The world is full of magical places. Many can be enjoyed at any age, others are undoubtedly best experienced through a child’s eyes when they are filled with wonder and awe. I’ve teamed up with Activities Abroad to share with you 7 magical places to take your kids before they grow up (and become stroppy teens!)
From meeting Father Christmas and his reindeers in snowy Lapland to swimming with wild dolphins in Madeira, these are once in a lifetime family adventure holidays you will treasure forever.
Table of Contents
Meet Father Christmas in Lapland
What kid doesn’t dream of meeting Father Christmas in Lapland? This is number one on our family travel wish list for this year. My boys will be 4 and 7 soon and it was clear this Christmas that my eldest had been listening to the playground rumours which absolutely broke mine and his Daddy’s heart. He was questioning Santa’s magical abilities which we definitely need to put a stop to before it’s too late. Our plan this year is to ditch the crowded grottoes in the UK and fly over to Finland. I literally cannot wait to see their faces when we tell them where we are going!
I am looking forward to us wrapping up warm and spending some quality private time with Santa, his elves and reindeers. We intend to fully embrace the true magic of Christmas by riding on a snowmobile, going on a husky safari and having fun in the snow. In the evenings we will cosy up warm next to a roaring log fire and hopefully relax in a sauna with a glass of wine whilst our boys are in bed.
Best age to visit Lapland with kids: There is a short window of time to fully make the most of Lapland. The best time to visit is when kids still believe and yet are old enough to remember the magical experience. Activities Abroad recommend 4 years or over (they state that younger children may join the holiday, but may not be able to participate in all the activities). The extremely cold temperatures also need to be taken into consideration.
When to visit: November – March. December is obviously a popular time to visit and also the ideal month to observe the Northern Lights.
Length of holiday: Packages available from a few days to one week.
Price of holiday: Adults from £585 for two nights inc flights.
More information: Meet Father Christmas in Lapland.
Snorkel with wild dolphins in Madeira
Madeira is the perfect place for families to enjoy a holiday of discovery. We loved our visit last year. Kids will particularly love boarding a boat to go in search of marine life in the warm blue waters of the Azores . There are over 25 different species of whales and dolphins frequently seen near Madeira, a luscious green volcanic island in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Adventurous kids will enjoy snorkelling with the wild dolphins in their natural habitat (see video below, it looks incredible!), exploring a lagoon around a crater by sea kayak, canyoning and mountain biking through the beautiful countryside.
Best for kids: Age 8 and above
When to visit: June to September
Length of holiday: Seven nights
Price of holiday: Adult price from £1,325 inc flights
More information: Snorkelling with dolphins in Madeira
Encounter the ‘Big 5’ on a South African Safari
Create lifelong memories with your kids whilst searching for some of the world’s most majestic animals – lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos, known as the ‘Big 5’, in their natural habitat. Get up close and personal to wild hippos and Nile crocodiles during a river cruise safari, take the cable car up to Table Mountain and give your children a geography lesson they will remember forever with a visit to the Zulu Cultural Village to visit schools, homes and shops.
Best age for kids: Activities Abroad recommend 8 years and over (younger children may join the holiday, but may not be able to participate in all the activities).
When to visit: South Africa is a year-round destination however the cooler winter months, May to September, are the best conditions for viewing the Big 5 on safari.
Length of holiday: 14 nights
Price of holiday: Adult price from £2,725
More information: South African Family Adventure.
Meet polar bears, husky dogs & Arctic foxes in Finland
Before your kids grow up and start demanding nightclubs and bars experience a holiday in the snowy wilderness near Ranua Wildlife Park in Finland. Enjoy a wildlife filled weekend coming face to face with 50 species of Arctic creatures in natural-style enclosures and explore the area on a snowmobile and sled pulled by huskies.
Best age for kids: 4 years and over (younger children may join the holiday, but may not be able to participate in all the activities).
When to visit: December – March.
Length of holiday: 3 nights
Price of holiday: Adult price from £985
More information: Arctic wildlife weekend in Finland.
Learn to surf with your kids in Portugal
Make magical memories in the surf! Prove to your kids you are a cool parent whilst you are still young enough… and before they hit the teenage years and just want to play video games!
