My husband and I are avid urban travelers, and that didn’t change when we had children. We still enjoy encountering a city’s delights, though now we rely more advance planning, patience and ice cream breaks.
My family has learned to select cities with direct flight access, walkable downtowns and neighborhoods full of parks and playgrounds. We prioritize accommodations with a heated pool, and research in advance kid-friendly festivals and events.
When Katie Farrell, a London-based digital director, researches urban travel with her husband and two daughters, ages 3 and 7, she searches for “fun-for-all” activities.
“The main criteria for me is that kids and adults can enjoy the same things,” she said. “Neither feels like they are missing out and everyone enjoys what you are doing.” Recent adventures for her family included dipping pastries in horchata in Valencia, Spain, and swimming around archaeological ruins in Puglia, Italy.
Technology can be an asset: Google Maps filters for restaurants that are “Good for kids” and those that feature a “Kids’ menu,” and also shows when child-focused museums and other destinations will be open and less crowded. Our family clusters activities to reduce time spent in transit, and we create custom walking routes using Apple Maps and other apps.
Through our travels, we learned that these cities are among the best for travelers young and old, particularly for spring break:
Washington, D.C.
At the National Mall, early-rising babies and toddlers will have the most room to roam first thing in the morning, when crowds are lightest. The National Cherry Blossom Festival makes the Mall inviting every spring, especially for the make-or-bring-your-own kite festival (March 29 this year). But the city holds appeal for families in all seasons with its free access to many museums, including 21 Smithsonian institutions and the National Zoo, which welcomed two giant pandas in January.
Our family likes the lively language museum Planet Word, especially singing karaoke to our favorite music (free admission, with a recommended donation of $15). When it comes to their own writing, kids can create plays and songs at the newly renovated Folger Shakespeare Museum (reserve pay-what-you-choose timed entry tickets). For outdoor adventuring, visit the easily accessible Rock Creek Park as well as Theodore Roosevelt Island, which honors the president who inspired the invention of the teddy bear.
Favorite family-friendly food includes…
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