My Picks for the Top 10 Best Places to Travel with Kids After 10+ Years of Family Travel

Travel has been a part of my kids’ lives since Day 1. We like to say that my son was born on a road trip (we stopped in one place for 2 months to have him) and my daughter was born on a medical visa abroad. And ever since then, they’ve been right there with us, exploring the world, seeing new places, and learning what it means to live life as global citizens.

Now that we’ve been traveling with them for over 10 years, I think it’s a great time to look back at our Top 10 Family Travel destinations from around the globe and what made them special to us!

1. Vietnam

• We love it because: Budget-friendly travel base with tons of natural beauty, tasty food, adventure travel, and an active expat community.
• Travel difficulty: Low. English is widely spoken. Prices are affordable. And it’s super safe!

After nearly 2 years basing out of Da Nang, Vietnam, this country has earned it’s place in our family’s heart.

Our first visit to Vietnam was a 3 month stay in 2024, and we fell in love with its unique blend of natural beauty, deep cultural history, and convenience. Vietnam has a ton going for it and yet still somehow manages to be both one of the easiest and one of the least expensive places for expats to visit.

While we live in Da Nang, our favorite experiences have mostly happened while exploring the north of Vietnam, where we focused on exploring the country’s natural beauty. Sapa’s rice fields, Cao Bang’s waterfalls and mountains, and the towering limestone karsts of Ninh Binh all left us in awe of Vietnam’s beauty.

But Vietnam also has incredible cultural sites, from Imperial Citadel in Hue, to Heritage sites like Hoi An’s Old Town, and even ancient ruins from past civilizations like the Cham ruins at My Son Sanctuary. Add to that the fact that Vietnamese food is consistently ranked as one of the best cuisines in the world, and it’s very easy to see why Vietnam is our top pick.

After 2 full years in this country, there are still countless places left for us to explore. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a great destination for traveling with kids.

2. South Africa (Kruger, Cape Town, & The Drakensbergs)

• We loved it because: Budget-friendly and incredible Big 5 Safari, stunning landscapes, and basically everything about Cape Town.
• Travel difficulty: Medium. English is a national language. Prices are mostly low. We felt safe everywhere we went, but South Africa has a reputation for not being the safest.

I don’t know about you, but growing up, going on safari seemed like one of those things that only the super rich were able to do. It was always a dream, but it felt like one that would always be out of reach. And then we visited South Africa.

We were there for a work thing, but decided to make the most of our visit and it ended up being one of the most incredible experiences of my life. We did a week-long self-drive safari in Kruger National Park and got to see all 5 of the Big 5 up close. We did whale watching from the shore line in Hermanus. We saw penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. And so, so much more.

And while the animal experiences were definitely the highlight, the sheer natural beauty of spots like the Drakensberg mountains and the Garden Route would have been worth the visit, even without the safari. Add to that incredible historical sites like the Cradle of Humankind where early hominid fossils were discovered and the Main Caves where cave paintings from the San people have been preserved, and South Africa easily makes our list.

3. Egypt (From Ancient Ruins to the Red Sea Coast)

• We loved it because: Tons of ruins and learning about Ancient Egypt! There’s so much history to learn and it’s incredible just how ancient Egypt is!
• Travel difficulty: Medium. English is spoken in most tourist areas. Prices are low. Vendors can be very pushy, and there were moments when we didn’t feel safe, but the vast majority of people we met were friendly and our experiences were mostly positive.

My family has spent around a year exploring Egypt, divided out over several trips. It’s one of those locations that keeps calling you back for more, and there’s no lack of places to explore.

Luxor, in particular, is a family favorite thanks to the huge number and variety of ruins and temples to explore. It’s home not only the the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamen was discovered, but also Karnak Temple, which is the second largest archeological temple complex in the world. As well as plenty of other amazing things to see!

And while Egypt is most famous for its ancient ruins, my family also loves it for it’s absolutely stunning snorkeling and diving spots along the Red Sea coast! We spent several months in a tiny coastal town (Marsa Alam) and experiencing some of the absolute best snorkeling and diving we have ever seen.

