11 Memorable Trips for Dads and Their Kids
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
Although writer Tom Lamont once accurately described parenting as a “ chore-pocalypse ”—a cold war of instilling responsibility and expectations on your progeny, before an inevitable meltdown or disappointment ensues—there are countless perks to being a dad. The world opens. Small moments blossom into large discoveries. And adulthood suddenly becomes a portal for exploration, relearning, and joyful wonder.
No one is saying that fathering a child, or teenagers , is easy . It can often feel like you are tasked with reversing the direction of a waterfall with your bare hands. (Ever tried making breakfast with a toddler clinging to your leg, a work deadline looming, and no coffee pot in sight? I have, and it’s certainly not for the weak.) And yet, the bond that is built—steadily, slowly, surely—between you and your little ones is unlike anything else you can experience in this lifetime. There’s a certain comedy of survivalism-turned-glorious-triumph that unfolds between a father and his children when left to their own devices.
So what else is there left to do but hit the open road for an adventurous outing? What imperfect gaffs and missteps await, ready to be turned into the stuff of legends? Outside of newborn infancy, dads can—and should—go at it alone from time to time: whether it's a ghost hunting trip to New Orleans, a lake-hopping tour of Stockholm, or a weekend in the wilds of South Africa. From Bolivia to the Carolinas, there’s a trip for every intrepid dad and his kids out there. Here are 11 ideas for dad-captained vacations of various interests, budgets, and ages.
Ideas for trips with dad:
- A sky-high ride across Bolivia
- A ghost hunting tour of New Orleans
- A lake-hopping adventure around Stockholm
- A video game, anime fantasy in Tokyo
- A luchador throwdown in Mexico City
- A quest through the Great Smoky Mountains
- A baseball fling in upstate New York
- A road trip along the Australian Gold Coast
- A wildlife excursion in South Africa
- A horseback outing in Argentinian wine country
- A century-old amusement park in Copenhagen
A sky-high ride across Bolivia
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
An egregiously underrated South American stop, there’s no high quite like Bolivia’s La Paz —literally. At 11,975 ft above sea level, it’s the most altitudinous capital city in the world, an urban center teeming with art, museums, and one of the most intricate systems of teleferic cable cars in the world that crisscross above the streets like an aerial subway. Chart your trek across the mountain clouds and get around the city in these easily accessible cable rides while hitting up budget-friendly eateries, public parks, and taking in the distinctly surrealist architecture —from the comfort of your seat in the sky.
Where to stay in La Paz:
- For Michelin-starred dining: Atix Hotel
- For distinct architecture: Casa Grande Hotel
A ghost hunting tour of New Orleans
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
New Orleans may be known as the premier Southern locale for sin, but it offers so much more than a boozy jaunt down Bourbon Street. Unlike most zip codes in the United States, Louisiana’s former French colony is rife with Creole history and shadowy echoes of the past that are sure to captivate young and old imaginations alike. Whether you are already a spiritual clairvoyant or are a believer-in-the-making, enroll in the New Orleans Paranormal Society and embark on a private ghost hunt replete with voodoo, séances, and more. For a tamer variety, take a simple ghost tour of the city’s French Quarter, and follow that up with a walk through Jackson Square en route to powdered-sugar beignets and bowls of gumbo along the shimmering Mississippi River for good measure.
Where to stay in New Orleans:
- For elegant traditionalism: The Pontchartrain Hotel
- For riverside strolls: Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
A lake-hopping adventure around Stockholm
Best for: Grade-schoolers, teens
If summers are enjoyable, then summers in Stockholm are simply euphoric. Launch from one of the Swedish capital’s extensive canal docks, where local swimmers picnic and take midday dips, and begin your day-long cruise to nearby islands that provide the tranquility of Scandinavian nature and uninterrupted lounging beneath the mild sun. Take in the sights as they gently glide by, occasionally disembarking to explore land on foot before hopping back onto your seafaring vessel for the open lake waters. Pro tip: You can reach Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town, via boat from Ostermalm, a centric Stockholm area. And while in Stockholm, sprinkle in a visit to The House of Film, the beautiful gardens at Rosendals Trädgårdskafé, or the Vasa Museum. The most populous Nordic city has no shortage of its own soil-bound entertainment, including a life-sized viking ship, an amusement park, a naturally-ensconced zoo, and world-class photography exhibits.
Where to stay in Stockholm:
- For homey warmth: Ett Hem
- For top-tier luxury: Grand Hôtel
A video game, anime fantasy in Tokyo
Best for: Grade-schoolers, teens
Mario Kart go-karts, life-sized Gundam mechs, Final Fantasy–themed cafés, and futuristic arcades galore? There’s no better way to solidify your campaign as “dad of the year” than taking your clan to the neon-lit Japanese megapolis filled with real world video game and otaku (anime and manga) references. The global nexus of all things nerdom, you won’t have enough days to see it all in Tokyo : the digital shops in Akihabara, the bustling pace of Shibuya, and the leisurely paced introspection at Ueno Park, which houses the Kaneiji Temple. If you’re looking to immortalize yourself among your children, hop on the Shinkansen bullet train for a two-hour one-way trip to Osaka, where Super Nintendo World awaits at Universal Studios Japan.
