Summer Vacation Ideas for Families: Best Places, Itineraries, and More

Create unforgettable memories in Italy in summer. From the sun-drenched beaches of Sardinia to charming villages in Puglia, this family-friendly destination will have you and kids exploring, learning, and bonding through shared adventures.

Picture your children's eyes lighting up as they learn to make pizza from an Italian chef or splash in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean. While your kids savor world-class gelato, you can hunt for shells along picturesque beaches. Junior historians can step back in time at ancient Roman ruins and active teens can go hiking in the stunning Dolomites or take beginner sailing lessons along the Amalfi Coast.

No matter how you would like to explore Italy, our destination specialists have intimate knowledge of the country and can customize an itinerary for you.

Italy Vacation Idea

Explore Italy’s charm on the Wonders of Italy Family-Friendly Tour: Rome, Florence, Venice, & More to witness ancient marvels, engage with Renaissance art, and enjoy hands-on activities like pasta-making and mask creation.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Italy Tours & Vacations • Italy Travel Guide

In Greece, ancient myths and sun-kissed islands come to life in summer. The warm Mediterranean weather sets the perfect scene for you and your children to embark on adventures that blend learning with fun, all while enjoying quality family time.

Watch your little ones become archaeologists as they explore ancient ruins or cheer on your older kids as they give windsurfing a go in safe waters. Spot dolphins on boat trips or join kid-focused cooking classes where everyone can learn to make Greek treats like baklava.

Each island brings new family discoveries. Children can learn about sea turtles in marine conservation programs or hear fascinating Greek myths under starlit skies. Active families can enjoy gentle hiking trails with stunning views, while creative kids might join pottery workshops to make ancient-style vases.

Greece Vacation Idea

Embark on our Best Greece Family Vacation: Athens, Santorini, Crete, a 10-day family adventure on which ancient myths come alive with kid-friendly guides and you can enjoy things like volcano exploration and culinary classes.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Greece Tours & Vacations • Greece Travel Guide

In Croatia, you will find fairytales around every ancient corner in summer. Dubrovnik's mighty walls look like those from fantasy stories and waterfalls resemble natural water parks. From swimming in the warm Adriatic waves to hunting for dragons among Split's ancient palace walls, Croatia dishes up plenty of adventures.

Take kid-friendly walking tours during which young knights and princesses can climb ancient city walls and imagine medieval battles from centuries past. Little adventurers can become junior sailors on family island-hopping trips, spotting dolphins and learning about pirates who once sailed these crystal-clear waters.

Whether it's splashing through the turquoise lakes of Plitvice on wooden walkways or joining cookie-making classes in stone village houses, Croatia presents countless ways for you and your children to play and learn together, and our travel specialists can design a trip for you.

Croatia Vacation Idea

Pack up your family's imagination for the Best of Croatia: 12-Day South to North, featuring ancient city walls in Dubrovnik, emerald lakes and waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, and dragon hunts among Split's palace ruins.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Croatia Vacations & Tours Croatia • Travel Guide

Norway's stunning fjords, midnight sun, and pristine nature make it an unforgettable summer destination for families. The long daylight hours from May through August allow for extended outdoor adventures, whether hiking through national parks or exploring Viking sites and interactive museums.

Children can learn about Norse mythology, see preserved Viking ships, and take part in traditional Norwegian life at open-air museums. The Bergen Fish Market, Oslo's Munch Museum, and the Flåm Railway combine learning with entertainment, making Norway an enriching choice for adventure and cultural immersion.

Norwegian culture emphasizes family, with excellent infrastructure for traveling with your children. Most attractions, restaurants, and public spaces offer amenities like high chairs and children's menus, and the country's efficient public transportation system and well-maintained roads make it easy to navigate.

