For adults, holidays can be a much-needed time to recharge and refresh, but scientists have found that they can be profoundly beneficial for a child’s mental and emotional well-being.
With half-term around the corner, discover some of the most engaging family holidays around the world – from horseback riding in California backcountry to travelling back in time in ancient Japan.
For thrill-seeking families
Dive with sharks – Denver, Colorado
The Denver Downtown Aquarium is home to over 15,000 fish, mammals and plants from all over the world. Get up close and personal with five different species of shark in the new Shark Cage Experience, available for children aged eight and above.
The 20-minute experience sees guests dive into a clear glass cage in the Shipwreck exhibit, where they are just centimetres away from the sharks.
Where to stay: The Curtis Hotel is a five-minute drive from the Aquarium and features themed pop culture rooms that kids will love, including a Superhero Suite and Video Game Room. For more information, visit denver.org.
Ride horseback through the Eastern Sierra – Mammoth Lakes, California
The scenic and breathtaking trails of the Eastern Sierra mountains make the perfect backdrop for a horseback riding adventure for the whole family. Rides vary from one hour to all day, depending on level and experience.
Traverse shores of alpine lakes and majestic forests on a trusty steed, and experience the majesty of California backcountry. For more information, go to visitmammoth.com.
Where to stay: Tucked away in the mountains, The Westin Monache Resort offers striking views in addition to a Westin Kids Club where children can play, do arts and crafts and watch the latest hit movies.
Conquer the Royal Gorge Via Ferrata – Canon City, Colorado
In 2019, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park unveiled an exciting new Via Ferrata. Not for the faint-hearted, travellers are led by an expert mountain guide as they ascend the 1,200-foot granite rock walls of the Royal Gorge. Once at the top, visitors are treated to spectacular views of the Gorge.
Where to stay: Stay at the Bighorn Mountaintop Lodge, high above the Arkansas River – guests at the Lodge receive discounted entrance to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Get more information from colorado.com.
Ride the Skunk Train – Mendocino County, California
Explore California’s breathtaking redwoods on board the Skunk Train in Mendocino County.
Choose from a number of journeys, including the two-hour Wolf Tree Turn from Willits through the redwood-thick Noyo River Canyon or the one-hour Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg, which journeys along the beautiful Pudding Creek Estuary. For the more adventurous families, try the new motorised rail bikes through the woods to Glen Blair Junction.
Where to stay: Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from Little River Inn, with a number of accommodation options to choose from. For more information, head to visitcalifornia.co.uk.
For inquisitive families
Become a citizen-scientist – Florida’s Paradise Coast
Named one of 100 Places That Will Change Your Child’s Life by National Geographic, Florida’s Marco Island is the perfect place to get up close and personal with the ocean’s liveliest creatures – dolphins.
Families can take a ride on the Dolphin Explorer to observe these marvellous creatures and partake in the only research of its kind that engages and involves members of the general public. Assist the crew by spotting dolphin pods and noting their behaviour before handing the data to onboard biologists. Get more information via paradisecoast.com.
Where to stay: Located on three miles of pristine coastline, the JW Marriot Marco Island offers an abundance of activities and adventures for kids of all ages. From a children’s day camp to activities, the family can do together, including beach volleyball, sailing excursions and a cycling tour on Marco Island.
Travel back in time to Japan’s Samurai City – Noboribetsu, Hokkaido Prefecture
With links to the renowned Japanese warrior, Date Masamune, the samurai-themed town of Noboribetsu allows visitors of all ages to experience the Edo Period. The town features period houses with trap doors, mazes, haunted houses and more.
Visitors can even dress up as Samurai or Geisha, take part in Edo period martial arts and watch recreations of iconic battles from Japanese history.
Where to stay: The Daiichi Takimotokan Hot Spring Hotel offers seven different types of heated pools and an indoor shopping area.
For more information, visit takimotokan.co.jp/en.
Get hands-on at the Seattle Children’s Museum – Seattle, Washington
Seattle Children’s Museum is designed for children up to 10 years old and features a range of hands-on exhibits and experiences to spark curiosity and imagination in little ones.
Children can learn about nutrition and food groups at a mini replica supermarket, The Market, get building at the Dunn Lumber Construction Zone, or learn about different countries at the Global Village.
Where to stay: Just a 10-minute walk from the Seattle Children’s Museum is The Maxwell Hotel, a fun and colourful property which has family-friendly rooms. Discover more at visitseattle.co.uk.
Enjoy a host of creativity at the Carnegie Science Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
There is no shortage of innovation in the city of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Science Center is open all year round to showcase the latest trends and discoveries in the world of science.
Children can create a robot at Roboworld, test their speed at the SportsWorks exhibition, and come face-to-face with ancient mummies and artefacts at the Mummies of the World exhibition (on display until April 19, 2020).
