2020 is now upon us and if you are anything like me you already have a mile long list of where you want to travel to in 2020. If you love to travel as a family, you may be looking for destinations that you can enjoy as an adult but also that will be a great family friendly destination. Together with other travel bloggers and families that frequently travel together, I have compiled a list of the best travel destinations in 2020 for families.

1. San Diego, California

-Nikki, She Saves She Travels

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“If you’re putting your travel list together for 2020, a top destination in the USA is San Diego, California. It’s pretty much the perfect weather year-round and has a ton of variety of things to do for everyone. It’s family friendly, yet entertaining for adults, too.

San Diego is a city full of life, which simply begs to be explored. You’ll get a good compromise between a city and beach scene, with amazing attractions and affordable things to do, too. You could spend 2 days in San Diego or a full week exploring the area!

Here are my favorite reasons to go to San Diego:

1.) San Diego Zoo

It’s world-famous and for good reason! Take a few hours or the whole day to explore the zoo that’s consistently ranked in the top 5 in the world. It’s near downtown San Diego but the zoo does an amazing job of making you feel right at home in the animals’ habitats. It’s probably the top family destination in San Diego, and a must-see for sure.

2.)Coronado Island

Play in the shimmery sand for an afternoon on Coronado Island. The sand literally sparkles underfoot and it’s super soft – perfect for kids. You can spend hours hunting for sand dollars and seashells. Make sure to grab some ice cream or dinner along the main drive, too.

3.) Old Town San Diego

One of my absolute favorite parts of the city – and one that I make sure to hit every visit to San Diego – is Old Town. It’s history dates back to the origins of the state of California, and includes several free museums to wonder around. There’s plenty of shops and markets, too. But perhaps one of my favorite parts is the dozens (yes, you read that right) of Mexican restaurants in Old Town.

My favorite is Old Town Mexican Café for authentic Mexican food at an affordable price. Make sure you try the handmade tortillas – they’re to die for!”

Check out her blog and follow her at: https://shesavesshetravels.com/

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2. San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Lopez Family

“San Juan is a tropical destination with gorgeous beaches, colorful buildings, and plenty of fun for the kiddies. Whether you are looking for some beach fun, outdoor activities, or something that will get the children thinking you can find it in San Juan. Some of our favorite attractions include:

1.)Museo del Niño de Carolina-The children’s museum of San Juan is a great way to spend the day and will keep your children entertained. It has many different options, including exhibits that will make your children think, go-karting, a mini petting zoo, and pedal boats.

2.) Spend the day at Isla Verde Beach. Spend some time enjoying the sun and jumping the waves or building a sand castle. Bring some snacks or grab a tropical snack from one of the many food carts.

3.) Walk the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan-spend some time taking in the colorful buildings of Old San Juan or exploring one of the two forts located in Old San Juan.”

3. Venice, Italy

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The floating Roman city is sure to be a hit for all ages. The water alone is enough to keep the kids entertained in this unique city, but Venice has lots more to offer the young ones.

1.) Take a waterbus tour on the Grand Canal or rent a private gondola. Soak up the sights of the city along Venice’s main transportation system-the canal and take in the architecture and colorful buildings that surround the canal.

2.) Visit the prisons of Doge’s Palace. This might not be an activity that every child will enjoy, but some may find it intriguing. Explore the halls and history of one of Venice’s historic prisons.

3.) Have a picnic lunch in Giardini Pubblici. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the public gardens where the children can run and enjoy a traditional playground. You may even get a few minutes to site and relax!

4. London, England

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London is a great family friendly destination that is full of rich history, culture, great food, and many great family friendly attractions. Some of the best include:

1.) Ride the London Eye-get a birds eye view of the city from above on the London Eye. Children and adults the same will love it and the ride will get you away from the crowds for a few minutes.

2.) Sea Life London Aquarium-the aquarium features sea life, interactive games, and educational exhibits. Animal loving children will especially enjoy it. Also nearby is Shrek’s Adventure where you can find a 4D show and interactive fairy tale shows.

3.) Take the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour-this is a great attraction if your child is a Harry Potter fan. Take them back stage to filming locations and see props straight from the movies.

5. Guanajuato, Mexico

The Awkward Traveler

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“Guanajuato City, Mexico is a fantastic city for families, especially as someone’s first time in Mexico or abroad. Mexico has a reputation of being fun and colorful, and Guanajuato represents this beautifully, with a cascade of colors through the streets and painting the city in a bright rainbow. After all, it IS the city that inspired the design of Disney’s Coco! If your family hasn’t seen the movie before, it is a great movie to watch together on the plan and a great warm-up to the actual city. Although Guanajuato is a bit off-the-beaten path for foreigners, it is a popular vacation spot for Mexican citizens, so the town is full of activity and exciting events. The city is extremely walkable, with plenty of courtyards and parks to play in for kids. And if little ones happen to get tired by the end of the day, taxis and rideshare services are cheap and easy to use. The BEST way to get a feel of the local culture is to spend your night walking with the callejonada, an interactive walking tour that sings the local history and legends of Guanajuato. However, if the walk is in Spanish and some of the jokes may go over the heads of minors. Thankfully, Guanajuato is also home to a Mummy Museum, which has the best naturally preserved mummies IN THE WORLD. And there’s always mariachi bands battling each other in the town square!”

