Best vacation for one year old
Everyone wants to know the best place for a one-year-old child to go on their first vacation away from home. No matter what kind of trip you’re planning, it’s always best to call ahead and get the skinny from the resort about things like shuttles, babysitting services, food options and activities.
Are you looking for best vacation for one year old? If yes, then you are at the right place. I will share my experience to help you. This article is all about best vacation for children especially under 2 years of age. Firstly, let me know when should be a vacation for children.
Today’s parents are looking for the best vacation spots for their kids. You’ll get helpful tips on where to go, things to do and how to plan the perfect vacation with your toddler or infant.
The best vacation for your one-year-old is a trip to the beach!
The sand is soft and warm, the waves are gentle, and you can play with your little one in the water. You can also take them for walks on the beach and let them try out their new walking skills. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try some swimming lessons.
If you don’t want to get wet, there are plenty of other activities you can do at the beach. You could build sand castles with your child or make sand angels. You can also find shells and other treasures on the shoreline and bring them home as souvenirs.
One year old babies can have a lot of fun on vacation. They are at the age where they are learning about their environment, so taking them to new places and exposing them to new things can be great for their cognitive development.
A one-year-old will probably not want to spend all their time in the water, so a beach vacation may not be ideal. However, there are plenty of other activities that can be done on the beach such as building sandcastles or burying toys in the sand.
If you’re looking for a place with more activities for your child, look at amusement parks or zoos that have rides and animals. These types of places will give your child something to do while also keeping them safe from any dangers that might come along with riding rides or getting up close with animal exhibits.
If your child is still breastfeeding, it’s best if they stay close by so they can feed whenever they need it. It may be best to pack some snacks and drinks in case your kid gets hungry or thirsty while exploring new surroundings!
1. All-Inclusive Resorts That Cater to Toddlers
Who needs complicated logistics on vacation? The best all-inclusive family resorts in the U.S. and the best all-inclusive family resorts around the world have everything from swimming pools to water parks to bumper car tracks right onsite. Meals, drinks, and activities are included, offering value and ease.
FAMILY FUN: 15 Most Kid-Friendly Family Resorts in the U.S.
For many families, the kid’s club is a big selling point of the all-inclusive experience, allowing parents some coveted adults-only time while children enjoy supervised activities. Many of these clubs set a minimum age, usually four but sometimes much younger. Some require participants to be potty-trained.
The best hotels with kids clubs go above and beyond for toddler vacations by offering unique programs and activities that add extra fun for little ones. At all-inclusive Tyler Place Family Resort in rural Vermont, for example, toddlers ages 18 to 30 months have their own developmentally appropriate program with a ratio of one caregiver for every two to three children; and kids ages 2.5 to three have an age-specific program that includes nature walks and circle time with one trained counselor for every three to four preschoolers.
2. Visiting National Parks with Toddlers
Families craving an immersion in nature can’t do better for toddler-friendly vacations than visiting a national park. Don’t be surprised to encounter big crowds when kids are on summer vacation, but one of the benefits of traveling with a preschooler is that you may be able to visit national parks in spring or winter when there’s more room to roam.
CAMPING WITH KIDS: 10 Best Campgrounds and RV Parks for Families
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is never without visitors, but it’s easily one of the best places to travel with toddlers in the entire country. Breathtakingly scenic Mather Point is just a short stroll via paved walkway from the visitor’s center, making it easy to push a stroller as you soak in the view. The park’s shuttle bus runs year-round, allowing you to catch a ride when little legs get tired. If possible, stay at a national park lodge inside the park (like historic El Tovar Hotel right on the rim) to minimize travel time to and from the park each day.
3. Theme Park Vacations for Toddlers
With long lines and big crowds, even the most toddler-friendly amusement parks can be stressful. The key to a successful theme park vacation with a toddler is to try not to cram too much into each day. Yes, going at a slower pace and taking breaks means foregoing some rides, but your toddler won’t know what he or she is missing.
THRILL RIDES: 10 Best Disney Rides for Little Kids and Toddlers
The Disney theme parks in Orlando and Anaheim both rank among the best family vacation spots in the U.S., but consider starting with smaller amusement parks for little kids to see how your toddler reacts to all the sensory stimuli before planning a trip to a bigger theme park.
Most theme parks have special areas and pint-sized rides for toddlers, like Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Florida and Camp Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. The Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida was crafted with preschoolers in mind. Sensory-rich and interactive attractions are joined by screenings of episodes of the Peppa Pig television show, offering a relaxing indoor respite complete with comfy beanbags to help your family unwind.
