BEST FAMILY TRAVEL SPOTS FOR EVERY AGE, FROM NEWBORNS TO COLLEGE GRADS

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Traveling with your family can be a memorable and enriching experience. But planning a trip that accommodates your child’s age-specific needs can definitely be a challenge.

 “Age absolutely matters when planning a trip—what excites a college student can totally overwhelm a younger child, and vice versa,” says Jiayi Wang, travel expert, professional photographer, and the founder of The Diary Of A Nomad. “Matching a destination to where they are developmentally just makes the trip smoother and more meaningful.”

Ready to start a fun and fulfilling trip for your family? We connected with travel experts to help curate a list of the best travel destinations, broken down by age groups.

Travel Destinations for Babies

It can be hard to travel with babies, because they require lots of downtime for naps, diaper changes, and frequent feeding. Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, a group that helps people make insurance decisions while moving and traveling abroad, recommends choosing destinations with appropriate activities and amenities for babies and their caregivers.

Here are Cronin’s travel recommendations for traveling with babies.

Hawaii

Hawaii is a great vacation spot for families traveling with babies. “It has serene beach resorts...where calm waves and shallow water make these beaches safe for families with young children,” Cronin describes. Many resorts will provide additional services like babysitting, cribs, and a splash pool, Cronin adds.

Amsterdam

Another destination Cronin recommends is Amsterdam, which has Vondelpark’s serene parks and stroller-friendly streets. “Baby-friendly lodges located nearby offer hassle-free sights, and canal boat rides can entertain and soothe your young ones,” Cronin describes.

Travel Destinations for Toddlers

For toddlers, you want to focus on simple but engaging activities when you travel. Plus, you’re also dealing with young ones who can’t walk for long distances, still typically require naps to get through the day, and also need plenty of downtime.

Here’s what Cronin recommends for this age group.

San Diego, CA

“San Diego, California, is a perfect choice because it has the San Diego Zoo, which is world-renowned,” says Cronin. San Diego also has numerous beaches, which are usually stroller-friendly.

If you’re looking for more San Diego fun, Margot Black, a family travel writer who has traveled extensively with her family, recommends LEGOLAND, which has toddler-friendly rides and interactive play zones for young kids. “Of all the activities I did with our son when he was little, Legoland takes the cake,” Black shares. “It's a splurge and worth it (it's the one place we returned to 3x during our son's young years).”

Orlando, Fl

Orlando is not only warm and full of family-friendly beaches, but there’s Disney World, which has plenty of toddler-friendly options. Cronin suggests focusing on the toddler-friendly rides (like It’s a Small World and Peter Pan’s Flight) and the character meet-and-greets, which can be lots of fun for little ones. “To minimize travel fatigue, it's advisable to choose accommodation close to primary attractions,” Cronin recommends.

Travel Destinations for School-Age Kids

You can up your travel game a few notches when you have school-age kids, because they aren’t as high-needs as the younger cohort. Still, you want to pick travel spots that are engaging and age-appropriate.

Here are some tips from our experts.

Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy is a great vacation choice for school-age kids, says Ashley Wali, family travel expert at Wanderlux.com, which specializes in family trip planning. “The canals are endless fun, but Venice also abounds in hands-on activities that bring its unique history to life,” she describes. “Kids get a kick out of taking a gondola rowing lesson, where they steer through the canals like a gondolier.”

Additionally, in Venice, you can make your own Venetian masks and maybe even bring home your own glass creation from Murano Island, which is famous for its blown glass.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of Wang’s top picks for school-age kids. “It’s hands-on in the best way—kids can zipline through cloud forests, spot monkeys in Manuel Antonio, or learn about sea turtle conservation,” she says. "The country is set up well for families, and travel is smooth without being boring."

Travel Destinations for Tweens

The tween years are a time of emotional ups and downs (oh, those pesky hormones!), but it’s also a time where you can travel more extensively, and go on fun adventures with your kiddos.

Our experts recommend these travel destinations for tweens.

The Galapagos Islands

The tween years are just right for sparking curiosity and a sense of wonder, says Black, and the Galapagos Islands are perfect for that. A vacation to the Galapagos Islands combines education and adventure in a fantastic way.

“The islands are a nature lover's dream—tweens can snorkel alongside sea turtles, watch playful sea lions up close, and walk among blue-footed boobies in their native habitat,” Black shares. “It’s an unforgettable way to introduce kids to ecosystems, conservation, and wildlife in an interactive, hands-on environment.”

The Bavarian Alps in Southern Germany

If you’re up for some European travel, consider the Bavarian Alps in Southern Germany, Wali suggests. She recommends the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area in particular. “It offers endless outdoor activities, from mountain biking, hiking and ziplining in summer to snow-based sports in winter,” she says.

Wali recommends taking a cable car up to Zugspitze, which is Germany's highest peak. “Once back on the ground, rent a paddleboat on nearby Eibsee, an alpine lake, before ending your day with a pretzel and wurst at one of the lakeside restaurants,” she describes.

Travel Destinations for High School Teens

High school teens are more sophisticated than their younger cohorts, and they are also a ton more independent. While they may need some amount of adult supervision, this is also an age where an age-appropriate level of independent exploration makes sense.

Our experts recommend these travel destinations for high school teens.

New York City

“This demographic loves to...fully immerse themselves into a city’s tapestry,” Cronin says. New York City is perfect for this. The big apple is “appealing due to its perpetually active shopping, vibrant art, and rich historical centers,” says Cronin. Got a teen who’s fascinated with the performing arts? Broadway shows are a must.

Aruba

Bea Naprava, who owns a travel agency called Bea Amazed Travel, where she specifically focuses on family vacations, recommends the island of Aruba as a travel destination for high school teens. “This Caribbean Island is very Americanized, the locals are friendly, and there’s plenty of options to explore,” she says.

Many hotels on the island are close to Palm Beach, where you can find a public walkway lining the shore. Teens often enjoy exploring the shops, beach area, and hotels along this walkway.

“The island of Aruba also offers some unique family experiences like sampling Dutch pancakes, visiting flamingos, or renting a Jeep to explore Arikok National Park,” Naprava offers. “I especially like this destination for high school teens because it allows for them to have some additional freedom while still providing plenty of options for the entire family to enjoy together.”

Travel Destinations for College-Aged Kids

Traveling with college-aged kids is a whole new adventure—and often, one that doesn’t require a ton of parental participation. Here are some great options for your budding adult traveler.

South Korea

Wang recommends South Korea for college-aged kids. “It’s dynamic, modern, and easy to navigate,” she describes. “Seoul has a fast-paced tech scene, vibrant street food culture, and a strong sense of individuality, which really resonates with students finding their identity.”  Wang recommends day trips to traditional villages or hikes in Seoraksan National Park.

Cruises

If you are looking for a travel option for you and your college-aged kid, Amy Lagrow Rogers, advisor for the travel agency, Fora, recommends taking a cruise. On a cruise, you get plenty of family time together, but there are also options for your older kids to go off and have fun on their own. Certain ships even have separate teen clubs and sun decks are for teens only, where parents can’t even enter!

Final Tips

Each child and each family situation is unique. Choosing the best travel destination for your family can take some brainstorming. The list we provided is just a start. If you are unsure of what travel destination is best for you, you might consider connecting with friends and family members and asking them about their recent experiences. You can also consult a travel agent for advice and ideas.

Either way, remember that traveling with kids isn’t meant to be perfect, but the idea is to pick a destination that offers something memorable, accessible—and most of all—fun!

Read the original article on Parents

2025-04-23T19:16:15Z