tours for family

10 Best Tour Companies for Family Tours in 2024

Family tours are a fun and hassle-free way to see the world with your kids in 2024..

The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours

The best family vacation ideas create the kind of formative memories that stay with kids all the way into adulthood. But planning those memorable family travel adventures can be exhausting, especially when simply trying to choose a restaurant for dinner can ignite bickering. That’s why parents often choose family tours, which eliminate almost all the hassles from the vacation planning process.

When you travel on guided family tours, you get knowledgeable leaders privy to locals-only spots and hidden gems you’d probably never find on your own. They handle all the tedious details and decisions before you depart and organize everything during your trip, freeing you to simply have fun. Guided family tours almost always include accommodations and at least some meals for the ultimate in vacation ease.

2024’s Best Family Travel Tour Companies for Group Tours and Private Tours

While family group tours are not for everyone, they’re a great option for families who enjoy mingling with others as they explore the world. Here are my most highly recommended picks for 2024’s best family tour companies operating in popular family vacation spots in the U.S. , Europe , the Caribbean , and around the world.

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1. Adventures by Disney

Disney and families go together like milk and cookies, so it’s no wonder  Adventures by Disney  (ABD) is a leading provider of family tours. Adventures by Disney offers more than 40 family adventures to destinations on all seven continents. Most of ABD’s tours for geared toward families, but the company does offer a few adult-exclusive itineraries as well. Adventures by Disney’s guided family tours are led by knowledgeable Disney-trained trip leaders called Adventure Guides, who take care to every detail and ensure a memorable vacation from start to finish. 

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You can expect Disney’s trademark magic to shine through with special activities for children, exceptional service, and VIP experiences such as up-close photos with the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, sailing past polar bears in the Arctic, and horseback riding in the shadows of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. After your first trip, you’ll be eligible to join the company’s Adventurer Insiders program for special savings on trips throughout the year. 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Adventures by Disney

• Average guided tour group size:  30 people.
• Price category:  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Disney-trained Adventure Guides, family-friendly accommodations, transfers, most meals, and gratuities for housekeeping, drivers, and waitstaff.
• What’s not included:  Airfare, alcohol unless specifically noted, and gratuities for your Adventure Guides.
• Primary audience:  Families.
• Destinations:  More than 40 destinations across all seven continents.

2. Family Tours from G Adventures

Tour operator G Adventures  believes travel can change the world, and its family guided tours aim to open the world to kids by introducing them to diverse people and cultures. The company also offers exclusive tours in partnership with National Geographic, which means adventure-loving families with children age seven and older who are interested in wildlife, photography, and geography can book a  National Geographic Family Journey with G Adventures to places like Iceland, Morocco, and Alaska.

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G Adventures has a range of small group tours for families to suit most travel styles and ages, including hard-to-please teens and tweens. Most trips blend must-see destination highlights with meaningful cultural exchange. Enthusiastic guides are hand-selected for their desire to work with families.

Quick Facts about Family Tours with G Adventures

• Average guided tour group size:  12 people.
• Price category :  Moderate.
• What’s included:  Accommodations and some meals.
• What’s not included:  Airfare.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are generally appropriate for ages six and up.
• Destinations:  More than 750 trips in 100+ countries across all seven continents.
• More tours: 10 Best G Adventures Tours to Take in 2024

3. Family Tours from Trafalgar

From family tours to foodie adventures to safaris, Trafalgar has an itinerary to fit your style. All of Trafalgar’s tour directors have at least three years of road experience, and many have been with the company for decades. Tours cover all accommodations (typically four-star hotels) and most meals, activities, and transportation during your trip. One-of-a-kind experiences such as dining with locals, sleeping in a castle, and VIP entry to iconic sights sweeten the deal. 

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Children as young as five are welcome on Trafalgar’s travel tours for families. Notably, Trafalgar also offers single-parent vacations . From meeting a real-life cowboy in the American West to experiencing life as a gladiator in Rome to letting your inner Harry Potter loose in England, the company’s family vacations provide adventure for all ages. ( Read our full Trafalgar review here .)

