Are you flying with the kids? 5 destinations for the summer vacation

Amusement parks, children's museums, events, outdoor shows and exciting attractions. Choosing a destination for a family vacation can be a challenging task. Ages, interests, budget and vacation style should be taken into account. To make it easier for you, we actually went on a city vacation in five European cities, which offer a perfect combination of activities and attractions for the whole family and daily forays into nature. In light of the situation, you should be more spontaneous and plan for the short term, choose friendly destinations and prepare for the possibility of cancellation. 

Paris: between the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland and Fantasyland            

Paris is a beautiful and chic city that can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. Between the historical sites, the museums and the spectacular gardens like Tuileries and Luxembourg, it has a lot of options for entertainment and pleasures that you discover while wandering the streets. 

The Eiffel Tower - a must-see for the whole family with quite a few interactive activities. The view from the front of the tower is captivating and the children (including you the parents) will be able to walk inside the building and explore its history, play with 3D models, and end the recreation with a family picnic in the surrounding green gardens.      

Disneyland Park - a magical amusement park and the number one attraction with facilities from fairy tales, the land of fantasy surrounded by magic, and favorite Disney characters who will be happy to take selfies with the children. In order to maximize the enjoyment of the park, it is advisable to decide in advance where you are going and divide your time there into several days.  

The Aquarium of Paris - one of the most impressive sites in the city. The aquarium, located in the beautiful Trocadero Gardens opposite the Eiffel Tower, offers a fascinating underwater journey among a huge variety of tropical fish, seahorses, sharks and rare jellyfish. Besides the aquariums, the complex offers a variety of activities for children, plays and shows. 

The Chocolate Museum - Paris is full of wonderful museums such as the Museum of Science and Industry and the Musée d'Orsay, but if there is a museum that children especially love, it is the Chocolate Museum. The museum offers an experiential journey through the history of chocolate, the art of making chocolate and how non-tastes are sweet and happy.                

Boulogne Forest - a large and charming park in the west of Paris, just what you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you will find an amusement park with facilities for all ages, a large lake with pedal boats, a cute little zoo with friendly monkeys and lots of trees, green lawns and cute shady corners to spend the day in.       

Amsterdam: fun and adventure between the canals   

The capital of the Netherlands is a city of fun and adventure, and an excellent choice for a city family vacation. Whether you're looking for cool canal cruises, interactive museums, green parks, bike tours or a visit to theme parks and the picturesque villages outside the city, Amsterdam Heer Wee Kam.  

Vandel Park - the largest park in Amsterdam and a good place to start your vacation in the city. It has six play areas for children and another large playground full of equal facilities, bike paths, shaded corners for a family picnic rich in cheese (and wine for the parents) and colorful outdoor shows that will delight the children.     

Anne Frank's house - the most famous and exciting location in the city, but keep in mind that if you are traveling with small children, the subject may be heavy for them and you can give up. The house-museum offers a tour accompanied by fascinating explanations between the rooms where Anna and her family lived and the attic where they hid.    

Canal cruise - Amsterdam canal cruise is an excellent way to get to know the special attractions of the city, to view famous buildings and sites, ancient churches and the beautiful bridges that cross it. Our recommendation: look for the cruise that offers delicious pizza and drinks for everyone (and thank us later).  

Artis Zoo - one of the largest and most fascinating zoos in the world. The garden is divided into different areas, and the visit is conducted in a free and relaxed atmosphere. It has animals collected from all over the world, a huge aquarium with a nice variety of fish and underwater creatures, a magical tropical forest and many other surprises and thrills. 

The village of Zaanse Sachans Windmills - a pastoral village full of charm and a perfect destination for a trip outside of Amsterdam. The restored village presents the life of the locals in the 18th and 19th centuries and it is pleasant to stroll through huge windmills and ancient farmhouses, learn how to make Dutch wooden clogs, and devour cheeses at the local Gouda factory.    

London: a cultural experience in a royal atmosphere

The capital of England is a vibrant and lively city with a dizzying range of attractions for the whole family, parks, magnificent palaces, shows and outdoor events. Whether you are a lover of history, art, or simply looking to enjoy a true cultural experience, London is the perfect place for you.   

London Eye - a giant wheel (London Eye) and one of the prominent symbols of the city, rising to a height of 135 meters and offering a stunning view of the Thames River, the British Parliament and Big Ben. The rotation in the wheel is mesmerizing and is carried out in a closed glass capsule, when from each height point a different part of the city and its surroundings is revealed.   

The Museum of Nature - an impressive museum full of exciting surprises for the whole family. Among the exhibits are the famous dinosaur exhibit, with iconic models of dinosaurs from all eras, a mineral exhibit, and botany and zoology exhibits, along with interactive experiences and games. free admission.

