Toddler Travel Ideas
 

I am looking to compile a list of great vacation sites to take my toddler. I am looking for a large variety of ideas. Some that require a week long vacation. Others that we can do in 2-4 days as a weekend getaway.

Looking for unique experiences that will be really fun for my kiddo. Things that would be good for age 2-5. He is 18-months now, and I am trying to get an idea of what is out there for the next few years.

Anywhere in the US or Canada.

Kid oriented amusement parks. We have Sesame Place on our list to do next year, any others out there? Besides Disneyland - we live in Southern California ;)

Good, worthwhile, train rides?

Anything!!! I am open for anything!!! Love to travel. Looking forward to traveling with my kiddo now.

Thanks in Advance.
Jocelyne

We took our daughter to Yosemite and we all had a great time. The weather was nice (after Memorial Day) and the waterfalls were gushing, which she enjoyed as a 1yr old.

Last October we took her to Conn>Mass>Vermont for leaf peeping. Along the way we stopped for a train ride, apple picking, pumpkin patch, a farm with Pony rides and animal petting and Maple syrup. She had a blast.

Then there is also the Florida's Gulf Beaches from Tampa to Marco Island. Beautiful and relaxing. The water is clear and calm and my daughter loves it. She has a great time jumping in the water, building sand castles and going shelling.

Hope this helps. I'll be watching your post because I'm in the same boat! We love to travel but it's a challenge to find good places to take toddlers and for the parents to have fun too!

Hi Jocelyne, it's Jocelyn!

For a weekend getaway, I would suggest Sedona. We took our kids out there when they were about to turn 3 and 5. We met my parents there, and we wouldn't have chosen it on our own, but I was so pleasantly surprised at how much my kids enjoyed the activities there. We took them on a jeep tour and they LOVED it. I can see how some kids might get scared, but if yours love adventure and don't mind a bumpy ride it could be loads of fun. We got to get out of the jeep a couple of times and let them run around on the red rocks. There's also a trout farm a few miles up the road (I found it under the Destinations section here on fodors) where you can go fishing. Not sit on a log and wait kind of fishing, but plop in the hook and watch the fish fight over it. There's the Tlaquepaque shopping village that has some beautiful fountains. We spent a whole afternoon throwing coins in all the fountains. There are some great opportunities for short hikes, with so much wildlife to see. There are some tourist trains that go through the area, although we didn't have the time.

Next summer we're taking the kids to Chicago. Great aquarium, the Sears Tower, the El...so many fun things for a kid.

Have fun with your little darlin!

Hello jnhayes, the Monterey Acquarime would be an interesting place for your little fellow I would think. And I see so many families with little ones in San Francisco. A ferry ride, the SF Zoo, the Exploritorium, the Discover Museum which I think is run by the Army Corp of Engineers in or near Sausalito. There is a tour on a firetruck I believe that goes across the Golden Gate Bridge.

My Dad use to take us to the beach in Santa Cruz when I was growing up, from the time I was a toddler. I loved going there. Muir Woods with the gigantic redwood trees was another spot that just took my breath away. Yuerba Buena (at 4th St) is a place my grandson's sure loved when the were little.

Our daughter loved Vancouver BC when she got to be about 4 years old. The Indian totem poles in Stanley Park and the park itself.

She loved Vancouver Island and Victoria and the Buchurt (sp?) Garden as she always loved flowers.

Florida, Long Boat Keys perhaps and then stay in Naples for a couple of nights and then drive on the TamiAmi Trail through the everglades to Miami.

So many places and so little time. I love travelling with little ones. They add a whole new dimension to a vacation IMO.

And Europe can be a fun and interesting place for children too once you think he is up to the long flight.

Cape Cod/Martha's Vineyard

1. Children's Musuem
2. Kid Friendly Beaches
3. Crabbing with a crab net from the beach
4. Clamming, kids are close to the ground and can see lil' holes of bubbling air where clams are hiding
5. Whale Watching
6. Ferry ride to M.V.
7. Aquarium
8. Bike Riding or sitting

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I haven't been yet, but I've had two friend recently take their young kids to Bonfante Gardens and Theme Park (close to Gilroy, CA) and they are raving about it! it's on my list now as well!

www.bonfantegardens.com

We found our boys were happy just being with us going where we liked to go. We liked the National Parks and they grew up enjoying nature.

Utahtea

Thanks for the great ideas! I am looking forward to planning our next trip!!!

Any more ideas are welcomed. I will keep on checking the post ;)

And Yosemite!! I agree with utahtea, children generally are happy just being with their mom and dad..it doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't have to have the biggest "wow" factor in the world. It is the fact that their parents take them along whereever they go. Enjoy and treasure every special moment!

Plan ahead - sounds like you will be traveling in next few years. Go get him/her a passport now. Will be required soon for just about everywhere outside US.