Best summer vacation for toddlers
We all know how important summer vacation with your toddler is. Your summer vacation is to the toddler what fitness and diet are to adults: All the fun, joy and health… minus the diet. This makes it understandable that even on our much-needed vacations we want to make them as fun and interesting as possible. And if you don’t want to be spending your hard-earned money on a pricey kid’s camp, or dragging your toddler along with you while you shop, read or simply walk around, making sure you’re going to have some uninterrupted time with them is critical. Having a good vacation spot can mean everything when it comes to spending quality time with your kids. Now, there’s no way I could tell you all of the places where toddlers could enjoy their best vacations; but I’ll tell where you could start looking for inspiration: the toys section at Amazon.
Summer is here, and with it loads of fun family vacations. Whether you’re going to Bryce Canyon in Utah, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or will be just staying at home, there are a few things you need to know about summer vacation with toddlers.
Having more than four months of summer holidays is something you will appreciate especially if having small kids. The longer summer holiday allows you to have more time with your kids and create unforgettable summer vacation memories. The perfect time to plan a trip is at the end of each school year.
It’s summer!
Every year, parents have to figure out what to do with their kids during the summer. Kids love vacations and they are very excited about going on them, but the problem is that they can get bored if you don’t plan well. Kids need a lot of things to keep them engaged while they are on vacation. Here are some tips for planning the best summer vacation for toddlers:
- First of all, you should plan your trip ahead of time so that your child gets used to it.
- You should try making plans for a few days before leaving so that your child does not feel as much anxiety about going on vacation.
- You should also try making arrangements for babysitters or other family members who can take care of your child while you’re away from home so that he doesn’t feel alone or lonely when he is away from home for longer periods of time than usual.
- It’s important that you make sure that there are plenty of activities planned during your trip so that they don’t get bored easily while they’re away from home!
When it comes to your kids, a summer vacation can be anything but relaxing. From the moment they wake up until they go to bed, they’re eager to explore new sights and sounds. And while you may want to give your kids some time off from school, there’s no reason why their summer break can’t also be educational!
To help you find the best summer vacation for toddlers, we’ve put together a list of our top picks. These destinations are sure to keep your little one engaged and excited about learning all day long—and maybe even make it easy for you to relax for once!
What Do All the Best Vacations for Toddlers Have in Common?
Toddler-friendly vacations are all about going at their pace. If there’s one thing a vacation with toddlers can teach us, it’s to slow down, smell the roses, and appreciate the little things in life. Sometimes the walk to the aquarium or zoo can be more rewarding than the actual visit, and that’s okay. Being flexible can go a long way. If a planned activity is not going smoothly, be prepared to pivot. Expect (or better yet, embrace) the unexpected when on vacation with a toddler.
While cranky moods and meltdowns are practically guaranteed at least some of the time, building a little downtime into your toddler’s vacation can be a potent anecdote to over-stimulation. That means letting your toddler nap or rest each day, being prepared with plenty of snacks, and maybe even bringing a travel stroller along for your trip, even if your child doesn’t typically use one at home.
The Best Places to Travel with Toddlers
Wondering where to bring your toddler on vacation? These toddler vacation destinations and ideas combine the excitement of going somewhere new with those much-needed opportunities for downtown on your trip—and maybe even a little adults-only time when you need a break of your own.
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1. All-Inclusive Resorts That Cater to Toddlers
Who needs complicated logistics on vacation? The best all-inclusive family resorts in the U.S. and the best all-inclusive family resorts around the world have everything from swimming pools to water parks to bumper car tracks right onsite. Meals, drinks, and activities are included, offering value and ease.
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For many families, the kid’s club is a big selling point of the all-inclusive experience, allowing parents some coveted adults-only time while children enjoy supervised activities. Many of these clubs set a minimum age, usually four but sometimes much younger. Some require participants to be potty-trained.
The best hotels with kids clubs go above and beyond for toddler vacations by offering unique programs and activities that add extra fun for little ones. At all-inclusive Tyler Place Family Resort in rural Vermont, for example, toddlers ages 18 to 30 months have their own developmentally appropriate program with a ratio of one caregiver for every two to three children; and kids ages 2.5 to three have an age-specific program that includes nature walks and circle time with one trained counselor for every three to four preschoolers.
2. Visiting National Parks with Toddlers
Families craving an immersion in nature can’t do better for toddler-friendly vacations than visiting a national park. Don’t be surprised to encounter big crowds when kids are on summer vacation, but one of the benefits of traveling with a preschooler is that you may be able to visit national parks in spring or winter when there’s more room to roam.
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The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is never without visitors, but it’s easily one of the best places to travel with toddlers in the entire country. Breathtakingly scenic Mather Point is just a short stroll via paved walkway from the visitor’s center, making it easy to push a stroller as you soak in the view. The park’s shuttle bus runs year-round, allowing you to catch a ride when little legs get tired. If possible, stay at a national park lodge inside the park (like historic El Tovar Hotel right on the rim) to minimize travel time to and from the park each day.
3. Theme Park Vacations for Toddlers
With long lines and big crowds, even the most toddler-friendly amusement parks can be stressful. The key to a successful theme park vacation with a toddler is to try not to cram too much into each day. Yes, going at a slower pace and taking breaks means foregoing some rides, but your toddler won’t know what he or she is missing.
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The Disney theme parks in Orlando and Anaheim both rank among the best family vacation spots in the U.S., but consider starting with smaller amusement parks for little kids to see how your toddler reacts to all the sensory stimuli before planning a trip to a bigger theme park.
Most theme parks have special areas and pint-sized rides for toddlers, like Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Florida and Camp Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. The Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida was crafted with preschoolers in mind. Sensory-rich and interactive attractions are joined by screenings of episodes of the Peppa Pig television show, offering a relaxing indoor respite complete with comfy beanbags to help your family unwind.
4. Small Cities with Big Charm
April in Paris is a dream and New York is a wonderful town, but for a vacation with a tiny traveler, modest-sized cities with a gentler pace may be better places to travel with toddlers—and a great way to introduce them to the joys of city vacations. For toddler vacations with an urban twist, look to manageable cities close to your hometown.
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In the Northeast, for example, compact Providence, Rhode Island, has enough to do without overwhelming little ones. It’s home to the Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village, plus the hands-on Providence Children’s Museum. Federal Hill is its authentic Little Italy, filled with restaurants where old-school waiters will squeeze your little one’s chubby cheeks and sneak them an extra dessert.
Other good examples of small city vacation spots for toddlers include Asheville, North Carolina; Traverse City, Michigan; and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
5. Farm Stays
You’re never too young to explore the field-to-fork connection and a farm stay vacation is a kid-friendly way to immerse yourself and your toddler in agricultural rhythms. Young children may not soon forget the wonder of pulling a carrot out of the earth, gathering fresh-laid eggs, or watching a cow being milked.