Norway Vacation Idea

10-Day Summer Tour of Norway: Off the Beaten Track Adventure will take you kayaking with dolphins beneath the midnight sun and soaring by helicopter over epic glaciers. Venture into a realm where pristine wilderness still reigns supreme to explore untouched treasures, from remote Arctic islands to untrammeled fjords.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Best Time to Visit Norway • Norway Tours & Vacations

Ireland's mild summer temperatures and extended daylight hours are fabulous for exploring its magical landscapes. From hiking the Cliffs of Moher to wandering through ancient castle grounds, you and your family can enjoy outdoor adventures without extreme heat. The country's compact size means multiple destinations can be easily reached within a few hours.

Ireland's rich mythology and medieval history will captivate your children’s imaginations. They can explore fairy forests, hunt for leprechauns in castle gardens, or learn about Vikings in waterfront museums.

Traditional music sessions, storytelling events, and interactive museums like Dublin's EPIC Emigration Museum will also keep young minds engaged, while farm visits will allow your children to interact with animals and learn about rural Irish life.

Ireland Vacation Idea

Ireland for Families: Charming Castles and Countrysides will wrap your family in an enchanting embrace, during which emerald landscapes and centuries-old castles set the stage for shared adventures, from learning to fly hawks across ancient grounds to gathering around a crackling fire for traditional music sessions.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Ireland Travel Guide • Ireland Tours & Vacations

See storybooks spring to life on a luxury vacation in Turkey in summer. From “flying carpets” in bustling bazaars to ancient castles overlooking sparkling seas, your children’s eyes will light up when they see the Blue Mosque's towering minarets or taste baklava dripping with honey.

In Istanbul, older children can learn about spices and traditional crafts as little historians imagine themselves as ancient sultans exploring secret passages in Topkapi Palace. Young adventurers might spot dolphins on a private family boat cruise along the Bosphorus. At the coast, you and your children can snorkel in crystal-clear waters, looking for colorful fish near ancient underwater ruins, or join kid-friendly cooking classes to learn how to make traditional pide, or Turkish pizza.

Whether it's floating over fairy chimneys in Cappadocia's hot-air balloons or splashing in the thermal pools of Pamukkale, Turkey is a haven for family adventures.

Turkey Vacation Idea

Our 10-Day Best of Turkey Tour is a captivating journey that takes you from the ancient city of Ephesus, where elegant Ionian architecture awaits, to the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Turkey Tours & Vacations • Turkey Travel Guide

The sun never sets in Iceland in summer and every day brings special discoveries. Spot puffins waddling along clifftops and experience giant geysers shooting into the sky while your children hunt for trolls in lava fields.

Take your children on junior geologist expeditions, where they can touch ancient glaciers and watch bubbling mud pools that look like nature's own chocolate pots. Young Viking adventurers can ride gentle Icelandic horses through fields where elves might hide or join family-friendly whale-watching trips where giant flukes splash in midnight sunlight.

From following treasure maps to hidden waterfalls to joining local families at colorful Viking festivals, allow our travel specialists to demonstrate the endless ways in which Iceland can create unforgettable family memories.

Iceland Vacation Idea

Your family's sense of wonder will be palpable on this Family-Friendly Iceland Tour in Seven Days, an adventure during which you and your children can walk on ancient glaciers and engage in activities like examining colorful volcanic rocks and riding Icelandic horses.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Iceland Tours & Vacations • Iceland Travel Guide

The Azores' mild summer temperatures and dramatic volcanic landscapes create an ideal setting for family adventures. Children can swim in thermal pools, watch whales breach in the Atlantic, and explore lava caves and calderas.

The islands offer safe, uncrowded environments where you and your family can explore nature without extreme weather or overwhelming tourist crowds. Each offers unique attractions, from Pico's UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape to São Miguel's pineapple plantations and geothermal wonders.

Kids can learn about sustainable living, volcanic geology, and marine biology through hands-on experiences. The laidback pace and friendly locals will help every member of your family to disconnect from routine while creating lasting memories.

