Hi all! I’d love to hear where was your all time best family vacation? We have two weeks off in August this year and three well-travelled kids between the ages of 7-12 and are debating what we should do. Thanks so much!

Do you like camping? My kids favourite vacation was Sheridan lake SD they haven’t stopped talking about it and asking to go back for the past 3 years, just make sure your dates off don’t coincide with Sturgis

I went on a family vacation with my fam, siblings aged like 7 and 8 myself being 14 at the time, to anaheim. We drove down from yyc and stopped in montanna and vegas before anahiem. We rented a house in anahein and did like all of the amusement parks, disney, california adventure, sea world, san diego zoo, aquarium of the pacific, universal, knotts berry, and more.

Hawaii... the big island. We got a rental car and an airbnb. Stay on the hilo side tons of beaches to explore with little to no people as it's the local side of the island

If you have the budget Beaches Turks and Caicos is our favorite family vacation so far. Beautiful, relaxing, and lots for kids to do.

Maui & Disneyland

Osoyoos

Costa Rica

I seccond this

We LOVE cruising. Best cruise was an Easter Caribbean from ft Lauderdale (Puerto Rico, st. Kitts, st. Maarten, Grand Turk), then spent another couple days at Disney World, SeaWorld and bumming around. It was an expensive trip lol I won't lie but was amazing. We also love Hawaii, Maui in particular! If you want something closer to home drive the Oregon trail all the way down to San Francisco......AMAZING! But book way ahead for any accomodations, we learnt the hard way last year

Thailand.

The absolute BEST trip we ever took with our kids was to have a family portrait taken...on the Great Wall. I had just ended a year long, serious battle with cancer, and we wanted to take a trip to celebrate. I came up with the portrait idea and it evolved to China. It was FANTASTIC! Safe, very inexpensive, almost everyone speaks a little English, people 10 to 40 are fluent in the cities. Even a week is easy to fill with a ton of exciting things, the more time the better. They are VERY interested in tourism, hence why this whole corona virus is causting causing them so much stress. By August everything will be back to normal, and I imagine the deals will be amazing for awhile.

Wayne we hiked and camped on the Great Wall as a family and it was amazing. Had a private guide. Got away from the crowds and had the wall to ourselves.

I was left partially disabled by cancer, and I found the people to be amazingly courteous and helpful. The cities are so congested there are many places where all pedestrian traffic is under the intersection, meaning you went down a flight of stairs, cross the street then back up more stairs to the street. Not ONE time did I use a subway crossing that someone randomly came along to offer me an arm, at least. Numerous times, two strangers or more would come up and make a fireman‘s chair and carry me up! I remember going into a busy restaurant in Beijing, with about 60 people waiting to be seated. I came in using a cane and limping heavily, and the other guests and staff immediately moving us tp the head of the line And getting me a chair. It was only a minute or two until a lady came up and invited us to join her family at one of the large, communal tables. We had a wonderful time; the entire family was eager to practice their English, and help us order the “right” Beijing duck. It’s a fascinating place, worthy of an extended visit. Certainly should be a bucket list place for everyone

MAUI. Hands down.

Way back when I was in jr high, we went on a family trip rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was magical. I cannot reccomend it highly enough, if you are outdoor people. You are camping so you have to be into that stuff... although th be fair my step mother must definitely doesnt camp normally, and she loved it even.

Nicole im writing this down for when my boys are older!!

Xcaret in Mexico is phenomenal, we are headed back there for 2 weeks in August (low season so wsy cheaper). The ark admissions are included with your stay and its endless adventure

Treehouse lodge in Peru

Western Cape - South Africa (with our 4 year old)

Houseboat in Lake Powell. It's absolutely breathtaking and the lake is the perfect temp.

for up to 10 year old kids, hands down was the Disney Cruise out of Port Canaveral (Orlando). After 10 years, we went to Porto and Lisbon in Portugal and it was incredible!

So many! Hawaii, Scotland, the Maritimes, camping in the Black Hills an Utah. Anywhere you plan things for the kids you will all enjoy!

We just did a 12 day Mediterranean cruise last summer with 10,12 and 14 year old. Everyone had a fantasy time.

Costa Rica and Sydney. Both for different reasons ... CR was a blast!

Erin did you go in the summer? I was told summer is rainy.

I’d go to Oregon. Head to the Cannon Beach, Seaside, Astoria area. We go every other year. It’s a fun road trip too.

Oregon/ California coast is great...

