The Traveller's Magazine
Starting to plan this year’s summer holidays? If the kids are coming then maybe skip Majorca this year and take them on a trip they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. From the Grand Canyon to the Galapagos Islands, these are trips that will change their lives.
There is a real art to choosing holiday destinations that will inspire and capture your child’s imagination plus give you the chance to take a break and relax. Travel is the best way to learn about the world and its different cultures, maybe hear their native language spoken in a different way and see world wonders that they only know from TV or books.
This is just a short list of ideas to get you started. Some are closer to home than others and when it comes down to it the best way to choose a destination is to really take your child’s interested to heart. Do they love to dig and are a budding geologist or archaeologist? Grand Canyon. Do they love dolphins and marine life? Galapagos Islands. When in doubt, New York is always a good choice.
Grand Canyon
There are few places that can have as much impact on children and adults alike than standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Don’t think they’ll be satisfied by posing for photos. Taken them down, into the abyss. This is where they can learn about the layers of the Earth and what geology can tell us about history. Take them on a hike below the rim and join a ranger-led hike so discover fossils, lizards and identify wildflowers.
Galapagos Islands
Visiting the Galapagos Islands takes more planning than a holiday in Spain does. It’s also not the cheapest trip but it will certainly be a trip they remember. For families with kids under the age of 7, it’s best to stay at a hotel on land and take day trips to nearby coves and bays. With kids 8 and above, why not go for a cruise? Swim with sharks in Tortuga Bay, visit the tortoise sanctuary and hike across lava fields on Santiago Island.
Loch Ness
Planning a trip to capture Loch Ness on film could be a wild goose-chase but the adventure will no doubt capture your child’s imagination. Loch Ness is proof that myth and legend can inspire children about a place as much as reality can. Stories of a monster living in the lake go back as far as the 6th century! Spot dolphins in Firth Moray, visit the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit and of course take a boat trip onto the lake, camera at the ready!
New York City
New York is a sort of rite of passage for anyone who hasn’t grown up there. Kids and adults alike should visit at least once (but preferably many) in their life. Each and every time you visit there is something new to discover, just in Manhattan! Essential stops include the Statue of Liberty, catching a Broadway show and if you visit in December, seeing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Square is always fun.
Flights to New York
What are your favourite holidays spots to go with your kids? Which kind of trips do they like most?
For more ideas, check out National Geographic’s book, 100 places that can change your child’s life.
