The short holiday is just around the corner. Where are you planning to take your kids for vacation? For many parents, traveling with children is about creating beautiful memories and experiences. Of course, traveling with kids isn’t easy—you might find that despite all the thought and effort you put into planning, they just aren’t impressed. We’ve gathered observations from parents on what kids actually enjoy during trips and are sharing them here.
What kinds of places do kids enjoy?
To answer this question, we surveyed 30 parents. The results showed that water-related destinations were the most popular. These include beaches, swimming pools, waterfalls, boating, cruises, and more. “Every time we go on a trip, it’s to an island. We’ve gotten tired of the Southeast Asian islands, but the kids love them. Just give them some water guns, and they can play on the beach all day,” said Tutu, whose 6-year-old son she says will play anywhere as long as there’s water.
Similarly, amusement parks and parks are also very popular with children. “When we arrive somewhere, we look for local parks and amusement parks. That’s where kids have the most fun. It’s beyond us—there are parks near home, so why come all this way to play the same things?” said Dongni, mom of two. Additionally, kids love interacting with animals, such as at zoos or farms. “My child loves horseback riding, elephant rides, and visiting insect museums,” said Lumi, who has a 5-year-old daughter. Some parents also noted that natural wonders are great for sparking children’s imaginations. “Caves, volcanoes, fountains—kids get really excited about these,” said Tina, another mom of two.
There were also some interesting responses that really show how attentive and creative parents can be. “Traveling with kids is about helping them understand local culture. I like taking them to flea markets, giving them some local currency, and letting them buy things on their own. It feels great—the kids quickly figure out what the money means, and it also builds their math skills. They especially love this kind of activity,” said one mother who goes by the online name “Sailor Mom.”
“As long as there are other kids to play with, the location doesn’t really matter. Kids love skiing the most, and they’re happiest when playing with friends. Once, we only planned to stay for two days before moving on, but our child made a really good friend and didn’t want to leave. So we postponed our itinerary by a day. Our child found the experience wonderful and was really grateful to us,” said the father of a boy. Generally, certain types of vacations are better for making friends, such as skiing, camping, or family trips. Even on regular trips, you can help your child meet others at local children’s libraries, swimming pools, amusement parks, or even in the hotel lobby.
Give your child the freedom to choose
If you feel like you’ve spent a lot of time planning a trip, but your child isn’t enjoying it, the best approach may be to lower your own expectations. Many parents take their kids to expensive destinations, hoping they’ll have a great time or learn a lot—only to find their child is only interested in the ice cream machine at the entrance, which can be disappointing. “Kids have great insight into the environment, people, and culture they encounter. As long as they find something interesting or exciting every day, the trip is worth it,” said Vila, a planner at a travel company. She has two young children and has traveled extensively with them since they were little, so she has plenty of advice on family travel.
“After starting kindergarten, kids become more opinionated about what they want to do on trips. Instead of arguing with them, give them some say and discuss it with them,” Vila suggests. It’s important to set aside time for kids to do what they truly enjoy. “No matter how young, kids have things they look forward to—like chocolate ice cream, picnics, amusement parks, or a certain store. If you include these in your travel plans, trust me, they’ll be over the moon.”
Balancing adult and child needs
Never sacrifice your own vacation plans entirely for your kids. Some parents say doing so will only lead to greater disappointment if your child doesn’t enjoy it.
“I choose places with beautiful scenery and a slower pace to travel with my kids, like Yunnan or Hainan. I invite a few friends, book a comfortable hotel or inn, let the kids play under the blue sky and white clouds, while the adults sit on the terrace drinking tea and looking at the sea. That’s what a vacation should be,” said Kelly, who has two boys. She had once hoped to take her kids out to see the world and visit more museums, art galleries, and attractions, but she ended up finding that the kids were miserable—and she was even more so.
“Once, I took them to a temple. I closed my eyes for a second, and they almost climbed onto a Buddha statue,” Kelly said, traumatized. Her solution? Avoid places your kids aren’t interested in or that aren’t suitable for them until they’re older.
Xiaoxia is a child who loves visiting museums. Though only 8 years old, he’s practically a museum whiz. Xiaoxia’s mom said traveling with kids is different from solo travel, and she always takes their preferences into account when planning. For example, when visiting local museums, “I usually check whether there are free hands-on workshops for kids, science exploration activities, or kid-friendly tour routes. That way, I can enjoy my visit too.”
Xiaoxia’s mom also has ways to deal with travel-related boredom. “On group tours, shopping breaks can be tough for kids to handle, especially when they don’t understand why they’re there. You can play games with them, like ‘Big Eyes Discovery’—have them find 20 red objects in one minute, or search for license plates and use math to make 24.”
What if your child doesn’t like one of the sites you’ve planned? “Create some excitement—tell stories or legends related to the place, build up some suspense, and they’ll go in with a playful attitude,” Xiaoxia’s mom advises.