We love to travel with the Gremlin and Little Piglet, but they always seem to have so much energy! It’s why we need a romantic getaway every now and then. As the girls are growing older, we will be looking towards more active family holidays, to get the adrenaline pumping and wear them out – gone are the days of sitting by the pool all day drinking cocktails! Here are five perfect destinations if you too are looking for an active family holiday.
Costa Blanca, Spain
If your little daredevils like to climb, Costa Blanca’s abundance of limestone sea cliffs and mountain crags are exactly what you need! If you don’t fancy attempting it yourself, you can enjoy the sunshine with a glass of sangria, waving to your offspring as they tire themselves out.
Paradis Plage, Morocco
This area really is paradise! A private beach where you can explore the mountains and the water, from paddle boarding and surfing to mountain biking and kayaking, there is something for everyone. There is even a kids club where your little ones can enjoy crafts and games while you relax in the spa – perfect!
Terelj, Mongolia
This is a bit of a hidden gem, but Terelj in Mongolia is known as “the Switzerland of Asia”, according to 1Cover, and your active family can relax in a traditional yurt after spending your days hiking, horse riding and trying your hand at archery! It may not be the most mainstream place for a family holiday, but it is a fantastic option.
Klarälven river, Sweden
Sweden is a great destination for many reasons but for your little water babies, paddling down the calm Klarälven river will be the biggest! A slow 2 km per hour, this is the best way to start them off with canoeing, especially if they (or you!) are a little apprehensive. The local area is fantastic too, with villages and forests to explore, and animals such as beavers and swallows to spot.
Portugal
The stunning Portuguese landscape is ideal for adventures with your family. In between enjoying delicious food and hanging out at the beach, you can also try surfing and kayaking, abseil from a bridge and mountain bike to a lagoon. You’ll need a holiday to recover from this one!
Or, if all else fails, head to a good old British holiday park and make the most of the various activities on offer there. The money you’ll save in flights can be spent renting canoes and taking part in high-wire climbs. Places such as Centre Parcs really cater for active families of all ages, although, of course the weather is always a risk!
As much as we all like to believe that our children would love to see important relics such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Acropolis, they are more likely to remember what you do on a holiday. You can sneak some sightseeing in too of course, but when they get back home, they will probably be talking about the zipline they did, or how they learnt to shoot a bow and arrow.
Let me know in the comments where your favourite places are for an active family holiday!
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
I would have the agree that activities matter most than sightseeing. The kids will surely have a blast sharing about what they did during the trip. My son would not even stop talking about hitting his first target with a bow and arrow.