Best Places to Travel with Kids

Sydney is a family-friendly city packed with attractions that all ages will appreciate. The best place to begin a family vacation in Sydney is Darling Harbour. This activity-packed area is home to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, the perfect places to visit to learn about the unique wildlife of Australia and its aquatic life. The harbor area is also home to the world's largest IMAX screen and a variety of interactive entertainment, like flight and car racing simulators, as well as real-life thrills with jet boat rides on the harbor.

Even older kids have a fascination with ancient Rome, and the city will not disappoint when it comes to making history exciting. Rome's most iconic tourist attraction is the Colosseum (the Flavian Amphitheatre), where visitors can imagine the gladiators and huge animals that once served as entertainment. Kids (and adults) who want to be a gladiator for a day can find programs operated by the Gruppo Storico Romano, led by historical re-enactors.

This town is a chocolate-lover's paradise, and equally enticing to kids of all ages. The best introduction to the town is a Hershey Trolley Works tour, narrated by knowledgeable guides who won't need to point out the rows of Hershey's Kiss street lamps.

Jamaica offers everything a family could want in an unforgettable vacation, from its stunning beaches with coral reefs to mountains and rainforests. While the capital city of Kingston is where you will find local cultural attractions, many families find the island's resorts a convenient place to settle in thanks to plenty of on-site activities and entertainment, and access to the ocean.

Prague might not be the first place families think of when considering a family vacation with the kids, but its fairy-tale castle, breathtakingly beautiful architecture, and fascinating old sites are sure to impress even the most skeptical teenager.

Columbus has a growing reputation for being a family-friendly city and a great vacation destination. An excellent summer attraction in Columbus is the Zoombezi Bay water park, which has areas dedicated to younger kids in addition to the big slides and pools. Next door, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium can be enjoyed year-round, offering a variety of land and aquatic animals, as well as workshops, shows, and behind-the-scenes tours.

The nation's capital is one of those rare destinations that is equally interesting to both parents and kids alike, rich with history and educational opportunities that grab the interest of younger family members. After visiting the Capitol Building, a stroll down the National Mall brings you to the iconic Washington Monument, and from here, you can leave the mall to the north to get a photo-op with the White House. Back on the mall, continue past the reflecting pool and the war memorials to the Lincoln Memorial.

Punta Cana is located on the eastern shore of the island, offering several excellent all-inclusive resorts that take the stress out of vacationing with kids. Punta Cana is one of the Dominican Republic's top places to visit thanks to its soft white-sand beaches and wide range of resorts, many of which are designed specifically for families.

Orlando has become nearly synonymous with family vacations, a destination popularized first by Walt Disney World. Its four parks, including Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, are full of Disney characters, rides, and experiences that echo the films. Disney also has water parks, as well as themed resort areas.

The top family attraction in this beautiful city is San Diego Zoo, a place known for its cage-free natural habitats and incredible variety of residents from around the world, including giant pandas, koalas, sloths, giraffes, penguins, and more, with a total population of more than 3,700.