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Family Travel

Tauck Bridges trips are designed for family travelers of all ages and generations to enjoy together. From celebrating different cultures and traditions, discovering natural wonders and learning about history firsthand, these trips help build bridges of understanding between young and old, locals and travelers, all over the world. They are also designed to include interactive experiences that not only invite everyone's participation, they're lots of fun for every age and generation!

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Celebrating 20 years in enriching guided family travel

  When we launched Tauck Bridges in 2003, we had one goal in mind: to craft guided family-oriented trips that every age and generation would enjoy experiencing together. Shared enrichment is the watchword of our family brand and each of our trips is designed to show families the world differently than anyone else.

Unlike travel companies that offer separate programs and activities for kids and adults, our family guests experience the fun together, not apart. Each journey is led by a dedicated Tauck Director hand-picked for their experience with family travelers and for their passion and expertise in travel. They take care of all the day to day travel details of every trip, even tipping, so that families are free to experience the joys of travel without any of the work– or the worries.

Fully planned and all inclusive

With a knowledgeable Tauck Director leading the way, everyone can feel like a kid again. Enjoy activities designed for family fun and shared enrichment, as you experience the essence of the destinations you explore together.

Memorable Experiences

Imagine visiting the Louvre and the Sistine Chapel, after hours, without crowds. Or snorkeling with seals near tropical islands time forgot. You can ride gondolas, vintage Fiats, horses, and a special Ice Explorer; flightsee over an Alaska mountain and Lake Powell; and learn to waltz in a private Viennese palace. All included and all awesome to experience with your family.

Milestone Moments

From birthday, anniversary and graduation celebrations to family reunions for the whole clan, Tauck Bridges marks the occasion with unforgettable experiences and meaningful moments you'll long remember.

Closer Connections

Travel has a way of bringing the world closer, bridging generations and cultures like few experiences can. To foster connections with the people and places of the destinations your family will discover, you'll cook with chefs, saddle up with cowboys, meet schoolchildren in Peru and the Maasai in Tanzania, and more, sharing memories that last lifetimes.

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Featured River, Small Ship and Land Journeys

Seek out the "big 5" on a wildlife safari in tanzania and sail over the serengeti in a hot-air balloon…explore spectacular national parks and live like a cowboy in north america's wild west…cruise along the beautiful blue danube, stopping to steal a scene from the sound of music , or through the gálapagos, enchanted islands that time forgot…zipline through the costa rican rainforest canopy or go to gladiator school in rome. when you journey the world together with tauck bridges, your family vacation trips forge bonds that only strengthen over time.  , italia bella: rome to venice, blue danube: family riverboat adventure, red rocks & painted canyons, tanzania: a grand family safari, traveling with tauck, never settle for ordinary.

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Family-friendly adventures & stress free travel

Just because you’ve had kids, doesn’t mean your traveling days are over. We’ll take you to the best family vacation spots and beyond, with family-friendly stays and experiences that will spark the joy of travel, make real connections, and excite the whole family.

Adventure for all ages

Our family getaways feature experiences that keep everyone happy, from little ones to teenagers and adults. Visit the Harry Potter highlights like Platform 9¾, sail around the Greek Islands, become a medieval archer in Ireland or an archery pro in England, learn how to make (and eat!) pizza in Italy, or go ziplining on the slopes of a volcano in Costa Rica.

Enriching experiences

Inspire your family’s sense of adventure and watch your children light up with wonder. The best family vacations are full of pinch-me moments, like staying in an ancient castle in Wales or a ranch in the Wild West of America. Learn about wildlife conservation in Costa Rica, experience life on a family farm in Ireland, or learn about Roman history by transforming into a gladiator!

Taking the stress out of travel

With all the logistics and must-do experiences covered, the only thing you need to worry about is having fun, together. Expect quality stays, luxury transport and plenty of meals included - and that means a whole lot of full tummies and happy faces. Our expert Travel Directors unlock the magic of travel at every turn, so you can focus on making memories and exploring the world together.

All you need to know about Family Tours

How can i travel with my family on a budget.

With kid-friendly accommodation, meals and transport included on our family vacations, you can easily stick to your budget and focus on having fun. We also include all the must-do experiences, and let you know all the optional experiences before your family tour, so you won’t be hit with any surprise costs.

What's the best family vacation destination?

Family friendly vacations can be found all over the world, from the outback of the United States to the jungles of Costa Rica to the islands of Greece. Some of our favorite family vacation spots include Italy, Switzerland, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and the United States.

What are good family trips?

The best family vacations include adventures that are fun for the whole family. We love family beach vacations to places like Greece and Costa Rica, historical adventures like experiencing life as a gladiator in Italy, and nature trips like boarding an Old West train to the Grand Canyon.

Why is family travel important?

Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers. From grandparents to kids, everyone will learn new skills and discover a world of cultures and new ideas while spending precious time together, like only family vacations can bring. Your journey will also inspire a sense of wonder and connection for all, and we think that’s one of the most valuable things you can have in life.

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10 Best Tour Companies for Family Tours in 2024

Family tours are a fun and hassle-free way to see the world with your kids in 2024..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

The best family vacation ideas create the kind of formative memories that stay with kids all the way into adulthood. But planning those memorable family travel adventures can be exhausting, especially when simply trying to choose a restaurant for dinner can ignite bickering. That’s why parents often choose family tours, which eliminate almost all the hassles from the vacation planning process.

When you travel on guided family tours, you get knowledgeable leaders privy to locals-only spots and hidden gems you’d probably never find on your own. They handle all the tedious details and decisions before you depart and organize everything during your trip, freeing you to simply have fun. Guided family tours almost always include accommodations and at least some meals for the ultimate in vacation ease.

2024’s Best Family Travel Tour Companies for Group Tours and Private Tours

While family group tours are not for everyone, they’re a great option for families who enjoy mingling with others as they explore the world. Here are my most highly recommended picks for 2024’s best family tour companies operating in popular family vacation spots in the U.S. , Europe , the Caribbean , and around the world.

WORLD’S BEST:  15 Best Group Travel Companies for Guided Tours in 2024

1. Adventures by Disney

Disney and families go together like milk and cookies, so it’s no wonder  Adventures by Disney  (ABD) is a leading provider of family tours. Adventures by Disney offers more than 40 family adventures to destinations on all seven continents. Most of ABD’s tours for geared toward families, but the company does offer a few adult-exclusive itineraries as well. Adventures by Disney’s guided family tours are led by knowledgeable Disney-trained trip leaders called Adventure Guides, who take care to every detail and ensure a memorable vacation from start to finish. 

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You can expect Disney’s trademark magic to shine through with special activities for children, exceptional service, and VIP experiences such as up-close photos with the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, sailing past polar bears in the Arctic, and horseback riding in the shadows of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. After your first trip, you’ll be eligible to join the company’s Adventurer Insiders program for special savings on trips throughout the year. 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Adventures by Disney

• Average guided tour group size:  30 people.
• Price category:  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Disney-trained Adventure Guides, family-friendly accommodations, transfers, most meals, and gratuities for housekeeping, drivers, and waitstaff.
• What’s not included:  Airfare, alcohol unless specifically noted, and gratuities for your Adventure Guides.
• Primary audience:  Families.
• Destinations:  More than 40 destinations across all seven continents.

2. Family Tours from G Adventures

Tour operator G Adventures  believes travel can change the world, and its family guided tours aim to open the world to kids by introducing them to diverse people and cultures. The company also offers exclusive tours in partnership with National Geographic, which means adventure-loving families with children age seven and older who are interested in wildlife, photography, and geography can book a  National Geographic Family Journey with G Adventures to places like Iceland, Morocco, and Alaska.

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G Adventures has a range of small group tours for families to suit most travel styles and ages, including hard-to-please teens and tweens. Most trips blend must-see destination highlights with meaningful cultural exchange. Enthusiastic guides are hand-selected for their desire to work with families.

Quick Facts about Family Tours with G Adventures

• Average guided tour group size:  12 people.
• Price category :  Moderate.
• What’s included:  Accommodations and some meals.
• What’s not included:  Airfare.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are generally appropriate for ages six and up.
• Destinations:  More than 750 trips in 100+ countries across all seven continents.
• More tours: 10 Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

3. Family Tours from Trafalgar

From family tours to foodie adventures to safaris, Trafalgar has an itinerary to fit your style. All of Trafalgar’s tour directors have at least three years of road experience, and many have been with the company for decades. Tours cover all accommodations (typically four-star hotels) and most meals, activities, and transportation during your trip. One-of-a-kind experiences such as dining with locals, sleeping in a castle, and VIP entry to iconic sights sweeten the deal. 

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Children as young as five are welcome on Trafalgar’s travel tours for families. Notably, Trafalgar also offers single-parent vacations . From meeting a real-life cowboy in the American West to experiencing life as a gladiator in Rome to letting your inner Harry Potter loose in England, the company’s family vacations provide adventure for all ages. ( Read our full Trafalgar review here .)

Quick Facts about Family Travel Tours with Trafalgar

• Average guided tour group size:  40 people.
• Price category:  Moderate.
• What’s included:  Accommodations, daily breakfast, many meals,   luxury coach transportation, Wi-Fi in most countries, airport transfers, and luggage handling.
• What’s not included:  Airfare.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are generally appropriate for ages five and up.
• Destinations:  All seven continents, with kid-friendly trips to Europe, Britain, and the American West among the most popular options for families.
• More tours: 10 Best Trafalgar Tours to Take in 2024

4. Intrepid Travel’s Family Tours

Responsible, experience-rich travel is a mission at not-for-profit  Intrepid Travel , with small group trips geared to young adults, women, solo travelers, active travelers, and families. On its family tours, groups are made up of three to five families from all over the world, plus a guide. Many participants have an interest in the preservation of indigenous cultures, climate education, and conservation, so fast friendships with like-minded participants tend to develop quickly.  

