The Safest International Vacation Destinations for Families
According to Nancy Schretter, founder and managing editor of the Family Travel Network, some 100 to 115 million trips every year include children. Family travel is booming, but that doesn’t mean parents don’t feel the pressure and overwhelm to deliver on a safe, fun and highly memorable vacation experience for their kids. Consider expanding your childrens’ cultural horizons, perspective and food by traveling abroad. Researching the best options for your next family vacation doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start by choosing a safe international destination to forge lasting memories.
Japan
Tokyo currently ranks as number one for safest cities in the world with more than 13 million people calling it home. Tokyo is a wonderland for adults and kids alike with attractions like Disneyland, Hello Kitty at Sanrio Puroland, the appropriately named Ninja Town, LegoLand and more. But if big city attractions aren’t really your family’s speed, you can look to the world’s third safest city of Osaka.
Osaka, still a world-class city in its own right with more than two million people, offers a Modern Transportation Museum with trains and airplanes that delights kids. The city is also home to a towering Ferris wheel, one of the largest aquariums in the world, and Universal Studios Japan. Osaka is also a quick train ride to Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto boasting over 2,000 temples and shrines, a nature walk and Monkey Park in the hills of Arashiyama.
Canada
The Reputation Institute’s Country RepTrak measures country’s reputations based on levels of trust, esteem, admiration and respect. Canada routinely ranks high on the list for its polished reputation and trustworthiness. Get to know the country by stepping outside the urban centers of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver and head to tranquil Saskatchewan.
Ideal for nature loving families, Saskatchewan allows ample opportunity to explore the western red lily meadows and woods and go birding to look for the sharp-tailed grouse. Try Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park for its sandy beaches or fish for Rainbow trout at Lake Diefenbaker. Rent a boat at Duck Mountain for a day on the open waters. You will need a Canadian boating license known as a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, but you can find out more on securing one online before you go.
Iceland
Iceland’s homicide rate never reached above 1.8 per 100,000 population on any given year between 1999 and 2009, according to a Global Study on Homicide by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Police are also unarmed unless they serve on a special Viking Squad task force and there are few drugs like cocaine in the country.
Kids will delight in the midnight sunshine during summer months when the sun virtually never sets. Night time tours are common as sun blazes down on tourists. Take the kids for a dip in geothermal waters, hop on a dog sled or go whale watching. Iceland is also famous for its elusive settlement of elves, dwarfs and mystical creatures called “Hidden Folk.” Take the kids on a folklore tour to see if you can spot these mystery creatures on a Hidden Worlds Tour.
