Just stepping out of the front door can be adventure enough when you are parenting a toddler, so taking your little darling further afield can require some military-style planning. Selecting the right destination is key to ensuring you have a trip that works for the whole family.
Unless you are blessed with the non-tantrumming, early-talking type of toddler, it’s likely that you will want somewhere with space to roam, family-friendly cafes and restaurants, and some gentle, safe activities that don’t take too long but provide something fun to look at and possibly touch and feel too.
Toddlers’ hands go everywhere, so high hygiene standards are a prerequisite, as are shops selling diapers (unless you are happy to hike yours from home) and toddler-friendly snacks. Here are eight ideas from around the world to get that all-important planning started.
Devon & Cornwall, England
The southwest of England is a magical place to visit with kids, offering an incredible coastline (think fun seaside towns, rockpools to explore, sandcastles to build), and—crucially for guardians of toddlers—plenty of National Trust properties.
In recent years, the National Trust has focused on attracting families, meaning that you can usually find play areas and family-friendly cafes. Even without play areas, many properties have extensive grounds where the very little people can run around and make as much noise as they like.
Penang, Malaysia
If you’re looking for somewhere in Asia that welcomes toddlers, the cost of travel is relatively low, and there’s a good health infrastructure. Malaysia should be on your list.
Staying on Penang allows you to combine a beach break with plenty of toddler-friendly activities such as indoor play areas, extensive parks, paddling pools, and a variety of different animals to see. Your toddler (and you!) can also have fun riding around on a trishaw, taking a funicular, or enjoying a different view from a boat.
Sicily, Italy
Wherever you go in Italy, your toddler will be welcomed, but Sicily is a particularly good option if you love exploring history when you travel. There are so many fascinating open-air sites where you can learn while your little one is free to waddle around, touching whatever they want without attracting dirty looks and tuts of disapproval.
The evening passiegata when everyone congregates in the town plaza is also the perfect opportunity for you to enjoy a drink while more waddling goes on. Fountains can keep small minds occupied for way longer than you might anticipate.
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Many toddlers love transport in all its forms, and a trip to Switzerland can help you tick most of the boxes: trains, cable cars, boats, buses (and of course possibly the plane to get there in the first place).
Base yourselves in Grindelwald and spend days pottering around the different towns and villages of the Bernese Oberland, accessed by a plethora of different narrow-gauge trains and cable cars of all shapes and sizes. The best bit is that you will usually find a children’s playground up the mountain, allowing you to breathe in the incredible views while the young miss or master has fun on the swings and slides.
San Diego, California
With its warm seaside climate and its beach-city vibe, San Diego is a good place for families who want the buzz of the city but a chance to relax and breathe out at the same time. It also caters perfectly to the toddler crowd with its famous zoo (which includes a ride on the aerial tram), the Birch Aquarium, and the New Children’s Museum.
The city is also home to plenty of plazas, fountains, and gardens, which offer ample space for toddlers to let off steam, and has some of the best family-friendly dining options in the States when it’s time to refuel.
Maritime Provinces, Canada
From beach-combing to exploring lighthouses, ship-themed playgrounds to hands-on science museums, nature trails to a fun park aimed squarely at younger children, there is plenty to keep the family of an active toddler busy in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or New Brunswick.
It’s also an interesting area for adults, with a relaxed vibe, great seafood, and plenty of history to explore, plus the literary sensation that was Anne of Green Gables. Your small person may not be reading yet, but hey—it is your holiday too.
Bali, Indonesia
Depending on where you stay and what you do on Bali, you can have very different experiences, meaning some families come home raving about what an amazing destination it is and others vowing that they will never go back.
However, for a water-loving toddler, it’s a great option as there are so many family-friendly resorts with lovely (usually unfenced) pools, as well as the huge aquatic playground that is Waterbom Park. When it’s time to leave the water, you can find temples to explore, monkeys to gawp at, and even a soft-play zone at Parklife Bali.
Brisbane, Queensland
While all the main cities in Australia have a plethora of fun things to do with kids big and small, Brisbane is particularly toddler-focused. You can take them paddling at Street Beach, hop aboard a trackless train to explore the Roma Street Parklands, and get creative at Toddler Tuesday at the Gallery of Modern Art. If that’s still not worn them out, you can start teaching them about animal welfare at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