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Personal connections with locals are an integral part of the Intrepid experience: Kicking a football with Massai tribesmen in Kenya, learning about indigenous cultures in Costa Rica, and baking bread from a traditional recipe with a Berber family in Morocco are just a few examples. Family trips prioritize kid-friendly hotels with swimming pools and activities like riding in a tuk-tuk through the streets of Bangkok or searching for wildlife with a wolf tracker in Yellowstone National Park. 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Intrepid

• Average guided tour group size : 12 people.
• Price category:  Budget.
• What’s included:  Accommodation, local transport, and some meals.
• What’s not included:  Airfare, travel insurance, and tips.
• Primary audience : Middle-age females and solo travelers, though families are well represented; some tours are geared specifically towards families.
• Destinations : More than 1,000 trips to 100 countries across all seven continents.

5. Luxury Family Tours with Abercrombie & Kent

Group tour operator Abercrombie & Kent  pioneered the concept of luxury small-group travel more than 60 years ago, and today the company continues to lead the pack with small group journeys to more than 100 countries and on all seven continents. Highlights include wildlife safaris to Kenya and Tanzania, history-focused trips to Israel, and Peruvian explorations to Machu Picchu. On family tours with Abercrombie & Kent, a Resident Tour Director remains with the group throughout, facilitating a richer understanding of local customs. He or she is assisted by specialized local guides who encourage guests to take a meaningful dive into immersive insider experiences.

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Your tour price includes everything from meals to activities to hotels, which are high-end properties suitable for discerning guests. Mid-journey laundry service, luggage transfers, and Internet are also included. Participants are often Gen X and baby boomer couples. The company’s luxury family itineraries to places like Costa Rica and the Galapagos are timed with school breaks . 

Quick Facts about Luxury Family Travel Tours with Abercrombie & Kent

• Average guided tour group size:  14 people.
• Price category:  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Inter-itinerary flights, accommodations, luggage transfers, meals, mid-journey laundry, activities, and expert guides.
• What’s not included:  Airfare to and from your destination, though a flight concierge is available 24/7 to assist with airline delays.
• Primary audience:  Gen X, boomers, and multigenerational families.
• Destinations:  More than 100 countries across all seven continents.

6. Butterfield & Robinson’s Family Tours

Guided tours with Butterfield & Robinson often include biking and hiking, though you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy strolling a serene country lane or pedaling an e-bike on a flat path. The company’s family adventures cater to children as young as eight and are designed and test-driven by actual parents to prioritize a balance of family togetherness and adults-only time . Families with older kids will also find special itineraries for traveling with teens and young adult children. A walking trip in Peru or biking in Cambodia and Vietnam allows your family to bond in a whole new way.

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The presence of other young people creates the opportunity for peer friendships to blossom, though all of the company’s family tours leave room for independent activities and cultural experiences, so you’re not tethered to the group. On Butterfield & Robinson trips, accommodations are curated to fit the region you’re visiting; you’ll never stay at a cookie-cutter chain hotel. And while meticulous planning goes into each trip, you can expect impromptu pit stops and last-minute simple pleasures that make travel so worthwhile. 

Quick Facts about Family Travel Adventures with Butterfield & Robinson

• Average guided tour group size:  10 people.
• What’s included:  Accommodation, meals, wine/drinks, and guides.
• What’s not included:  airfare, pre- and post-trip accommodation, and travel insurance .
• Primary audience:  Butterfield & Robinson’s family tours are geared toward active travelers who want to dig deeper into a destination.
• Destinations:  55 countries across six continents.

7. Family Tours with REI Adventures

If you love fresh air family adventures that celebrate America’s rich natural beauty,  REI ‘s guided family tours will fit like a glove. Kayaking, hiking, and biking in the U.S. are their specialty. There are typically two guides on every trip, and they know the secret swimming holes, the primo selfie spots, and exactly what species of bird is singing in the early morning. The guides do it all from prepping meals to sharing information about wildlife. 

AROUND THE WORLD: 12 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts in the World for 2024

REI offers trips for hard-core adventurers, solo and female travelers, and active families. Travelers with children ages eight to 17 may select small group adventures specifically for families, like hiking in Yosemite National Park, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, or trying a treetop aerial challenge course in the Great Smoky Mountains. Guides on family tours are trained to keep kids engaged. On some trips you’ll camp under the stars in comfy tents (your guides will set up the tents); on other trips you’ll sleep in comfortable lodges. REI members receive a discount, as do children. 

Quick Facts about Family Travel Tours with REI Adventures

• What’s included:  Camping gear, meals, and national park fees.
• What’s not included:  Transportation to the trip’s starting point.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are geared toward kids ages eight to 17 years old.
• Destinations:  Eight states including Wyoming, Alaska, and California.

8. Road Scholar

Not-for-profit  Road Scholar  trips attract lifelong learners who are keen to plunge beneath the surface rather than just skim it. The company caters to baby boomers and seniors, with programs for skip-gen vacations (grandparents and grandkids traveling together) and multigenerational vacations (grandparents, parents, and grandkids traveling together). These trips present multiple opportunities for adults and kids to learn together. But while incorporating learning into a family vacation can be a welcome benefit, the kids will be having so much fun they may not realize how much knowledge they’re absorbing. 

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All of Road Scholar’s family tours have two group leaders who know how to appeal to varying ages, interests, and attention spans. They take care of logistics while local instructors add expertise on a range of topics. Mount Rushmore and the Badlands ,   whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon , and  discovering iconic landmarks in Paris  are some of the most sought-after family itineraries . 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Road Scholar

• Average guided tour group size:  22
• Price category :  Moderate 
• What’s included:  Accommodations, most meals, hands-on experiences, gratuities throughout the program, and the Road Scholar Assurance Plan
• What’s not included:  Travel to and from the program and trip cancellation insurance 
• Primary audience:  Baby boomers and seniors, including grandparents traveling with their grandkids
• Destinations:  150 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.

9. Tauck Bridges

Family-owned  Tauck  has been offering epic guided vacations for nearly 100 years. In 2003, the company launched its family travel tours called Tauck Bridges , which are designed for family travelers of all ages (parents with kids, skip-gen trips for kids with grandparents, all three generations traveling together, etc.) with 20 itineraries in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Highlights include exploring the Alps, listening to Irish music, and viewing slot canyons in the American West.

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The distinguishing factor of these family tours is they’re created with an eye toward engaging all generations so that everyone in the family will have a great time. Tauck’s trip guides are known for their personal touch and have expertise in local customs, traditions, flora, and fauna. Meals and hotels are always top-notch.

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Tauck Bridges

• Average guided tour group size:  35 people.
• Price category :  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Gratuities, sightseeing and admissions, most meals, airport handling, luggage transfer, and taxes.
• What’s not included:  Airfare and adult beverages.
• Primary audience:  Tauck’s family tours cater to multiple generations traveling together.
• Destinations:  More than 100 destinations in 70+ countries across all seven continents.

10. Family Travel Adventures with Austin Adventures

Tour operator Austin Adventures  forged its reputation by specializing in tours to America’s national parks, and the company remains an expert in this area. Its guided group family trips are ideal for anyone who gravitates towards hidden gems and the lesser-known side of national parks. If you book a trip to Yellowstone, for example, of course you’ll watch Old Faithful erupt—but you’ll also hike a semi-secret trail. Activities such as rafting and zip lining up the fun factor for kids.

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Guides are first-aid certified, and with a 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, there’s plenty of time to chat and get acquainted. The guides on family tours, some of whom are teachers during the school year, know how to plan kid-friendly activities that allow parents time to relax. All but one meal is included, presenting the opportunity to have an evening on your own or perhaps with newfound friends. Austin Adventures offers popular family tours to bucket-list destinations like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and New Zealand.

Quick Facts about Small Group Family Adventures with Austin Adventures 

• Average guided tour group size: 12 people.
• What’s included:  Meals and snacks except for one dinner, any necessary equipment and gear, and accommodations.
• What’s not included:  Airfare to your destination, gratuities for guides, alcoholic beverages, and one dinner.
• Primary audience:  Its family tours are best enjoyed by active families.
• Destinations:  21 countries in North America, Europe, South America, and Africa.

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8 Unforgettable Family Tour Company Vacations

Aug 11, 2014

See recent posts by Andrea Guthmann

Once you’re on vacation — which only happens once a year for many families — you want to spend plenty of quality time together. Tour companies provide an excellent means to do so, with outdoor activities, such as biking and rafting, as well as cultural offerings for every age group and interest. Plus, there’s little to no planning involved!

These are the most unforgettable tour group vacations for families.

Adventures by Disney

No, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck won't join you in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America or any of the more than two dozen global excursions offered by Adventures by Disney . However, guided, land-based tours do an expert job of entertaining the entire family. Plus, they take the stress out of traveling to far-flung places, where you don't speak the language or know the customs (they'll even greet you the second you clear customs at the airport).

Unique to Adventures by Disney are destinations that have inspired blockbuster movies. Norway, for example, was added in 2014, due to the immense popularity of "Frozen." During the trip, guests explore fjords, glaciers and architecture, similar to those seen in the film. The company's newest adventure includes a visit to the Amazon River, along with shorter, more convenient "Long Weekends" in New York and San Francisco.

While you'll spend much of your trip with other families, including meal times (most meals are included in rates), Adventures by Disney sets aside a few afternoons and evenings to explore on your own. Most meals are included, but on select nights, families can make their own dinner plans, allowing time away from the larger group. One popular perk is Junior Adventure Night, when guides supervise the kids in their own activities on one night during each trip, allowing adults to have a quiet dinner and time alone.

Austin Adventures

Thomson Family Adventures

Global CommUnity

Launched in 2017, Global CommUnity is the brainchild of Christie Holmes and Keith Waldon. It was born out of the desire for their own children have more a engaged experience when traveling. Global CommUnity offers international tours to exotic destinations including the Galapagos, Peru, Morocco and Patagonia. In every destination, families have unique opportunities to interact with locals and learn about culture and traditions. "Our purpose is provide the tools that enable families to travel to places they might not go out of fear or lack of exposure -- our passion is introducing the concept of engaging with mutual respect and reciprocity that will guide each family as they interact with other cultures learning that while we can celebrate our differences, there are many ways we are the same," says Holmes. "We want to introduce the concept of engaging travelers with other cultures until 'No One Is Foreign.'" Global CommUnity vacations are sold through travel advisors and offer customizable itineraries that include excursions, breakfast and accommodations and transportation with different price points available. Bonus: The Galapagos itinerary doesn't require any payment upfront when securing space more than 6 months out. The ability to hold a spot 12-24 months out with no down payment allows for planning and budgeting flexibility. Our favorite part about Global CommUnity? Tours are divided by age groups -- young children, teens, and adults only -- to accommodate the unique needs and interests of all travelers. We also love the company's Life Travel Map, an interactive digital map that details the recommended key trips for you, based on an interview with you and your family members. While everyone is welcome, it's recommended that children be at least 5 years of age to appreciate and enjoy the tours. For more information, visit NoOneIsForeign.com .

