Family travel time is a great way to make lasting memories. In the book, 500 Places to Take Your Kids, you’ll find ideas for parents, grandparents, and kids to create a lifetime of shared memories while visiting destinations the whole family can enjoy. There are cities, zoos, sports shrines, museums, castles, beaches, outdoor activities, and more, 500 thoughtfully chosen places to visit.
.
Each entry contains all the information families need to help plan a trip: age ratings, service details, and nearby kid-friendly hotels. A Specialty Index organized by type of trip helps families discover places and activities for all ages and interests, while a Geographical Index allows families to locate attractions across the world or simply across town. Photos throughout the book help bring destinations to life.
.
Places of Wonder and Discovery
National parks are great places to explore anything kids can imagine. Go on an outdoor adventure. Walk in the footsteps of famous people. Take in unique scenery. Explore new interests. Experience real places you may have only heard about. But most of all, national parks are places where you can have fun and create memories that last a lifetime.
National parks contain many of our nation’s most treasured landscapes, from the majestic mountain ranges of Alaska to the vast prairies of the Everglades. Learn about the natural resources in parks, from the rocks under our feet to the sky overhead and everything in between. Discover the issues that affect our parks and how we join with neighbors and partners to address them. Meet the people who protect our parks and learn how you can help preserve these treasures for generations to come.
Enroll in the STEP Program
About STEP
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals who are traveling or living abroad. STEP allows you to enter information about trips abroad so that the Department of State, via our embassies and consulates, can better assist you in an emergency. You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country.
How can the embassy or consulate assist me while I am abroad?
Consular officers assist U.S. citizens and nationals who encounter serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties. They can provide the names of local attorneys and doctors, provide loans to destitute Americans, and provide information about dangerous conditions affecting your overseas travel or residence. Consular officers also perform non-emergency services, helping Americans with absentee voting, selective service registration, receiving federal benefits, and filing U.S. tax forms. Consular officers can notarize documents, issue passports, and register American children born abroad. Visit the website of the closest embassy or consulate for more information.
Keeping your child amused while travelling
Suggestions to keep children amused while the family gets from point A to B include:
- Pack plenty of toys.
- Offer the toys one at a time, replacing each toy with a fresh one once the child shows signs of boredom.
- To cut down on fights over sharing, make sure each child has their own stash of toys.
- Play family games such as ‘I-spy’.
- Pack a picnic lunch.
- For older children, show them a map beforehand and point out landmarks as you go.
