7 Places to Take Your Toddler to on Your Next Family Vacation
Oahu, Hawaii
If you’re willing to brave a long flight with a toddler, then a Hawaii family vacation is well worth the trip. With near-perfect weather all year round, endless sandy beaches, and the most friendly and welcoming folks, there’s a good reason people refer to it as paradise!
The island of Oahu is home to the vibrant Waikiki Beach, with miles of powder-soft sand, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants where you can try some authentic Hawaiian cuisine. A little further along the coast you’ll find Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, nestled in the sleepy town of Ko’Olina. This is about as family-friendly as a trip to Hawaii gets!
We braved a trip to Aulani with a 3-year-old and a 12-week-old baby, and had a truly incredible time. There are numerous pools for kids of all ages, including a huge toddler-friendly water play structure, as well as a quiet beach where the waters are calm enough for a toddler to splash around safely.
If your little one is potty-trained, there is a fantastic kids club they can visit, so parents can sneak away for a romantic meal on the water, or a trip to the spa!
Vail, CO
Putting a toddler on skis and sending them down a mountain may sound a little crazy, but actually a ski vacation is a wonderful trip to take with a toddler. Toddler ski school starts at most resorts between 2 and 3 years old. You’ll find those little ones pick things up very quickly — probably much quicker than the adults!
While parents hit the slopes, the kids will be well taken care of by incredibly patient and encouraging instructors who will have your little one heading down after you in no time!
For family time spent together, Vail has a number of family-friendly restaurants, such as the very reasonably priced Blue Moose Pizza, where you can get a pie for the whole family to eat in or take back to your hotel room.
You can also visit Adventure Ridge to go tubing, something my toddler just couldn’t get enough of, and an adventurous family can find plenty of places for hiking, zip-lining and even whitewater rafting!
Beautiful landscapes, great food, and inspiring histories are important when it comes to travel. But great trips are also made by the people you encounter.
Siesta Key, FL
Voted the best beach in the United States, Siesta Key is the perfect place for your toddler’s first beach trip. With miles of soft, white sand on the warm, calm waters of the gulf, Siesta Key is a beach-goer’s dream.
The newly opened Siesta Key Beach Pavilion provides bathrooms and places to grab a bite to eat, both things absolutely necessary for any trip with a toddler. Plus there are a number of family-friendly hotels right on the beach.
Aside from building sandcastles and playing in the waves, families will find a number of water sports, including boat trips, parasailing and some fantastic fishing. Just be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen!