Quick Facts about Family Travel Tours with Trafalgar

• Average guided tour group size:  40 people.
• Price category:  Moderate.
• What’s included:  Accommodations, daily breakfast, many meals,   luxury coach transportation, Wi-Fi in most countries, airport transfers, and luggage handling.
• What’s not included:  Airfare.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are generally appropriate for ages five and up.
• Destinations:  All seven continents, with kid-friendly trips to Europe, Britain, and the American West among the most popular options for families.
• More tours: 10 Best Trafalgar Tours to Take in 2024

4. Intrepid Travel’s Family Tours

Responsible, experience-rich travel is a mission at not-for-profit  Intrepid Travel , with small group trips geared to young adults, women, solo travelers, active travelers, and families. On its family tours, groups are made up of three to five families from all over the world, plus a guide. Many participants have an interest in the preservation of indigenous cultures, climate education, and conservation, so fast friendships with like-minded participants tend to develop quickly.  

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Personal connections with locals are an integral part of the Intrepid experience: Kicking a football with Massai tribesmen in Kenya, learning about indigenous cultures in Costa Rica, and baking bread from a traditional recipe with a Berber family in Morocco are just a few examples. Family trips prioritize kid-friendly hotels with swimming pools and activities like riding in a tuk-tuk through the streets of Bangkok or searching for wildlife with a wolf tracker in Yellowstone National Park. 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Intrepid

• Average guided tour group size : 12 people.
• Price category:  Budget.
• What’s included:  Accommodation, local transport, and some meals.
• What’s not included:  Airfare, travel insurance, and tips.
• Primary audience : Middle-age females and solo travelers, though families are well represented; some tours are geared specifically towards families.
• Destinations : More than 1,000 trips to 100 countries across all seven continents.

5. Luxury Family Tours with Abercrombie & Kent

Group tour operator Abercrombie & Kent  pioneered the concept of luxury small-group travel more than 60 years ago, and today the company continues to lead the pack with small group journeys to more than 100 countries and on all seven continents. Highlights include wildlife safaris to Kenya and Tanzania, history-focused trips to Israel, and Peruvian explorations to Machu Picchu. On family tours with Abercrombie & Kent, a Resident Tour Director remains with the group throughout, facilitating a richer understanding of local customs. He or she is assisted by specialized local guides who encourage guests to take a meaningful dive into immersive insider experiences.

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Your tour price includes everything from meals to activities to hotels, which are high-end properties suitable for discerning guests. Mid-journey laundry service, luggage transfers, and Internet are also included. Participants are often Gen X and baby boomer couples. The company’s luxury family itineraries to places like Costa Rica and the Galapagos are timed with school breaks . 

Quick Facts about Luxury Family Travel Tours with Abercrombie & Kent

• Average guided tour group size:  14 people.
• Price category:  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Inter-itinerary flights, accommodations, luggage transfers, meals, mid-journey laundry, activities, and expert guides.
• What’s not included:  Airfare to and from your destination, though a flight concierge is available 24/7 to assist with airline delays.
• Primary audience:  Gen X, boomers, and multigenerational families.
• Destinations:  More than 100 countries across all seven continents.

6. Butterfield & Robinson’s Family Tours

Guided tours with Butterfield & Robinson often include biking and hiking, though you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy strolling a serene country lane or pedaling an e-bike on a flat path. The company’s family adventures cater to children as young as eight and are designed and test-driven by actual parents to prioritize a balance of family togetherness and adults-only time . Families with older kids will also find special itineraries for traveling with teens and young adult children. A walking trip in Peru or biking in Cambodia and Vietnam allows your family to bond in a whole new way.

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The presence of other young people creates the opportunity for peer friendships to blossom, though all of the company’s family tours leave room for independent activities and cultural experiences, so you’re not tethered to the group. On Butterfield & Robinson trips, accommodations are curated to fit the region you’re visiting; you’ll never stay at a cookie-cutter chain hotel. And while meticulous planning goes into each trip, you can expect impromptu pit stops and last-minute simple pleasures that make travel so worthwhile. 

Quick Facts about Family Travel Adventures with Butterfield & Robinson

• Average guided tour group size:  10 people.
• What’s included:  Accommodation, meals, wine/drinks, and guides.
• What’s not included:  airfare, pre- and post-trip accommodation, and travel insurance .
• Primary audience:  Butterfield & Robinson’s family tours are geared toward active travelers who want to dig deeper into a destination.
• Destinations:  55 countries across six continents.

