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