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11 Best Tour Operators for Planning a Family Vacation

Looking for a way to make family vacation planning faster, easier, and dare we say it, hassle free? Then what you need are these family-friendly tour operators. These travel planning companies specialize in curated itineraries that travelers can simply step in to as easily as a favorite pair of travel pants. It’s one-stop shopping for vacations with everything from hotels to sightseeing preplanned, and unlike a travel agent, you’ll be able to choose from established journeys instead of having to make dozens of decisions. If your family loves to meet new people, choose a group itinerary; if you’d prefer to circle up with your fam and not make small talk, then focus on a company that offers individual itineraries. Best of all, these travel planning companies all focus on being kid-friendly and ensuring that you’re making memories instead of worrying about travel details. Read on for the best tour operators for families.

Adventures by Disney

When it comes to family-friendly entertainment, it’s hard to beat Disney, and the company’s trip planning arm excels equally excels at creating adventures for families that span the globe and take all the guesswork out of traveling with kids. What you’re getting isn’t a tour bus driven by Mickey Mouse, but a focus instead on attention to detail, luxurious accommodations, and VIP treatment and surprises that you can’t get on your own, like a private tour of the Sistine Chapel in Rome on their popular Viva Italia tour. And Disney’s guides are the top echelon of the industry (they only hire about 3% of applicants who come from an international pool of 1,500 candidates every year). Select from 35 amazing itineraries across six continents including favorites like Yellowstone National Park, London and Paris, Japan, South Africa, Galapagos, and their newest addition, Egypt; they even offer luxe river cruises on the Danube, Rhine, and Seine. You’ll pay a premium, but tours start the second you step off the plane and continue until you’re safely delivered on your way back home, and include everything from tips to the bellman to gelato on walking tours to commemorative pins presented every day of your trip.

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Perfect for families looking for a stress-free and affordable getaway, Trafalgar’s guided vacations make it easy to travel the world with kids in tow with more than 100 itineraries to choose from throughout 44 countries. For example, adventurous families can head to one of the most biodiverse destinations on the planet on Trafalgar’s Monkeys, Jungles & Volcanoes itinerary in Costa Rica to spot colorful toucans and adorable sloths in the lush canopy of the rainforests. For a historic vacation, parents can take a step back in time with their kids on the Wild West Cowboys and Buffalos itinerary that includes the Oregon Trail, Yellowstone National Park, and Mount Rushmore. All Trafalgar itineraries include expert guides, accommodations, transportation and multiple meals and also include authentic “Be My Guest” experiences with locals.

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid offers a full range of experiences for families in their  Family Holidays  line, which are specifically designed to make adventure travel accessible for children by authentically introducing them to different cultures. Itineraries for these trips are appropriate for ages 5 and up (one of the youngest minimums for group trips) and include kid-friendly accommodations and activities lots of opportunities for kids to make friends with their fellow travelers, or even with local kids they meet along the way. One thing we especially love, special itineraries just for solo parents or for those traveling with teens (a rarity), including two great trips: Egypt for Solo Parents and a Turkey Family Holiday with Teenagers.

Courtesy of Thomson Family Adventures

Thomson Family Adventures

With 90 itineraries around the globe, Thomson excels at offering something for everyone in their wide range of family-focused group adventures. Some top trip picks include: an outdoor adventure to Iceland where families can ride Icelandic horses; a Vietnam culinary immersion including a Vespa street food tour of Ho Chi Minh City and visits to organic farms along the Mekong Delta; a safari in Tanzania; and a Southern Italy sojourn that includes island hopping in the Aeolian Islands and a hike on Mt. Etna.

Big Five Tours & Expeditions

This tour operator , which started in Kenya as a safari specialist more than 40 years ago, now offers customized, luxury adventure travel to more than 45 destinations worldwide. To appeal to families, they created a “Kids Kouncil” consists of children ages 6 to 15 to help them create family travel itineraries that are especially appealing to kids. The result? The company’s first Kids Kouncil-approved tour launched in February 2019, a journey to India that includes experiences ranging from exploring the natural habitat of tigers in Panna National Park, to visiting the one-of-a-kind Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, to a fun and thrilling family Segway tour through New Delhi. Up next: Japan and Peru.

Courtesy of Melissa Klurman

Brendan Vacations

Brendan is a regional specialist with a focus solely on Ireland and Scotland; if you’re looking to discover your family roots on the Emerald Isle or explore the green hills of these two family-friendly islands, this is your perfect option. Plus, Brendan offers a unique personalized touring option: Private chauffer tours where a personal driver whisks your family around the Irish countryside on a personalized itinerary that includes everything from a lesson in hurling in Kilkenny to kayaking in the Dingle Bay. Plus you can sleep in a real castle and make chocolate with a master confectioner, all without having to navigate the roads or make a hotel or dinner reservation on your own; a true treasure at the end of your vacation rainbow.

Niquesa Travel

For ultra-high end luxury trips with completely unique itineraries, consider this London-based boutique company that focuses on experiential travel with custom trips in far-flung corners of the globe. We appreciate Niquesa’s mix of whimsy and adventure that make these private journeys as much fun for adults as they are for kids. Two that stand out are “X Marks the Spot,” an island-hopping Caribbean escape that includes stops in glamorous Mustique and comes Canouan complete with a fun-filled family treasure hunt sailing around the Tobago Cays. And the “X Box Detox,” perfect for teens, a creative film-making adventure to Kenya to explore the Maasai Mara on a safari that even includes a helicopter flight to track elephants with the Mara Elephant Project.

Tauck is known not only for its international group itineraries, but also for its special focus on multigenerational family travel, with nearly a third of guests on its Bridges itineraries comprised of grandparents and grandchildren traveling together, or “skip-generation” travel. The Bridges itineraries, designed specifically for families, explore destinations around the globe ranging from European odysseys to African safaris, expeditions in Latin America to adventures in North America’s national parks. Tauck also offers family river cruises that includes a Family Host aboard every ship to facilitate special activities. Tauck also created a “Just For Kids” Bridges brochure to help get kids involved in the vacation planning process.

Abercrombie & Kent

Although all of the tour operators on our list offer immersive trips in global locales, A&K focuses on some of the most adventurous options, while also focusing on luxury and comfort. For anyone who’s tried to plan an exotic or remote vacation, you know how overwhelming the planning process may seem, which is why we especially like A&K’s   Luxury Family Journeys . Itineraries explore destinations ranging from Egypt to the Galápagos Islands, making sure your kids are unplugged and immersing themselves in one-of-a-kind destinations. The one trip we think might take the cake for memorable family adventures: An expedition to Antarctica, which the company promises will be a family fun voyage to the sprawling white continent thanks to its special expedition team and special family programming that includes workshops and special excursions to see penguins, seals, and whales.

Butterfield & Robison

These immersive luxury international trips offer small group departures that focus on specific age ranges, which is especially helpful for getting kids to bond with other kids on their vacation. A few highlights of their group departures include a December adventure to Vietnam and Cambodia for ages 12 and up that delves into the lush Vietnamese countryside and visits Cambodia’s most famous temple, Angkor Wat, and June departures for Puglia, Italy’s most bambini-friendly region, where kids 8 and up can snorkel in the Adriatic, get a first-hand archery lesson, and learn how to make pasta by hand. There are also private family trip options including a far-flung family safari to Botswana and a kayaking trip in New Zealand as well as easier to reach options, like biking in Quebec City or visiting the national parks in Utah.

Courtesy of Pelorus

There’s a special personal touch to every Pelorus tailored luxury journey . Before you commit to one of their itineraries, a representative will even set up a Skype call or meet face-to-face with all clients first to make sure every destination, activity, hotel, and stop is tailored to ALL ages and interests for every member of your family. They frequently set up totally different activities for different family members so that everyone on the trip is getting to do what most interests them. One particularly unique experience: Allowing travelers to safely climb the Redwoods in California and sleep in the canopies overnight (while also taking tree samples to help scientists on the ground). They’ve also arranged for a child to get PADI certified prior to a big diving trip—that’s right, before the journey began—so that the whole family could dive together.

By Melissa Klurman

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Few travellers make it to this icy continent, but the lucky ones who do get to explore a frozen Eden ruled by the elements and teeming with wildlife.

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Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

The Geluxe Collection

Our new line of premium active adventures is officially here. With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations and elevated dining, this is adventure at its finest.

National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

National Geographic Family Journeys

Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

Jane Goodall Collection

Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of 20 wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

Roamies by Hostelworld

The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

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As the leader in small group travel for 30 years, we know how to do it right: flexible itineraries, freedom to roam, safety, peace of mind, and locally based guides.

Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

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Family Tours

Family trips built for adventurers of all ages.

Just because you’ve settled down and had kids doesn't mean your adventuring days are through. Family tours explore exciting locales — Tanzania, Thailand, the Galápagos, Peru Europe and more — with age-appropriate activities and hotels that know how to cater to families on the move.

A new line of trips for adventure-loving families in search of a meaningful way to discover the world together.

A big world, brought down to size

Family edutainment.

Family trips introduce kids to the inner workings of other cultures through language, sports, crafts, and time with experts that bring what they’ve learned in school into real life.

The more the merrier

The average Family group consists of about 12 people, typically three or four families from all over the world and with kids around the same age as yours.

Small travellers, big fun

If one family member isn’t having a good time, nobody is. We give each Family tour a Recommended Age rank so parents can tell if it'll be a good fit for their kids before they go.