7. Family Tours with REI Adventures

If you love fresh air family adventures that celebrate America’s rich natural beauty,  REI ‘s guided family tours will fit like a glove. Kayaking, hiking, and biking in the U.S. are their specialty. There are typically two guides on every trip, and they know the secret swimming holes, the primo selfie spots, and exactly what species of bird is singing in the early morning. The guides do it all from prepping meals to sharing information about wildlife. 

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REI offers trips for hard-core adventurers, solo and female travelers, and active families. Travelers with children ages eight to 17 may select small group adventures specifically for families, like hiking in Yosemite National Park, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, or trying a treetop aerial challenge course in the Great Smoky Mountains. Guides on family tours are trained to keep kids engaged. On some trips you’ll camp under the stars in comfy tents (your guides will set up the tents); on other trips you’ll sleep in comfortable lodges. REI members receive a discount, as do children. 

Quick Facts about Family Travel Tours with REI Adventures

• What’s included:  Camping gear, meals, and national park fees.
• What’s not included:  Transportation to the trip’s starting point.
• Primary audience:  Family tours are geared toward kids ages eight to 17 years old.
• Destinations:  Eight states including Wyoming, Alaska, and California.

8. Road Scholar

Not-for-profit  Road Scholar  trips attract lifelong learners who are keen to plunge beneath the surface rather than just skim it. The company caters to baby boomers and seniors, with programs for skip-gen vacations (grandparents and grandkids traveling together) and multigenerational vacations (grandparents, parents, and grandkids traveling together). These trips present multiple opportunities for adults and kids to learn together. But while incorporating learning into a family vacation can be a welcome benefit, the kids will be having so much fun they may not realize how much knowledge they’re absorbing. 

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All of Road Scholar’s family tours have two group leaders who know how to appeal to varying ages, interests, and attention spans. They take care of logistics while local instructors add expertise on a range of topics. Mount Rushmore and the Badlands ,   whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon , and  discovering iconic landmarks in Paris  are some of the most sought-after family itineraries . 

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Road Scholar

• Average guided tour group size:  22
• Price category :  Moderate 
• What’s included:  Accommodations, most meals, hands-on experiences, gratuities throughout the program, and the Road Scholar Assurance Plan
• What’s not included:  Travel to and from the program and trip cancellation insurance 
• Primary audience:  Baby boomers and seniors, including grandparents traveling with their grandkids
• Destinations:  150 countries and all 50 states in the U.S.

9. Tauck Bridges

Family-owned  Tauck  has been offering epic guided vacations for nearly 100 years. In 2003, the company launched its family travel tours called Tauck Bridges , which are designed for family travelers of all ages (parents with kids, skip-gen trips for kids with grandparents, all three generations traveling together, etc.) with 20 itineraries in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Highlights include exploring the Alps, listening to Irish music, and viewing slot canyons in the American West.

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The distinguishing factor of these family tours is they’re created with an eye toward engaging all generations so that everyone in the family will have a great time. Tauck’s trip guides are known for their personal touch and have expertise in local customs, traditions, flora, and fauna. Meals and hotels are always top-notch.

Quick Facts about Family Tours with Tauck Bridges

• Average guided tour group size:  35 people.
• Price category :  Upscale.
• What’s included:  Gratuities, sightseeing and admissions, most meals, airport handling, luggage transfer, and taxes.
• What’s not included:  Airfare and adult beverages.
• Primary audience:  Tauck’s family tours cater to multiple generations traveling together.
• Destinations:  More than 100 destinations in 70+ countries across all seven continents.

10. Family Travel Adventures with Austin Adventures

Tour operator Austin Adventures  forged its reputation by specializing in tours to America’s national parks, and the company remains an expert in this area. Its guided group family trips are ideal for anyone who gravitates towards hidden gems and the lesser-known side of national parks. If you book a trip to Yellowstone, for example, of course you’ll watch Old Faithful erupt—but you’ll also hike a semi-secret trail. Activities such as rafting and zip lining up the fun factor for kids.

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Guides are first-aid certified, and with a 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, there’s plenty of time to chat and get acquainted. The guides on family tours, some of whom are teachers during the school year, know how to plan kid-friendly activities that allow parents time to relax. All but one meal is included, presenting the opportunity to have an evening on your own or perhaps with newfound friends. Austin Adventures offers popular family tours to bucket-list destinations like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and New Zealand.

