Planning Your “Travel that Teaches” Odyssey
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Tours and Family Adventures
There are several types of family travel related tours available, focused on combining learning with fun. A good example would be escorted group tours that take families to fascinating places all over the world. Imagine visiting some of Europe’s most legendary cities, going on an African safari, or visiting New York in the U.S., packed with iconic landmarks. All of these travel destinations have fantastic itineraries, well-informed guides, and lots of special activities geared toward kids.Ecotourism
Some locations offer Ecotours, perfect for a family adventure, based on teaching the whole family about ecology, marine and wildlife. Ecotours are always popular with families who have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favorite creatures.Family Travel Programs
Several organizations offer educational trips for kids, including the Sierra Club, which offers an extensive list of travel programs including several geared toward families. In addition, organizations, which include aquariums, often plan family travel focused experiences.Sightseeing
Sightseeing opportunities in major cities often offer a wealth of learning opportunities for kids, including many of the best museums. For example, there are art museums out there that offer brochures filled with kid friendly fun including scavenger hunts, free interactive exhibits and audio guides programmed specifically for kids. Whether you’re seeing the signs of wildlife on a family camping trip, or exploring historical sites in the UK, anywhere can be a great place for the kids to learn about history, culture and nature. Here are some fun examples of things the whole family can do together during their “travel that teaches” vacations.New York
There’s something truly magical about New York that draws people from all over the world. From the attitude of the locals, to the iconic yellow taxis, to the world renowned, legendary buildings, the “Big Apple” is a one of a kind destination. New York is also a surprisingly inspiring place to visit with kids of all ages as well, with its art galleries and museums, Central Park and don’t forget about treating the family to New York pizza and hot dogs. Next stop, the Gorilla Forest’s, an impressive 6.5 acre habitat or the massive Bronx Zoo with exhibits that include a butterfly garden with thousands of beautiful butterflies. All children should have an opportunity to see the site of Ground Zero as well, a symbol of the strength of New Yorkers.Washington
Kids of all ages will enjoy all that Washington, DC has to offer from the National Zoo with its pandas and lions, to the International Spy Museum where the family can learn about Morse code and hidden cameras. You should also make time to check out the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.Thailand
Thailand offers an exotic family travel experience where everyone can learn the art of porcelain and porcelain painting, take a Safari tour, visit the Phuket Aquarium and more. Even some of the resorts in Thailand (and other countries) offer fun, educational activities for the whole family that include cooking lessons, showing you how to make authentic Thai cuisine.London
London is a place that dreams are made of, brimming with the palaces of royalty, historic art filled museums and more. There’s really isn’t a better place to introduce your children to the distinctive charm, culture and history of Europe than London. Places you should definitely visit include the Tower of London, London Eye, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery. If you have little ones that are Harry Potter fans, make time to treat them to a Warner’s Bros. Studio tour.Italy
Italians are known for their love of family, so you can expect to receive a warm welcome wherever you go, even in 5 star restaurants. You will discover breathtaking historical sites throughout the country that include the Colosseum and Pompeii, nestled under Mt. Vesuvius. Other family friendly things to do include checking out the beaches, taking a boat trip, visiting caves, hiking through the mountains and beautiful landscapes where the kids can run and burn off energy. Other delights, of course, include the world’s tastiest ice cream and pizza.Ireland
If you’re looking for a family adventure of a lifetime, visit Ireland with your kids. Ireland is filled with magic things to do, rich is history and endless opportunities to learn that your family will never forget. From exploring the multitude of castle ruins that fill its landscapes, to its historic monuments and welcoming locals, there are a lot of experiences to be enjoyed by the inquisitive minds kids of all ages.Visit a World Heritage Site
Help the kids brush up on geography and history by booking a family vacation to some of the world’s most noteworthy places. There are hundreds of natural and cultural treasures in the world have earned the status of “World Heritage Site” and all are locations of historical significance and unmatched beauty that will inspire the whole family. Adding a learning aspect to your family vacation is a lot like “having your cake and eating it, too” – meaning that you get to enjoy all the regular vacation fun, in addition to enriching the overall experience for the entire family.What is a “travel that teaches” family vacation?
It is a trip built around learning together rather than the typical amusement park summer jaunt. That might mean soaking up history in Paris or London, touring Ireland’s medieval castles, or simply noticing what there is to learn close to home. You don’t need a famous destination for it to count — there are learning opportunities everywhere you go, including a family camping trip where the kids are spotting signs of wildlife.
How do I plan an educational vacation with kids?
You can do it either way. Some families wing it and learn as they go by dropping in on historical sites, museums and national parks, and others make a point of studying the places they plan to visit ahead of time. Phones, tablets and laptops fill in the facts while you travel, and old fashioned guidebooks are still wonderful. If you are traveling with little ones, look for books filled with colorful photos of the places you are going — the pictures do far more for a young child than the text will.
What are good destinations for a family trip that teaches?
New York gives you art galleries, museums, Central Park and the Bronx Zoo with its butterfly garden. Washington, DC has the National Zoo, the International Spy Museum, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. London offers the Tower of London, the London Eye, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery, plus a Warner Bros. Studio tour for Harry Potter fans. Italy has the Colosseum and Pompeii, Ireland has castle ruins and monuments, and Thailand offers porcelain painting, the Phuket Aquarium and cooking lessons.
Are there organized educational tours for families?
Yes. Escorted group tours take families all over the world with planned itineraries, well informed guides and activities geared toward kids. Ecotours are built around teaching the whole family about ecology, marine life and wildlife, and they are popular with families who want to get up close to their favorite creatures. Several organizations run educational trips as well — the Sierra Club has an extensive list of travel programs including ones aimed at families, and aquariums often plan family focused travel experiences.
Greetings! I'm Kevin, the founder and chief editor of More4Kids International, a comprehensive resource for parents worldwide. My mission is to equip parents with the tools and insights they need to raise exceptional children.
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