Kensington Gardens - a pastoral park in the heart of the city, a visit to which is a charming and diverse experience. The park is full of attractions and interesting sites such as the statue of the eternal child Peter Pan, the Princess Diana fountain, modern art galleries, as well as a pleasant restaurant and cafe and a playground where playful squirrels jump.   

The Hamleys toy store - a trip with the children in London would not be considered successful without a visit to the magical kingdom of Hamleys. Toddlers' floor, boys' and girls' floors, gadgets, a whole department of sweet bears in many shapes and colors, activities and lots of other surprises that will give you a few wonderful hours with the little ones.     

The Lion King - London offers an abundance of excellent plays and musicals for young and old, but if there is one musical that is a must it is The Lion King. One of the most impressive and exciting musicals, which will sweep the whole family away and not leave a single dry eye. Our recommendation: go to a lunchtime show.     

Prague: intriguing and full of surprises    

The capital of the Czech Republic regularly stars in the list of romantic cities for couples and young people, but families with children will also discover interesting attractions and sites. In recent years, as part of the efforts to adapt the city to the younger generation, you will find playgrounds and activities for children in the streets, parks and malls.  

Givat Petrin - a beautiful green hill towering over breathtaking views of the city. You reach the hill in a carriage, where you will meet the Roslanda Tower (a small replica of the Eiffel Tower), a mirror maze that is very popular with children, next to an observatory, playgrounds and the icing on the cake: the possibility to ride ponies.  

The Old City Square - a bustling and spectacularly beautiful square in the center of the city. In the square area you will find food stalls and souvenirs and a variety of activities for children such as giant puppets and magicians. The most exciting attraction in the square is the astronomical clock located at the top of a tower, from which figures come out once every hour for an entertaining show. 

The miniature museum - an experience from another world that children love but older people love. The museum presents a wonderful collection of miniature works (paintings and sculptures), which can only be seen through a microscope. For example, you can see a caravan of camels sculpted on a monkey of a needle, a portrait on a grain of rice and a train on her hair. charming. 

The Prague Zoo - a large and well-kept zoo and one of the most worthwhile attractions in the city. The garden is divided into complexes and contains thousands of animals that will thrill the children, giraffes, tigers, monkeys and cute alpacas. You can walk around it on foot or on a small train, and continue to spend time in the playground and restaurants on site. 

Aqua Palace water park - a large indoor water park outside the city. It is recommended to stay at the adjacent hotel and spend a few days there. The park is clean and well maintained and contains swimming pools, a huge complex with water slides, a wave pool, tubes and many activities that will keep the children busy throughout the day and allow you parents to rest.     

Barcelona: happy, colorful and welcoming 

The friendliest and most colorful city in Europe (and we are not biased) is a classic destination for a vacation with children of all ages. It has an extraordinary variety of attractions, architecture and rich history, as well as wonderful parks and beaches, and fine food that even the little picky eaters will love.      

Park Goel - a large and magnificent public park that seems to be taken from fairy tales, and one of the masterpieces of the famous architect Gaudi. The children will be happy to walk among the colorful buildings covered with ceramic fragments, play in the winding labyrinth garden and devour ice cream in a variety of flavors in front of the panoramic views of the city. 

The Aquarium of Barcelona - one of the most impressive aquariums in Europe and a fun destination for the whole family. It is located in the old port of the city and has a great abundance of marine life, many species of fish, sharks and aquatic creatures, and a long tunnel with glass walls that you can walk along comfortably and admire the fish in 360 degrees. 

The Museum of Illusions - a small and crazy museum containing nine rooms: an upside-down room, a mirror maze, a horror room, a normal maze, a Guinness World Records room, a ball pool, a sweet room, a room with giant products and an illusion room. Each of the rooms is a wonderful experience for all the senses and just as important - a perfect location for Instagram photos. 

Mount of the Jews - one of the most exciting places in the city. You can spend hours there with the children, visiting the impressive citadel, the botanical gardens and the amusement gardens, or equip yourself with a picnic basket and spend time in the Jacinto and Redgar gardens, and be delighted by the beautiful view and the music, lights and water show of the singing fountain that operates in the evening. 

Fort Aventura - a huge amusement park outside Barcelona about an hour's train ride, an exciting attraction for the whole family. The park is divided into six different worlds (Polynesia, China, Mexico and more), and in each world you will find extreme slides, roller coasters and lots of facilities, adventures and exciting activities.   

Lihi Ron is a journalist and editor, author of destination guides and leader of women and food tours in Israel and around the world.