Searching for the perfect family-friendly trip that will have something for everyone?  Look no further. I’m sharing five great family-friendly destinations with you. I will include why they are family friendly, my top tips and the best time to visit each one.

Montreal, Canada

When I visited Montreal with my family, we mostly just ate and shopped. However, if you have children, there are so many things to do.  I suggest the Montreal Science Centre, The Montreal Planetarium and Oasis Immersion, which is a projection park similar to the famous TeamLab.

Speaking French is not necessary. Most people that I came in contact with spoke English.  However, if you do learn a few French words, those you meet will be happy to converse with you.

Montreal is further north than the U.S. This means the weather may get cooler earlier than you would expect. And it may warm up later than you would expect. Last time I was in Montreal I had to stay extra days because there was an ice storm in April. Concentrate your travel to the warmer months. I would not go during the late spring or fall to avoid unpredictable weather.

St. Paul’s Bay, Malta

Two years ago, I spent two weeks with my family in Europe. We stayed in the city of St. Paul’s Bay, located on the island of Malta.  Malta is located below Italy, though it is a completely separate country.

There are plenty of things to do with your family on the island of Malta. St. Paul’s Bay is home to the Malta National Aquarium. You will also find the Buģibba Water Park. Search out the Buģibba Perched Beach. This is a man-made beach, as Malta’s natural coastline is very rocky and not ideal. Another popular attraction is Popeye Village. This was the former set of the 80’s Popeye movie and has been turned into a small amusement park.

Take a day trip to the city of Valetta. It is a 30-minute bus ride from St. Paul’s Bay. Taste a bit of the history of the island. Marvel at the beautiful ancient architecture.

You do not need to speak Maltese to get around. (It really is sad that it seems to be a dying language.) 99% of everyone you will speak with, speaks English with near native fluency. If you decide to rent a car, keep in mind that they drive on the left side of the road. Most roads are narrow and people drive fast.

Visit during the off-season to save money. I visited in October and things were slowly winding down. However, I didn’t find any issue with things being closed. If you’re wondering what to buy when you visit Malta, check out my blog post “The Best Things to Buy in Malta.”

Seoul, South Korea

If you’ve read the blog for any length of time, you would know that I like traveling to Korea. However, you may not know that the first time I traveled to South Korea I was with my family. For your family-friendly trip to Seoul, I recommend seeing the modern side of Seoul as well as the Seoul of the past.

Lotte World is a famous theme park and one of Seoul’s most famous landmarks. The COEX Mall is a large mall located in the Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul.  It has something for everyone and includes an aquarium.

Once you have seen some of current Seoul, step back in time and visit the Jongno area. It includes the famous Gyeongbokgung Palace and historical Bukchon Hanok Village. If you want to get into the Gyeongbokgung Palace for free, rent the traditional Korean outfit called a hanbok.  Keep in mind that the palaces are not open 7 days/week. I learned this when I went to the palace dressed in my hanbok and it was closed.

Do not expect to converse with many people in English. However, the major signs will be in English. This means you should not have a hard time navigating public transportation. Large tourist areas have people stationed there to help tourists and these people do speak English. If you rent a car, keep in mind that people drive rather fast in my opinion. This includes buses as well. You will also be sharing the road with many delivery motorcycles.

I have visited South Korea in both the springtime and during the fall season. I was told that the summers are brutal. I believe this, since the first time I visited, in September, it was still extremely hot and humid.  I have friends who live there who have told me the winters are not only cold but also damp. This means, I recommend visiting in the springtime. It’s just starting to get warm, so the weather will be comfortable. Plus, you will be able to experience the Cherry Blossom season. For tips on what to purchase while you’re in South Korea, check out the post “What Are Unique Things to Buy in South Korea?”

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

For this destination, I can only speak through the lens of an all-inclusive resort.  The area of the resort that I stayed in was for adults only. However, the main part of the resort has lots of things for kids to do. There is a waterpark, a dedicated pool and a kid’s club. For a detailed review of the resort, check out my post all about Ocean El Faro.

I used JetBlue Vacations to book my trip, and I was able to save a lot of money by bundling everything. I suggest bundling your airfare and accommodations, but I’m referring to using the airline you are flying with. I don’t have experience using an outside company such as Expedia.

I was able to leave the resort on a couple of occasions. There is a small tourist shopping area located on the main road near many of the resorts in Punta Cana. The prices were reasonable and you are able to haggle.

The Dominican Republic has warm weather all year round. However, it will be cheaper in the off season. Check out my post on “The Best things to Buy in Punta Cana.”

St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

I recently spoke about St. Kitts and Nevis in a previous post about genealogical travel. This destination was one of my first international trips as a teenager. I’m going to focus on the island of Nevis, which is the smaller island of the two.

If your family loves the beach, then this is a destination that has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. There is also the Museum of Nevis History, where you can learn about Alexander Hamilton. Then travel to the Nevis Artisan Village where you can see how batik fabric is made. The Nevis Equestrian Center allows you and your family to ride horses.  Don’t forget about the Botanical Gardens in Nevis.

Something unique about both St. Kitts and Nevis is that they have monkeys. Don’t get too close to them, as they are wild. The official language is English, so you won’t have trouble getting around. The island is a former British colony, so most things will be in British English. They also drive on the left side of the road, as in the U.K.

Visit St. Kitts during the slow season to save money. This is July through November. The weather will be warmer, however there will be fewer people at the beaches and restaurants.

Have any of these destinations piqued your interest?  Where can you picture you and your family visiting soon?