4. Small Cities with Big Charm
April in Paris is a dream and New York is a wonderful town, but for a vacation with a tiny traveler, modest-sized cities with a gentler pace may be better places to travel with toddlers—and a great way to introduce them to the joys of city vacations. For toddler vacations with an urban twist, look to manageable cities close to your hometown.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS: 11 Best Crib Mattresses for Babies and Toddlers
In the Northeast, for example, compact Providence, Rhode Island, has enough to do without overwhelming little ones. It’s home to the Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village, plus the hands-on Providence Children’s Museum. Federal Hill is its authentic Little Italy, filled with restaurants where old-school waiters will squeeze your little one’s chubby cheeks and sneak them an extra dessert.
Other good examples of small city vacation spots for toddlers include Asheville, North Carolina; Traverse City, Michigan; and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
5. Farm Stays
You’re never too young to explore the field-to-fork connection and a farm stay vacation is a kid-friendly way to immerse yourself and your toddler in agricultural rhythms. Young children may not soon forget the wonder of pulling a carrot out of the earth, gathering fresh-laid eggs, or watching a cow being milked.
SAVE MONEY: 8 Spring Break Ideas for Families on a Budget
Try a rural New York family trip where you’ll find one of the best vacations for toddlers at Hull-O Farms, which rents cottages a short walk from their barn. This family farm is home to cows, pigs, turkeys, goats, ducks, and horses. Farmers Frank and Shari are happy to let young guests help with simple farm chores and feed baby animals.
6. State Parks
State parks are among the best places to travel with toddlers because they have all the appeal of national parks but are usually a less-crowded alterative. With more than 6,000 state parks in the U.S. spanning 14 million acres of land, you’ll have your pick of toddler vacation spots close to home.
REGIONAL CHARM: 8 New England Fall Getaways That Will Delight Kids (and Parents)
A particularly good choice for East Coast family vacations is Santee State Park in South Carolina, which sits on the shores of Lake Marion and offers flat hiking trails, picnic groves, and onsite cabin rentals for an easy-peasy vacation with toddlers.
7. Beach Getaways with Toddlers
A tried-and-true classic, family beach vacations are low-key fun for parents and little ones alike. Many toddlers enjoy building sand castles, splashing in the waves, and collecting seashells. Look for a beach with clean bathrooms, concession stands, and a shady playground for a break from the midday sun. If you can book a beachside hotel and avoid lugging your beach essentials to the sand each day, even better.
BEACH DAY: 5 Breezy Beach Tents That Are Easy to Set Up and Take Down
In Cape Elizabeth, Maine, guests of Inn by the Sea follow a private boardwalk that winds through a wildlife sanctuary to Crescent Beach. On the other side of the country, Shore Cliff Hotel in Central California’s Pismo Beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean. An old-fashioned pier and wide beach are the stuff that California family vacations are made of.
8. Train Vacations for Toddlers
There’s something magical about train trips with toddlers. Parents and children have time to get cozy and watch the sights unfold together without navigating traffic or worrying about getting lost. With no lengthy airport security lines, no limits on the amount of liquids in your hand luggage, and no cramped seats, getting there via train—wherever there ends up being—may be the best part of your toddler’s vacation.
SADDLE UP: 11 Best Dude Ranch Vacations in the U.S. for Families
Consider Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles, showcasing the towering peaks of the Cascade Range, lush forests, and swathes of Pacific shoreline. Children ages two to 12 receive a 50 percent discount on Amtrak vacations, while kids under two ride free on an adult’s lap.
9. Staycations with Toddlers
A getaway close to home can be a standalone vacation or a useful trial-run to prepare for a longer trip, minus the lengthy family road trip or crankiness that comes from flying with kids. Staying home on vacation means you’re saving on all kinds of costs that come with travel—hotels or vacation rentals, flights, rental cars—and can instead invest that money in exploring your own home town. Check out theaters, beaches, and zoos close to home, or turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis and invite friends over for a pool party or outdoor movie night under the stars.
STAYCATIONS: 10 Best Fire Pits for Backyard Staycations, Plus Portable Options and DIY Tips
An overnight at an airport hotel is another way to make a staycation-style toddler vacation feel extra special. In Los Angeles, for example, the Hyatt Place/Hyatt House LAX offers midcentury design, spacious rooms with full kitchens, pack-n-play cribs, a swimming pool, and complimentary breakfast for a reasonable nightly rate. It’s located just minutes from some of the South Bay’s best beaches, and for airplane-loving kiddos there are plenty of opportunities for plane spotting.
10. Multigenerational Vacations and Cruises
Shared travel experiences strengthen family bonds, and multigenerational family vacations are great because they also come built-in babysitters eager to spend a little extra time with your toddler. Among the most popular toddler vacations with multi-gen groups are family cruises, which generally include meals and entertainment, have activity options for all ages and physical capabilities, and sometimes even let kids cruise free.