Portugal’s Alentejo Coast is a well-kept secret here in the UK but it’s a popular spot for the locals who choose to avoid the Algarve’s more crowded shoreline. It’s one of Western’s Europe’s most unpopulated regions, with stunning beaches and perfect waves for surfing. You’ll be taught how to catch the best waves and stay upright on your surf board. This holiday package also includes abseiling, zip-wiring, cycling and canoeing.
Best age for kids: 8 years and over
When to visit: June – August
Length of holiday: 7 nights
Price of holiday: Adult price from £845 inc flights
More information: Family surf holiday Portugal
Hike volcanoes & encounter giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are a uniquely, magical place on Earth with spectacular scenery, incredible wildlife, and a rich history of pirates, explorers and travellers.
Activities Abroad have put together an exciting six-day package which your family will rave about for years to come. You’ll encounter the world-famous giant tortoises, hike around the crater of a volcano, meet the locals and learn about their efforts to conserve the islands as well as snorkel and kayak in the crystal clear turquoise waters.
Best age for kids: 8 and over
When to visit: Seasons are split into cool and dry (June – November) and warm and wet (December – June), with the warmer season being the best time to visit Galápagos for warmer, calmer seas and good underwater visibility. December is the start of the hatching season for giant tortoises.
Length of holiday: 6 nights
Price of holiday: Adult from £2,845
More information: Family tour of the Galapagos Islands
Create magical memories in the hills and lakes of the Lake District
Of course you don’t need to leave the UK to experience a magical family holiday. The Lake District is on our doorstep and undeniably one of the most beautiful and magical regions in England with glistening lakes, towering mountains and quaint villages.
This 6-night family break is based around the picturesque Borrowdale Valley and Derwentwater. Your family can pick and choose the activities you wish to enjoy together. Perfect for families who love hiking, climbing, abseiling, canoeing, sailing and generally having fun together!
Best age for kids: 8 and over
When to visit: This holiday package can be booked March to October. Enjoy the best weather the Lake District has to offer without the summer crowds by visiting June to mid July or beginning of September.
Length of holiday: 6 nights
Price of holiday: Adult from £525
More information: Family Activity Holiday In The Lake District.
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Disclosure: This is a collaborative post with Activities Abroad, the family holiday adventure specialists. All words and opinions are, of course, my own.
These are awesome places indeed! Lapland is such a perfect destination for kids.
These are certainly magical places to visit. We’re going to Lapland in December with our son and I cannot wait. We are also in the planning stages of a South African safari for next year with my sister and her partner. And funnily enough, now that we live in Portugal, Madeira is on my radar. I’d love to see the dolphins.
I didn’t travel much with my kids when they grew up, mostly due to lack of money I guess. We did have lovely summer and winter holidays in my parents’s holiday cottage though, so fine memories were made anyway.
My first grandchild is expected in late April, and I’d love to travel with grand kids in the future. Since I live in Sweden we have easy access to the Lapland adventures :)
I actually went to Madeira with my then 14-year old daughter, and we had the best of times riding along the levadas and going on whale safari (didn’t snorkel though). My recommendation is to not stay in Funchal but in a smaller place, closer to nature. For me one day in Funchal was quite enough.
Do you have any suggestions for a great hotel in Madeira?
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I don’t I’m afraid Nigel. I have visited Madeira on many occasions but always by cruise ship. I can ask around for you and see if any friends have places they recommend
Very interesting and worth reading.
Great ideas here. I’d never thought of snorkelling with dolphins in Madeira. I guess I always expected to travel to Florida or New Zealand for that. We may be missing the boat for a Lapland FC trip, but hopeful to have that wonderful Finnish adventure, including husky-sledding when little bro reaches that magical age of 8.
I would love to take my kids on a south African safari!
What magical trips to take as a family. We’ve managed three so doing pretty well! Would love to go dog sledding so thats on our bucket list
Lapland is top of our family wish list!
Such an inspirational list. Totally got me excited to where we could take the kids in the not-too-distant future. #fearlesstravelfam
We love snorkelling with dolphins and sharks – we had the best time in Maldives back in December! But didn’t realise you can also snorkel with them in Madeira, thanks for putting it onto our list! A great post and tones of inspiration, thank you Lisa!
