| A vacation for kids need not be the same | | | | catamarans are suitable for families and for |
| every year. Always look for fresh ideas to | | | | young children. Do ensure that your children |
| surprise your kids. Encourage them to learn a | | | | are supervised at all times for their own |
| new skill, to acquire new knowledge or simply | | | | safety. Remember to clothe your kids with |
| let them have some unique experiences for | | | | warm clothing, bring a hat and apply some sun |
| each vacation. Here are some simple ideas for | | | | screen lotion. Have a good time experiencing |
| an extraordinary vacation for your kids. | | | | an aquatic adventure that your kids will |
| | | | remember for a lifetime ! |
| 1. Accommodation Fun | | | | |
| | | | 5. Children's Museum |
| You need not always head for a hotel for your | | | | |
| vacation. Stay overnight at the zoo with the | | | | The children's museum is always a child's |
| zoo's snooze program. Kids will enjoy the Zoo | | | | delight. Meant for kids, it offers a myriad |
| Snooze Program which often includes an | | | | of activities and hands-on opportunities for |
| up-close animal encounter, craft activities, | | | | them to unleash their creativity and |
| night tours and games. Alternatively, join | | | | imagination. A children's museum is usually a |
| the aquarium's overnight program ! It is a | | | | nonprofit institution. You can help the |
| rare chance to explore the aquarium after | | | | Children's Museum by making a donation of |
| hours, and you can get to participate in a | | | | time, money or services. Different museums |
| variety of activities organised by the staff. | | | | will have different themes and galleries |
| With an expert guide, you may get to visit | | | | ranging from physical and natural sciences, |
| the aquarium's behind-the-scenes areas and | | | | history, world cultures and the arts. Check |
| the food-preparation area to learn how the | | | | the events calendar and find out the featured |
| animals are cared for and fed. If your kids | | | | programs of the museum. |
| love animals, why not plan for a farmstay ? | | | | |
| Have them engaged in interesting farm | | | | 6. Learning Journeys |
| activities such as milking the cows, | | | | |
| collecting eggs, feeding out the hay, riding | | | | Vacations are great learning journeys. Take |
| on a tractor and watching sheep dogs at work. | | | | the opportunity to acquire new knowledge or |
| Your hosts may also bring your family for a | | | | learn a new skill during your next vacation. |
| farm walk or organize some sidetrips, guided | | | | You can learn to dive with sharks at the |
| tours or fun activities such as scuba diving, | | | | aquariums or swim with the dolphins, learn |
| trekking and forest walks. Don't forget to | | | | how to snorkel at the reefs or surf at the |
| bring a little gift to thank your hosts for | | | | beaches. Plan a visit to factories and learn |
| their warm and kind hospitality. | | | | how cheese and jam are made, or simply have |
| | | | fun watching demonstrations at the ginger |
| 2. Great Rail Journeys | | | | factory and honey factory. |
| | | | |
| There are many great rail journeys around the | | | | 7. Enjoying Festivals |
| world. Sit back and relax. Enjoy the | | | | |
| spectacular and breathtaking scenery which | | | | Every country has her own festival |
| the trains will happily bringing you. Many | | | | celebration. By being part of the |
| rail companies are now having interesting | | | | celebration, it allows you to gain a better |
| activities for children on board. Kids may | | | | understanding of the diversities of cultures |
| get an activity book, which has a variety of | | | | and their practices. Why not plan your |
| cut and paste, and colouring activities. | | | | vacation to coincide with some of the |
| Sometimes, special activities such as games | | | | festivals of your desired destination ? |
| and video shows are featured at designated | | | | |
| cars in the train. Kids will be delighted to | | | | 8. Themepark Fun |
| know that there are menus specially for them | | | | |
| as well. Usually, families with kids will be | | | | Themeparks are always a draw for kids. |
| entitled to priority boarding. Babies and | | | | Remember to observe the safety precautions |
| infants under 24 months usually travel free | | | | and rules of the themepark. Not all rides are |
| provided that they do not occupy a seat; | | | | suitable for children as some have age or |
| while children are often entitled to child | | | | height restrictions. You can obtain |
| discounts. Otherwise, look for family passes. | | | | information on the available kids rides from |
| | | | the website of the themepark. Remember to |
| 3. Scenic Adventures | | | | dress comfortably. Protect your family from |
| | | | the sun with sunscreen and headgear, even on |
| Do you know that there are many scenic places | | | | cloudy days. Don't forget to drink plenty of |
| which are part of the UNESCO sites ? Take | | | | water and have a fun day at the themepark. |
| time off to admire the beautiful creation of | | | | |
| God, who is the maker of heaven and earth for | | | | 9. Appreciating Nature |
| your next vacation. Many of these sites are | | | | |
| mountains, reefs, islands, or national parks | | | | Even if your kids are not flower lovers, they |
| where kids can have a wonderful time roaming | | | | will not be able to resist a landscape of |
| around and feeling the breathe of nature. | | | | flowers blooming in their smiles. Plan a trip |
| Kids will love the gondola rides to the | | | | to the magnificent gardens to have a better |
| mountain tops; or fish, dive or snorkel at | | | | knowledge of the plants, flowers and trees. |
| the amazing reefs, or have a fun time | | | | Some gardens have seasonal highlights for |
| trekking at the national parks. You can even | | | | spring, summer, autumn and winter; while |
| camp overnight with your kids at some | | | | others have a blooming calendar identifying |
| national parks ! For a comprehensive list of | | | | the varieties of flowers in bloom for |
| the UNESCO sites, you can visit the UNESCO | | | | different seasons. You may wish to print out |
| website for more details. | | | | the pictures of the flowers from the website |
| | | | and get your kids to colour them during the |
| 4. Wildlife Fun | | | | trip. Bring your kids to the interactive |
| | | | botanical play zone or the children's garden |
| Kids love wildlife ! There are many ways to | | | | for a time of play. Alternatively, enjoy a |
| enjoy wildlife. A visit to the zoo is a good | | | | guided tour at the garden. |
| start. Check the events calendar of the zoo | | | | |
| and do not missed the animal shows. Animal | | | | 10. Unique Experiences |
| shows are always interesting and often | | | | |
| include audience participation games, keeper | | | | Always make your vacation a fun trip for your |
| chats and animal demonstrations. There are | | | | kids. Give them plenty of opportunities to |
| also zoos which allow kids to touch, pat or | | | | explore and discover with all their senses. |
| cuddle the animals. Then, plan a trip to the | | | | Allow time for them to reflect about the |
| aquarium. Enjoy their training sessions where | | | | journey. Other unique experiences which you |
| you can watch the aquarists feeding and | | | | may wish to consider for your vacation |
| training the sea animals. Why not encourage | | | | include helicopter rides, glacier walks, |
| your kids to be a zoo or aquarium keeper for | | | | skiing, or take a trip to the sky with a hot |
| a day ? Another way of getting to know | | | | air balloon ride. |
| wildlife is to embark on a wildlife cruise. | | | | |
| Observe animals such as whales, dolphins, | | | | The above are just some simple ideas for an |
| penguins as well as other sea birds in their | | | | extraordinary vacation for your kids. There |
| natural habitats. Usually, the cruise is | | | | are definitely more places for you to explore |
| fully narrated by a skipper who has a wealth | | | | and discover a new adventure for your family. |
| of knowledge of the wildlife. Majority of the | | | | Have a happy and blessed vacation. |