Exploring the best travel destinations—with and without kids
Travel hits differently depending on who’s in your crew. With kids, the wins are measured in wide-eyed moments—watching geysers erupt, sliding down century-old ice runs or spotting a giraffe for the first time on safari. Without them, the magic can be slower and more self-directed: lingering over espresso in a Lisbon café, catching first light over Osaka Castle or detouring to a neighborhood night market because you can. Fortunately, some of the world’s top travel destinations work for parties of all sizes.
Whether you’re traveling with kids or without, these picks are versatile by design. They balance culture and comfort, pair big-ticket sights with everyday local life and adapt to any pace, age or group size.
Osaka, Japan
With kids
Osaka has a way of pulling you in without demanding you sprint from the get-go. The World Expo 2025 has put it firmly on the map, drawing visitors to its reclaimed island hub for hands-on encounters with AI, design and sustainability—fodder for curious kids and culture-focused adults alike. Families can spend mornings at Universal Studios Japan and evenings wandering the neon chaos of Dotonbori.
Kid-free
Without kids, the pace can be looser—explore the indie cafés of Nakazakicho or catch Osaka Castle at sunrise without the crowds. Compared to Kyoto or Tokyo, the vibe is friendlier, the prices gentler and the food— from kushikatsu skewers to stacked okonomiyaki and takoyaki—make the trip worthwhile.
Portugal
With kids
Portugal stays top of mind for travelers thanks to its affordability, easy navigation and layered experiences. Families can climb aboard vintage trams in Lisbon, wander through the kid-friendly Lisbon Oceanarium or hop to Sintra’s turreted palaces. In Porto, a riverfront stroll along the Ribeira offers plenty of café breaks, while a short train ride leads to sandy beaches in Matosinhos. Continue further south, the Algarve delivers both waterparks and dolphin-watching cruises for younger travelers.
Kid-free
Without kids, the pace can shift toward wine tastings in the Douro Valley, design-forward hotels and slow afternoons browsing markets in small towns like Évora or Óbidos. Down south, the Algarve provides opportunities tolinger over grilled sardines in a cliffside village or hike the coastal trails of the Seven Hanging Valleys.
Costa Rica
With kids
Costa Rica delivers a choose-your-own-adventure mix of wildlife, beaches and adrenaline. With kids, it’s hard to beat zip-lining in Monteverde, spotting sloths in Manuel Antonio or rafting gentle stretches of the Pacuare River.
Kid-free
Without kids, eco-lodges, yoga retreats and surf towns make it easy to drop into a community, or fully disappear into nature. High season (December–April) means sun and calm seas, while shoulder months like May or November bring better rates and fewer crowds. Either way, the biodiversity and laid-back pura vida pace live up to the hype.
Yellowstone, USA
With kids
Yellowstone isn’t just America’s first national park; it’s a year-round nirvana for outdoor lovers. In 2024, it drew 4.74 million visitors, the second-highest tally on record according to the National Park Service, and for good reason. Families can build a trip around ranger-led programs, easy wildlife-viewing drives and short hikes to geysers and hot springs.
Kid-free
Solo travelers might aim for less-trafficked corners like Lamar Valley or Hayden Valley, where the payoff is often measured in minutes without seeing another soul. New and upgraded lodgings, from budget-friendly campgrounds to rustic-chic cabins, make multi-day stays easier to plan without overextending the budget.
Seoul, South Korea
With kids
The best ways to tap into Seoul’s one-of-a-kind energy shifts with your travel style. Families can dive headfirst into K-culture with stops at Lotte World’s massive indoor-outdoor theme park, hands-on museums and hologram concerts that turn music into a visual spectacle.
Kid-free
Kids-free travelers might take a slower approach by wandering through traditional hanok alleys in Bukchon, lingering over temple meals, or spending hours in a jjimjilbang bathhouse. The city’s subway network makes it easy to jump between hypermodern shopping districts, street food markets and mountain trails without rigorous planning. English-friendly signage and a wildly accessible food scene mean you can be adventurous without feeling adrift, whether you’ve got kids in tow or nothing but a daypack.
Québec City, Canada
With kids
Québec City delivers charm in any season, but its French-inflected streets feel especially transportive when draped in lights and snow in the winter. Families can ice slide down the century-old toboggan run by Château Frontenac, wander the German-style Christmas markets or duck into hands-on museums like the Musée de la civilisation.
Kid-free
Other travelers might skip the crowds in favor of lazy afternoons in candlelit cafés or a day trip to a nearby Nordic spa, alternating between freezing plunges and steaming outdoor pools. It’s a city that feels both worldly and close to home, especially with direct flights from much of the East Coast.
Bali, Indonesia
With kids
Bali’s appeal runs year-round, with beach days, mountain treks and cultural immersion always in easy reach. Resorts in Sanur and Nusa Dua win over families with kids’ clubs, waterslides and Balinese dance performances, while parents can slip away for a sunrise volcano hike or a spa experience.
Kid-free
However, any type of traveler will find it equally effortless to settle into a rhythm, spoilt for a choice of activities like surfing in Canggu, joining a cooking class in Ubud or hopping between jungle cafés. Prices can dip in shoulder seasons, but even in peak months, Bali still delivers affordable luxury alongside its long-cherished laid-back charm.
Namibia
With kids
Namibia’s landscapes—vast deserts, surreal salt pans, and abundant wildlife—are unforgettable no matter who’s along for the ride. Families can road-trip through Etosha National Park in search of elephants and flamingos while staying in Swakopmund for beaches and bakeries.
Kid-free
Without kids, options expand to guided treks in the Namib Desert or 4x4 expeditions along the Skeleton Coast. Accommodations range from design-forward eco-lodges to wallet-friendly guesthouses, all with front-row views of otherworldly scenery.
Planning your next getaway
In the end, the best trips aren’t defined by headcounts but by how seamlessly a place rises to meet you. These destinations prove that whether you’re juggling nap schedules or savoring a rare stretch of solo time, travel doesn’t have to be compromised. It can be expansive, flexible and deeply rewarding, too. What matters is choosing places that leave room for discovery at every age, and memories that stretch well beyond the trip itself.