Azores vacation idea

The Azores rise from the ocean as a realm of soaring volcanoes, enchanting coastlines, lava tubes, and crater lakes, where old whaling settlements nestle among lush vineyards and thundering waterfalls. Our handcrafted Best of Azores: Magical Atlantic Island Tour explores seven distinct islands in two weeks, each offering its own mix of landscapes, culture, cuisine, and attractions.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Azores Travel Guide • Azores Tours & Vacations

Ecuador in summer is enchanting, offering jungle and island adventures that will mesmerize your children. Watch as they spot their first giant tortoise lumbering past in the Galápagos and share their wonder as they straddle the equator line with one foot in each hemisphere. From swimming with playful sea lions to learning how chocolate grows on trees, Ecuador welcomes families with perfect weather and endless opportunities for natural discovery during its sunny, dry season.

You and your children will find excitement at every turn, from exploring the Amazon Rainforest, where young naturalists can spot monkeys and pink river dolphins, to visiting colorful Andean markets, where children learn to bargain for handmade toys. The Galápagos Islands become nature's greatest classroom, where kids can snorkel with penguins and watch blue-footed boobies dance.

Whether making chocolate at jungle lodges or watching skilled horsemen perform tricks, Ecuador offers families the perfect blend of adventure, learning, and fun during these warm, dry months.

Ecuador and the Galápagos Vacation Idea

Pique your family's sense of adventure with the Best of Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Tour, a 12-day journey that will expose you and your children to giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Ecuador & the Galápagos Tours & Vacations • Ecuador & the Galápagos Travel Guide

May through August is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, providing fabulous conditions for exploring Peru. With mild temperatures and minimal rainfall, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley offer an unforgettable journey into Incan history, opportunities for hiking, and llama encounters. This time of year also avoids the peak tourist and rainy seasons, making exploring comfortable.

Peruvian culture warmly welcomes children and the country offers educational pursuits ranging from chocolate-making workshops to traditional weaving demonstrations. Explore colorful markets, visit animal sanctuaries, and learn about ancient civilizations.

Coastal areas like Lima offer modern amenities alongside historical sites, while Cusco provides a gateway to mountain adventures. Children can discover unique wildlife in the Amazon rainforest or surf in Miraflores.

Peru Vacation Idea

Unveil Inca mysteries and Amazon adventures on our 14-Day Kid-Friendly Vacation to Peru, where your family can zipline through rainforest canopies, explore Machu Picchu, ride gentle horses in the Sacred Valley, and discover how chocolate grows in jungle gardens.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Peru Tours & Vacations • Peru Travel Guide

You and your family will discover some of nature’s most amazing treasures in Costa Rica in summer. Spot toucans in the wild and share wonder at seeing fireflies dance in the twilight. From splashing in warm Pacific waters to gliding through the clouds on family-friendly ziplines, Costa Rica will provide you and your children with never-ending adventures.

During these vibrant months, every day brings new discoveries. Start your mornings watching sloths slowly wake up in the treetops while enjoying tropical fruit smoothies. Young explorers can become junior naturalists on guided rainforest walks, learning to spot colorful poison dart frogs and beautiful butterflies, while adventurous kids might try snorkeling in gentle coves teeming with tropical fish.

Make more memories as you soak in natural hot springs beneath a volcano or take guided night walks to discover fascinating nocturnal creatures like baby sea turtles making their way to the ocean on a vacation crafted to fit your family’s interests.

Costa Rica Vacation Idea

Embrace a Costa Rica Family-Friendly Vacation: Jungle, Wildlife, & Beach on a seven-day adventure during which your children can soar through the rainforest canopy on ziplines, spot playful monkeys, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with colorful fish.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Costa Rica Tours & Vacations • Costa Rica Travel

Bali's dry season during the American summer provides excellent weather for exploring this culturally rich island. Learn traditional crafts like batik making, watch mesmerizing dance performances, and visit ancient temples. The warm temperatures are ideal for outdoor adventures.

