KID FRIENDLY VACATIONS YOU WON'T HATE

Curated by Coolest Parents I know

So the holidays are here, and booking trips is not nearly as easy as it used to be. Long gone are the days of last-minute traveling around the world (SIGH).

*I literally just spent an hour calling over a dozen hotels in Palm Springs, until I finally found one that will accept my kid, hallelujah. Who knew most hotels there are adult-only?! *

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to find vacation spots that would be kid friendly + we would also enjoy. As I told you before, we are not a big resort/ cruise type of family. Don't get me wrong, beach-only vacations are ALWAYS appreciated, but I can't help but crave a bit of history and discovery. So now what? Are we doomed? I refuse to believe we are condemned to cheesy kid travel destinations only so I've asked 5 of my coolest parent friends to help curate four absolutely fantastic trips. Get ready to get lost in pink sunsets, ride donkeys around town, explore art-filled gardens, find the best shwarma, and discover an attraction park in the middle of Paris.

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APRIL HENNIG KARRAS

Chief Merchant at Moda Operandi & Mother of Theo 4 and Lulu 6.

Favorite place to travel with kids: 

AH: Greece is my all-time favorite destination. Before we had kids we went regularly, and then once we had kids I was worried it would be a challenging family vacation, especially with travel logistics.  But in actuality, Greece is such a kid-friendly destination, with warm calm waters, an abundance of activities, food options the whole family loves, and even getting between islands by ferry is entertainment in itself. 

Where to stay:

AH: No matter where you are going in Greece, you most likely need to stop in Athens first. Most people don't realize, but the coast of Athens (the Athens Riviera), is a beautiful and vibrant alternative to staying in the heart of the city. A couple of years back, The Four Seasons opened in Vouliagmeni, which is just 30 minutes south of the Acropolis. Sitting on its own peninsula, the resort has a number of pools and a secluded beach, and is directly next to the famous Astir Beach Club. It's the ultimate seaside experience. Alternatively, you could venture a little further south and stay at the Cape Sounio Grecotel, where you have direct views of the historic Temple of Poseidon, and has its own kids club and discovery center loaded with activities for younger and older kids. Our favorite island destination is Hydra, a quick ferry away. There we stay at the Bratsera Hotel, a converted old sponge factory with charming rooms and a small pool. 

Top things to do:

AH: Hydra is a hidden gem within the Saronic Islands, and is car-free, with donkeys being the main form of transportation. Everything is within walking distance and the kids can roam free on the cobblestone streets and hidden coastal pathways. (Note to parents - you want to pack light, and this isn't an island for pushing strollers!) There are a few different beaches to spend the day at, most of which are reached by taxi. Our kids loved riding donkeys around the island, exploring monasteries and beautiful hillsides. In town, there are shops, candy stores, and so many family-friendly tavernas, serving fresh food right from the sea. After donkeys, the local cats are the most characteristic animal on the island. Kids can find them everywhere, on the steps and down every alleyway, and they are incredibly friendly! Like everywhere in Greece, everything is open late, and kids are playing in the streets until the late hours of sundown. 

Where to eat:

AH: My absolute favorite spot to eat in Hydra is Kodylenia's Taverna, which is a short boat ride over to the old fishing port of Kamini, and then a 5-minute climb up a stone pathway. The owner Dimitris has been running it for 25 years. If you go for dinner, you will witness a breathtaking sunset, with a magical ocean view of distant mountaintops, and a harbor dotted with wooden fishing boats. The setting is informal and the food is well-priced, serving locally caught fish and all the Mediterranean classics. 

Must-Haves:

AH: A piece of evil eye jewelry from Elena Votsi, who has her local shop and studio in the center of Hydra port. 

A stuffed donkey souvenir for the kids, which they keep in their bedrooms to remember the trip. 

In Athens, I always stop at The Poet, for a pair of handmade leather sandals. His workshop has been there for almost 100 years, and the 3rd generation owner cuts the leather and custom fits them on your feet in front of you in the design of your choice.

VICTORIA LAMPLEY

Founder of THE STAX & Mother to Rex 5 and Staxy 3.

Favorite place to travel with kids:

VL: Apart from traveling to Long Island or Jupiter to stay with my in-laws and see my family, I absolutely love traveling to Ojai to get away from the LA Smog and drive straight into the scent of citrus blossoms and jasmine. It's a small town with a big heart and I love the energy there. There is no Starbucks (don't get me wrong I love an iced americano on the reg) or honking horns or city-slickers running you off the road. 

Where to stay:

VL: Ojai Valley Inn. I used to stay at the most amazing house, belonging to my beloved friends but they've since sold it .

Top things to do:

VL: In my daily life I often attempt to do too much, so part of the beauty of Ojai is settling into the surroundings and letting go of overscheduled days... Trying to put my phone under a pillow... Long meals with the kids, lots of running around on the grass and golf courses with the kids and our pup Zelda, long languid (and insanely noisy) afternoons by the pool or walks around town, and in the evening we like to take the kids out and experience "the pink moment"--a rare and magical moment that occurs as the fading sunset creates a brilliant shade of pink on the Mountains... It's really extraordinary. 