Together, the Robertses discovered a new theme park: "Thailand"

As working parents, Dan and Hayley are all too aware that the time they have together with their kids is at a premium. They were in the market for something special; an experience they could all enjoy that would also broaden the horizons of their sons Keir and Tigne. They were looking for an experience that all four of them would remember for the rest of their lives. They found it in a place they never suspected: on a Family trip through Thailand.

Watch the Roberts' story

“ We went to this little village in Thailand where people grow their own food. Our CEO showed us how to separate the rice from the husk so it can be turned into food. It was cool to see how the food we ate got from the ground to our plates. ”

The Robertses discovered a new kind of theme park: Planet Earth

Learn now, appreciate forever

Travelling is the perfect way to open up a child’s world to possibility and wonder. Powerful experiences lead to new interests, and exposure to different cultures, languages, and environments helps the kids of today become the responsible, well-rounded adults of tomorrow. Our Family trips deliver a seamless mix of adventure and education that’s so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning something the whole time. 

“ Our group had kids from Canada, Germany, and Australia in it, which was pretty cool. It was great to have kids who weren’t my brother to hang out and do stuff with. ”

Pen-pals for life

One of the advantages of group travel is the diversity of people you get to share your experience with. Family trips are a great way for children to meet and interact with other kids from around the world who are close to their own age and share common interests. It’s not uncommon for families who meet on our trips to stay close after the trip ends; some even make the experience an annual tradition. 

Built just for families

“ We’ve got two kids of different ages and completely different interests, so finding a trip that we could all get something out of was a challenge. I thought it was wonderful that our trip had activities that we could all do together, as well as some tailored to the ages of the kids in our group. ”

Built for families

Travelling with the family is an adventure unlike any other, in all sorts of ways. Kids often have wildly different needs than adults, which is why we don’t just adapt our grown-up itineraries for smaller travellers. Little things like age-appropriate activities, hotels with amenities designed for families on the go, and CEOs that think like kids and adults alike are just a few of the things that set our Family trips apart. We believe that everyone deserves to have the time of their lives, no matter how old they are.

See it how the they saw it

The Robertses explored the wonders of the Thailand with us for just 12 days, but the memories they made will last them the rest of their lives. What will your kids remember? Start making better memories today.

Trips built for adventurers of all ages

Just because you've settled down and had kids doesn't mean your adventuring days are through. Family tours explore exciting locales – Morocco, Thailand, the Galápagos, Vietnam, and more – with age-appropriate activities and hotels that know how to cater to families on the move.

7 Companies You Can Trust for Great Family Vacation Packages

Updated January 9, 2023

Planning a successful family vacation is work—but not if you let a packager do the work for you. Buying a vacation through a tour operator frees you from the tedious details of deciding where to stay, what to eat, when to visit each attraction, and how to get to each place. Travel packagers take care of all the logistics, and truly expert ones know their destinations deeply, so their inside knowledge may even be able to provide you with special perks. We like these seven tour operators’ family trips—they cover a variety of destinations, styles, group sizes, and prices, and they have proven themselves with families over the years.

Austin Adventures keeps groups small: It aims for a 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio and vets those guides for charisma, making sure the leader has a personality kids will want to follow. Family groups explore Europe, New Zealand , Latin America, and North American national parks (a company specialty). Austin excels in outdoorsy outings such as horseback riding, glacier trekking, kayaking, and bicycling (always on trails, never on highways). The company strives to add excitement with what it calls unexpected “wow moments”—like the reward of ice cream and brownies served after a hike to the top of Angels Landing in Bryce National Park. Many trips follow a 6-day/5-night schedule plan, although international tours are longer. On departures for families with teens, expect more pedaling, paddling, and hiking to panoramic views, such as in the San Juan Islands , Yellowstone National Park , and the Kenai Fjords region. 

Kids’ ages:  6–12 (Alaska: min. age 7); 13+ for family teen trips Group size: 12–18

Tauck , founded in 1925, launched Bridges in 2004 to cater to the family market through deeper cultural experiences. In Rome , visit the Sistine Chapel after hours without herds of tourists (pictured); in Cusco , Peru, make chocolate; and in London , zoom along the Thames in a speedboat. On Tauck’s increasingly popular European river boat family departures (the company owns its own vessels), visit multiple destinations but unpack only once. In port, you and your kids bike through the countryside, learn to make marzipan, and visit a Camargue ranch to meet cowboys and their legendary white horses. On board, kids fly kites, cook with the chef, and learn local phrases. For cruises, Tauck adds three guides and a family host to the ship’s standard staff. For land trips, one driver/escort leads. 

Kids’ ages: 8–17 Group size: 40 (up to 130 on river cruises)

Originally known as R Family Vacations and rebranded as KelliGregg Travel in 2022, this inclusive company gears trips toward LGBTQ+ travelers and their kids, friends, relatives, and allies. In addition to expanding its offerings for grown-ups, KelliGregg continues to organize its summer highlight under the R Family banner: a big cruise featuring show tunes, LGBTQ+ comedy acts, family dance parties, theater camp, outdoor adventures, and a lot more. 

Kids’ ages: any age Group size: varies per trip type

There’s something special about having a friend in a foreign destination. Thomson Family Adventures creates that connection with Friends Across Borders, a digital pen pal initiative available for families who book many of its trips. Your kids correspond ahead of time with local children whom they then meet during the journey. In places with scarce internet and computer access, ground partners personally print and deliver messages. The goal is to immerse kids in the culture, whether it's through activities such as swimming with whale sharks in Baja , sailing in Ireland , or hiking in the Andes (pictured). Some trips cater to families with teens or multigenerational participants. On departures with more than eight people, a Rafiki (Swahili for friend) travels along to keep the kids engaged. Trips always have one driver and one guide.   

Kids’ ages: 8–16 typically (some trips accept younger kids) Group size: 8–12

Among the more than 50 itineraries in over 40 countries visited by  Adventures by Disney , you can count on getting hands-on local experiences, guides with a gift for storytelling, and time built into the schedule for parents and kids to be both together and apart. You and your children might craft bento boxes at a Japanese cooking school, try archery at a Scottish estate, and learn hurling in Ireland. At other times, adults might sample wines at a vineyard in Tuscany while kids are taken to pick herbs for infusing olive oil. During adults-only dinner nights, kids grab a meal and watch a Disney movie. Daily activities are focused on local culture, not Disney characters—although you may expect a few surprise appearances from those along the way. Tours of Southern California grant private access to the Walt Disney Studios & Archives and Jim Henson Studios, which are normally closed to the public. In Europe, Disney partners with AmaWaterways for river cruises. Overall, many ABD trips are 8 days/7 nights, but the company also operates shorter Escapes that can be booked on their own or added to an itinerary. 

Kids’ ages: 6+ (though kids as young as 4 may be allowed depending on the trip) Group size: 38–40

The Sierra Club , one of the oldest U.S. conservation organizations, calls its trips “adventures for a cause.” By leading organized rafting, hiking, canoeing, and volunteering vacations for families, the Sierra Club connects kids to the outdoors, hoping to turn them into future protectors of the environment. Family excursions explore the United States: Wind down rivers in Utah, Oregon, and Idaho (pictured); or base your brood at an Adirondacks’ lodge for hiking, canoeing, swimming, and mountain biking. On service trips you might do things like clearing trails in the Tahoe National Forest or working with animals on a Pennsylvania farm. On Sierra Club Outings, the naturalist leaders are volunteers. 

Kids’ ages: 6+, depending on the trip Group size: 12–15 (up to 24 for raft trips)

National Geographic Family Journeys (in partnership with G Adventures) were launched in 2020 as a subset of Nat Geo's 300 or so vacations for a general audience. These family-specific itineraries are developed alongside experts such as scientists and researchers, who emphasize sustainability and supporting local culture. On these trips, you and your kids might taste-test noodles cooked by teens learning culinary arts in Hoi An, Vietnam (pictured); plant seedlings at a tree nursery in Costa Rica; or fashion your own Carnival mask in Venice . Pre-departure, parents receive field guides with advice on sparking children’s interest in the area, and kids get tips on photographic storytelling. Two “Chief Experience Officers” (aka enthusiastic guides) lead families through the 8- to 13-day itineraries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Iceland, France, Costa Rica, Peru, Alaska, and other adventurous places. 

Kids’ ages: 7–17 Group size: 20 

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Family Tour Companies

Group tours and travel tips.

Welcome to a world of family adventures with our top picks for group tour companies that cater to families. If you’re eager to explore the globe with your loved ones, we’ve scoured the travel industry to select the best family tour companies that ensure unforgettable journeys. From discovering vibrant cultures in Asia to uncovering hidden gems in Europe , and from embracing the beauty of South America to exploring the wonders of North America , these companies specialize in creating memorable experiences for families. Let’s dive into the world of family travel and discover the perfect adventure for your loved ones.

World Destinations To Visit

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Venturing on a group travel tour is a wonderful way to explore the world, especially when you’re a part of the vibrant and seasoned community of Family travelers . In our guide, we’ve scoured the globe to bring you a carefully curated selection of the top group travel companies that cater to the unique preferences and needs of family travelers.

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Top 7 picks family travel companies for groups, 1. g adventures – exploring the world as a family.

Visualize yourself embarking on an adventure where every moment invites your family to explore, connect, and discover at your own pace. G Adventures specializes in crafting meaningful travel experiences, catering to family group tour companies. Whether you’re drawn to the wild plains of Africa or the historic richness of Europe, G Adventures offers intimate, small-group journeys that deepen your family’s connection with the chosen destinations. What sets G Adventures apart is their commitment to responsible and sustainable travel, ensuring that your explorations leave a positive mark on the world. With local guides who bring their deep knowledge and enthusiasm to every adventure, G Adventures provides families with a unique platform to immerse themselves in the beauty of Africa’s wildlife and the cultural tapestry of Europe.