Where to stay: Conveniently located, The Westin Pittsburgh offers family rooms at an attractive price and is a short walk from most of the major attractions in the city. You can discover more at visitpittsburgh.com.
For outdoorsy families
Cycle the Tanesashi Coastal route in Hachinohe
The Tanesashi Coast cycle route extends from the island of Kabushima and runs towards the city of Kuji. Visitors can rent bicycles equipped with recorded guidance and battery-powered assistance – perfect for a family with young kids.
The route along the coastline showcases both sandy and rocky beaches, grassy meadows and scenic views. Rentals start from £8 for 3hrs and £11 for the day. More information can be found at visithachinohe.com/en.
Where to stay: Shihois a seaside inn where guests can see the sunrise from their rooms and explore surfing spots Suka, Kanahama, and Okuki.
Party at Ullr Nights – Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
On Friday nights during the winter, Aspen Snowmass honours the Norse God of Snow — Ullr — with Ullr Nights, a nighttime winter wonderland party at Elk Camp on Snowmass.
Visitors ride in the gondola up to Elk Camp for family-friendly outdoor winter activities such as tubing, riding the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster and snow-biking, with complimentary s’ mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire.
Where to stay: Located at the base of Snowmass, the ski-in-ski-out Limelight Hotel Snowmass offers family extras, including Colorado’s largest indoor climbing wall. More information is available at aspensnowmass.com.
Enjoy Whale watching – Dana Point, California
The Whale watching in Dana Point is world-class, with opportunities to spot them throughout the year; the grey whale season runs from November – April and the blue whale season from May – October. In addition to whales, travellers can also spot dolphins, seals and an array of birdlife.
Where to stay: Next to the region’s most famous beach is DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach, featuring newly refurbished rooms and suites that won’t break the bank. More information is available at visitdanapoint.com.
Hop over to Okunoshima Island, Hiroshima, Japan
Okunoshima Island, aka Rabbit Island, is located just off the coast of Hiroshima and is home to hundreds of adorable bunnies that roam the island freely.
On Rabbit Island, there are short walks and great views while the kids adore all the cute bunnies. Visitors to the island can bring their own carrots and lettuce to feed the fluffy fellas; alternatively, rabbit feed is also available to buy across the island. For more information, visit visithiroshima.net.
Where to stay: Located on the island itself is Holiday Village Ohkunoshima, a hotel and camping site where visitors can enjoy delicious seafood while watching the sunset on the island where the rabbits play.
For water babies
Kayak the seas of The Setouchi Region, Japan
The Seto Inland Sea offers a broad range of water sports, a favourite being sea kayaking perfect for all the family.
Tsutajima island is located a kilometre away from Nio town; visitors can kayak over the particularly calm waters – suitable for beginners and young children – to an uninhabited island where ancient ruins stand along with 8000-year-old ceramics and stoneware.
On route to the island, kayakers pass towering granite cliffs whilst paddling over small waves. For more information, visit setouchitrip.com.
Where to stay: Continuing the action-adventure holiday families can camp out at Tsutajima Camping Ground, this area is highly ranked as showcasing some of the best sunsets in Japan.
Rafting with Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions – Yosemite Mariposa County, California
Family whitewater river rafting has become an increasingly popular activity in the last few years, and Yosemite Mariposa County offers perhaps one of the scenic rivers to do so – the Merced.
Classified as a Wild and Scenic River by the US government, the Merced is protected for its remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife value. Whitewater rafting is a great way to explore and admire the region with the whole family. For more information, visit yosemite.com.
Where to stay: Tenaya Lodge’s Kids Camp is adventurous, offering kids activities such as archery, biking and skating. Stay in the new Explorer Cabins, which offer space for the whole family in a two-bedroom cabin with a private deck.
Summer fun at Brind’O Aquaclub – Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
In addition to being a world-class ski resort, Tremblant in Quebec has a host of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
Last year, the resort opened Brind’O Aquaclub, a family water play centre featuring 35 interactive water games, water slides, a hot tub and an outdoor swimming pool during the summer months.
Where to stay: Bondurant in the pedestrian village is within walking distance of the gondolas, ski lifts, hiking trails and Brind’O Aquaclub. For more information, visit tremblant.ca.
Stand-up paddleboarding – Newport Beach, California
There are few places more scenic to try stand-up paddleboarding than Newport Beach. Families with children aged 13 and above who want to try something different can do SUP Glow with Pirate Coast Paddle Boarding at Newport Beach Back Bay, which takes place after dark and uses boards fitted with glow-in-the-dark lighting.
Where to stay: Newport Beach Marriott Bayview is situated next to Newport Beach Back Bay and offers family-friendly suites. For more information, visit visitnewportbeach.com.
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