The Balinese people's genuine love for children makes families feel especially welcome. Accommodations offer excellent kids' programs featuring things like traditional music lessons and cooking classes. The island's compact size will allow you to relax on the beach and immerse yourself in culture within a short distance.

Adventure opportunities abound, from gentle elephant encounters to surfing lessons and rice terrace hikes. Kids can discover exotic fruits at local markets, observe monkeys in sacred forests, and learn about Hindu traditions at ornate temples.

Bali Vacation Idea

Amazing Bali Family Vacation: Cultural Excursions, Beach & More unveils ancient mythology and captivating adventures, from Bali's forest canopies to iridescent coral reefs that will enchant you and your children.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Bali Tours & Vacations • Bali Travel Guide

Australia's winter season takes place during the US summer and offers perfect temperatures for exploring the diverse landscape of this Southern Hemisphere country. Spot kangaroos and koalas in wildlife parks or explore the vibrant cities of Sydney and Melbourne. The comfortable winter climate is ideal for outdoor adventures in the Outback or rainforest walks.

Interactive museums, wildlife encounters, and Aboriginal culture provide educational opportunities for you and your children. If you are an active family, beaches, surfing lessons, and coastal walks offer options.

Australia will reward you with unique interactions. Your children can learn about marsupials at wildlife sanctuaries, watch penguin parades on Phillip Island, or explore the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia Vacation Idea

On our Family Adventure Vacation in Australia, your kids can learn to play the didgeridoo with Aboriginal guides, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, or become junior rangers in Tasmania's wilderness.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: Australia Tours & Vacations • Australia Travel Guide

In winter, New Zealand sees mild temperatures that are great for outdoor adventures. From June to August, summer in the US, explore Hobbiton and the glowworm caves in the Southern Hemisphere country. You can also whale watch in Kaikoura as you and your children uncover unique natural wonders. The South Island's ski fields provide winter sports opportunities, while thermal hot springs offer warm respite from cooler temperatures.

Māori cultural experiences and interactive museums provide educational opportunities for children, while adventures like zorbing, jet boating, and hiking will keep active families active and engaged.

From swimming with dolphins in Akaroa to watching geysers erupt in Rotorua, New Zealand offers extraordinary things to do. The compact size of the country also allows you to take in diverse landscapes and activities within a manageable timeframe.

New Zealand Vacation Idea

Indulge your family's sense of wonder on our Ultimate New Zealand Family Vacation, a 12-day journey on which you can explore glowworm caves, take thrilling jet-boat rides, and hike through stunning landscapes that inspired The Lord of the Rings.

More Sample Itineraries & Travel Tips: New Zealand Tours & Vacations • New Zealand Travel Guide

Summer transforms Canada into nature's greatest playground, where your family can discover everything from whale watching off the coast of British Columbia to searching for bears in Banff's pristine wilderness. The warm days and long daylight hours make it perfect for outdoor adventures, whether you're camping under star-filled skies or paddling canoes on crystal-clear lakes.

Young explorers can spot moose wandering through wildflower meadows in Jasper National Park or learn about First Nations culture through interactive programs at sites across the country. Coastal families might prefer watching orcas breach in Vancouver's waters or joining lobster fishing trips in Nova Scotia, while city adventures could include climbing the CN Tower.

Your children can try their hand at being a Mountie for a day or join junior ranger programs in national parks. Whether you're hiking through the Rockies or searching for dinosaur fossils in Alberta's Badlands, Canada dishes up endless summer opportunities for families.

There is a wealth of exciting possibilities for your summer vacation, from adventurous road trips to relaxing beach getaways. By considering destinations and activities that cater to all ages, you can create unforgettable memories. Our destination specialists are experts on their regions and can help you bring your chosen vacation to life.

For more inspiration and tailored recommendations, be sure to explore our comprehensive family travel guide.