Places We’ve been with our Kids and vacation ideas for family travel

Trip planning without kids can be a challenge when you’re going somewhere new and I vehemently believe there is never a ‘best time” to travel with kids so we try to embrace ALL The times as much as we can.  Here are some of the places we’ve traveled with the duo and the sites and friends that have helped us in our journeys that might help you with some vactation ideas for family travel too.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand Trip Ideas:

We took about a month and a half to travel around Australia.  We took many internal plane flights that we booked through Expedia.  Air New Zealand allowed a New Zealand stopover from Vancouver to Australia and that is how New Zealand became part of this trip.

Australia: Uluru and where we stayed , Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road,

ASIA Family Travel and vacation ideas with kids

Hong Kong: rooftop playgrounds, bird market, kid-friendly malls, Lantau Island  Dim Sum with kids

• Extra Help: The Q Family Travel, La Jolla Mom,
• WHERE WE STAYED: Skycity Marriott

Japan:  Japan trip-planning with kids , A great Japan guide book for families  An Early Morning in Tokyo, kid friendly malls, Sensoji Temple,  Okayama, Kochi Japan Kochi Japan with kids, Seeing monkeys in Arashiyama Katsurahama Beach and the Hikawamaru Pom Purin Cafe

• Extra Help: Expatria Baby , My Little Nomads La Jolla Mom The World is a Book
• WHERE WE’VE STAYED:  New Miyako hotel Kyoto,  Nishitetsu Inn Imperial Hotel Tokyo Hotel Century Southern Tower

Singapore: Singapore Trip Planning kid-friendly malls, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo

• Extra Help: Travel With Bella, La Jolla Mom, Little Day Out and of course the hubby has family there too:)
• WHERE WE STAYED: Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa (We have family in Singapore so we stayed here pre-kids.  We need to go back because I think they will love it!)

EUROPE: our Europe family vacation ideas with kids

Amsterdam: Nemo Museum

Where we Stayed: Doubletree Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Denmark: Copenhagen with kids , Royal Smushi Cafe, a great breakfast spot an adorable ice cream shop on a cool street,

Where we stayed: Airbnb

Iceland: Our Iceland Itinerary with kids, Another bath to go to other than the Blue Lagoon, Iceland pictures

Where we stayed: Hotel Ranga and A10 deluxe

Italy: Planning a 10 day Italy trip, Italy with kids, 

Where we stayed: Airbnb and apartment bookings through Expedia

France: Strasbourg with kids at Easter,  Paris Zoo, Eiffel Tower and Louvre Paris with kids

Where we stayed: we used Airbnb

Switzerland: Riding a Funicular

Where we stayed with kids: EMA house the Zurich All-Suite Hotel

NORTH AMERICA: trip ideas with kids

Canada

Vancouver, BC: this is my hometown so we’ve been a lot of places here. Here is my list of my 10 best places in Vancouver BC with kids. Places that stand out:  Steveston, Grouse Mountain, Granville Island, Coal Harbour Some yummy restaurants Whistler

• Extra Help: Vancity Buzz, Kids Vancouver , Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver Mom, Yoyomama,
• WHERE WE STAYED: Residence Inn Vancouver, Sunset Inn and Suites, Westin Bayshore, the Loden, L’Hermitage, the Sutton Place Hotel

United States

ARIZONA:

Phoenix Zoo, Trainpark, Westin Kierland Resort, Frybread House

• Extra Help: Trekaroo,

CALIFORNIA

Disneyland, Newport Beach, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Awesome San Diego dessert place, Awesome San Diego Kid’s Museum , Crystal Cove

• Extra Help: Red Tricycle, OCmoms
• WHERE WE STAYED: Residence Inn Anaheim Maingate, Marriott Newport Coast Villas

COLORADO:

Denver: Little Man Ice Cream, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Art Museum. Downtown Denver Aquarium, Dinosaur Ridge

• Extra Help: Visit Colorado

GEORGIA

Atlanta: Atlanta coffee shops, yummy breakfast, Children’s Museum Atlanta Zoo Atlanta Georgia Aquarium

Extra Help: Passports and Pushchairs, The Q Family Adventures

HAWAII:

Big Island: Greenwell Farms, Coffee Shack (eat with geckos), Pana’ewa Zoo, MyBest Sandwich in Hawaii,

Oahu: Polynesian Cultural Center, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, North Shore, Dole Plantation, Bishop Museum,  Places we like to eat at

Maui:Sugar Cane Train General Overview, Kihei,  Maui Ocean Center, Snorkeling with kids on Maui, Leodas Kitchen and Pie Shop, Where to eat Pupu’s (The Seahouse Restaurant), Road to Hana

• Extra Help :Ohana Mama,  Moms in Hawaii,
  WHERE WE STAYED: Halii Kai at Waikaloa Outrigger Keauhou Bay, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Turtle Bay Resort, Halii Kai at Waikaloa

GEORGIA:

Atlanta: Batdorf and Bronson Coffee, Zoo Atlanta, Yummy Food

Where we Stayed: Hilton Garden Inn Downtown

Extra Help: Passports and Pushchairs

NEVADA

Las Vegas: Best Las Vegas Buffet, Las Vegas with Kids, Typewriter Eraser Sculpture,

Extra Help: Pitstops for Kids: top kid-friendly attractions Las Vegas

WHERE WE STAYED: THE hotel at Mandalay Bay

Oregon: Omsi, Portland Zoo,  Grilled Cheese Grill, Ken’s Artisan Bakery,

• Extra Help: Pitstops for Kids, PDX calendar   Sally J Shim , Delicious Baby, Keeling Family
• WHERE WE STAYED: Residence Inn Portland Downtown/Riverplace, Hotel Monaco Portland

Texas

Dallas: Fort Worth cows Whataburger

Washington: Bainbridge Island, Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, Suncadia

*Places to camp with kids in Washington: Sequim (camping) Fort Flagler

• Extra Help: Red Tricycle, Walkingontravel
• Campbell’s Resort, Springhill Suites Wenatchee

MEXICO vacation ideas

Mayan Riviera: Isla Mujeres, Muyil Tulum and Cenotes,

WHERE WE STAYED: Grand Bahia Principe Coba, Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Na balam

CENTRAL AMERICA: Family vacation Ideas

Costa Rica

Arenal, , Monteverde Zip Lining with kids,  Chocolate Tour, Serapiqui, Sloth Sanctuary, Toucan Rescue Ranch, Manuel Antonio,Cahuita, Monteverde Trainforest

Extra Help: Global Family Adventures, Travel With Kids Costa Rica