Are your kids getting older? Like many, you want your next vacation to be something special; one that is new and exciting, and one that your kids will definitely remember. To pull off such a trip, you’re going to need to write a family travel bucket list and narrow down the options from there.
But where to begin? This article will provide some inspiration for destinations you can fill out your family travel bucket list.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada – recommended for the American family travel bucket list
When you think of a travelling bucket list, you’re probably thinking of places abroad – but this doesn’t have to be the case! There is plenty to see and do within the U.S.A. that is sure to excite your family, especially your younger kids who maybe haven’t seen much of their country yet.
Lake Tahoe is a great place to start. The freshwater lake, straddled between two states and with the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada, is stunning, to say the least.
It’s an absolute must-see, affording some of the best American countryside vistas imaginable. It is also one of the best places to take part in water sports, such as swimming and kayaking, in its unbelievably transparent waters.
This is particularly good in the summer months as the lake never really gets warm, so it’s always at a welcoming, cool temperature.
Hike around its shoreline; follow the trails into the nearby woods and climb the lofty mountainsides – Lake Tahoe is truly an American treasure, that deservedly welcomes millions of tourists annually.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – this should be on everyone’s family travel bucket list!
Albeit an obvious one, but one that is always worth mentioning, Arizona’s Grand Canyon is a must-visit for every American traveler.
One of the seven wonders of the world, no photograph ever truly does this red rock canyon justice.
The red rock canyon is sure to leave a deep impression on all family members, while such activities as mule riding, river rafting, air painting, and riding the Grand Canyon Railway, are sure to be as fun and exciting as they are memorable and educational.
San Francisco, California
If there’s one city that needs to be on everybody’s bucket list, it’s San Francisco.
A favorite of tourists, and very welcoming and accommodating to families, America’s 14th largest city has lots to offer in the form of culture, landmarks, and must-do activities.
Marvel at the Golden Gate Bridge, the city’s iconic hilly streets, and the Coit Tower, while frolicking in its verdant parks and picnicking on Baker Beach.
There’s definitely something dream-like about San Francisco, a quality that can be enjoyed by all members of the family.
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Willingly leading your family deep into a rainforest may not be your idea of a fun-filled family vacation, but if well prepared for, a trip to the Amazon Rainforest could top all other trips featured on your family travel bucket list.
If you feel like you’ve had enough of conventional, resort-based vacations, the Amazon Rainforest will provide you with the most authentic lodgings imaginable, under a canopy of wildlife and nature.
Staying in a bamboo hut for a few days is the best means of reacquainting yourself with nature and teaching your kids how wonderful off-grid living can be.
Getting up close and personal with exotic animals in their natural habitat is the best means of learning about nature, and sure to amaze members of your family of all ages.
The Maldives
The Maldives has long been a bucket list staple, mainly for its underwater exploration offerings, and, given the increasing amount of over-water kid-friendly resorts cropping up all around the islands, the Maldives are worth considering for your family travel bucket list.
With resorts seemingly floating on crystal clear waters, kids of all ages will love getting up close and personal with tropical fish and dolphins and taking part in such water sports as wakeboarding, banana riding, jet-skiing, snorkeling, and mono skiing. Set off from your resort on a glass-bottom boat and see what the underwater world has to offer.
The most amazing part about the Maldives is that there are no distractions; there are no landmarks to go marvel at, no bustling promenade, and no shopping district – just you, your family, and the boundless blue sea!
The Maldives act as a detox for many from normal life and standard vacationing, which is why it frequently tops many people’s bucket list.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
To see some of the most cutting-edge feats in architecture, experience futuristic shopping, and go on a desert safari, visit Dubai.
A visit to this UAE city is likely incomparable to any trip that you and your family have made before, mainly due to its starkly contrasting culture, which includes its food, music, fashion, and general lifestyle.
It is, therefore, a great way to broaden the minds of the younger members of your family, by introducing them to a different way of life.
Dubai should also qualify to everybody’s bucket list due to the number of once-in-a-lifetime things there are to do in the city and its surrounding desert, including dolphin swimming, camel riding, and sandboarding.
Climb up the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, shop in the world’s largest mall, and dine in the dunes – the list of unique activities is boundless, which is why Dubai is essential to your family travel bucket list.
Planning your family travel bucket list is half the fun, actually doing the travel is just the icing on the cake. Happy planning!