Child friendly

7 child friendly cities to visit on holiday

A genuine concern while planning a family holiday is what activities are available for the whole family to enjoy? Increasingly more and more cities around the world join the list of ‘children friendly’ holiday destinations as the hospitality tourism ‘powers that be’ have recognized the importance of providing family friendly fun-filled attractions.

1. Orlando, Florida
Orlando is regarded as the theme park capital of the world. This is not surprising with six theme parks at Disney World, Sea World’s Discovery Cove, Gatorland, zip lining at the Amway Center, a show at Cirque de Soleil, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Lego Imagination Center, Epcot and iFly Orlando, there won’t be a dull moment left in your itinerary.

2. London
The land of Harry Potter, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland, a visit to London should excite any child at heart (this includes adults). The city is filled with family-friendly things to do. Interesting activities and places of interest include: river cruises on the Thames, the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds wax museum, London Zoo and the bird’s eye view of the city from the London Eye.

3. Chicago
Chicago boasts its own array of child friendly must-do attractions. The extraordinary Field Museum ranks high on the list. Kids will take delight in the interactive features of the exhibits. Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, North Park Village Nature Center with its waterfall and wildlife fit a kid definition of fun.

4. Nassau, Bahamas
A haven for water filled fun activities that children love. Kids will find Nassau’s water wonderland perfect for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. The Atlantis aquarium is also a major hit with both the young and old. Families would enjoy a leisurely stroll through the craft markets and duty free shops.

5. Chiang Ma, Thailand
This family friendly town seems to summarize the best of big city Bangkok. Families who love outdoor adventure will appreciate the elephant rides to water rafting to a visit to the local zoo to hiking in the hillsides. There also remains the opportunity to give your children the invaluable experience of experiencing a different culture.

6. Dublin, Ireland
Plenty of family friendly hotels and endless attractions to keep little tourists busy and entertained, Dublin is a city to delight all ages. A hop on/off city tour is a pretty good way to access the top visitor attractions with over 25 stops including the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral and the national museums. The National Aquatic Centre, the Chocolate Warehouse and EcoAdventure Ireland also provide plenty of pure pleasure filled hours.

7. New York
New York may rank as the number one city to visit. With the abundance of attractions to delight children, it makes for a great family holiday destination too. The American Museum of National History, a Location tour (locations of TV and film), Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium at Coney Island and the overwhelming number of dazzling shopping destinations are all good reasons to make a visit to this vibrant city.