Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Evergreens

10 important countries your kids should visit before they turn 18

By

If you could travel anywhere in the world with your kids, where would you go? Would you stay in your own country? Probably not. Given the chance, it would be pretty safe to say that we would all pack up and show our children a new country. So in the spirit of adventure, let’s jump into the best countries for kids that the whole family will want to visit again and again.

A family exploring caves in Spain.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your kids love parks and architecture

Spain

Don’t let the language barrier stop you from exploring this gorgeous country. Kids are considered a blessing in Spain and are welcomed everywhere, anytime, no matter what. There are parks everywhere and beautiful architecture for the whole family to gaze on. Plus, daily siestas are required and who would pass up naps?

Recommended Videos

Sights to see

If your kids love to be outside

Costa Rica

With so much to do outside, you might only be inside to sleep during your stay in Costa Rica. We couldn’t find anything to do that was actually inside a building! For the kids who love adventure and fresh air, Costa Rica has much to offer.

Sights to see

Best country for little ones

Finland

Before your kids understand that you are Santa, take them to see where all of the magic happens. From hanging out with reindeer to seeing where Santa lives, Finland will keep their childlike innocence intact. Finland also has one of the best amusement parks for young children in the whole world, so you have to check out Moominworld.

Sights to see

A family feeding baby kangeroos.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Among the most kid-friendly countries

Australia

All signs point to the land down under as one of the best countries to take the kids. It’s so large that you could plan an extended vacation and try to hit a few cities or know you have a country to visit for years to come. The day-to-day culture is close to life in the United States, so the kids won’t be so shocked if they haven’t traveled out of the country before.

Sights to see

If your kids love to learn about other cultures

Switzerland

Whether your child loves to look at beautiful natural sights or wants to spend the whole time inside museums, Switzerland has it all. No matter what time of year you visit or how old your children are, you’ll all never want to leave. The endless chocolate factories to visit will have the parents and kids fighting over which to visit next.

Sights to see

If your kids are more laid back

Portugal

If your kids want a lot of options for the whole vacation but don’t want to be on a timetable, Portugal will make sure no one is ever bored. The slower pace of things will help the entire family enjoy each other’s company. It’s also very affordable for families to visit. The best part: if you have tiny tots you get to cut the line every time!

Sights to see

A family looking at the sights in Portugal.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your kids are adventurous

New Zealand

From volcanos to zip-lining to the longest swing bridge to rolling down green hills in a huge see-through ball, there is something for every child that likes to live dangerously. There’s so much for the adventurer, so if you have kids that aren’t afraid to try new things, they need to visit New Zealand.

Sights to see

Best country for a historic family trip?

England

The number of castles, parks, museums, and insanely gorgeous bridges would take you weeks to see. The kids will think the historical sights look amazing and the parents will love to be wrapped up in the history. No matter what age your kids are, there is something for the entire family to appreciate in England.

Sights to see

If your kids love to do things together

Croatia

If your children love history, there will be plenty for you to all learn about together. With plenty of cities that are walking only, you won’t have to worry about kids darting in front of cars. The rich history of Croatia will keep parents and kids busy all day long.

Sights to see

A family getting ready to board a plane.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your kids love culture

Japan

You would have to live in Japan long-term to get to everything there is to do. But you can pack in a few of the amazing sites on your next family vacation. If your children love to look at a new thing every minute of every day, Japan will keep their little eyes busy.

Sights to see

For any of these countries, we think the best time to visit is in the off-season. Sure, sunshine is great, but is melting in the hot sun with so many people that you can’t even move worth it? Look up when the busy season is and avoid that time if you don’t want the kids complaining about lines and how hot it is. You’ll also save significant money.

You can find something to do for kids of any age in any country. But what do your kids want to do? If you don’t ask them, they could wind up being miserable no matter where you go or how old they are. As a parent traveling with kids, you know your joy on vacation is going comes from how much fun they have. Any of these countries will bring your family plenty of memories for years to come and give your children the experiences they will remember their whole lives.

Topics
Boost your toddler’s fine motor skills with these fun, easy activities
These activities can help with your child's development
Toddler learning to count with an abacus

One of the most important parts of a toddler's development is their fine motor skills. These skills allow them to feed themselves, brush their teeth, dress themselves, play with their toys, and learn to write. Studies have shown that fine motor skills development positively influences language development, executive function, and other areas of brain development.

There are many fine motor skills activities for toddlers you can do at home, as well as toys you can get to help them with this development. Since fine motor activities are pretty much anything where toddlers use their hands, there are many options, but we've put together a helpful compilation of ideas for you.
Examples of fine motor skills activities for toddlers

Read more
The best things to do in Las Vegas with teens for a family trip everyone will love
No matter what type of child you have, here are fun activities to do in Vegas with teenagers
The Las Vegas Strip

When you think of a family vacation, Las Vegas may not be the first place that pops into your head. But it's not all gambling, casinos, drinking, five-star dining, and lavish performances. Las Vegas might have The Hangover vibes for adults only, but there are plenty of family-friendly events and extracurriculars to do at all times of the day and evening if you know what to look for.

With its beautifully sunny and warm weather that lasts almost all year long, a trip to Vegas can always be on the books. If you have kids, there are countless things to do in Vegas with teens that parents will approve of. Here are just a few activities that will capture your teen's interest that the entire family will think is cool.
For the teen who wants entertainment

Read more
9 fun STEM activities for kids to keep them engaged and learning
STEM activities for kids to build confidence about the world around them
Children building cardboard STEM project

The movement of adding STEM learning into the classrooms in the U.S. started with wanting to get kids back into the science and math side of learning. Now, it is a whole movement for every child to rediscover their love of any subject outside of gym class or recess.

STEM activities let children figure out how the world and things in their everyday lives work. It doesn't matter what career or field your child might want to go in one day, the skills and knowledge learned from STEM activities can be carried over into any area. Here are some easy, fun, and fascinating STEM activities for kids they can do whenever they feel curious about life.
What is STEM?

Read more