Lapland is somewhere we really want to go to… Just waiting for the baby to get a little bigger! Not bad Lisa, I’ve done three on the list! Great post and such diverse places
OMG, I absolutely looooove this post! I’ve been dying to take the kids to Lapland to see Santa, followed by Finland… Definitely pinning this post! #fearlessfamtrav
So much inspiration here! Lapland is, a firm favourite for us – perhaps in a couple of years when my boys are older.
All amazing ideas by my faves would be swimming with wild dolphins and encountering the big five #fearlessfamtrav
Wow! Some amazing experiences here. We haven’t done any so need to get going!
Seriously tempted by Lapland!
We did Lapland to bring in the New Year this year, my youngest had just turned 3 so I was worried she’d be too young but with my boys being 7 and 8 and the 8 year old already beginning to question the magic I knew this could possibly be the last chance I got to take them whilst they were all still believers! It was amazing amd my 3 year old loved it just as much as her big brothers, especially the husky and reindeer sleigh rides!
I currently have a savings account building up for Disney World Florida which I’m hoping to do once my daughter is a bit bigger so she can enjoy the rides then I’ll begin saving for an African Safari!! That one has been on my bucket list forever!!
We’re not too far from the Lake District so will be getting plenty of chance to explore there in our campervan.
I’ll definitely be looking into the other things on this list too!
Thanks for sharing!
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That’s really good to hear that it wasn’t too cold for your youngest. That’s my concern too but like you I don’t want to leave it another year as my eldest will be going into juniors next year and I’m going to struggle to keep the magic going. Enjoy Florida! I’ve got a post here which you may find useful – https://www.travellovingfamily.com/travel-tips/tips-for-planning-family-holiday-to-orlando I worked in Orlando for a year and we lived nearby for three years so I know Orlando and the parks very well. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to help x
I’ll have a look at that link, thank you :)
Our Lapland trip was booked with Santas Lapland, the Search for Santa day can be done at your own pace and theres plenty of warm up rooms available with free, hot berry juice and crepes so you don’t have to just battle on through the cold. All the snow suits/boots/mitten hire is included in the price too so you just need to stock up on thermals and layers for under the suits. I’d highly recommend snoods!
I would love to go swimming with dolphins and I always wanted to go to Lapland as a child. This is a great post.
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Glad you found it useful Laura. Hope you get to swim with wild dolphins and visit Lapland ;)
What a lovely, inspirational post. Interesting that a lot of the activities say 8 or over. My son’s 8, and I can see he’s made a leap in what he’s able to do – and enjoy. Now we just need to wait a couple of years for little sis to be able to join him!
Author
Completely agree Nell. We are definitely getting to do more active, adventurous things now as our boys are growing up. My youngest has experienced things I would never have considered trying with my eldest when he was 3!
What incredible ideas you’ve shared, I know Lapland and Portugal are on my list for future. Maybe the Lake District too
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The Lake District is stunning Anosa! You should definitely add to your travel wish list
Obviously I’m biased as my family is from Madeira but I love that you mentioned Madeira, it really is a magical place!
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I love Madeira Ana! Such a beautiful island. I used to call into Funchal every few weeks for the three years I worked onboard cruise ships. I hope you get to return home regularly;)
There are some amazing ideas here, I hope you get to visit Lapland and have an amazing time x
That trip to Finland looks great and so unusual. The only thing is I’m not sure how I would fare in the freezing cold.
Most of these feature on my list of places to visit on an around the world trip! The Galapagos Islands are a must for us as we are all about conservation! Lapland and Finland are also ones we want to visit, but have decided to wait until the boys are a bit older because of the colder temperatures.
Even as an adult I want to do ALL of these trips. Lapland is definitely one for the future, kids or no kids haha. And an African safari has been on my wishlist for such a long time x
Visiting Lapland is no 1 on our list too! Not heard of Activities Abroad before there packages seem very reasonable;) Thanks for sharing
Lapland would be absolutely amazing with my daughter – definitely high on my list.
There are some amazing trips here! We would love to take the kids on a safari and meet Father Christmas in lapland!!