Baby-Friendly Travel Destinations

Summer weather is officially here! If you’ve got a new baby in the house, you’re probably itching to get out into the world now that the winter snow and rain has started to subside. And with older kids on summer break, now is the perfect time to plan your baby’s first family vacation!

To help you get started, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite travel-with-baby ideas and sorted them into three categories: Start Small for those, like first time parents, who might need an easy-to-accomplish test run on travel, Venture Out for families ready to take things to the next level, and Go Big for the travel-hungry explorers who are ready to dive all the way in to adventure!

While we were compiling this list, we considered the following:

How long will the travel time be? Our start small trips are either local or en route to a familiar place (like your family home) to make the journey less daunting for little ones.

How easy will it be to care for baby? We’ve looked for locations where you’ll have support in the form of baby supplies, community resources, and even on-site childcare options.

Are there plenty of baby-friendly activities? No long, quiet information lectures or 8-hour bus tours here! We’ve rounded up options that include plenty for your baby to see, do, and experience alongside other kids and adults.

Here’s what we came up with:

Start Small

Beginner out-of the-house adventures to try

Visit a Local Farm

When you’re new to the world, there’s not much more fascinating than a local farm. Clucking chickens, big-eyed cows, breezy trees, maybe a tractor ride - for babies who’ve mostly seen the house, the neighborhood, and grandma’s backyard, farms are a treasure trove of new sights, sounds, and smells.

Even in urban areas, there are often visitor friendly farms within a 1-2 hour drive from home. If your baby sleeps well in the car, plan your drive for nap time and aim for a short, few hours visit at a family farm near you. Most farms that welcome visitors will advertise holiday events, family visiting hours, etc.

To bring: Pack a changing pad, a sun hat or sunscreen, a baby carrier, shoes that can get muddy, and some hand sanitizer.

Day Trip to the Local Zoo

Are you picking up on a theme? Animals provide endless entertainment for curious little ones, and zoos are often designed to make life easy for young families with changing tables, play spaces, drinking fountains, and lots of purchasable snacks at the ready.

If you can, try visiting the zoo on a weekday when crowds will be more manageable. Animals tend to be active in the early evening when the weather cools down a bit - consider a shorter visit after an afternoon nap!

To bring: A stroller, changing pad, and a sweater for cool evenings.

Visit Family

When it comes time to try baby’s first flight, it’s helpful to land somewhere familiar, helpful, and relaxing. If you have the option, try scheduling that first trip to visit friends or family. Staying in the home of someone you know gives you the option to ship diapers and other bulky, hard-to-pack supplies directly to your destination before you go, and provides the comfort of household essentials and helping hands.

You may be able to find a PacknPlay, carseat, and stroller to borrow at your destination, which will save you a ton of travel-hauling hassle. 

Venture Out

Ready to level-up your adventure? Try these!

Nearby Beach Rentals

If you live close to a coastline, lake, or river, try a close-but-not-too-close-to-home vacation rental. Bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and a laundry room provide most of the comforts of home in a beautiful new setting to explore. Little ones will love exploring the sand and water with grown-ups!

Try: Kid & Coe. Like AirBnB or Vrbo, but specifically tailored for families with filter options that include things like cribs, baby monitors, outlet plugs, and cabinet locks.

National Parks

It might sound daunting, but if you’re outdoorsy by nature, national parks can be a surprisingly simple place to explore with your little one. Consider renting a camper or staying in a nearby rental for easy naps and diaper changes, and utilize the internet’s large collection of family-friendly hiking resources to get a feel for which location and day plan suits your family best!

Try: OutGrown, a resource for parents who want to explore life outside with little ones that includes baby-friendly hike ratings, community events, and tons of ideas and support.

Amusement Parks

Considered by many to be the ultimate family vacation, amusement parks offer an undeniably attractive promise of convenient, easy-access fun. Our best advice for new parents is to pace yourself - a technically shorter time in the park with kids who are well-rested and snacked-up is a MUCH better value than a non-stop 14 hour marathon with cranky, meltdown-ready little ones.

Try: Disney. A classic for a reason, Disney Parks offer lots of perks to make traveling with baby a little easier, from calm changing space and stroller rentals to Parent Passes that allow the second parent and a buddy to skip the line after waiting with baby while the rest of the family rides. 

Go Big

For seasoned travelers who are ready to really get out there

All Inclusive Family Resorts

All inclusive resorts are an investment, but if you’re willing and able to make the splurge, they offer the convenience of not having to meal plan or put together a daily activity list, and allow you to travel with young children to new destinations in a relatively predictable, controlled environment. And with family-friendly resorts available around the world, it’s simply a matter of choosing your dream spot and booking away!

Try: Franklyn D. Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. In addition to lots of kids and family activities, Frankly D. provides a Free Vacation Nanny service with their all inclusive packages, providing parents with tons of extra help and options.

Cruise Ships

Cruise ships offer a surprisingly affordable option for family travel, with low all inclusive rates, free childcare, and all you can eat snacks for the whole family. They’re also a fun way to “sample” new destinations, like the Carribean, Hawaii, or Europe, before you commit to a resort in a single place you love. 

Try: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Currently the largest ship at sea, this floating family fun ship boasts waterslides, rock climbing, ice skating, and more for older kids and teens, with free nursery and pay-per-service in-room childcare options for babies.

Walkable Cities

For those who love the freedom, surprises and fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants spontaneity of exploring a new place, walkable cities are a good bet with little ones. Urban amenities, parks, play spaces, and even daycare centers open up options for parents without restricting the freedom to do as you please. 

Try: Japan. With helpful baby cafes scattered throughout major cities, it’s easy to find a secure place to change diapers and have calm, cozy feedings while you explore a whole new world!