2. GetYourGuide – Your Family’s Journey, Your Way

For families who value freedom and flexibility in their travels, GetYourGuide is the ideal companion for your journey. This platform empowers your family to customize travel experiences according to your interests and capabilities, offering a vast array of tours and activities across diverse continents. Whether you’re captivated by the mystique of Asia or the rugged beauty of North America, GetYourGuide places your family firmly in control of your adventure. Their user-friendly interface lets you handpick activities tailored to your interests, ensuring your family’s travels in these destinations are uniquely yours. Whether it’s exploring ancient wonders in Asia or savoring the diverse landscapes of North America, GetYourGuide helps your family create unforgettable memories at your own pace.

3. Trafalgar – Revealing Europe’s Hidden Treasures

For those enchanted by the rich history, art, and culture of Europe, Trafalgar is your key to unveiling these treasures. This tour company specializes in guided vacations across the European continent, providing travelers with in-depth, immersive experiences. From strolling the charming streets of Paris to exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, Trafalgar’s guided tours are expertly crafted to ensure you uncover the hidden gems and iconic landmarks alike, making your European journey an enlightening and comfortable exploration.

4. Viator – Worldwide Adventures, Yours to Explore with Loved Ones

Viator opens the doors to a world of adventures across various continents, offering a plethora of choices for travelers. As part of TripAdvisor, Viator connects you with a vast selection of tours and activities worldwide. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant cultures of South America or the natural wonders of North America, Viator’s platform allows you to customize your journey, catering to your interests and fitness level. It’s your opportunity to explore the diverse landscapes of South America or North America with the freedom to design your perfect adventure, creating unforgettable memories.

5. TourRadar – Your Gateway to Global Exploration

If you’re eager to explore the world, TourRadar is your gateway to global adventures. This platform connects you with a wide range of tours and experiences on every continent, offering travelers the opportunity to quench their wanderlust. Whether you’re intrigued by the allure of Asia or the breathtaking landscapes of South America, TourRadar provides a myriad of options to satisfy your curiosity. With their user-friendly interface, you can handpick activities and tours tailored to your interests and physical abilities, allowing your group to explore the cultural tapestry of Asia or immerse yourselves in the breathtaking landscapes of South America.

6. Civitatis – Discovering Europe and Beyond with Your Family

For family travelers seeking in-depth explorations of Europe and other beautiful destinations, Civitatis is a name to remember. Specializing in tours and activities, Civitatis ensures your family uncovers the heart and soul of Europe and more. Whether you’re enchanted by the art and history of Europe or the rich cultural heritage of Africa, Civitatis offers an extensive range of options tailored for family group tour companies. With informative guides and carefully curated experiences, your family can delve into the essence of your chosen destination, making your travels in Europe or Africa an enriching adventure to remember.

7. TakeWalks – Guided Adventures Tailored for Family Explorers

TakeWalks is your ideal companion if you’re a family group of travelers with a penchant for in-depth explorations and guided tours. With a strong focus on cultural immersion and history, TakeWalks takes you to the heart of your chosen destination. Whether you’re interested in delving into the vibrant history of Europe or exploring the diverse landscapes of North America, TakeWalks offers a variety of enriching experiences for family travelers. Their expert guides will regale your family with fascinating stories and insights, making your family travels in Europe or North America an enlightening journey filled with memorable discoveries.

Conclusion:

Exploring the world with your loved ones is a priceless experience, and these family group tour companies are your trusted partners on this incredible journey. From uncovering hidden treasures in Europe to embracing the beauty of South America, and from exploring the wonders of North America to immersing yourselves in the mystique of Asia, these companies specialize in crafting unforgettable family adventures. As you plan your next family trip, rest assured that these tour providers are dedicated to ensuring your travels are not only enjoyable but also deeply enriching. Say yes to new adventures, create lasting memories, and let the world become your family’s playground with these exceptional family tour companies by your side.”

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Alaska Family Journey: Wilderness Explorer

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National Parks Family Journey: Yellowstone and Grand Teton

• Mountain Hikes

7 Day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Camping Tour

We thoroughly enjoyed the 7-day tour of the US southwest . We love the destinations included in the tour, every place we visited is on our bucket list. I wanted to pinch myself every day that I visited those iconic and beautiful places as shown in my photos below. We enjoyed all the extra, optional experiences that were suggested by the tour guide. They added more fun to the tour. The Hummer tour in Moab, Utah was one of the optional experiences and it was a blast! Not only it’s fun, you get to see the amazing scenery during the sunset. One previous review mentioned he or she was forced to participate in the Navajo taco dinner in Monument Valley. That comment is not true. You have a choice not to do that and the guide can make a different arrangement for you. The optional Navajo taco dinner is one of the highlights of the tour that we will remember for a long time. It would be a shame not to have this cultural experience when you get to meet Navajo people when you are in the Navajo Nation! Our tour guide, John did a fantastic job. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. He kept the tour well organized and always provided information we needed. We highly recommend the tour.

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

7 day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Tour

Amazing tour! I can’t say enough about this company. We had a fantastic tour guide, amazing fun group, great weather- all around best experience of my life. Really professional tour company- highly highly highly recommended.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Family Holiday

Western USA Family Holiday

Majestic Alaska (10 Days)

In general things went very well. However, At the Denali location there was a shortage of staff which prevented full service at the Park, Ie. not all dinning venues were normal and our room service such as daily service was missing. We were told, staff shortage due to Canadian employees may have left due to concern of border being closed into Canada. Hotel dysfunction on a limited basis due to that concern. On our last day at the Anchorage Hilton room service was missing also. Not sure why. Most other activities were well supplied/performed. We were pleased.with our Tour Director Tyler, Bus Driver Les and Health coordinator Carol., Some other venues were a bit restricted due to COVID-19 concerns which appear to be out of control of Tourradar. We loved Valdez,, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Kanai Fjords National Park, as well as the Athabascan Village and flat boat ride and other amenities such as the Husky Dog Farm. Overall pleased, except as noted above. The weather cooperated 100%.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Hawaiian Explorer (8 Days, Intra Tour Air Hilo To Kahului)

• Coach / Bus

American Parks Trail (Classic, End Denver, 9 Days)

The trip was great! The tour director and the driver both were very knowledgeable.

American Parks Trail (Classic, End Rapid City, 9 Days)

• In-depth Cultural

Fall Colours of New England (10 Days)

The tour experiences, excellent work by tour director Pam and most of the hotels were wonderful. Having grown up in the east, now living in the west, I loved seeing the autumn leaves and delightful small towns. Overall, this tour was a bit too strenuous for me at the age of 81 and with arthritic knees.

Best of the West (12 Days)

This was a fast but nice tour and Dave was a good guide. Only in LA i thought we should have had more time but it was perfect for a Solo Travler

Spotlight on South Dakota featuring Mount Rushmore & The Badlands (2024)

This was an amazing experience. I love traveling with Collette. Our tour manager was incredible, funny and very knowledgeable on the area. Accommodations were top notch and better than I had expected. Can wait to go on my next adventure!

• Christmas & New Year

USA - The Golden Experience

USA - Las Vegas, Sedona & the Monument Valley

Reviews of usa family tours.

What a lifetime experience everyone needs Jun 2023 • Solo Within 7 days, we drove in 3 states, visited 5 national parks / 2 state parks, hiked 60 miles, made friends from 7 different states/nations, and eventually traveled through the iconic Route 66 back to Las Vegas. What a lifetime experience everyone needs Day 1 - Zion National Park Day 2 - Bryce Canyon National Park Day 3 - Canyonlands National Park Day 4 - Arches National Park Day 5 - Monument Valley Navajo Nation Day 6 - Grand Canyon National Park / Antelope State Day 7- Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas via Historic Route 66 AMAZING!

It was an awesome tour. Saw and did so much. I would recommend Trafalgar to tour with. We are booked next year for The Colorful Trails of the SW in September. I want to say our tour director,Tyler Browning, is one of the best guides we have had. He is personable, friendly, caring, very knowledgeable and on top of everything. He is GREAT!

Regions in USA

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Travel Styles

• 10 Best Family Travel Agencies 2024
• USA Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 10 Best Backpacking Tours & Trips 2024/2025
• Best time to visit East Coast USA (Low & High Season)
• Best Time to Visit the West Coast, USA in 2024/2025 (with California)
• Best USA Vacation Spots for Couples: Parks, Cities and more
• 5 Best Guided Backpacking Trips & Tours
• Best 10 Day USA Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

International Versions

• Deutsch: USA Familienreisen
• Français: Circuits Famille aux États-Unis 2024/2025
• Español: Familia Circuitos en los Estados Unidos (EUA)
• Nederlands: Familie Rondreizen in de USA

Best Tour Groups for Families

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Traveling with kids can sometimes make you insecure about your ability to manage grand-scale trips, whether you are a fearless adventurer who once backpacked across Europe during your college years or your travels are relegated to a few transcontinental business trips a year. Even the best of us can be intimidated by the logistics of bringing young kids and/or unimpressed teens on what is meant to be an adventure of a lifetime.

Just how does one manage to find all modes of transport between multiple destinations; the right attractions and activities to appease every family member, regardless of age; and hotels and restaurants that are kid-friendly -- on top of all the other pieces we need to put into place?

Enter tour groups. Before you grumble that these are meant for an older set and are guaranteed to include more bus rides than activity time, we're here to inform you that family tour operators have really gotten it right with a great array of travel options, services and family fun.

To date, a Danube River cruise with Adventures by Disney is one of my family's favorite trips. The kids adored the Adventure Guides, who felt like part of the family before the cruise ended, and they met other children their age to play with during the nonactive periods along the river. Outings were included and set up by age groups. We had choices of what we wanted to do, and with multigenerational trips including kids as young as 6 up to grandparents, this 10-day adventure through various countries was enjoyable and, actually, a piece of cake. Disney did all of the heavy lifting!

Can I Use Miles to Pay for a Group Tour?

While tour companies aren't as connected to the miles world as hotel chains and airlines, there are ways to both earn and use miles to pay for a group tour. To apply points to a group tour, you'll want to dip into fixed-value miles from programs that allow you to "erase" a travel purchase from your credit card statement: Think Capital One miles that you earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, or Barclaycard Arrival miles that you earn with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard.

