Best Places to Go for a Short Break with the Family

Are you planning to take the family for a well-deserved break but have no idea where to go? Then, refer below for a list of the best places to go for a short break with the family. These family-friendly destinations offer fun activities for all ages, not to mention long swathes of golden sands where the kids can play while the adults work on their tan! 

Aviemore, Scotland

Aviemore is one of Scotland’s best places for a short family break. Set within the stunning Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore has numerous attractions that appeal to all kinds of families. From visiting the Forest Adventure Park to skating at the Aviemore Ice Rink, Aviemore is the perfect place for a short break with the family. 

The Landmark Forest Adventure Park is the best place for fun family adventures. It has rope trails for all ages, from the Tarzan Trail for older kids to the Wee Monkey Trails for the little ones. Aside from the rope trails, the park has a tropical butterfly house with exotic flowers. For adventurous kids, take them to go ice skating at the Aviemore Ice Rink, where your kids can learn to skate and enjoy fun discos and wild snow parties. 

Families who love wildlife should visit the Highland Wildlife Park, where you can discover exotic and endangered animals in a gorgeous highland setting. The park has been the shelter of the UK’s first polar bear. You’ll also come across snow leopards, tigers, macaques, and more.

Palma, Majorca

Majorca has long been a popular holiday destination for fun family breaks. The island offers numerous family-friendly activities, from splashing in a waterpark to exploring nature reserves on a horse. What’s more, there are plenty of holiday rental opportunities in Majorca that are equipped with child-friendly amenities, allowing for a relaxing family break with the kids.

Take the kids to Aqualand El Arenal, a fun water park boasting adventurous and relaxing activities for the whole family to enjoy. With numerous waterslides, including one with a steep drop, Aqualand is a haven for adventures. Katmandu Park is another exciting park to take your kids to. It has several thrilling rides and fun attractions suitable for all ages, including an upside-down house and 4D experiences.

Admire the breathtaking views of unspoiled nature at Cabrera Island, a national park home to fine white sand beaches, offering fun snorkelling opportunities. Getting to the island requires riding a ferry from Colonia de Sant Jordi, a small resort town south of Mallorca. For something a little different, enjoy a horseback ride by the beach. You can enjoy this activity at Rancho Cala Mesquida.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

When looking for family-friendly cities to take your kids for a short break, Amsterdam may not be the first place that comes to mind. However, if you decide to take your family here, you’ll find that it offers many fun things for families, even those with little kids. You can cycle around the city, visit flower parks, or explore child-friendly museums. 

Visit Vondelpark, a massive 50-hectare park of scenic ponds and flowery lawns. It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic, away from the hustle and bustle. Kids will have plenty to enjoy here since there are various play areas and bicycle and skateboard rental facilities. Another fun attraction to take your kids to is the De Gooyer Windmill, an octagonal windmill built in 1725. It’s one of the Netherlands’ tallest windmills, a great spot to take photos. 

Amsterdam is home to many fantastic museums. Most of these are child-friendly, such as the NEMO Science Museum, a science centre where your kids can learn about extra-terrestrial life and Science-related stuff. The Madame Tussauds wax museum is another museum you should take the kids to. It features wax figures of Dutch royalty and other famous personalities.

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Whether you’re looking to enjoy fun outdoor activities or perhaps try a UK glamping holiday, Pembrokeshire is an ideal place to go on a short family break. It’s home to beautiful parks, playgrounds, and wildlife parks where kids can have incredible encounters with wild animals. 

Visit Castell Henllys Iron Age Village to travel back to the Prehistoric Age, where kids can dress up like Celtic warriors. Set in a 30-acre woodland at the heart of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, it offers fun activities for adults and kids alike, such as meeting a local tribe and discovering unique culture. Folly Farm is a beautiful place for exciting wildlife encounters in Pembrokeshire. It’s an enormous zoo home to hundreds of different animals that your kids can pet and feed. 

Pembrokeshire is famous for its lovely beaches. If you want to spend your family break at the beach, head to Poppit Sands, a vast beach backed by sandy dunes. It has smaller waves, an ideal place for kids who want to learn about surfing. The other beaches worth a visit in Pembrokeshire are Newport Sands, Whitesands Beach, and Broad Haven.

London, UK

London is a massive city to explore and may be overwhelming to navigate, especially if you’ve got little kids in tow. But the city is full of fascinating sights to delight kids of all ages. You will find lovely parks, world-class museums, fantastic playgrounds, and many other things to entertain adults and kids. 

The best way to explore London with the family and visit many attractions is through a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, where you’ll ride a bus that stops at the various attractions all over the city and get off whenever you want to. Some places that the bus will take you to include Hyde Park, Queen Elizabeth Gate, Trafalgar Square, Tower Hill, etc. The London Eye is one of those attractions families with kids should visit. It’s a massive Ferris Wheel, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city above the Thames River. 

Another place your kids are guaranteed to love is the Sea Life London Aquarium, where you can admire incredible marine life exhibits and enjoy fun activities like feeding the stingrays. A visit to London won’t be complete without checking out Buckingham Palace. Take your kids on a self-guided tour of the palace to check out the ornate gardens and staterooms.