Picking the perfect family vacation spot can be a challenge There’s so many beautiful places in the world, but finding the ideal family summer destination can feel overwhelming. We have been blessed to have visited over 20 countries and have some great insight. With that being said, we have found some extremely toddler-friendly locations that we want to share with you! Be sure to check out our specific travel guides on each destination for more info. Also, follow us on social media for more family travel tips and itineraries! Read on to learn about our favorite toddler summer destinations across the globe.
Toddler Summer Destinations
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Table of Contents
Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites are one of our favorite toddler summer destinations. For good reason, this has been our most popular travel post! Visit our Dolomites with a Toddler post for a more in depth guide and recommendations.
The Dolomites are located in the magnificent Italian Alps. Bordering Austria, you’ll discover the influences of both Italian Austrian, and German cultures. The mix of mountain life with a spruce of utter Italian culture and food is perfection. Undoubtedly, you won’t find a more beautiful town to stay in than Cortina d’Ampezzo. It has a traditional ski town vibe and is surround by stunning mountains. Here, you can access the best hiking for you and your little one. Our favorite hikes and trails are all less than an hours drive. Due to the expansiveness of the Dolomites, we recommend making two towns a base to experience other regions. Selva di Val Gardena was our second base and is another great option to immerse yourself in nature.
Below are recommendations for the best hiking in the Dolomites with a toddler
(most locations will have two names: Italian & Austrian)
Cortina d’Ampezzo
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- Tre Cime di Lavaredo
- Lago di Braies/Prager Wildsee
- Lago di Sorapis
Selva di Val Gardena
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- Seceda
- Santa Maddalena (Val di Funes)
- Adolf Munkel Weg Trail
- Sasso Lungo
Be sure to read our Dolomites with a Toddler post for more information and specific details on each hike. We always included any hotels or restaurants that we had a positive experience with. Plus, toddler or baby tips that we learned along the way!
Overall, we felt as though the Dolomites were the perfect getaway for adventure-seeking families who want to escape to nature. Whether you are a beginner or advanced hiker, there’s something to enjoy in the Italian Alps. Try to pair this trip with some relaxation to follow on Lake Como!
South Island, New Zealand
Without a doubt, New Zealand is one of our favorite destinations regardless of the season. Technically, this is not a classic “summer” trip as it is their winter time, but irregardless this is when the South Island peaks. If you’re looking to escape the heat and are interested in being surrounded by majestic fjords, snowcapped mountains and epic hikes, this trip is for you. We have shared both South Island road trips with and without a toddler here. A road trip with a motorhome is the best way to get around the island, especially with a little one. This is one of the best toddler summer destinations for those looking for a unique vacation.
Must Visit
- Queesntown
- Milford Sound & Fiordland National Park
- Mount Cook/Aoraki
- Lake Tekapo
- Lake Pukaki
- Wanaka
Best Hikes with a toddler (easiest to hardest)
- Routeburn Nature Walk
- Hooker Valley
- Sealy Tarns
- Ben Lomond Saddle
- Isthmus Peak
- Roy’s Peak (details here)
Why the South Island is one of the best Toddler summer destinations:
Driving around the South Island is an experience in itself. There are many moments where you may feel as if you’re the only humans there. It exemplifies serenity, natural beauty and simplicity. We love how inviting the locals are, how fresh the food is and how sustainable the country is as a whole. If hiking isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of scenic walks and viewpoints all through out the island. Also, English being the main language is always a relief for many novice travelers.
Aside from the food and culture, there is a perfect combination of relaxation and adventure that can be found here. I would recommend visiting this country at any time of the year, but winter has a special magical feel. Lastly, finding food and toddler/baby gear is easy in any town. Obviously, in more rural areas this is challenging, but the island is small and you’re probably not more than a couple hours from a main city. Overall, there’s so much for families young and older to fall in love with.
Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como. What a special place! It is the type of destination that makes you blast Frank Sinatra while cruising along the coastline. It truly is that beautiful. This trip is more for those looking to relax and do some light exploring with your family. We tacked this onto our Dolomites trip, which was the best way to unwind after a lot of hiking. Stay in the bustling city of Bellagio or relax in a quieter town like Cadenabbia or Tremezzo. There’s endless options when choosing a home base, but each town has its own charm. The nice part is that you are on a lake and can easily access any major town by ferry or boat. Check out our 3 Day Lake Como with a Toddler Itinerary.
What to do on Lake Como:
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- Book a private boat tour on the lake
- Rent a boat and explore the towns on your own
- Take a cooking class with locals in Varenna
- Roam around the town of Bellagio
Lake Como is the kind of place where anyone can find something enjoyable to do. Our favorite activities were renting a boat the day after our private lake tour. The captain gave us helpful tips on how to navigate around the lake and helped us feel comfortable boating ourselves the next day. The second activity we highly recommend is taking a cooking class in one of the local’s homes in Varenna. Our experience with Chef Marco and his partner Anita was incredibly. They truly were so lovely and accommodating. Anita entertained Maya (18 months old) at times so we could both participate, which was very generous considering we did not plan for that. Not to mention, it was some of the best Italian food we’ve ever tasted! Be sure to book with Chef’s Table Experience and follow them on instagram. This is definitely something we will book again when we return to Lake Como!
Tip: We heard that Lake Garda was comparable, if not better, than Lake Como. Driving through from the Dolomites, we decided to stop on Lake Garda for lunch. It was beautiful, but I do not think it compares to Lake Como. Sure, it may be less touristy, but Lake Como is popular for good reason.
Paris, France
Despite its bad reputation towards Americans, we have never once felt any negative vibes from locals in Paris. We have now visited the city three times (twice with young children) and if anything, we felt more welcome as a family. This is why it made our list for best toddler summer destinations. See all of our Paris travel guides here as well as Christmas in Paris with Kids.
Not only is Paris buzzing with culture and entertainment, but it’s even more vibrant in the summertime. There’s endless activities for families to occupy their little ones. From magnificent parks to cute cafes on each street, you’ll never be bored in this exciting city. Some of our favorite activities are picking up local food and wine for a leisurely picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens, visiting the Nelson Mendela playground, wandering Touleries Gardens and of course, admiring the Eiffel Tower sparkle after the sun goes down.
Our list goes on and on, but there’s something for every type of traveler in the city of love. Be sure to check out our recommendations for playgrounds and more here. Not to be missed, Christmas in Paris with kids is a must to any family bucket list!
Recommended arrondissements to stay with a toddler:
- 1st Arrondissement (Tuileries Garden)
- 5th arrondissement (aka Latin Quarter. Louvre museum)
- 7th arrondissement (Eiffel tower)
- 8th arrondissement (Champs-Élysées)
Faroe Islands
Many people have not heard of the Faroe Islands, which is a shame because it’s so stunning. On a positive note, this is part of what makes the land so unique. It’s certainly not as popular as its neighbors Iceland or Norway, but has its own bragging rights. This archipelago located in between Norway and Iceland, despite its off-the-grid appearance, is only a 2 hour flight from London. The Faroe Islands are a territory of Denmark that’s compromised of 18 rugged islands. Each island is more beautiful than the next! We visited the Faroes for one week. See our full guide here.
There’s a lot to offer on these islands for young families: easy walking trails, epic panoramic hikes, local-guided tours, animal encounters, adorable tiny villages and more. Ultimately, this is an incredibly unique trip and not for those interested in hustle and bustle.
The main capital of Torshavn is actually quite large and has plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops if you need a change of pace. We recommend splitting your time between two islands. Enjoy a few days in a quiet village to embrace the local culture and spend some time closer to the city center. The vast different truly makes your appreciate both worlds.
Our family hopped around a bit and had the opportunity to experience multiple areas on the island. For more information on our accommodation and itinerary recommendations, be sure to read our Faroe Islands with Kids post. Below are the towns we stayed in during our 9 night trip to the Faroes.