Quick Facts about Small Group Family Adventures with Austin Adventures 

• Average guided tour group size: 12 people.
• What’s included:  Meals and snacks except for one dinner, any necessary equipment and gear, and accommodations.
• What’s not included:  Airfare to your destination, gratuities for guides, alcoholic beverages, and one dinner.
• Primary audience:  Its family tours are best enjoyed by active families.
• Destinations:  21 countries in North America, Europe, South America, and Africa.

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Family Travel

Tauck Bridges trips are designed for family travelers of all ages and generations to enjoy together. From celebrating different cultures and traditions, discovering natural wonders and learning about history firsthand, these trips help build bridges of understanding between young and old, locals and travelers, all over the world. They are also designed to include interactive experiences that not only invite everyone's participation, they're lots of fun for every age and generation!

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Celebrating 20 years in enriching guided family travel

  When we launched Tauck Bridges in 2003, we had one goal in mind: to craft guided family-oriented trips that every age and generation would enjoy experiencing together. Shared enrichment is the watchword of our family brand and each of our trips is designed to show families the world differently than anyone else.

Unlike travel companies that offer separate programs and activities for kids and adults, our family guests experience the fun together, not apart. Each journey is led by a dedicated Tauck Director hand-picked for their experience with family travelers and for their passion and expertise in travel. They take care of all the day to day travel details of every trip, even tipping, so that families are free to experience the joys of travel without any of the work– or the worries.

Fully planned and all inclusive

With a knowledgeable Tauck Director leading the way, everyone can feel like a kid again. Enjoy activities designed for family fun and shared enrichment, as you experience the essence of the destinations you explore together.

Memorable Experiences

Imagine visiting the Louvre and the Sistine Chapel, after hours, without crowds. Or snorkeling with seals near tropical islands time forgot. You can ride gondolas, vintage Fiats, horses, and a special Ice Explorer; flightsee over an Alaska mountain and Lake Powell; and learn to waltz in a private Viennese palace. All included and all awesome to experience with your family.

Milestone Moments

From birthday, anniversary and graduation celebrations to family reunions for the whole clan, Tauck Bridges marks the occasion with unforgettable experiences and meaningful moments you'll long remember.

Closer Connections

Travel has a way of bringing the world closer, bridging generations and cultures like few experiences can. To foster connections with the people and places of the destinations your family will discover, you'll cook with chefs, saddle up with cowboys, meet schoolchildren in Peru and the Maasai in Tanzania, and more, sharing memories that last lifetimes.

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Family-friendly adventures & stress free travel

Just because you’ve had kids, doesn’t mean your traveling days are over. We’ll take you to the best family vacation spots and beyond, with family-friendly stays and experiences that will spark the joy of travel, make real connections, and excite the whole family.

Adventure for all ages

Our family getaways feature experiences that keep everyone happy, from little ones to teenagers and adults. Visit the Harry Potter highlights like Platform 9¾, sail around the Greek Islands, become a medieval archer in Ireland or an archery pro in England, learn how to make (and eat!) pizza in Italy, or go ziplining on the slopes of a volcano in Costa Rica.

Enriching experiences

Inspire your family’s sense of adventure and watch your children light up with wonder. The best family vacations are full of pinch-me moments, like staying in an ancient castle in Wales or a ranch in the Wild West of America. Learn about wildlife conservation in Costa Rica, experience life on a family farm in Ireland, or learn about Roman history by transforming into a gladiator!

Taking the stress out of travel

With all the logistics and must-do experiences covered, the only thing you need to worry about is having fun, together. Expect quality stays, luxury transport and plenty of meals included - and that means a whole lot of full tummies and happy faces. Our expert Travel Directors unlock the magic of travel at every turn, so you can focus on making memories and exploring the world together.

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How can i travel with my family on a budget.

With kid-friendly accommodation, meals and transport included on our family vacations, you can easily stick to your budget and focus on having fun. We also include all the must-do experiences, and let you know all the optional experiences before your family tour, so you won’t be hit with any surprise costs.

What's the best family vacation destination?

