Picking the right vacation with a baby is hard; you want to have fun (and maybe your older kids too) but big vacations might be too much for a baby. Luckily, there are plenty of best family vacations with babies!
Don’t feel obligated to vacation if you have a new baby. I often skip out on vacations if my baby is too young because it makes traveling harder and babies don’t enjoy themselves. Once we have a better schedule, heading on a vacation is a great way to relax and make fun memories with your baby.
Here are some of my favorite vacation ideas with a baby.
7 Best Family Vacations with Babies
Need some inspiration for your next family vacation? Here are a few of my favorites.
1. Staycation
Vacationing with an infant for the first time is intimidating, so you might decide to have a staycation instead. Don’t discount staycations; they are so fun! You don’t have to do any long road trips or pack all of the gear for a week-long trip.
Check out local hotels that are within a one to two-hour drive. This is the perfect distance for an infant. Look for a hotel with a nice pool inside; you might find one with a kids’ club if you have older kids or an on-site restaurant (plus a spa for you).
Another idea is to stay home and visit local sites. Check out somewhere new everyday, or hang at home and order take-out food every day. Vacations don’t have to be fancy or expensive; they’re meant for relaxing.
2. Great Wolf Lodge
Almost every kid out there likes to swim and splash; babies included. The Great Wolf Lodge, when compared to other chains like Kalahari, is more little-kid friendly. If I only had older kids, I would go to Kalahari, but Great Wolf Lodge is an adventure house for little ones.
This resort offers dozens of different water splash areas for kids of all ages; your family will play all day. There are restaurants included, so you don’t have to leave. They even offer food packages, so you pay for all of the food upfront. Great Wolf Lodge has characters that roam around talking to kids, story times, shows, arcades, bowling alleys, and more. It’s no wonder that parents consider it one of the best family vacations with babies.
Plus, since you’re inside, you don’t need to worry about sunburn!
3. An All-Inclusive Resort
Even though you have an infant, it doesn’t mean you don’t want an exotic vacation. All-inclusive resorts make life a lot easier, but you will have to fly with your infant to the location. Many resorts include cribs for free and offer other items for rent, making traveling much easier.
Look for resorts that offer a nursery or babysitters; some charge an extra fee. Others have infant programs along with activities for older kids. These allow parents to enjoy the nightlife while ensuring that their child is safe and happy.
There is an abundance of all-inclusive resorts but few in the United States. Check out Riveria Maya, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Punta Cana, and other similar places to find resorts that work for your family.
4. Cruising
Cruising has most of the benefits of visiting an all-inclusive resort but on water. You get to see multiple destinations and enjoy a luxury ship; the ship is a vacation. You don’t even need destinations; cruise ships have so much to do!
Do your research before you book a cruise. Many have a minimum age that is allowed to sail and a price for infants. Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean are the top three cruise lines for families.
Many cruises offer baby gear like cribs and baby services. Some provide diapers to the infants, making it one less thing that you need to bring with you. If you want babysitters, make sure you see if they offer that; some even have strollers and bottle warmers! Without a doubt, cruising is one of the best family vacations with babies.
5. Washington, D.C.
Heading to the capital city is an easy weekend getaway with babies. You might envision visiting Washington, D.C. as boring, but it has tons available for families. It’s easy to navigate, and there are miles of hiking and biking trails along the Potomac River.
One of the most famous hotels in DC is the Willard InterContinental Washington. It has a kid’s concierge service that provides parents with microwaves for warming bottles, diapers, and more.
All of the Smithsonian museums are free for visitors; you can fill a whole day or two in museums! Georgetown has a beautiful waterfront park where kids can splash and watch the ducks. Take a dinner cruise up the Potomac River to see the Potomac River. There is so much that you can do with kids in Washington, D.C.
6. Beaches
If you live within driving distance to a beach, every family loves a beach vacation. Pack up your beach gear essentials for your baby and head out. Some of our best family vacations with babies have been to beaches.
In general, beaches are an affordable option for families. It’s significantly cheaper than Disney World or all-inclusive resorts.
Babies don’t need fancy vacations. You can make it as expensive or cheap as you want; babies don’t care!
Pick a hotel that is beach front so the walk to the ocean isn’t as long. Set up your canopy and spend the day splashing in the waves and soaking in the rays. Babies love the beach as much as adults!
7. Gatlinburg, TN
Too many people write off Gatlinburg because it’s not a beach vacation, but who says you HAVE to go to the beach for a vacation? Gatlinburg is a kid-friendly location that kids and adults both love.
I suggest renting a cabin. You’ll find cabins with hot tubs and baby gear included to make your life easier. Find one that is within driving distance to everything that you want to do.
A few kid-friendly activities in Gatlinburg include:
- Visiting Ripley’s Aquarium
- Check out Dollywood
- Visit the Smith Morning Variety Show
- Visit Ober Gatlinburg
- Bird and animal watch
Start Traveling!
Don’t be scared to travel with an infant or kids. Try some of my tips to make travel easy with kids and pick a destination that everyone in your family loves.
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