Family travel, handled

An inspo-packed playbook filled with tips, destination ideas, and more.

Baby on his father's shoulders with mother laughing.

Let’s face it: If there are a million-gazillion-bajillion—in 5-year-old parlance—ways to be a family, there are a million-gazillion-bajillion-times-infinity ways to travel together.

Below, you'll find a family-travel playbook packed with inspiration and guidance from our forums, reviews, and experts. There are road-trip ideas that promise to tear your teens away from TikTok. There are city guides that help you maximize time so that you’re not still stuck on the Brooklyn Bridge at nap-time. There’s insight from our community about nailing trips with little kids, trips with older kids, and trips with senior parents. You’ll also find ideas for getting your next adventure into motion—even if you’ve got no idea where to go.

Destinations & trip ideas

America’s 20 most kid-friendly places for a family vacation

Plus, top attractions they’ll love.

3 families on their best-ever road trips

Plus, guidance for keeping the whole crew happy.

Kid-approved city guides

Meltdown-free sightseeing (almost) guaranteed

Where should you and your family go next?The Tripadvisor community weighs in
Read on

Pack up and drive

Ice-cream-smudged windows and lots of ‘Are we there yet?’

Stays with room for the whole crew

Suites, houses, and space to spread out

Family travel tips & tricks

A first-timer's guide to pulling off a multi-family trip

Seven adults, five kids, and one epic Costa Rica adventure.

A first-timer’s guide to family cruises

Picking the right room, packing, and more.

A first-timer’s guide to flying with a baby

A parent of three reveals her tricks of the trade.

Pack like a pro

Fuss-free essentials to help you schlep in style

From our forums

Do you prefer "kid-first" or "parent-first" trips?

“It depends on the age. Infants won't remember anything. Ages 5 and up: Go where the parents want, but incorporate activities that will interest kids and teens.” —Middleoftheroad5

‘How I travel’

Because family trips aren’t one size fits all

Bridging the generational gap

Adventures for parents and children of all ages

Real trips from the community

A mommy-and-me ski trip to Mammoth Mountain

The mommy-and-me ski trips I’ve taken with my pre-teen have sealed our bond. I’ve passed on essential skills—like how to attach snow chains—in preparation for our snowy treks to Mammoth Mountain. Even during the warmer months, you can ski Mammoth Mountain thanks to record snowfall. Here are a few tips on how to take a ski trip as a solo female parent.

HelenIHwang, San Diego, CA

Woolly's Tube Park
19
When we want a break from skiing, Woolly’s Tube Park and Snow Play is a place for children to frolic in the snow without gearing up. The Magic Carpet takes riders to the top of the snow tube runs for thrilling rides. For wee ones, there’s a snow play area where children can ride merry-go-round tubes, ride a surf sled, and make a snowman.
Manzanar National Historic Site
522
We like to stop at Manzanar in Independence—a former concentration camp that imprisoned Japanese-American women, men, and children during World War II. Today, Manzanar is a world-class museum that gave my daughter a hands-on history lesson, allowing her to walk through bare bunkers when children her age were forced to live like prisoners. It’s a stark reminder to be grateful for our lives.
Burgers Restaurant
596
After a day on the slope, nothing beats a big, juicy burger. At the bottom of the mountain, across the street from the Village, we like to stop in this low-key, friendly eatery for a delicious burger with a whopping portion of crispy fries. Children can’t pass up the legendary milkshakes while parents can chill with a glass of wine.
Mill Cafe
29
After several runs on the slopes, we’re famished. We like to zigzag our way to the base of Chair 2 to find quick and convenient food. There’s an outdoor counter where we can easily walk up and order. We can look up at the majestic mountain while chowing down on favourites, like smoked tri-tip and steaming bowls of chili on a spacious sundeck.
Mammoth Mountain Inn
2,189
With a kid in tow, staying somewhere close to the chairlifts becomes imperative for a smooth start on the slopes. Located almost at the top of the mountain, Mammoth Mountain Inn has chairlifts and the ski school right outside the lodge. Other options in Mammoth Village, like the Village Lodge, allow you to easily hop onto the free Village Gondola for a quick ride to the chairlifts.
The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth
1,791
With a kid in tow, staying somewhere close to the chairlifts becomes imperative for a smooth start on the slopes. Located almost at the top of the mountain, Mammoth Mountain Inn has chairlifts and the ski school right outside the lodge. Other options in Mammoth Village, like the Village Lodge, allow you to easily hop onto the free Village Gondola for a quick ride to the chairlifts.

Get inspired by real families

A far-from-home spin on quality family time

A mother-daughter trip to Reykjavik

Like most mothers and daughters, my mom and I butt heads from time to time—but our love of travel brings us together. I’ve dreamt of the day I could take her somewhere she hasn’t been, much the way she did with me when I was little. And a few years ago, I was finally able to plan a special mother-daughter trip to Iceland.

Vanessa Wilkins, Los Angeles, CA

Blue Lagoon
19,963
We headed here right after landing in Reykjavik—it’s conveniently located for a stop on the way into the city. While I floated through the milky-blue waters with a face mask and prosecco, my mom waved from the on-site restaurant Lava, where she enjoyed a leisurely lunch with an incredible view of the lagoon.
Matur Og Drykkur
1,129
Locals rave about this restaurant, which is named after an Icelandic cookbook that translates to “food and drink,” and we were eager to try it out. The menu here features modern takes on traditional Icelandic dishes like lamb and salted cod. I pushed to get the tasting menu to get the full range of flavours, and the experience didn’t disappoint.
Hidden Iceland
1,356
Rather than bickering over directions in a car, we let the experts at Hidden Iceland take the wheel, signing up for the company’s Golden Circle Tour. Our guide was fantastic, taking us to see national treasures like the Secret Lagoon and Gullfoss waterfall, while providing insider tips and recommendations within the city limits, as well.
Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus
524
You can visit all three of the Reykjavík Art Museums placed around the city, but Hafnarhus is my favourite. Located in the oldest part of the city where the first docks were located, it houses contemporary art from around the world. My mom and I spent hours here admiring the impressive collection and the architectural nods to the building’s previous life as a port warehouse.
Braud & Co
2,762
This was the perfect place for a quick, delicious breakfast before a day of exploring. We loved the signature sourdough bread and pastries, but my pro tip is to be sure to leave room for the cinnamon rolls, which Tripadvisor reviewers rave about.
Safari Quads
1,402
Seeking a little adrenaline rush one day, we signed up for an exhilarating ATV adventure with Safari Quads. I took the wheel, and—with my mom beside me—we navigated the rocky trails to a mountain peak that gave way to breathtaking panoramic views of Reykjavík and the Reykjavík Peninsula.
Kröst
455
This cosy grill and wine bar is a hidden gem located in Iceland’s Hlemmur food hall. There are small bites, burgers, and, of course, a robust wine list (my favourite!). Mom and I grabbed a few drinks here before continuing down Laugavegur to check out Reykjavík’s buzzy nightlife scene.
Northern Lights Minibus Tour with Hot Cocoa, Blankets & Photos
128
The highlight of our visit to Iceland was this guided tour of the Northern Lights. Like many visitors to Iceland, we actually had to hunt for the elusive aurora more than once: We were unlucky the first night and couldn’t see them. We took the same tour the next day (free of charge!) and there they were, in all their colourful glory, dancing across the night sky.