Family friendly vacation ideas

Here are 10 family friendly places to visit per Liz Weiss, senior editor of US News:

1. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo has a reputation for its fast, frenetic energy, soaring skyscrapers, neon-lit signs and throngs of tourists, but this world-class city is also a culinary and cultural mecca with plenty of diversions for visitors of all ages. Family travel expert Amy Tara Koch suggests joining a small-tour culinary expedition with Arigato Japan Food Tours to get a taste of the city's vibrant street food, markets (Tsukiji Fish Market is a must) and pop culture trends. On the Crazy Kawaii tour, for instance, you and youngsters can snap Instagram-worthy photos of colorful food art. Imaginative culture- and food-focused tours aside, youngsters will also get a kick out of attractions like the Ghibli Museum.

2. Park City, Utah

Park City is often touted for its pristine, snow-covered slopes, but this alluring ski town also brims with small-town charm and kid-friendly activities catering to adventurers of all ages year-round. Aside from skiing and snowboarding in winter, young thrill-seekers can take a scenic ride along the Heber Valley Railroad and enjoy mountain biking and hiking in the warmer months. And at the Homestead Crater, a geothermal spring that dates back 10,000 years, you can enjoy a soothing soak or try yoga on a paddleboard. As for lodging options, the Grand Summit Hotel at Canyons Village offers a heated outdoor pool area and even a Little Adventures Children's Center.

3. Minneapolis

The Twin Cities may be best known for their vibrant art and music scenes with world-renowned artists such as Bob Dylan and Prince, but you'll find plenty of attractions catering to young outdoorsy types, too. Little ones can enjoy swimming, canoeing, biking and other active outdoor pursuits in the warmer months thanks to Minneapolis' bounty of lakes. And while adults savor a pint from breweries like Surly Brewing Company, youngsters can grab a delectable burger (order the Jucy Lucy) from Matt's Bar. Budding art connoisseurs will also appreciate the city's top-notch cultural gems, including Paisley Park Museum and the Walker Art Center. For kid-approved amenities, check into the Kimpton Grand Hotel Minneapolis.

4. Charleston, South Carolina It's not hard to see why foodies, history buffs and architecture lovers flock to Charleston. Everyone can delight in picking up souvenirs at shops along King Street, snapping photos with the iconic pineapple at Waterfront Park, savoring low country staples such as grits and fried chicken or catching a performance at Dock Street Theatre. Charleston is also the place to immerse yourself in history and southern charm. Boone Hall Plantation – the iconic Spanish-moss draped estate that served as the cinematic backdrop of the film "The Notebook" – offers tours. And along Rainbow Row, you'll find stately Georgian Homes, including the Nathaniel House. Plus, there are plenty of family-friendly lodging options, including the Restoration on King.

5. Nashville, TN

When you think of Nashville, country music, bluegrass and honky-tonk bars may come to mind, but there are a number of kid-friendly places, says Karen Cicero, senior travel editor at Parents Magazine. If you're planning a winter visit, head to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, which goes all out for each holiday season with Ice!, a holiday attraction that includes "amazing display sculptures and ice slides," she says. The hotel transforms into a wonderland of sorts with gingerbread-house decorating, she adds. If the kids are music lovers, you won't want to skip visiting the Grammy Museum Gallery at the Musicians Hall of Fame, which features a hands-on exhibit where visitors can learn about songwriting and producing music.

6. Amsterdam

While the Dutch capital certainly has its share of risqué areas like the red-light district, it also offers plenty of charms, from world-renowned art museums to lovely contemporary canal-lined cafes and impressive 17th-century architecture. Cicero highlights the Hotel Pulitzer as an especially family-friendly retreat. Design-conscious teens will appreciate the family room lodgings, which offer plenty of space in split-level accommodations, along with the complimentary breakfast and outdoor garden, which offers a relaxing place to unwind. If you're traveling with elementary-school kids, visit the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum, Cicero adds. Other must-dos include savoring an authentic Dutch pancake at a kid-friendly café like Mook Pancakes and visiting the floating Amsterdam Flower Market.

7. New Orleans

Crescent City is known for its vibrant jazz clubs, booze-filled Bourbon Street, larger-than-life parties and year-round revelry, music and mysticism, especially around Mardi Gras. But here's a secret: For aspiring culture vultures and foodies, the Big Easy offers an enticing retreat, Cicero says. Not only can you take in the city's infusion of Spanish, French, American and African influences on a family-friendly walking tour, you can also embrace bayou charm with a powdery beignet at Café Du Monde and ride around an authentic streetcar on St. Charles Avenue. Design-conscious kids will appreciate the wrought-iron balconies and antebellum architecture of the French Quarter, and little ones will appreciate riding the carousel in City Park.

8. Big Sur, California

With misty coastal views, dramatic cliffs and enchanting grown-up retreats (we're looking at you, Post Ranch Inn), Big Sur may not seem kid-friendly, but it's much more than a romantic hot spot. Outdoorsy types can soak in their surroundings on a hike at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, with its 3,300-plus Manuel Peak, or walk among redwood-filled groves in Limekiln State Park. Another must is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which offers a mix of waterfalls, scenery-packed trails and picnic spots. As for lodgings, you can retreat to nearby Carmel and Monterey for spacious, family-friendly accommodations at places such as Carmel Valley Ranch and Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course.

9. Antarctica

If you and your brood are interested in embarking on a one-of-a-kind voyage, consider cruising to Antarctica, Koch says. The cruise line Hurtigruten offers adventure-focused Antarctica cruises that journey through the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. On The Frozen Land of the Penguins 14-day cruise, you can catch sight of Adélie or gentoo penguins, and hike along unspoiled landscapes. Best of all, Hurtigruten's Young Explorers Program, designed for kids ages 7 to 13, offers field research, activities and a lecture series focused on climate change and environmental sustainability, Koch adds. With the program, kids can partake in onshore excursions, learn about the geology of the Southern Ocean and even partake in eco-focused community service activities.

10. Detroit, Michigan

"A much-underrated Midwest destination for families is Detroit, whose famed zoo opened the world's largest penguin exhibit last year," says Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, a family vacations expert at Tripsavvy.com. She suggests checking out the new Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo, which features a 25-foot-deep aquatic area where visitors can observe 80-plus penguins in the 326,000-gallon facility. She also highlights the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center as a must-see. "The three-story facility offers a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in a fun, interactive way, giving kids the chance to catch a fish, paddle a kayak and steer a snowmobile or bush plane," she says. Another kid-friendly attraction worth exploring is the Michigan Science Center.

References: https://travel.usnews.com/gallery/50-unexpected-family-friendly-vacation-destinations?slide=2

#family #holiday