Need more recommendations for a trip to Guanajuato? Find them here.

Check out the blog and follow it for more travel destinations and tips at https://www.theawkwardtraveller.com/

6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Diaz Family

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“Amsterdam is full of great activities to do as a family. Amsterdam is a very family friendly locations and children are welcomed with open arms. Our favorites are:

1.) NEMO Science Museum-with five floors of entertaining, education exhibits the museum is sure to keep your family busy for hours. Highlights include blowing giant bubbles and performing experiments in a real laboratory.

2.) Artis-Amsterdam Royal Zoo-your family can enjoy visiting the many species of animals as well as visiting the aquarium and planetarium. It will keep the family busy for the entire day. “

7. Melbourne, Australia

The Phillips Family

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“Visit the land down under and make some great family memories that will last a life time. Melbourne is a great place to visit as a family with lots of attractions the children will love as well as the adults.

1.) Visit the Sea Life Melbourne aquarium. Your family can spend the day admiring sea life and learning about and interacting with the different species.

2.) Visit an amusement park. What kid doesn’t love hoping aboard a good old fashioned theme park ride? Choose from Luna Park near the St Kilda pier or visit the Wonderland Junior Docklands in the inner city for a day of laughter, thrills, and fun.

3.) Get up close to Australia’s native wildlife at the Healesville Sanctuary. Here you can observe wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, emu, dingoes, and wallabies. Your children can also spend some time in the Future Vets play area and learn about caring for sick and injured animals.”

8.Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Wilson Family

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“Punta Cana is a great tropical destination and with family friendly resorts your family will have a blast. Choose an all-inclusive resort and you will have plenty of activities for both yourself and your children, and with great programs for the children you will find yourself with some free time to enjoy the spa amenities or simply lying on the beach soaking up the sun. Like many other resorts in the area, Dreams Punta Cana Resort offers a large pool, daily entertainment for children including arts and crafts, dance classes, and aerobic classes. The resort also offers nature tours and has many outdoor play areas. For the older children you can find nightlife activities with disco music, water sports and a resort only hotel, as well as a waterpark.”

9. Montreal, Canada

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Montreal, Canada is a city full of history, entertainment, and family friendly attractions. Some must do’s for families are:

1.) Visit Olympic Stadium and ride to the top of the Montreal Tower. The kids will enjoy wandering the large open areas of the stadium and will be amazed at the views from the top of the Montreal Tower.

2.) Visit Parc Jean-Drapeau-Parc Jean-Drapeau has much to offer, from a man-made lake for swimming and sand castle building to botanical gardens, and an amusement park. You will find something that every member of the family can enjoy at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

3.) Hike Mount Royal-step outside of the busy streets of the city and spend some time hiking Mount Royal. Visit the Chalet Du Mont Royal for some spectacular views of the Montreal city line and enjoy some peace and quiet, and maybe even a picnic lunch, in the woods of Mount Royal.

Looking for more inspiration for visiting Montreal? Find more information here.

10. Orlando, Florida

My Choice-Navigation Junkie

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Orlando, Florida practically spells out the definition of family travel. With theme parks galore and plenty of other family friendly attractions Orlando will be a great vacation spot for any family. Not to mention, you will find plenty of Orlando hotels at Westgate Resorts with rates from $99/night!

1.) Disney World, Orlando-little explanation is needed for this attraction. Disney World is a great destination for children of any age (and adults to!). With four different theme parks, two water parks, mini-golf courses, and Disney Springs (shopping complex), there is something for everyone. Bring out your inner child and make your younglings dreams come to life.

You can find more information on spending a day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom here.

2.) SeaWorld Florida-SeaWorld is a great theme park for any animal lover (and children usually love animals!). Not only you can enjoy rides, shows, shopping, and games you can also have great animal encounter experiences.

3.) ICON Park Florida-ICON park is home to Orlando’s observation wheel as well as a wax museum, the Sea Life aquarium, restaurants, and shops. With a variety of activities and entertainment options there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

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So there you have it-10 inspiring family friendly destinations to add to your list for 2020. What is your favorite family friendly destination? I would love to hear from you, drop a comment below.

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Published by Melissa

Hello! My name is Melissa (or Missy). I'm a nurse by day, but my true passion is travel. I'm a part time traveler, travel blogger, and photographer. Travel blogging allows me to share my experiences and knowledge with you as well as allows me to share in your experiences and learn from you. View all posts by Melissa