis The Palm: There’s also the Middle East’s largest waterpark, an aquarium with over 65,000 creatures, and evening programming for children aged 3 to 12. (so you and your partner can enjoy date night).

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#2 Rome, Italy

“So much history!” may not be a selling point for your children, but try “gory battles, backstabbing gods, and bone-crushing weapons” and you’ll see why the Eternal City appeals to the younger generation. Before you go, read them an age-appropriate book about Ancient Rome, or enroll them in gladiator school, where they will learn about life in the imperial city as well as how to fight like Maximus. In context, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and other sites will feel cool. Consider staying at the expansive Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, which offers a special myths and heroes tour, treasure hunts in Villa Borghese, and a curated family shopping trip through some of Rome’s most renowned designer’s shops.

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#3 Melbourne, Australia

You’ve always wanted to visit Australia, admit it. If your kids are old enough to endure the long plane ride, now is the time to go: there’s plenty to make you feel like a giddy little kid, from being blown away by the Scienceworks Museum to witnessing the march of the penguins at Phillip Island to seeing the forest and fern gullies from the century-old Puffing Billy Steam Railway. Book a room at The Langham Hotel Melbourne, a chic spot that also offers Children’s High Teas.

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#4 Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Ubud may have been the final leg of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love journey, but you don’t have to embark on a solo spiritual quest to fall in love with this scenic region. The hippie vibe and rich cultural traditions in the area will appeal to children (think handicraft markets and traditional dance performances). Stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, where the Kids’ Hut is an educational farm complete with the resort’s cow, chickens, rabbits, and ducks, to take full advantage. It also serves as a base for activities such as foraging and tasting vegetables and herbs, making Jamu, a Balinese herbal drink, tie-dying, rice planting, and more. It’s worth noting that the Kids’ Hut is also open to parents.

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#5 Monte Carlo, Monaco

The famous Monte Carlo Casino may not be your kids’ idea of fun, but the Oceanographic Museum, Exotic Gardens and Observational Cave, and Zoological Gardens will be. Furthermore, given Monaco’s location and size (the entire country takes up roughly the same amount of space as New York City’s Central Park), you can easily visit Italy and France all in one day: three trips in one! The Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo offers a variety of cool kids programming, such as daily games and workshops in KClub (for ages 4-12) and a Little Chefs dessert-making lesson in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

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#6 Cape Town, South Africa

This capital city is well-known for its breathtaking hikes and breathtaking views. If you want some alone time on the trails, stay at a hotel that will keep your kids entertained; One&Only Cape Town’s KidsOnly program will take your kids on field trips to Butterfly World, Two Oceans Aquarium, Boulders Beach and Penguin Colony (where they can freaking swim with African penguins), World of Birds (Africa’s largest bird park), and more. The resort provides complimentary baby items (such as a high chair, bottle warmer, and bottle sterilizer) as well as babysitting services.

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#7 Paris, France

Perhaps your children do not appreciate foie gras or classical art. In the City of Light, they’ll still find plenty to love. With ice cream stands, sandpits, pony rides, vintage miniature sailboat rentals, and puppet shows, Le Jardin du Luxembourg is a child’s paradise. The flower market on Ile de la Cité (near Notre Dame) is teeming with chickens, ferrets, parrots, and rabbits, and the Le Marais neighborhood is home to a famous carousel at Place Saint-Paul and a quirky Magic Museum hidden in a vaulted cellar. Traveling with an infant? When you need a break, take the bus instead of the metro and camp out in a bakery; the chewy bread makes an excellent teething toy for small mouths. The Novotel Paris Les Halles is a centrally located hotel that allows up to two children under the age of 16 to stay for free.

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#8 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Staying on an island with plenty of activities eliminates the possibility of boredom. With lagoon-hopping in the Ojos Indigenas Ecological Reserve, kiteboarding lessons in Playa Blanca’s super-safe, waist-deep water, kids’ tennis clinics, and beachside horse rides at El Rancho, the massive Puntacana Resort & Club has you covered. Golf, visit the spa, or simply relax on the white-sand beaches, then gather at dinner to hear your sun-tanned children tell you about their day.

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#9 Chiang Mai, Thailand

This magical city has something for everyone’s inner child: There are elephant sanctuaries everywhere, where visitors can feed, bathe, and hug the gentle giants; ziplines run through the jungle’s emerald treetops; and the ancient, walled city itself blends old and new, with beautiful temples just steps away from kid-friendly fro-yo shops. Stay away from the crowds at the stunning Four Seasons Chiang Mai, a resort built around a working rice field where kids can bathe a water buffalo, take a kid-friendly cooking class, and learn the art of Muay Thai boxing — or simply relax by the stunning infinity pool.

Plan your vacation in Chiang Mai

#10 Machu Picchu, Peru

Kids love exploring Machu Picchu’s citadel, which is full of hidden forts and structures. The nearby natural hot springs in Agua Calientes and the Andean Bear Rescue Center (a non-profit that rehabilitates native animals and returns them to their natural habitat) are also worthwhile stops. The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel provides an Explorer Kit (a flashlight, magnifying glass, cap, and other items in a child’s backpack), nanny service, and a daytime treasure hunt on hotel grounds, with riddles and handicrafts teaching kids about the local flora and fauna.

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