Family friendly vacations can be found all over the world, from the outback of the United States to the jungles of Costa Rica to the islands of Greece. Some of our favorite family vacation spots include Italy, Switzerland, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and the United States.

What are good family trips?

The best family vacations include adventures that are fun for the whole family. We love family beach vacations to places like Greece and Costa Rica, historical adventures like experiencing life as a gladiator in Italy, and nature trips like boarding an Old West train to the Grand Canyon.

Why is family travel important?

Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers. From grandparents to kids, everyone will learn new skills and discover a world of cultures and new ideas while spending precious time together, like only family vacations can bring. Your journey will also inspire a sense of wonder and connection for all, and we think that’s one of the most valuable things you can have in life.

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USA Family Tours & Vacation Packages

Let TourRadar take the hassle out of finding a trip for the whole family. With 590 tours of USA lasting from one day up to 25 days, you're sure to find a great family-friendly adventure. Looking beyond USA? See all family holidays .

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Alaska Family Journey: Wilderness Explorer

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National Parks Family Journey: Yellowstone and Grand Teton

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7 Day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Camping Tour

It was a wonderfully beautiful tour! The guide Hogan was a perfect guide and driver! Thank you very much!

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

7 day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Tour

Fantastic tour ,good pace,daily great hikes,seen a lot without feeling pressed,knowledgeable,attentive guide,highly recommand.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Family Holiday

Western USA Family Holiday

Majestic Alaska (10 Days)

The trip was a once in a lifetime experience with so much packed into just a few days. There are some things that I thought should have been done differently but overall the trip was amazing.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Hawaiian Explorer (8 Days, Intra Tour Air Hilo To Kahului)

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The trip was great! The tour director and the driver both were very knowledgeable.

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Fall Colours of New England (10 Days)

Loved all the places and Scott and Patrick the driver were excellent. Would definitely do again.

Best of the West (12 Days)

This was a fast but nice tour and Dave was a good guide. Only in LA i thought we should have had more time but it was perfect for a Solo Travler

Spotlight on South Dakota featuring Mount Rushmore & The Badlands (2024)

Good itinerary; I would have preferred to not drive up to Belle Fourche as it meant we had only 30 minutes at the hotel before leaving for dinner. But the rest of the itinerary was very good. Was not pleased with Kol restaurant: service poor and food not good, All other meals, though not gormet were fine and the regional entertainment was good and fun. Loved the time we were able to spend at the Badlands, Mt Rushmore and Custer SP. Brenda is wonderful.

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Reviews of usa family tours.

We thoroughly enjoyed the 7-day tour of the US southwest . We love the destinations included in the tour, every place we visited is on our bucket list. I wanted to pinch myself every day that I visited those iconic and beautiful places as shown in my photos below. We enjoyed all the extra, optional experiences that were suggested by the tour guide. They added more fun to the tour. The Hummer tour in Moab, Utah was one of the optional experiences and it was a blast! Not only it’s fun, you get to see the amazing scenery during the sunset. One previous review mentioned he or she was forced to participate in the Navajo taco dinner in Monument Valley. That comment is not true. You have a choice not to do that and the guide can make a different arrangement for you. The optional Navajo taco dinner is one of the highlights of the tour that we will remember for a long time. It would be a shame not to have this cultural experience when you get to meet Navajo people when you are in the Navajo Nation! Our tour guide, John did a fantastic job. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. He kept the tour well organized and always provided information we needed. We highly recommend the tour.

What a lifetime experience everyone needs Jun 2023 • Solo Within 7 days, we drove in 3 states, visited 5 national parks / 2 state parks, hiked 60 miles, made friends from 7 different states/nations, and eventually traveled through the iconic Route 66 back to Las Vegas. What a lifetime experience everyone needs Day 1 - Zion National Park Day 2 - Bryce Canyon National Park Day 3 - Canyonlands National Park Day 4 - Arches National Park Day 5 - Monument Valley Navajo Nation Day 6 - Grand Canyon National Park / Antelope State Day 7- Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas via Historic Route 66 AMAZING!

It was an awesome tour. Saw and did so much. I would recommend Trafalgar to tour with. We are booked next year for The Colorful Trails of the SW in September. I want to say our tour director,Tyler Browning, is one of the best guides we have had. He is personable, friendly, caring, very knowledgeable and on top of everything. He is GREAT!