In the case of Capital One, you can "wipe out" any travel-coded purchase that's hit your statement in the past 90 days. Redeem your miles at a fixed rate: 1 mile equals 1 penny. You can redeem for a partial credit but need to redeem at least 2,500 miles.

Barclaycard Arrival miles work in a similar fashion with 1 mile equaling 1 penny in redemption. You can erase any travel-coded purchase you've made in the last 120 days. The downside in this case is that you need to have all of the miles in your account to erase the entire charge; Barclaycard doesn't offer partial redemptions. But you will get 5% of your redeemed miles refunded, so that's a nice bonus after the fact.

If you don't have fixed-value miles to help reduce the cost of your group tour, make sure to use a credit card that rewards for travel purchases when you book. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, offers 3x the points for every dollar you spend on travel (excluding $300 travel credit). Considering tours can be a bit pricey (you are paying for convenience, after all), you could easily earn enough points for a cheaper future getaway.

Family-Friendly Group Tour Companies

Looking for tour operators that cater to families? Here's a look at the companies TPG has its eye on. All tour prices are per person without airfare.

Thomson Family Adventures

Since 1998, the Thomson family has offered small-group tours geared toward families like them who want to travel deeper by connecting to a country and its culture. Tours include a "Rafiki," or a friend, who will break the ice with the group and help keep things entertaining for the kids, while local expert guides show you around at a pace comfortable for everyone.

Thomson creates family itineraries that will take your brood back to ancient civilizations for tours that are not only family-friendly and fun but also educational. (Shh, the kids won't know they are learning on this vacation!) Trips are organized by activity level, so parents can select those best-suited to their children's needs. Multigenerational trips scheduled for 2019 can whisk your family off to exotic destinations like China, Egypt and Tanzania, as well as swings through the Caribbean and Europe.

Not only does your child get to explore faraway lands but he or she will also get to cultivate new friendships. Through the company's Friends Across Borders program, kids are paired with a child of similar age in the country you will be visiting so they can write to each other before and after the trip, and meet up at some point during your tour to potentially kick off a lifetime of friendship. We don't know of any other tour group that provides this.

Best Ages: 6 and up

Sample Starting Price: Thomson's popular seven-day Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure starts at $3,130 per person as of press time. On this trek, your clan will visit a sea turtle conservancy, learn to make chocolate and leave no stone unturned in Tortuguero National Park.

REI Adventures

The outdoor-lovers' go-to shop began uniting its customers with adventure tours more than 30 years ago, with many accommodations of the canvas tent or ecolodge variety. REI Adventures features 150 different trips across every continent (although the family junkets won't get you to Antarctica).

Family forays can be all-out exotic with rambles to Thailand and Machu Picchu , or within the national parks of the US, such as the Great Smoky Mountains or Zion and Bryce Canyon national park tours that will have the entire family enjoying the great outdoors. (Here are some tips for visiting national parks with kids.) You'll find three- and seven-day weekend getaway options, as well as seven- to 15-day adventures. REI has been committed to the environment since its founding in 1938. Every trek organized by the company practices green initiatives: using recyclable and reusable materials, minimizing environmental impact and following high ethical standards. The company also works in conjunction with host countries by offering meaningful cultural exchanges and patronizing local businesses.

Best Ages: Due to the tours' physical activities, REI Adventures is best-suited for active teens who can keep up with the hiking, kayaking, river rafting and biking that are often at the forefront of the tours.

Sample Starting Price: A three-day hiking weekend is $1,599 per person (with REI member discounts bringing the price down to $1,449), while a 10-day Thailand trip starts at $3,309 ($2,999 for members).

Points Perks: REI loyalty begins with $20 for a lifetime membership. As a member, you'll get discounted tours, as well as discounted classes, events, services and merchandise at REI locations around the world. Sign up for the REI Co-op World Mastercard and you'll get an additional 5% back on purchases at REI, as well as 1% back on everyday purchases with no annual fee. Plus, every purchase means a donation to the National Forest Foundation.

Intrepid Travel

By pairing three to five families with like-minded individuals, especially matching children of similar interests and ages, Intrepid Travel works to create lasting friendships along with its tours. Keeping the groups to no more than 10 people means more focus on you, and kids 17 and younger receive 10% off trip prices.

Family voyages are uber-exotic with Intrepid. You can explore the desert landscape of Morocco, the African valleys of Kenya and the opulent palaces of India. Any one of the action-packed journeys will combine activities that coincide with your child's school curriculum or hobbies.

Intrepid doesn't just show you the world, it gives back as well. Through the nonprofit Intrepid Foundation, funds have been distributed to support local and grassroots projects, including sustainable development, environmental conservation and wildlife protection.

Best Ages: Age minimums vary but start at 5 and up, depending on the location. Most children on these trips fall between 8 and 18 years of age.

Sample Starting Price: Imagine Morocco with the kiddos for eight days starting as low as $675 per person, not including airfare. Cross wind-swept dunes, ride a camel in the desert and get lost in the alleyways of bustling markets. (Single parents will love Intrepid, as well, because of its solo parent options with other solo moms and dads.)

Points Perks: Intrepid has its own loyalty program: After nine trips, you'll earn $1,800 toward a 10th tour when you become an Intrepid Legend.

Adventures By Disney

If you think creating "The Happiest Place on Earth" is all Disney can do, you haven't tried Adventures by Disney, the high-end, "we take care of everything" family travel company. You'll pay a pretty penny to join these tours, offered since 2005, but your entire family is guaranteed to have a blast with tours that include Disney-trained local guides who stay with you for the entire journey.

Immersing your family into the cultures you visit, ABD (as it is known by its fans) offers more than 30 adventures across six continents. Go deep into China with a visit to the Forbidden City, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, or traverse across Australia, from the Great Barrier Reef to Ayers Rock to the Gold Coast to Sydney. (Here are the best ways to use points and miles to fly from the US to Australia .) Disney goes big when it creates its cruising adventures and has partnered with AMAWaterways for ABD cruises throughout Europe. Trips range from three-day weekends to two-week adventures.

With backstage, one-of-a-kind tours, you'll skip lines and do things you wouldn't do on other tours like visit the Good Morning America studios in New York City or take an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel in Rome. From the moment you step off the plane, you'll have Adventure Guides with you so you feel like a VIP from start to finish.

Best Ages: Minimum ages start at 4 or 6 years of age, depending on the destination.

Sample Starting Price: Disney's tours are so great that its pricing falls under the "if you have to ask" category. They are expensive. A 12-day/11-night tour of China starts at $8,949 per person while a four-day/three-night tour of New York City starts at $2,929 per person.

Points Perks: The Chase Disney Visa returns 1–2% back in the form of Disney dollars, which can be used on Adventures by Disney tours. Or, put your ABD vacay on your Disney card, and use your rewards for a future Disney outing.

Lindblad Expeditions

Launched in Sweden by the explorer Lars-Eric Lindblad, the Lindblad family combines a National Geographic partnership with highly engaging expeditions that kids not only learn from but also will enjoy. With this program, certified field educators serve as tour directors and guides, helping your children connect with nature

Family and multigenerational expeditions make it easy for ages 8 to 80 to enjoy explorative travel together, all aboard adventurous small ship cruises that allow you to get up close to the wildlife of the Galapagos, Alaska, the Amazon River basin and even Antarctica. Kids under 18 get $500 off, and specials often include free airfare for everyone and bar tabs for parents. (Yes, it's a family affair, but it doesn't deprive parents on the journey.)

Best Ages: All trips designated Family Travel do not have any age minimums, although these explorations often require children to be old enough to handle active adventures.

Sample Starting Price: Spend 10 days touring the Galapagos starting at $7,290. 2019 is the 50th year Lindblad has been conducting expedition cruises to the land of Darwin, where kids will encounter giant tortoises and sea lions.

Tauck Bridges

Tauck has provided tours around the world for more than 90 years, but it is the Bridges arm of the company that was developed specifically for families, with tour directors who love kids and aim to please.

Tauck Bridges offers 20 different family experiences to choose from in 2019 and 2020. You'll find river cruises down the Danube, rafts through the Grand Canyon, wildlife safaris in Tanzania or horseback riding in America's cowboy country, and everything in between, including trips to Europe's most charming cities.

Tauck's commitment to the environment extends to its partnerships with esteemed National Geographic filmmaker Ken Burns on its Ken Burns American Journeys, while Earth Journeys is a partnership with BBC Earth.

Best Ages: Children must be a minimum of 4 years old for river cruises, 5 years old for safaris and 6 years old for its Galapagos cruise.

Sample Starting Price: Cross the border to the Canadian Rockies for a seven-day tour through Western Canada's famed national parks, Banff and Jasper. Your family will ride the river rapids, climb glaciers and hike in the beautiful hills starting at $3,640 per person.

Bottom Line

Let someone else do all of the planning and work so you can truly enjoy a vacation by taking a group tour that was specifically designed for families. The best way to lessen the cost of a big trip like this is by using your miles to get your family to the tour's embarkation point, and then focus on fixed-value points that can help "erase" all or part of the tour cost.

Have you booked a group tour for your family? Which company did you use and would you do it again?

Here are some more trip-planning resources:

• The Best Credit Cards for Family Travelers
• The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards for Families in 2019
• How to Get a Family of 4 or More Into an Amex Centurion Lounge
• Tips for Using Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel

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Teenage Family Vacations

• Teenage Family Holidays

Teenagers often get a bad rep for being tricky travel companions; notoriously hard to please when it comes to family trips.

While they’re not all like that, we’ve designed a range of teenage-specific itineraries (for kids aged 10 and up) that yours will love. Adventurous, active and with plenty of outdoor family time; they’ll keep everyone happy (and away from their phones). Think trekking in the Himalayan foothills or seeking out the Big 5 in Kruger National Park – welcome to destinations without the drama.

Our Teenage Family Vacations

Could your teenage tribe do with a break? Remember, Intrepid offers a 10% discount for all travelers aged 17 and under.

South Africa Family Safari with Teenagers

12 days from 2275.

Enjoy this Teenage Family Adventure, while hiking, canoeing, snorkeling, rafting,...

Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers

9 days from 1350.