Accommodations:
- Gásadalur – Airbnb in the tiny village of 12 residents. Located on the island of Vagar. More off the beaten path feel
- Torshavn – one night in the capital for some exposure to civilization and good cuisine. A great, central home base if you are staying in one location
- Æovik – a farmhouse guest stay in a small village on the island of Esturoy. Close proximity to many attractions and hikes
- Velbastaður – a hidden gem on the southern coast of Streymoy island. 10 minutes from Torshavn
Alaskan Cruise
Alaska is such a beautiful, yet massive state. Truly the best way to explore (even a small portion of it) is by Cruise. We are not cruise people and did not think our specific cruise line was very toddler-friendly (Royal Caribbean). It was perfect for older children IMO. However, the state itself has so much for you and little ones to enjoy. There’s plenty of hiking, whale watching tours, gondolas, glaciers and more. If you can find a cruise line with more activities for small children, please share with us. However, there’s only two days traveling on the ship and you can certainly find things to do.
Our favorite excursion in Alaska was the whale watching. Both Maya and Luna were mesmerized the entire time. We loved the local tour guides and safe, covered boat to keep us warm. I would highly recommend a whale watching tour if it’s the only activity you book. Aside from that, there’s plenty of trails in each town to keep busy and active. The weather in the summer is perfect. Not too warm, not too cold for you and your family. I’d love to return to Alaska and take more time to explore specific regions and truly immerse ourselves in nature.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Mexico is one of the places that all walks of life can enjoy. We included Cabo San Lucas in our favorite toddler summer destinations because it is the ultimate relaxing beach getaway where you feel like you’re isolated from the tourist masses (sorry, Cancun).
Traditionally, we don’t love staying at all-inclusive resorts. The Hilton Los Cabos was an inviting, family-friendly resort that catered all of our needs. Albeit the 5 star status, it’s a very reasonably priced hotel. There are excellent dining options, a breakfast buffet that even the pickiest toddler will love, and plenty of upgrade options. We rented out a beachfront cabana and booked a bonfire one day for my birthday celebration. It was such a relaxing stay from the moment we arrived. On a side note, we never felt unsafe in any capacity. One night, the concierge even assisted us in ordering diapers and an emergency binky late at night. Life savers!
Other notes:
- There is a small kids water park and playground on the side of the building
- The infinity pool is child-friendly with a sun deck for little ones to safely play
- The store has baby gear and beach supplies, but is expensive. I’d pack your own sunscreen and toys if possible
- We did not venture into town with Maya. During the day is safe, but I would avoid nighttime and always use hotel drivers.
- We drank the water and ice here without any issue. I’d imagine the Hilton has pretty high standards for cleanliness and safety.
- Review of The Cape hotel and our pre-kiddo Cabo experience here
The Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is one of the most beautiful places we’ve explored in the US. We actually visited this area for our babymoon, not with kids, but it’s undoubtedly a perfect family getaway. There’s so much to explore up and down the coastline (think Big Sur but not as developed). Cannon Beach alone is a destination. We started here and ended in Brookings and the Redwoods. This is a great trip for families who enjoy scenic road trips, trails and beach bonfires.
At the end of my second trimester, I was able to complete all of the mild-moderate hikes. So, this should be doable with little ones as you could hike with a child carrier or let them roam. All of the hikes were safe until you got the end because of the cliffside endpoints. Rent a jeep and enjoy this quiet adventure! Don’t forget to stop at Tillamook Creamery for some delicious ice cream ☺️ I would recommend the exact same itinerary as our Oregon Coast Babymoon. You won’t be disappointed! Oregon also happens to be extremely dog-friendly for those families with pups. This is definitely an excellent toddler summer destination and I hope we can return soon with ours.
Jedediah State Park Redwoods Maternity Photoshoot by Hazel Eye Photography
We hope that our insight helps your family find the perfect toddler summer destination! The above are some of our best travel memories and we recommend immensely. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions and follow our adventures on social media for newly released family travel content and itineraries!
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