Family vacations are a cherished tradition—but let’s be honest, pleasing everyone from toddlers to teens can feel like solving a travel-sized puzzle. One-size-fits-all rarely works when your three-year-old wants snack breaks every ten minutes while your teenager is chasing adrenaline highs. For Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of IAAPA and a father of two, this is all too familiar. “As a father of two daughters,” Wahl shares, “I know how hard it is to strike the right balance between fun and feasibility.”
So, how do you plan a trip that keeps everyone smiling? Start with your kids' age. Their needs—and their sense of wonder—shift with every growth spurt. Here’s how to match your destination to their world.
For Toddlers: Gentle Thrills and Storybook Magic
Toddlers live in a world of texture, color, and imagination. Parks like LEGOLAND® Resorts and the adjacent Peppa Pig Theme Park were practically built with this age group in mind. Whether you're splashing in safe water zones or building tiny brick masterpieces, these spaces invite the youngest travelers to safely explore their world.
“These parks create an environment where little ones can safely explore, play, and engage in their favorite stories,” says Wahl.
Peppa Pig Theme Park—right next to LEGOLAND® Florida—offers miniature rides and bubbly splash pads. Meanwhile, DUPLO® zones at LEGOLAND® are a toddler’s dream, filled with hands-on play that fits tiny hands and big imaginations.
For Elementary-Aged Kids: Adventure and Curiosity Collide
Grade-schoolers thrive on activity and discovery. It's a golden age for exploring science centers, national parks, and immersive museums. From scavenger hunts at natural landmarks to Junior Ranger programs, these experiences offer education disguised as adventure.
Parents can create balance by planning a rhythm: one day of structured outings and one of open-ended play. Letting kids choose a daily activity gives them a stake in the fun—and a boost in engagement.
For High School Teens: Autonomy and Adrenaline
Teens want one thing above all: freedom. Not total freedom—but just enough to feel like their vacation is theirs, too. Theme parks that lean into tech, thrills, and edge-of-your-seat excitement deliver this beautifully.
Cedar Point in Ohio—known as The Roller Coaster Capital of the World—offers high-octane rides like Steel Vengeance and the highly anticipated Sirens Curse, opening this summer. “This age group craves independence, adventure, and experiences that feel more grown up,” Wahl says.
In Orlando, teens can ride the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, visit immersive movie-themed lands, or even explore the Kennedy Space Center’s astronaut training simulators. Beyond the rides, lake activities, and indoor skydiving, give older kids a taste of autonomy, with parents still nearby.
A Vacation That Grows With You
Every age brings new joys—and new travel needs. Toddlers want comfort and color. Kids crave learning and leaping. Teens? They want thrills and trust. The real magic happens when a trip reflects who your child is at this moment.
“The best trips aren’t always the biggest,” Wahl reflects. “They’re the ones where everyone feels seen.”
And that’s the heart of age-smart travel: planning for presence, not perfection.
