5 Best Family Vacations around the World

When many think of family vacations, smiling faces and Disneyland or maybe a beach holiday comes to mind. But there are so many other places that families can take their children. Here are my top 5 family vacations around the world.

1. Egypt
If the 7 wonders of the world, or ancient history are of any interest for you, the allure of the Pyramid of Giza or gazing at the Sphinx have got to be on your bucket list. They are on mine! Since the unrest of 2014, Egypt tourism is way down. But it is coming back. 2017 is the year for Egypt! Imagine gazing over the desert without hordes of crowds competing for the best view. Give your kids the experience of a lifetime, and choose Egypt for your 2017 travels.

2. England
While not a super off-beat destination, it has never been cheaper to visit. After Brexit, the pound fell sharply, and you can buy 1 GBP for around 1.23 USD. There is something for everyone in England. If Stonehenge is on your bucket-list, why not visit in 2017. And if you are headed that way, visit Avebury, much less known, much less crowded and you can walk among the stones and even touch them. As many of you know, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander is one of my favourite books of all time, and being near these standing stones is nothing but eerie! There is so much to discover with the kids, and do not forget a stop at Hamley’s.

3. Canada
Celebrating its 150th Birthday, it is a great time to visit Canada. Especially if you are an American. The USD goes pretty far these days! You can visit the National Parks for free in 2017 with a Parks Canada pass. Pick a region, whether the East Coast, the West Cost, Quebec, or somewhere in between. Each of the regions in Canada are so diverse but the country is so large, do not spend your whole trip travelling from place to place! I am a little biased to Vancouver, and if you are planning on hitting the West Coast, here are 40 things to do in Vancouver.

4. Jordan
This small Middle Eastern country has stolen my heart. While Jordan’s neighbours may have conflicts, Jordan is safe and welcoming for travellers of all kinds. And imagine, visiting ancient Roman ruins without the thousands that you will find littered in Rome or gazing at the amazing ancient city of Petra. It is an outdoor playground with so much to do with kids. And since the country is relatively small in size, it does not mean long travel for kids!

5. Cuba
If you carry an American passport, Cuba is now open for you! While many expect the American influence to change what character Cuba has, we do not know what is in store for this Caribbean Island. If you think Cuba is just beaches, you are wrong! There is so much more to see!
 
Lindsay Nieminen
Lindsay Nieminen is a freelance writer, photographer, lifetimetraveller and a lover of learning. She left her career to share her love of travel with her two young boys. She resides in the suburbs of Vancouver when not jet setting abroad. She shares her travels on Carpe Diem OUR Way, a family travel blog.