Where to eat:

VL: I love a long breakfast, so we usually venture to the Farmer and the Cook on the Edge of Town for the best Persimmon smoothies and organic Mexican breakfast dishes. For lunch, we often run back and sit by the pool with the kids for the works (rose on ice and hummus crudite for yours truly,  and a grilled cheese and fries for the kids with a carrot thrown in for good effort!), for dinner, I'm super excited to try Rory's Place, and our go-to in the past has been The Nest for delicious Cauliflower Tacos, cocktails, and the dough-iest dankest pizza! It's super kid friendly and has great vibes, and if we're feeling confident we'll try and sit for a "fancier" dinner back at The Oak, they illuminate the trees with hanging lanterns which makes for a pretty epic view. 

Must-Haves:

VL: I always bring my handmade Alix of Bohemia jackets, shirts, and dresses with me, basically my uniform for holiday and adventure... She's one of my best friends who happens to be one of my style muses/favorite designers...I also never leave the house, especially since the evenings can be so chilly in California, without my hand-embroidered cashmere Holy Goat shawls available via Debonnaire in London, my Mother in law gets me them for special occasions and I'm obsessed.  

For the kids, I pack a ton of this sunscreen, lots of cute easy lightweight hand-printed outfits by Ya Living and Milk Teeth, lots of separates to run amok in by Primary, a medley of jelly Mary-Janes for my daughter, pokemon crocs for my son, this magic drawing tablet for both kids for the car ride, my kids literally pack their stuffies in little suitcases--this particular one makes me very happy for obvious reasons, and let's not forget their obsession with Squishmallows... For long dry and sunny days their little cheeks get chapped so I always carry Ouli's Ointment balm with me, or a new go-to of mine Yassi's Butta. 

I also throw all my Mom-essentials in my Jasmine Shokrian Mini Aeki Bag so there's a flash of style hiding my hoarding...And lastly, I'm super superstitious and never leave on a trip without some of my favorite protective jewelry (check out The Stax) like my CAM Studio custom tsavorite rock pendant, my Sherman Field chrysoprase locket, my Rondel Magic Mushroom rainbow opal charm, my Daniela Villegas lovebug pinky ring, my Jenna Katz hand-engraved Canvas Coin with my son's hand-engraved note to me (a genius gift from my pal Laurel Pantin), and my friendship bangles with my Mother, vintage Tiffany & Co bangles in rose and yellow gold.

AJIRI AKI

Author of JOIE, Founder of Madame de la Maison, & Mother of Noomie 10 and Baz 6

Favorite place to travel with kids:

AA: It’s a big area but for us, hands down the South of France! I love how close we are to fields to run in one direction, mountains for hikes in another direction, and the ocean in another direction. Everything is there.

Where to stay:

AA: We like to get Airbnbs with a pool and a garden so we can swim at home in the mornings and evenings, but a recent hotel we stayed in that we plan to return to was Le Bailli de Suffren. I love that you can move from the pool hotel to the private beach and rent canoes.  

Top things to do:

AA: If you stay closer to Aix-en-Provence then take the family to run wild and free at Chateau Lacoste. If you had closer to the Cote d’Azur then beach days and boat trips are the things to do.

Where to eat:

AA: I love the restaurants at the Hotel Le Bailli de Suffren and the Francis Maman restaurant at Chateau Lacoste.

Must-Haves:

AA: Biotherm dry touch SPF 50 sunscreen because it’s crazy sunny in the south, hats that tie under the chin because nothing worse than losing your hat when a gust of wind blows through, and a foldable sand bucket and shovel.   

BRENDA DIAZ DE LA VEGA

Luxury and Fashion Brand Consultant & Mother of Laszlo 3.

Favorite place to travel with kids:

BD: This may seem counterintuitive and undeniably self-serving but my favorite place to travel with kids is Paris. It is surprisingly filled with wonderful things to do for small children and there is something extraordinary about rediscovering a city that I have been visiting regularly as an adult for the past two decades through the eyes of a three-year-old.  

Where to stay:

BD: Last time we went we split the time between my husband’s family’s place and Hotel Lutetia. They had the cutest mini slippers and mini bathrobe for my son and gave him a “Le Petit Prince” set of coloring books, pencils, and toiletries. He was thrilled and felt important wearing the same robe and slippers as his father.

Top things to do:

BD: The LudoJardin in the Luxembourg Garden is an all-wooden playground like you’ve never seen: lady-bug and bumble-bee spring riders, a giant sand pit with a digging platform, and buckets on movable chains for sand collecting, maze sculpture, timber fort area with slide, zip line that runs between the trees, seesaws, magic mirrors, you get the picture. Outside the LudoJardin in the main area, there is also a carousel and pony rides.