Where to stay in Tokyo:
- For a classic ryokan experience: Yuen Bettei Deita
- For central location: OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino Resorts
A luchador throwdown in Mexico City
Best for: Infants, toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
The Aztec heartbeat of Mexico has become one of the most popular places to visit of late, with tourist numbers having exceeded pre-pandemic levels and showing no signs of slowing. As North America’s biggest and tastiest city , there is plenty to eat, see, and do—from grabbing tacos on the go to marveling at the largest collection of Mesoamerican artifacts on the planet. November to April is dry season, and if timed carefully, you’ll be able to catch the tail end of citywide Día de Muertos celebrations and parades. And yes, there will be lucha libre.
Where to stay in Mexico City:
- For playground proximity: Hotel San Fernando
- For pool access: Soho House Mexico City
A quest through the Great Smoky Mountains
Best for: Babies, toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
There are few experiences like the great American outdoors. Whether it's during the wildflower bloom of spring, the balmy height of summer, or the metamorphic foliage of fall, a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is not to be missed. Enter through Tennessee or North Carolina into the 187,000-acre mountainlands, which are mystic and sprawling. You might spot a black bear crossing the Cataloochee Valley on a family hike (a common sighting), or take it easy with a quick trip to one of various waterfalls (Cataract and Laurel are particularly toddler friendly). With an abundance of interactive learning opportunities, there’s a reason it’s the most visited National Park in the nation—and yet, you’ll never feel the suffocation of large crowds.
Where to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains:
- For Jeep touring: Dollywood's DreamMore Resort & Spa
- For resort amenities: Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa
A baseball fling in upstate New York
Best for: Grade-schoolers, teens
Despite its contested origin, it is believed that baseball —the greatest of American pastimes—began in Cooperstown, New York in 1839. A quiet farmland ensconced along the foothills of the Catskill Mountains , it’s the perfect American pastoral town with international renown: the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum attracts sports-curious visitors year round. Little league tournaments and baseball summer camps are held at the nearby Dreams Park, where countless Major League Baseball players began their careers and are displayed as members of their childhood teams. An actual village, Cooperstown also has more charm than baseball history. Main Street retains a quaint feel with boutiques and diners; a 12-mile track for electric pedal assisted railbikes makes it easy to explore the area; and everything from kayaking to local breweries are within reach. It’s sure to be a win-win outing.
Where to stay in Cooperstown:
- For walkable ease: Inn at Cooperstown
- For lakeside privacy: The Otesaga Resort Hotel
A road trip along the Australian Gold Coast
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
Ask an Australian where to spend a dad’s trip with the kids, and they’ll likely answer the Gold Coast. Located just south of Brisbane on the eastern edge of the continent, the region affords a variety of theme parks (Dream World, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, etc.), national parks, a rainforest, and of course, expansive beaches set against the glorious ocean backdrop. Take to the road for a scenic cruise through nearby Tamborine National Park before joining a group tour of the park’s Glow Worm Caves (where you’ll see bioluminescent larvae). Or simply drive along the waterfront before hitting the sand for a lazy afternoon. A year-round destination that is perennially sun-kissed, you can’t go wrong with this golden terminus.
Where to stay in the Gold Coast:
- For simplicity’s sake: Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
- For sophisticated glam: The Calile Hotel
A wildlife excursion in South Africa
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
African winters (during May to September) are the ideal time to visit Kruger National Park and its surrounding areas in South Africa. During dry season, there are smaller crowds, and the sparse landscape offers better vistas of the wildlife. The disabled-friendly Sabi Sabi Safari with its accompanying Bush Lodge is a great entry point, a fenceless game reserve of woodlands savanna where visitors are certain to spot the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo) in their natural habitats. Nearby Kruger National Park also offers mountain biking, bird watching, guided bush walks, golfing, bush braais (barbecues), and more.
Where to stay in South Africa:
- For family-geared suites: Lukimbi Safari Lodge
- For stargazing safaris: Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge
A horseback outing in Argentinian wine country
Best for: Teens
Picture sitting in a lush, open valley beneath the majestic, snow-capped Andean peaks with a glass of wine in hand and a plate of Argentinian churrasco in front of you. Admittedly, it may not initially seem like the most kid-friendly of environments, so maybe skip the private wine tour and be sure to mix in a horseback ride at La Crucecita , or, if age permits, rent bicycles to hop around a few wineries. Aside from the occasional slide or playground that the rare winery might offer in Maipu, save this trip for when the kids are a bit older and able to appreciate one of the world’s best dining experiences. And don’t forget, dads deserve to occasionally enjoy themselves, too.
Where to stay in Argentina:
- For holistic family care: Entre Cielos Wine & Wellness Hotel
- For private winemaking classes: The Vines Resort & Spa
A century-old amusement park in Copenhagen
Best for: Babies, toddlers, grade-schoolers
Forget Disney World—Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens is where Walt Disney himself went to get inspired in the 1950s. Founded in 1843, Tivoli is among the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the world. The best part? It’s smack dab in the middle of Copenhagen , among the most effortlessly cool cities known to man. Beyond Tivoli (which features child-friendly rides, gardens, and an old-world allure) Copenhagen boasts an interactive zoo, an aquarium, hands-on activities at the Experimentarium, the National Museum of Denmark, canal tours and, if you can believe it, another theme park that is even older than Tivoli: Bakken, a mere 25-minute trip north of Copenhagen in Lyngby-Taarbæk, dating back to 1583.
Where to stay in Copenhagen:
- For an urban island getaway: 25hours Paper Island
- For eco-minded families: Coco Hotel
Post a Comment