Get the most out of your family getaway by cycling, kayaking, walking and cruising...

Botswana Family Safari with Teenagers

10 days from 2200.

Take your family to Victoria Falls, Okavango River and Chobe National Park on this teen...

Bali Family Holiday with Teenagers

8 days from 1505.

Ricepaddles, rapids, bikes and beaches – find it all as you travel to Ubud, Candi Dasa,...

Summer Pyrenees Family Holiday with teenagers

8 days from 1185.

Walk, ride and raft on this European adventure into the heart of the Pyrenees. Unleash...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Cambodia Family Holiday with Teenagers

8 days from 855.

Encounter Cambodia's complex history and welcoming culture on a small-group family...

Turkey Family Holiday with Teenagers

8 days from 1700.

Exploring Turkey’s coast with your teenagers, visiting ruins in Xanthos, hiking...

Why choose Intrepid

Just for families

The clue’s in the title. These trips are for families only (including any aunts, uncles or cousins who’d like to come along, of course). As long as you’re travelling with a child under the age of 18, you’re a family in our eyes. Plus, unlike other travel companies, children aged 17 years and younger receive a 10% discount off the price of their trip.

Travel with other families

Travelling the Intrepid way is a bit like travelling with a group of friends. These trips are made up of 3–5 like-minded families, and the kids tend to hit it off straight away, allowing you to enjoy some well-earned R&R. We often find the whole family ends up making friendships with people from all over the world, staying in touch long after the adventure ends.

Small group sizes

Intrepid’s family group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some out-of-the-way places, but big enough for a good social mix. Our average group size of 10 allows us to hop aboard local boats, buses or trains, eat at friendly, family-run restaurants and kick back in traditional accommodation and homestays.

Action packed

We know the biggest challenge on a family trip is keeping the kids entertained. So we’ve planned in advance. Nearly all of our hotels feature pools, and each day has a great mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time. Your local leader can also suggest activities based on your kid’s hobbies or school curriculum.

Safety first

Our leaders are specially trained to run family adventures, so you’re well taken care of. You can also rest easy knowing we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy. 

Sustainable travel

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet.

Discover the temples of Angkor

Your teen doesn’t have to be a history buff to be blown away by ancient Angkor Wat. You’ll all enjoy exploring Ta Prohm – the root-covered jungle temple made famous by Tomb Raider – and Bayon – with its 54 towers decorated with over 200 enigmatic smiling faces.

Explore Machu Picchu

Follow in the footsteps of brave explorers on a four day hike to Machu Picchu – the lost city of the Incas. Take in sweeping views of the Sacred Valley, hike through moody cloud forests and discover ancient ruins and villages before arriving at the famous Sun Gate overlooking the city. 

Camp in the Okavango

Imagine falling asleep to the sounds of the African bush? The howl of a hyena, the distant trumpet of an elephant, the hum and buzz of insects. Spend two nights at an authentic bush camp on an island in the Okavango Delta. There are no bells and whistles here (no toilets, either!) – just you, your family, and the great outdoors.

Go rafting in Bali

There’s so much to love about a family holiday in Bali – it’s equal parts relaxing and exhilarating! And the adventure doesn’t get much better than white-water rafting along the Ayung River. Buckle up your life jacket, grab your paddle, and get set for an excellent adventure through rainforests, gorges and rice paddies.

Where we stay

We put a lot of care into choosing the accommodation we stay in, avoiding the big chain hotels in favor of locally run establishments offering a unique experience. Whether it's a rustic homestay in Thailand or a log chalet in South Africa, we choose good quality operators where most rooms will feature ensuites and air conditioning is standard. Wherever possible we pick hotels that provide triple or quad rooms and always try and offer conjoining rooms when they are available. 

Learn more about our accommodation

Mai Chau homestay, Vietnam

One of Northern Vietnam’s top nature escapes, Mai Chau and its rice fields and stilt houses play host to many minority groups, notably the White Thai people. Enjoy a night of friendly cultural exchange and tuck into a homemade banquet lovingly prepared by the locals.

Gulet in Turkey

It doesn’t get much better than a night on a traditional Turkish sailboat in the Mediterranean. All bedding is provided, decks have ample space for star-gazing, and with a bit of fresh water available to rinse off the salty stuff, you’ll be perfecting that stylish Euro hairdo in no time.

Family-run eco village in Nepal

A beautiful mountain retreat run by the same family for seven generations, this comfortable lodge has a nice green lawn on which to relax and admire the mountains from, and optional yoga on offer for those interested. It’s a treat to come home to after a solid hike in the Himalayas.

Read our Family FAQs

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THE 5 BEST Santa Clara Tours & Excursions

Santa clara tours.

• Private Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Cultural Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. The Escape Game in San Jose

2. Private Santa Clara University Tour

3. Big Sur Private Charter from San Francisco by Luxury SUV 10 hrs

4. Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Santa Clara by Zombie Scavengers

5. Private Santa Clara Halloween Family Fun Tour

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Tour from San Jose

Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Tour

Airplane - San Francisco Bay Airplane Tour

Silicon Valley Private 2-Hour Driving Tour

Private Walking Tour in Stanford University

Stanford's Art and Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Big Sur Monterey California Coast McWay Falls from San Jose

Santa Cruz, California Scavenger Hunt

San Jose Scavenger Hunt: The Heart of Silicon Valley

San Jose Brew Bike Bar Tour

San Jose Shuffle Scavenger Hunt

San Jose Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game

Private Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur Day Trip from San Francisco

Elite Airplane Flight Tour of San Francisco

Tour of California Self-Guided Driving Bundle

Airplane San Francisco Private Night Tour

4 Hour Livermore Valley Wine Tour

Electric Bike Rental in Livermore

Beginner Surf Lesson in Santa Cruz

Whale Watching Monterey Bay semi-private limited to 6 people max

Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories

Capitola Private 2-Hour Walking Tour

Santa Cruz Family Friendly Guided E-bike Tour

Half Moon Bay Hustle Scavenger Hunt

Art Class for Mindful Self-Exploration and Reset

Private 2-hour San Jose State University Tour: Secret Stories

Tintype Portrait and Historic Photography Lesson

Family Adventures in San Jose: Private Walking Tour

California Coast Big Sur Monterey to Los Angeles - 2 Day

• Private Santa Clara Halloween Family Fun Tour
• Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Santa Clara by Zombie Scavengers
• Big Sur Private Charter from San Francisco by Luxury SUV 10 hrs

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Top 25 Fun Things to do in Santa Clara County with Kids

From museums, historical landmarks, amusement parks, tech hubs, sports facilities, and more, there is no shortage of places to go and fun things to do in Santa Clara County with kids.

Parents love browsing our kid’s events.

But deciding what to do in Santa Clara is a constant struggle. There are just so many places to go and fun things to do in Santa Clara County with kids that are hard to pass up. And it feels like there’s never enough time. Fortunately,  we have rounded up our top-notch family-friendly activities ready to be enjoyed and explored. Follow along with our list of places to go and fun things to do in Santa Clara County with kids and enjoy these great attractions, museums, and other fun adventures. We know you’ll find a lot to love!

Get inspired at Santa Clara Museums

3. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum 1660 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95126 Phone number: (408) 947-3636 Inspired by that amazing Temple of Arnon at Karnak, it is one of the best places to go and explore in Santa Clara. This museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts display in western North America. Explore an educational and enchanting experience with your kids and discover all aspects of ancient Egyptian life, from burial practices, hundreds of gods, life after death, and the practice of mummification. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum gives you an insight into an ancient culture that had such an influence on the world!  4. Intel Museum 2200 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Phone Number: (408) 765-5050 If your kids know how to use your tablet better than you, then take them to an exciting behind-the-scenes tour and see what it’s like inside an ultra-clean, highly automated silicon chip factory. It has exhibits how semiconductor chip technology works, both as self-paced exhibits and by reservation as grade-school educational programs. You also get to see a display of a fully functional 130x scale replica of the Intel 4004 CPU. Experience fun and interactive learning for kids and adults and connect with technologies that give us new ways to play,  learn, and communicate. The Intel Museum is open to the public with free admission and is one of the best places to go in Santa Clara. 5. The Tech Interactive 201 S Market St., San Jose, CA 95113 Phone number: (408) 294-8324 Develop the innovator in your kids by visiting this local landmark that celebrates the most innovative place on Earth — Silicon Valley. This science and technology museum located in downtown San Jose is a global leader in the formation of immersive STEAM education resources. The Tech inspires kids through fun, hands-on activities, and one-of-a-kind floor programs that discover the next generation of problem-solvers. With so many interactive experiences at your fingertips, the possibilities for kids to learn technological innovations are limitless. This is definitely one of the best places to go and things for kids to do in Santa Clara.

Explore and Enjoy Recreational Parks and Zoos

8. Morgan Hill Aquatic Center 16200 Condit Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037 Phone Number: (408) 782-2134 This recreational pool with water playground offers a number of attractions your kids would surely love. It features a spray-ground with misting sprays, cascading fountains, and shooting geysers. It also offers a competition pool with diving boards,  general public swim (including laps), poolside seating, and shaded grass areas. Whether your kids take instructional pool for learning or just simply swimming, this is one of the best places to go and fun things to do in Santa Clara County with kids especially during summer. Stop by and have a blast on a variety of water features or just enjoy a leisurely day poolside. The Morgan Hill Aquatic Center is open year-round for lap swim and aqua fitness classes. 9. Happy Hollow and Zoo 748 Story Road, San José, CA 95112 Phone Number: (408) 794-6400 This family-friendly amusement park and zoo are situated on a 16-acre land with many popular features like a carousel, roller coaster, petting zoo, and Puppet Castle Theater. With half-million people visiting each year, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a place for the young and young at heart. It is a great attraction for both fun and educational trips. Stroll your kids on the ground and see animals like lemurs, meerkats, jaguars, and goats. Don’t forget to drop by the Learning LODGE built from hay bales to check out upcoming classes for kids and camps . 10. Palo Alto Junior Museum And Zoo 4050 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303 Phone number: (650) 329-2111 Kids will have the best time getting creative, learning about nature and science, and engaging their curiosity at this interactive museum and zoo. With over 50 species of animals that include approximately 200 specimens, kids can have face-to-face and hands-on experience with those creepy-cool creatures like millipedes, spiders, insects, and even anthropods. Other species like bobcats, hedgehogs, freshwater fish, giant tortoises, bats, raccoons, and even slippery snakes are used as part of science outreach programs which are all great to experience up close.

