If money is no option this summer, we’d suggest booking flights to these destinations. All offer a superlative family experience, something that will live long in the children’s memories. A little bit of education, little bit of sun (in most cases) and lots and lots of fun. Here are Cheapflights.co.uk’s top ten family destinations.
Ireland
An hour by plane, three hours or so by ferry, Ireland is the original green and pleasant land. A bonus this year is that the tourist industry is working harder for its euro. You’ll find bargains on flights, accommodation and attractions. From Dublin, allocating a couple of days to see the sights (Croke Park, the Book of Kells and the museums and galleries), head down the country through small towns and villages to foodie capital Cork, scenic Kerry and wild, beautiful, Connemara.
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Cinque Terre, Italy
Italy is already a firm family favourite, but our pick for this summer is the Cinque Terre region in Liguria in the north-west of the country. Cinque Terre, or Five Lands, draws three million visitors each year, lured there by the beauty, weather, and, in common with the rest of Italy, the easy-going pace of life. The five coastal villages that make up Cinque Terre (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) are encircled by a national park and linked by rail and trails. Hike, bike or follow on horse back the trails that have such evocative names as La Via dell’Amore (The Love Trail) and Trail of the Sanctuaries.
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Barcelona, Spain
Hit the ground running with the whole family on Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most tourist-friendly street, and soak up the theatre of the street performers as you stroll along the tree-lined boulevard. For a change of pace and more kid-friendly activities, head to the Museum of Natural History or the Barcelona Zoo in Ciutadella Park and Camp Nou for football-mad youngsters. After a couple of days of city must-sees, consider a spot of sunbathing in the district of Barceloneta and a bit of biking along the boardwalk – for the kids.
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Interlaken, Switzerland
Make like Heidi this summer and take your holidays in the Swiss Alps. Interlaken, a tiny town in Switzerland situated between two Alpine lakes, is a wonderful base for an active holiday. Rock climbing, paragliding or river rafting by day will tire the kids out. The evenings are made for sampling Swiss specialities – and replenishing energy stores – such as schnitzel and chocolate fondue. Take a train, then a cable car up the snow-capped mountain to Mürren, a town inaccessible by car. Visit Piz Gloria at the summit of Schilthorn, said to be the world’s first revolving restaurant, for lunch and awesome 360-degree Alpine views.
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Washington, DC, USA
Bring your walking shoes to America’s capital for a good-value trip this summer. Take in a history lesson at the National Mall, a 3km (2 miles) stretch of memorials and monuments in the heart of DC. Before it gets too hot, take your kids and a camera to outdoor must-sees such as the White House, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool. Then head indoors to the Natural History Museum, Air and Space Museum, and Smithsonian. Admission is, thankfully, free to all. Once you’ve had your fill of history lessons, zip north to the National Zoo to coo at the city’s pride and joy, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the giant pandas.
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Lake Powell, Utah, USA
Straddling Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell is the second largest man-made lake in North America. If you’re travelling with a larger bunch, consider chartering a houseboat to tour the massive body of water and the surrounding, awe-inspiring Glen Canyon. Houseboats sleep up to 12, a fantastic option if you want to include grandparents or friends in your family adventures. Canoe, Jet Ski or fish from the stern of your all-inclusive ship as you coast along the placid lake.
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Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
It’s a staple on those must-see-before-you-die lists and 2011 is a good year to see it, with the pound strong against the Canadian dollar. Ensure everyone in the family has found their sea legs before boarding the Maid of the Mist, a boat that takes visitors to the foot of the falls for an all-but-too-close perspective of the North American water wonder. Once the kids tire of the overflow, head to Clifton Hill amusement park or the butterfly conservatory in the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens for hands-on entertainment. For an urban retreat, rent a car and follow the coast 90 minutes north to Toronto, Ontario’s bustling capital.
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Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
On the other side of Canada, Whistler is an absolute blast for families. The outdoor activities are endless at this Pacific Northwest tourist down during June, July and August. Fly into Vancouver for a couple of days of downtown sights before driving two hours north to climb mountains, zip line, hike or horseride. After all of the exercise, you’ll need a respite. Treat yourself to a massage at one of the many five-star spas in town as the kids learn to spot, belay and repel at half-day or two-day climbing camps.
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Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
It’s history with red coats and tricorn hats (mob caps for the ladies) at Williamsburg. The town – the political hub of Britain’s largest colony in the New World between 1699 and 1780 – is themed. It’s like stepping back in time as you watch men clip-clop by on horseback and Virginian women tend to their gardens. Then bring yourself back to the future at Busch Gardens, where the roller coasters are trumped only by Jack Hanna’s wildlife reserve, where the experts teach your children about endangered species and preserving the planet.
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Sydney, Australia
It’s a long way down, but if your kids can handle the lengthy flight, Sydney is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Australia’s largest city offers a plethora of activities for families, from city bike tours to super surfing. Scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge together and, once you’ve reached the 134-metre-high peak, soak in the marvellous views of the harbour and the Sydney Opera House. When your feet are back on solid ground, head to the world-famous Sydney Fish Market and watch as nearly 100 species of fish are auctioned daily.
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(Images: Ireland – Jim Linwood; Italy – Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre; Barcelona – Kom_bo; Interlaken – benkucinski; Washington – ShashiBellamkonda; Lake Powell – Evelyn Proimos; Niagara Falls – zoonabar; Whistler, BC – jeffwilcox; Williamsburg – humbertomoreno; Sydney – Thomas Depenbusch)
