Family vacations are part of what bring our families together after all of the time we spend battling the day to day grind. That’s why it is so important to plan a vacation that the whole family can enjoy and remember as great times together. One memorable way to vacation as a family is a trip through Europe, but where to go? Here are six family friendly European Destinations to help you plan your next family vacation.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam may not be the first place to come to mind when you think of a family friendly vacation, but believe it or not, there is a lot more to Amsterdam than their red light district. For the best way to get around Amsterdam do as the locals do and take a bike or boat as you tour this gorgeous city. If you are looking for something the younger kiddies in your family to do, check out the Nemo Science Museum. It will keep them busy for hours with hands-on exhibits, chemistry lab experiments, and a host of other interactive exhibits. If your kids are older the Anne Frank Museum is a particular favorite. In addition to great museums, shopping, and other attractions you will find reasonably priced, cafés and local restaurants to enjoy native dishes while absorbing the local culture.

Dublin

Have a relaxed day picnicking at St. Stephen’s Green as you appreciate the “doors of Dublin”, followed by an energetic frolic in the newly renovated playground area. Let the kids feed the ducks before you venture on to one of the other many attractions that Dublin has to offer, like the National Museum of Ireland Natural History, the Dublin Zoo, or Kilmainham Goal; or take the train to Bray and visit the aquarium before taking a sea side stroll and hiking up to Brayhead.

London

London offers too many activities to mention in just one paragraph, but some of the highlights that you might want to take in with your family are, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Big Ben, the Tower of London Tour to see the Crown Jewels, and Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studios Tour. Don’t forget to make time to witness Buckingham Palace’s changing of the guard, before having some down time at one of the local area pubs or beer gardens.

Rome

Home of the gladiators and gelato, it is a great place to take the family for a historic vacation. Take the kids on an adventure through time as you explore the Colosseum, gaze upon Michelangelo’s master work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and splash about in the Trevi Fountain. Then go an enjoy one of the many flavorful dishes to be offered at one of the local eateries.

Munich

Munich’s Old Town is the ideal location to start your tour of Munich; enjoy the farmer’s market before taking time to watch the more than 100 year old Glockenspiel chime at 11:00 and 12:00. Follow this leisurely start to your day with a visit to the Toy Museum, the three story bookstore that sits directly across the square from the antique Glockenspiel, or the Munich Zoo. If these offerings don’t sound like something your family will enjoy there are always tours of the many castles, palaces, and museums that you can take instead.

Barcelona

Dazzle your families’ senses at the Boqueria; a one of a kind farmer’s market that offers local treats, flowers, locally grown produce, and crafts to delight anyone. In addition to the many unique museums such as The Chocolate Museum, there are more adventurous activities like shark cave diving at the Oceanarium, or hiking up Parc Guell to see the multicolored salamander “el drac”.

And for those fearful of the dreaded kiddy tantrum after your long day of touring the city, fear not, personal driver service Blacklane has your back with their well-known service in more than 180 countries in the world. Cut out the queues, headaches and arrive to your destination in style with your family!

Taking a family vacation is always an adventure, but making it a positive experience doesn’t have to be difficult. Plan a memorable trip that will be a happy memory for decades to come by trekking through Europe exploring all it has to offer.

It is not surprising that the most visited island in the Caribbean happens to be the Dominican Republic. With a thriving economy, impressive tourism infrastructure and a delightfully topical year round temperature, flocks of luxury-loving tourists, many of them moms like myself make this island their choice of destination for their vacation.

The Dominican Republic has a particular appeal to us family travellers because of the array of accommodations to choose from, easy traveling to the island’s five airports, and the diverse family activities to choose from. As far as rentals to stay at, mom travellers find that choosing one of the many private family villas in the Dominican Republic is the best option to truly see this country in style.