Another unmissable spot is LVMH’s Jardin d’Acclimation behind the Fondation Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne. It was created in 1860 by Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, inspired by Hyde Park. It was acquired by Arnault and fully remodeled in 2018 conserving its charming 19th-century style. It has a farm, an aviary with over 400 species, 42 rides, and attractions, and many cute restaurants and trails for walking. Combined with a quick visit to the Fondation Vuitton, it’s the perfect day of culture, nature, and fun for both parents and children.

A visit to famous taxidermist and entomologist Deyrolle in Rue de Bac is a great pedagogical activity for kids. They will be fascinated by the collection of insects, animals, fossils, and other curiosities. Émile Deyrolle famously said, “Visual instruction is the least tiring for the mind, but this education can have good results only if the ideas engraved in the children’s mind are rigorously exact.” 

*It is important to mention that no animal was killed to be mounted at Deyrolle: the non-domestic species come from zoos and parks where they died of old age or illness. They are traceable, and protected species are held and delivered in accordance with CITES.

Other favorites are the Tuileries Gardens and fair, the Ménagerie at the Jardins des Plantes, the Museum of Natural History, Van Buren’s Columns at Palais Royal, the toy store at Le Bon Marché, Parc Monceau, among many others. 

Where to eat:

BD: Something I love about French upbringing is that children and adults eat alike. There are no “kids menus”, saving your child from the dreary recurring “chicken fingers and fries” diet. I love a kid who appreciates a ripe bleu or brie. 

Le Récamier is a little gem in the 7th arrondissement that serves the best cheese and chocolate soufflés which will delight both parents and children. 

No trip to Paris is complete without eating a crêpe beurre-sucre at any street stand and a tall glass of creme chantilly with fraises des bois - a miniature strawberry with exponential flavor.

Must-Have’s :

BD: France passed a law that protects independent bookstores as part of their “exception culturelle” or cultural exception, which is a trade practice meant to treat culture differently from other commercial products, with the government going as far as urging people not to buy books online. So unlike other parts of the world where bookstores are a rare sighting, in France, bookshops are a thriving business with one on almost every block. I love spending time in them and most have wonderful kids sections. My son’s favorites are the illustrated audiobook collection from Gründ each featuring music from a different composer, ie Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, etc.

I love French children's clothing brands so every visit requires a stop to Petit Bateau, Jacadi, Natalys, Tartine et Chocolat (and if it’s sale season, Bonpoint!)

AMIR SIMKHAI

Founder of MINTY & Father to Mia & Adam 8, and Michael & Alex 5.

Favorite place to travel with kids:

AS:  In the summertime, I take my kids to Israel. It’s honestly one of the most child-friendly places to travel to, as there as adult-only places are frowned upon. They attend Israeli camps alongside native Israeli children ( highly recommend the Hilton Bay surf camp, the kids LOVED it). My goal is for them to establish a connection to Israeli culture, lifestyle, and language. I have a ritual of picking them up at 4:30 from camp and bringing them back to the house to have a snack and enjoy some A/C. Then around 6, we would head to the beach for an hour and a half before sunset and on the walk back get dinner someplace quick and fun.

Where do you stay? 

AS: If you want to go the fancy route The Carlton and The Norman are the way to go. Since we are a numerous family it’s more realistic for us to sublease a place somewhere near Dizengoff and Ben Yehuda Streets in Tel Aviv. This area will always be within walking distance of the beach, as well as various restaurants and cafes- which makes it extra easy trying to rally 4 kids.

Top things to do:

AS: There is so much to do! You can go the touristy route and take the kids to swim in the Dead Sea, check out local food at Machne Yehuda, day trips to Jerusalem, and snorkel at the Dolphin Reef in Eilat. Activities can get to be a bit much especially with 4 kids, so when in doubt just go to the Beach, pool, and more beach.

Where to eat :

AS: Israel has THE best food, so we definitely indulge. Some of our favorite restaurants are Santa Katarina, Santi + Yashka for the best shwarma. When I'm with my kids and we want to go casual, we like to visit Barbunia to indulge in freshly caught seafood. It's a well-known restaurant popular and owned by a fisherman.

Must-Haves:

AS: It’s a bit of a tradition by now, every year when we are in Israel I get them each a new pair of Freedom Moses sandals. The colors and prints are super fun, and most importantly they are almost blister-proof. I don’t want to be a cliche but I don’t think we could do such a long trip with our IPADS. My kids didn’t have them until we started traveling again, but at the end of the day, they are great for the plane and long car drives + a much-deserved relaxing time in the A/C during the hot Sumer afternoons. Another must for any summer trip are Minty Bracelets, we just launched a green one in collaboration with Moda Operandi and I can’t stop wearing it. They feel like summer candy and dress up my otherwise casual style while on vacation. Last but not least, Israel is my second favorite place to buy kids’ clothes after France. They have some amazing fashion brands such as Nununu, Castro kids, and No Biggie. I like to stock up on warm-weather clothes for the kid when I am there. Especially spring and summer dresses for my girl, Mia.

Just curious, what are your favorite family-friendly travel spots? Do tell.

Besos,

Victoria