4. Antigua, Guatemala (Volcán Pacaya)

• We loved it because: Hiking an active volcano! Also, Antigua is filled to bursting with colonial charm and we loved exploring. Plus, great coffee!
• Travel difficulty: Low. It’s definitely possible to enjoy yourself with just English, but a bit of Spanish knowledge does make things easier. The weather is nice all year round, and Antigua itself is very walkable.

Antigua is UNESCO Cultural Heritage site located in Guatemala that preserves much of the architectural beauty of the Spanish Colonial era. The city itself has some seriously stunning ruins from that era, and it’s one of my favorite cities to just wander around. We loved picking different restaurants and coffee shops around the city to visit, and would often sit on the many rooftop terraces around town and watch Fuego Volcano erupt in the evenings.

Speaking of volcanoes, we also hiked nearby Pacaya Volcano during our time there, and it was (mostly) a wonderful experience, even with our kids being younger (6 and 7). Our kids road horses up most of the hike, and we were able to roast marshmallows over lava on the volcano’s slopes. There was a small eruption while we were on the volcano that was a little scary, but our guides quickly led us back off the volcano, and we ended up with a great story to tell!

5. Komodo National Park (Flores, Indonesia)

• We loved it because: 3 day live aboard cruise from Lombok, including seeing dolphins, swimming with whale sharks, beautiful sunset hikes, and, of course, seeing wild Komodo dragons up close!
• Travel difficulty: Low. The cruise operator handled everything and we just relaxed.

Komodo National Park was one of those items that has been on my bucket list since I was my kids’ age, but our actual trip ended up being so much more than I ever expected! We started in the Gili Islands, off the coast of Lombok and sailed for 3 days to Labuan Bajo on Flores, which is one of the closest islands to Komodo. During those three days, we swam with whale sharks, watch dolphins playing in our wake, and snorkeled with baby sharks, but the highlight of the trip was an overland hike on Komodo where we spotted several different dragons!

Compared to just staying in Bali, this trip would probably be considered “roughing it”, but it was, without a doubt, one of my personal favorite animal experiences that I’ve ever had. One word of warning, the hike was a bit fast-paced for our kids, who were 7 and 8 at the time, but not too bad. It was mostly flat, and my son kept up with the group fine, but I did end up carrying my daughter on my shoulders for part of the time.

6. Road Tripping America’s National Parks

• We loved it because: America’s National Parks have some of the most incredible landscapes on earth, are easy to access, and have a variety of really interesting and educational activities hosted by the rangers!
• Travel difficulty: Low, for Americans. We packed a tent with us and camped in most of the spots on this list, which both made the experience more memorable and saved us money!

There are so many great National Parks in America’s park system, and I would argue that each and every one of them are worth visiting. Add to that the National Forests, National Monuments, and the State parks, as well? You’ve got enough incredible educational adventures to keep your family busy for as long as you want!

It’s been a few years since we’ve spent a chunk of time in the States, but on one of our last visits we made time for a road trip that featured Badlands, Black Forest, Yellowstone, and more, and even with all of our family’s globetrotting, it’s still one of my all-time favorite trips we’ve made.

In all, our trip took us a little less than a month on the road, but the memories will absolutely last a lifetime!

7. Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Langkawi, & Penang)

• We loved it because: Plenty to see and do! Larger cities like Kuala Lumpur offer convenience and luxury while smaller places like Langkawi offer tropical vibes, and the chance to relax
• Travel difficulty: Low. English is a national language, and while not everyone speaks it, you’ll almost certainly find someone who can. Food options are plentiful and getting around is easy, thanks to Grab.

Malaysia is arguably the easiest, most accessible entry point to Southeast Asia for most families. The capital city, Kuala Lumpur, blends modern city offerings with beautiful temples and rainforest walks. It’s especially lovely around the holidays, as almost every major mall in the city (and there are lots) will have a holiday display to check out. Plus, the Kuala Lumpur Airport is one of the best connected airports in the region, making it easy to get basically anywhere from here. We often end up spending a day or two in Kuala Lumpur on the way to or coming back from new destinations, since it’s a convenient resting point for us.

Outside of KL, lots of visitors to Malaysia like to head north to Penang for its world-famous street food and street murals, or to the island of Langkawi for its tropical white sand beaches. Or, if you’re feeling especially adventurous, Malaysia is also one of only two countries on earth where you can see orangutans in the wild, on the island of Borneo.

