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If you need a place that checks off boxes for both adventure-loving adults and fun-loving children, that will not 100 degrees in the summer, then the Dolomites is it.
Malahide Castle made it to our list because it is touted as a kid-friendly castle due to it’s fairy trail, diverse food choices, and small castle (which is easy to navigate in a tour). The playground at Malahide is also extensive and suitable for kids from all ages.
The Dingle Peninsula is on everyone’s radar, and for good reason. This southwest coastal town is beautiful, and is the perfect place to spend a few days in the summer. We visited Dingle in July of 2024 with our 5-year-old daughter, as part of our road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Some of the most iconic photos from the Emerald Isle are often of Northern Ireland’s east coast. In two days on the Antrim Coast, you can easily visit well-known natural treasures, while also taking a beach day. Here’s our family friendly guide to the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede bridge, and the beaches of Portrush.
Many hiking enthusiasts head to Doolin, Ireland to explore the Cliffs of Moher.
However, if you are traveling with kids, you will probably not be hiking the slow cliffside trail, so you will need to find other kid-friendly activities in County Clare. We found Doolin to be a great home base for two nights while we explored the west coast of Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher.
Here are our some of our favorite activities and places from our 48 hours in Doolin.
While we were there in July, many days in Budapest were close to 90 degrees, so in order to cope with the heat and entertain our 4-year-old, we found ourselves seeking water, the shade of trees, and a cool breeze. Margaret Island (Margitsziget), which sits in the middle of the Danube River, was the perfect oasis for our family trip to Budapest.
On a chilly day in July, we took a few aerial cableways (very large and sturdy gondolas) from our hotel in Murren up to the Schilthorn. On the way back down, we stopped at the Birg Thrill Walk. All in all, if you wanted to explore this part of the Bernese Oberland, you could spend an entire day working you way from top to bottom.
Lucerne (Luzern) is a popular town in Switzerland, and for good reason. It sits on a beautiful lake, is halfway between the Bernese-Oberland and Zurich, and is a great starting point for family-friendly adventures on the way to Mount Pilatus.
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You guys—Rick Steves was right! The Bernese Oberland is a must-see place in Switzerland. But I’m not sure he knew that the this area is also heavenly for children and families; we spent 5 weeks in Europe, and this was one of our favorite places.
When I think of the Bernese Oberland, I think of stunning views, epic adventures, and the best playgrounds for kids. We visited in June, and spent 4 wonderful days in this region with our 4-year-old.
If you loved hiking before you had kids, but can never motivate your little one to hike, then you need to spend a week or two in the Dolomites in summer.
In July of 2023, we spent a week in the Dolomites, exploring the towns of Ortisei (Urtijëi), Santa Cristina, and Selva di Val Gardena. On our last full day, we discovered what may be the perfect area for families with children to have a memorable adventure.
Our 4-year-old is a reluctant hiker, but on this day, she hiked over 1.5 miles without being carried. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly hike, then read on.
When you think of Amsterdam, you might think of “coffee” shops and stag parties. However, on our recent trip to Europe, we flew into Amsterdam and used this lovely city as a place to get over our jet-lag and entertain our 4-year-old.
We took a guided day trip to Landmannalaugar with Arctic Adventures and fell in love with the rambling F-roads, and the unspoiled beauty of this area. If you are enjoying a road trip in Southern Iceland or even just taking day trips from Reykjavik, we highly recommend adding the highlands to your Iceland bucket list.
How much does 1 week in Iceland really cost?
Iceland is becoming quite popular, and this small island nation has adapted to serve more tourists each year. But, it can still be quite pricy to visit, especially for Americans who may be used to low fuel prices and cheap fast food. We visited in the summer of 2017 when AirBnBs were available on family farms and hotels were hard to come by.
When people think of Dublin, they might first think of pubs and not add it to their family trip to Ireland. However, we thought Dublin was a great city to visit with our daughter. We felt welcomed in all restaurants, and it is an easy city for walk around. If you are roadtripping around Ireland, you will probably want to spend more time in the countryside, but you should not skip Dublin and the surrounding area.