Yellowstone!! It is truly amazing and there is tons to see and do.

Costa Rica and Spain

Laura did you go to Costa Rica in the summer?

No... we went in the spring for both of our trips (April)

I purchased a westjet cash back credit card about a year before we did this trip with our kids.... used the $99 companion fare and the "enforced" savings via cashback to pay for the flights.... was worth it!

Laura Where in Spain?

Balzac

If they haven't already been, see Canada with them. So much to see, enjoy and appreciate. Every Province is different and has so much to offer. From the whales off Vancouver Island to the whales in Newfoundland. The 'singing sands' in PEI to Grand Beach, Manitoba. Walking in the mud at the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia and playing in the mud at Grotto Canyon, Alberta. Our trips 'at home' were some of our favorite trips with our sons.

Yvonne So true. There is sooo much to see and do in every Province and Territory. We are so blessed to have such an amazing and diverse Country.

Road trip to Disneyland and back. Saw many states and had lots of things to day. It took a month.

Atlantis Bahamas

Newfoundland

I agree with the Canada posts! I have fond memories of going to the maritimes while I was growing up.

Okanagan Lake - rent a cabin and spend your days swimming, catching minnows, canoeing, playing horseshoes and roasting marshmallows over a bonfire every night.

For sure! Book early!

Newfoundland has my vote

Nicole but you didnt bring me....

Costa Rica for sure! They will love all the adventures!

Bali. Super cheap, tons to do!

Cat Taylor
I found that kids don’t need the exotic, and going from my own childhood memories and those of my daughter (now 27), it was just solid times together as family that were the most lasting memories: fishing, playing in the waves, building epic sandcastles, finding big slugs and giant leaves, playing hide & seek among giant cedars... Vancouver Island beat out Hawaii and Mexico in her books! I guess it largely depends on the interests of your kids, but exploring and science (tidal pools, waves, stars, fog, new plants and animals) can be amazing things to consider and experience without too much expense...

We’ve done all the Me to WE trips ... amazing service trips for families. Expensive but unforgettable. Have done Ecuador, India and Kenya. Kenya was our fave but they were all awesome. Me to WE will also organize awesome before and after excursions for you. https://travel.metowe.com/en-CA/culture-immersion/family/?utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=Brand%20-%20Sitelink&utm_medium=cpc&keyword=%2Bwe%20%2Bto%20%2Bme%20%2Btrips
TRAVEL.METOWE.COM
Culturally Immersive Family Travel | ME to WE Trips

Kim how old were your kids when you did these?

On our first trip to Ecuador our kids were 10 and 13 but we have been in groups with kids as young as 6. They all seem to enjoy it and WE has activities and tasks for every age, but obviously they get more out of it when they’re mature enough to grasp the importance and context of the work being done.

Following

My favorite family trips were Hawaii and costa rica

Iceland. Fun, interesting and very kid friendly. Not cheap. One of our most unique trips ever. Our son was 8.

Road trip to California - take in lots of states on the way. Done in twice with our kids and loved it

We drove small town Germany. Like Elm (a 1 road town)... Very happy memories

Hawaii, costa rica, turks, and honestly our favorite summer memories are the okanagan - boating, travelling around, fruit picking, beaching, camping.... so much to see and do! Oh and vancouver island in the summer is amazing - tofino, uceulet, bowen island

My fav 2 are Barcelo Mayan because the resort had so much to do, then dreams Dominicus we spent 2 weeks there and could’ve done longer

Amanda we just got back from Barcelo Maya on Sunday! It was amazing

Believe it or not .... Whiteshell Provincial Park.
https://www.explorethewhiteshell.com/
EXPLORETHEWHITESHELL.COM
Whiteshell Provincial Park

So many wonderful ideas!! I have a lot of googling and planning to do Thanks so much everybody!

Tanzania

Oregon

Costa Rica was amazing but it may be too wet or hot in August.

The Black Hills is a fabulous family holiday!

As our kids grow older (11 and 14 yrs) and have travelled a good bit (mainland USA, Hawaii, Central America, England, Spain and France) we are thinking about the vacations that we took as kids and that it’s really all about family. We hope that when our kids are older they choose to fly to Iceland, Thailand or CapeTown but while we still can share memories with them we are gonna focus on US- so this spring we went to Victoria and this summer we are going to the east coast and renting a car for a few weeks to explore the Maritimes! (don’t get me wrong, I’m still working on Germany for winter- lol).