• Adequate privacy while still feeling like you are in a beautiful resort.
• Great value while having the conveniences of fully furnished and equipped rooms, as well as outdoor areas such as pools and patios.
• Ample comfort and the feeling of staying in a genuine home
• Your own stretch of beach to keep the little ones from a temper tantrum when bored!

Although adults may find that their ideal vacation is relaxing with a book on a beach, many children require high-energy and out of the ordinary activities to keep them happy. Rest assured, the Dominican Republic offers many lively choices to keep the whole family occupied and content. When traveling as a family in the DR, here are things to take special attention of:

Monster Truck Safari

Both an automobile and a boat, this adventure will bring you through sugar cane fields and several rivers as you romp around the island in the zebra-themed truck. Expect lots of laughter and exhilaration from all age groups and watch your child’s eyes light up as they spot an exotic species!

Dolphin Island

This tour will whisk you off to an island off of Punta Cana where you get to encounter with dolphins and some other small marine life. There is also an aquarium in the park and local restaurants to enjoy – always a good idea to keep the kids’ blood sugar levels balanced!

Bavaro Runners Zip Line Adventures

This activity provides you the opportunity to soar through the sky and get to see rainforests, mountains, lakes, and wildlife. The tour is a true haven for those in love with nature. Equipment is excellent and guides are super-friendly keeping you and the family safe, informed and most importantly – entertained.

Manati Park Bavaro

Here you will find a combination of native wildlife and cultural exhibits all showcasing the unique attributes of the Dominican Republic. The trained horses, seals, dolphins and parrots are all great fun to watch. They even had a cage full of ‘love birds’ that would sit on your hand while you fed them. And, they had some native dancers from local tribes too.

Xtreme Dune Buggy

Offered as a half-day or full-day tour, this excursion will take you on an adventure through the island’s beaten paths on a beast of transport that resembles Fred Flinstone’s car. Take old clothes and shoes as you will get filthy (not that the kids care too much about that).

Horseback Riding

The island has many ranches and operators to offer visitors horseback riding tours on beaches as well as mountains. All these activities and more will keep every member of your family more than happy in the marvellous Dominican Republic and the only complaint you’ll get from your kiddies – is that you have to go home.

Planning your next family vacation? One of the most family friendly holiday destinations has to be Orlando, Florida. The famous amusement parks have plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids of all ages entertained. If you need a break from the wild thrill of rides and costumed characters, there are plenty of other attractions to keep you and the kids busy.

Where To Stay

Once you’ve booked your flights to Orlando, you’ll want to look at accommodations. Whether you’re looking for budget family holiday accommodations or would prefer a five star resort, there’s a hotel in Orlando to suit your taste and budget.

The Walt Disney resorts are second to none but it’s not hard to find a great resort and save some money by staying off-property. Many resorts run shuttle services to the big amusement parks so staying on site isn’t essential. Do plenty of research: savvy travellers can take advantage of great deals on hotels, car rentals and even find discounts to theme parks.

What To Do

There are numerous Walt Disney World parks including the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot and their water parks, but here are a few firm family favourites:

Universal Studios is great: brilliant for lovers of thrill rides and movie fans but also has plenty for small kids. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes you into the world of the famous boy wizard, you can check out Diagon Alley and Gringotts bank as well as book a seat on the Hogwarts Express. For the little ones, there is a Curious George themed play area that includes a wet section, so remember to bring your swimwear!

SeaWorld Orlando has a diverse line up of entertainment suitable for all ages. The park has huge rollercoasters for the thrill seekers and calmer rides for the kids along with amazing killer shark shows and fun animal displays.

If you need a break from the amusement parks, Orlando Science Center is a must for your ‘things to do in Orlando’ list. The center has four floors of exciting exhibits, live shows and amazing giant screen movies.

Guaranteed fun awaits visitors the Orlando, the only problem is trying to fit it all in one trip.

This post was brought to by: Karlie Dunn is a mom of two under-fives: Jessica and Owen. She is also a part time blogger and specialises in travel. Her favourite destination is New York.