8. Ecuador (The Galapagos Islands)

• We loved it because: We love unique animal adventures, and the Galapagos has some of the most unique animals you can find across the globe!
• Travel difficulty: Medium. While I’m sure you can get around ok with just English, I was very glad that I do speak Spanish. Credit cards weren’t always accepted and most ATMs charged extra fees to withdraw. Visiting the islands is absolutely worth it, but if a Galapagos cruise is in your budget, that’s going to be the easiest option.

The Galapagos Islands are one of those places that a lot of people assume wouldn’t be accessible to “non-scientist” travelers. But as it turns out, not only is it open to anyone who can enter Ecuador, but it’s also a surprisingly family-friendly getaway!

The big draw here is definitely the unique and diverse array of animal life. (Seeing a pattern in my picks?) Most of the animals here have little to no fear of humans, so your kids may find themselves sunbathing next to marine iguanas, swimming alongside playful sea lion pups, or standing next to centuries-old giant tortoises.

One particularly fun outing even had us snorkeling above hammerhead sharks at a cleaning station! (Perfectly safe. The sharks come to be cleaned by the local fish, so they don’t hunt in that area!) There’s even penguins on some of the islands!

Apart from the animal sightings, the Galapagos Islands tend to be pretty similar to other islands we’ve visited. There’s nice beaches, fresh seafood, and local craft markets to check out. That’s all great, but the variety and quantity of animal sightings really are what makes this a Top 10 place to visit with kids.

9. Jordan (Petra & Wadi Rum)

• We loved it because: Jordan was incredible for learning about history and archeology. Hiking in Wadi Rum desert provided views that are unlike anything else I’ve seen on the planet!
• Travel difficulty: Medium. We got around well enough with just English, but had to depend on Google Translate for a lot. For traveling longer distances, we ended up renting a car and driving ourselves.

In the section header, I highlighted Petra and Wadi Rum because those are experiences that still come up in our family’s conversations years after our trip. Petra was absolutely incredible for me personally, both as someone interested in history and as someone who enjoyed the Indiana Jones movies. And camping in Wadi Rum desert was really allowed the beauty of that place to seep in. It’s different from any other place I’ve ever been, and I loved every moment of it.

But while those two spots were definitely highlights from our trip, they are far from the only spots worth visiting in Jordan. There were Roman ruins in Jerash, the place where Moses died, numerous early Christian-era mosaics, and the deserted shores of the Dead Sea.

And really, we only just scratched the surface. It’s definitely one of those places that I’m sure we’ll end up visiting again, someday!

10. Thailand

• We loved it because: Thailand offers budget-friendly adventures, natural beauty, gorgeous temples, and incredible street food options.
• Travel difficulty: Low. Thailand feels like it was built around the service industry. Whatever sort of trip you’re looking for, you can almost certainly find it here. Prices range from backpacker’s budget to high-class luxury with plenty to do at every price point.

Whether you’re looking to soak in its natural beauty or dive into its cultural heritage, Thailand does an incredible job of making things accessible. Thailand’s larger cities host dozens (hundreds?) of temples worth exploring, and the Thai countryside has waterfall trails, sprawling tea plantations, and large swaths of untamed rainforest to explore.

We particularly liked exploring Khao Sok National Park, in the south, where we spotted wildlife on night hikes, and swam through caves on a guided tour. But we had just as much fun wandering through Chiang Mai’s streets in search of sticky rice, enjoying inexpensive Thai massages, and touring temples.

Thailand is also known for its incredible snorkeling and diving, thanks to its many islands in the Andaman Sea to its west. Though, we haven’t managed to make it out there for ourselves, yet. (Next time!)

Which Destination Is Next on Your List?

10 years of traveling with kids has taken us to some pretty amazing places. And, while these 10 have topped the list for my family, they are far from being the only worthwhile spots that we’ve visited! Soon, we’ll be traveling with teenagers instead of just kids, and I’m excited to see what that new chapter brings!

Were you surprised by any of the picks on my list? Are there places that topped your list that you think we need to check out? Or were you inspired to visit one of the spots on this list?

Let me know!

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