Engage Your Kids in Physical Activities

13. Golfland USA 855 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Phone number: (408) 245-8434 A whole new level of excitement and challenges await kids and the entire family at Sunnyvale’s Golfland. It’s more than just playing “around” with the 18- hole miniature golf courses but also fun to see who gets under par too! Whether you’re in for a great family adventure, birthday parties, team building, school, or group outings, Golfland is the place to be. The park also features a huge video game arcade and a delicious snack bar. 14. Sky High Sports 2880 Mead Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051 Phone number: (408) 496-5867 Trampolines are fun to play on and can help you and your kids stay fit. So, stop looking for fun things to do in Santa Clara County with Kids and head on to Sky High Sports. This unique trampoline center was designed and created for the whole family to have FUN! Whether you flip forward or flip backward, you will definitely flip out or free-bounce and do tricks all day.  When you’re not jumping, you can swing into their massive foam pit, play an epic game of dodgeball, or reach new heights in the Climb Zone. There’s truly something fun for everyone. It’s going to be great family bonding, great exercise, a great atmosphere, and a great facility.

Treat Your Kids to a Nature Adventure

18. Hakone Gardens 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070 Phone Number: (408) 741-4994 Experience Japanese culture with your kids at this 18-acre traditional garden situated in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. Hakone offers visitors an international cultural venue to celebrate civilization.  This masterpiece of architectural and botanical beauty is one of the oldest Japanese estates, retreats, and gardens in the Western Hemisphere.  Whether you are strolling at the hill and koi pond garden, cross the moon bridge, have tea overlooking the dry landscape Zen garden, or simply enjoy quiet reflection in Hakone’s tea and bamboo gardens, the whole family will have a taste of the concoction of art, culture, and nature. It’s a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.  19. Los Gatos Creek Trail 1250 Dell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008 Phone number: (408) 793-5510 Lace up those sporty shoes, take a stroll with your kids and go for a jog at this flat, paved, and beautifully maintained kid-friendly trail. The creek is home to a wealth of biodiversity and is one of the few urban streams in the area that is still relatively intact. The 11.2-mile Los Gatos Creek Trail passes through multi-jurisdictions and is operated by the town of Los Gatos, the County of Santa Clara Park Department, and the cities of Campbell and San Jose. Pack up some water and get ready to walk alongside fellow hikers, maybe their dogs, and nature lovers.  20. Santa Clara Central Park 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051 Phone number: (408) 615-3140 An all-time favorite hangout place for kids and the whole family to have a picnic, walk around or simply relax and enjoy the scenic views of nature. This 52-acre central park offers major facilities such as Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club, Community Recreation Center, Senior Center, Youth Activity Center, International Swim Center, Reed Street Dog Park, Skate Park, and more fun things to do in Santa Clara County with Kids.

Get Historical and Appreciate Arts

With so much to do and places to go in Santa Clara County, it’s great to plan ahead for something parents and kids can do together. Bundle up and schedule a family trip once in a while. Expand your horizons in a place that’s equally rich in history, culture, and technological innovation. Explore all the fun things to do in Santa Clara County with kids on our list to have fun learning for the entire family. Looking for more kids’ activities in the greater Santa Clara area? Check out our Things To Do category.

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A Real Pain

Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the b... Read all Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

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Benji Kaplan : This, people, is what fucking film making is about.

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Business | iowa star caitlin clark cools off after record-setting start in ncaa final vs. south carolina, business | live in a single-family home this bay area company wants to give you $100,000 for the yard space you’re not using, buildcasa helps homeowners take advantage of california’s new lot-splitting law.

In recent years, California lawmakers have approved a flurry of legislation aimed at increasing the housing supply and addressing the state’s decades-in-the-making housing crisis.

Many of the changes are modest — rather than creating massive apartment towers or sprawling new subdivisions, they are meant to add moderate density in existing neighborhoods. It’s the type of “missing middle” housing that advocates say will help the Bay Area hit state regulators’ goal of building 441,000 new homes by 2031.

Senate Bill 9, passed in 2021, is one such change: it allows single-family homeowners around the state to split their lots in two, and build two homes on each lot. An analysis by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley estimated that the new law could result in 700,000 new homes.

But in the first year after SB 9 passed, just a handful of homeowners ended up applying for lot splits, the Terner Center found .

Is that a surprise? Housing law is dense and obscure — and difficult for the average homeowner to navigate. Enter BuildCasa, a company founded by serial entrepreneur Ben Bear and former architect Paul Steidl, which works to identify homes on large lots where an SB 9 project could be feasible, then offers to buy up the extra land to get it developed. To start, they are targeting three key markets — San Jose, Sacramento and San Diego. In just their first year of operating, they’ve gotten plans approved for 115 new housing units.

Bear and Steidl recently relocated their company headquarters from San Francisco to downtown Oakland. In the midst of their move, they took time to chat about California’s housing crisis and how BuildCasa could help address the shortage.

Q: BuildCasa wouldn’t exist without SB 9. Why do you think so few people are using SB 9, and how does BuildCasa help?

Steidl:  There are a lot of folks who have really great properties with the potential for new units, but don’t have the financial or the logistical capabilities of taking on a project to add additional units, like an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or a new house. It can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — you have to hire an architect, an engineer, and then go through the whole development process.

Bear: Homeowners aren’t developers, right? We saw the need for someone to come in, so homeowners could take advantage of this trapped asset — their extra lot space — with no cost or work. So far, we’ve had our first few projects that have had their lots appraised after a split. On average, people are losing about 4.5% of their home’s value, but they’re gaining 15% to 20% on top of that with the new parcel.

Q: If I’m a homeowner with a big backyard and I want to split my lot, how does this work? Do I still maintain ownership over the other half of my lot once it’s been split?

Bear: We have two models. In one, when the homeowner is looking to get liquidity, we help them sell to a developer. In the second model, we help the homeowner subdivide the lot, they retain ownership, and they develop it themself. We’ve been surprised: Most people are interested in selling. It’s appealing for people with low-interest mortgages who want to keep their house, but want to get some extra cash without taking on any debt or work.

In particular, it’s popular with senior citizens — a lot of them are house rich and cash poor. They want to stay in their neighborhood, but they could use more financial flexibility. In Sacramento, the average payout is $100,000. In the Bay Area, we’ve seen upwards of $350,000 for a split lot. It’s a significant windfall — and you’re not taking on any debt, like in a reverse mortgage, and you’re not losing out on your Prop 13 eligibility.

Q: We’ve heard a lot about how California has a lot of single-family homes and a lot of tall apartment buildings, but that there’s a need for more “missing middle” housing . Tell me why that’s important?

Steidl: At the turn of the 20th century all the way through the 1940s, there used to be a lot of housing like this — duplexes, townhouses. Then we made changes to how we regulate land use, and these types of housing dropped off a cliff. Most houses built now are either large multifamily properties in urban centers, or tract housing in the exurbs. We look at opportunities in existing neighborhoods. It’s much more sustainable to build where there’s already infrastructure like water and sewage lines in place, and when you build in walkable communities, you’re also cutting down on vehicle miles traveled.

Q: How does building more missing middle housing help with affordability?

Bear: There’s a lot of programs for low income, renters and homeowners — but there are very few market rate options available for folks who are middle-income. The focus of our company is really creating new for-sale units that are affordable by design. For example, on the lot that’s split, state law gives us the right to build a duplex, and each of those units can be sold separately as a condo — which may cost around 35% as much as a single-family home. It can really be this new version of the American dream where you still have private outdoor space, and you’re living in the type of single-family neighborhood that people want to live in, but you can afford homeownership, even if you have a middle-class occupation.

Q: Tell me about the technology you’re building at BuildCasa and how that helps you find the best candidates for a lot split?

Bear : We have developed a geospatial algorithm that would attempt to find the best opportunities for development. We can look at a lot and assess whether, given the local constraints and zoning and the requirements of SB 9, does a duplex design fit? A property owner can go to our site, and within 30 seconds, they can get a sense of what that extra lot space would be worth, were they to subdivide it.

Q: Sacramento is one of your first test markets. Why start there?

Steidl: Sacramento is very orderly — it’s got lots of rectangular lots and a repetitive city grid. We figured this would create a lot of potential SB 9 opportunities. It also looks a lot like the rest of the country — so as we’re thinking about the expansion of laws like this around the U.S., it’s a good testing ground. And third, it’s helpful to demonstrate the power of these new laws in the backyard of the people who are writing them.

Bear: We looked at San Jose next because it has a progressive and competent planning department. Residents there have really embraced new housing laws, too.

Q: How important is it for you to have strong relationships with local planning staff?

Bear: Previously, I was the CEO of Spin, a Ford-owned electric bike and scooter company that was focused on working with the government rather than against it. It doesn’t come super naturally to most folks in tech — there can be an antagonistic relationship with business.

We’ve been laser-focused on working with jurisdictions that are pro-housing. Before we launch in a city, we make sure to meet with the mayor’s office and the planning director, and even at the staff level. The rubber meets the road at the intersection between state law, local regulation, and then the planner that’s actually reviewing the application.

Paul Steidl

Age: 34 Position: Co-founder, Chief Product Officer Education: Master of Architecture, Master of City & Regional Planning (M.Arch/MCRP) – Georgia Tech, 2018 Residence: Oakland

Age: 36 Position: Co-founder, CEO Education: Bachelors of Science at Northwestern University, 2010 Residence: Oakland

Five things about Ben and Paul

— Ben and Paul grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

— The pair have been friends for over 20 years.

— Ben previously served as CEO of Spin, a scooter company.

— Before Spin, Ben was the co-founder of WorkGenius, a recruitment technology company.

— Paul’s been thinking about how to increase housing supply through backyard partnerships for years; he wrote his graduate school dissertation on the subject.

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