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North America

Central america & caribbean, south america, north africa & middle east.

Few travellers make it to this icy continent, but the lucky ones who do get to explore a frozen Eden ruled by the elements and teeming with wildlife.

G Adventures Land

G adventures sailing & cruises, g adventures private travel.

Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

The Geluxe Collection

Our new line of premium active adventures is officially here. With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations and elevated dining, this is adventure at its finest.

National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

National Geographic Family Journeys

Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

Jane Goodall Collection

Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of 20 wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

Roamies by Hostelworld

The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

Why choose us

As the leader in small group travel for 30 years, we know how to do it right: flexible itineraries, freedom to roam, safety, peace of mind, and locally based guides.

Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

Trees for Days

Leave your destination even greener than you found it! For every day on tour, we’ll plant a tree in your honour and ensure that our forests get to live their best lives.

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Family Tours

Family trips built for adventurers of all ages.

Just because you’ve settled down and had kids doesn't mean your adventuring days are through. Family tours explore exciting locales — Tanzania, Thailand, the Galápagos, Peru Europe and more — with age-appropriate activities and hotels that know how to cater to families on the move.

A new line of trips for adventure-loving families in search of a meaningful way to discover the world together.

A big world, brought down to size

Family edutainment.

Family trips introduce kids to the inner workings of other cultures through language, sports, crafts, and time with experts that bring what they’ve learned in school into real life.

The more the merrier

The average Family group consists of about 12 people, typically three or four families from all over the world and with kids around the same age as yours.

Small travellers, big fun

If one family member isn’t having a good time, nobody is. We give each Family tour a Recommended Age rank so parents can tell if it'll be a good fit for their kids before they go.

Together, the Robertses discovered a new theme park: "Thailand"

As working parents, Dan and Hayley are all too aware that the time they have together with their kids is at a premium. They were in the market for something special; an experience they could all enjoy that would also broaden the horizons of their sons Keir and Tigne. They were looking for an experience that all four of them would remember for the rest of their lives. They found it in a place they never suspected: on a Family trip through Thailand.

Watch the Roberts' story

“ We went to this little village in Thailand where people grow their own food. Our CEO showed us how to separate the rice from the husk so it can be turned into food. It was cool to see how the food we ate got from the ground to our plates. ”

The Robertses discovered a new kind of theme park: Planet Earth

Learn now, appreciate forever

Travelling is the perfect way to open up a child’s world to possibility and wonder. Powerful experiences lead to new interests, and exposure to different cultures, languages, and environments helps the kids of today become the responsible, well-rounded adults of tomorrow. Our Family trips deliver a seamless mix of adventure and education that’s so much fun they won’t even realize they’re learning something the whole time. 

“ Our group had kids from Canada, Germany, and Australia in it, which was pretty cool. It was great to have kids who weren’t my brother to hang out and do stuff with. ”

Pen-pals for life

One of the advantages of group travel is the diversity of people you get to share your experience with. Family trips are a great way for children to meet and interact with other kids from around the world who are close to their own age and share common interests. It’s not uncommon for families who meet on our trips to stay close after the trip ends; some even make the experience an annual tradition. 

Built just for families

“ We’ve got two kids of different ages and completely different interests, so finding a trip that we could all get something out of was a challenge. I thought it was wonderful that our trip had activities that we could all do together, as well as some tailored to the ages of the kids in our group. ”

Built for families

Travelling with the family is an adventure unlike any other, in all sorts of ways. Kids often have wildly different needs than adults, which is why we don’t just adapt our grown-up itineraries for smaller travellers. Little things like age-appropriate activities, hotels with amenities designed for families on the go, and CEOs that think like kids and adults alike are just a few of the things that set our Family trips apart. We believe that everyone deserves to have the time of their lives, no matter how old they are.

See it how the they saw it

The Robertses explored the wonders of the Thailand with us for just 12 days, but the memories they made will last them the rest of their lives. What will your kids remember? Start making better memories today.

Trips built for adventurers of all ages

Just because you've settled down and had kids doesn't mean your adventuring days are through. Family tours explore exciting locales – Morocco, Thailand, the Galápagos, Vietnam, and more – with age-appropriate activities and hotels that know how to cater to families on the move.

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Travel with your family to unforgettable worldwide destinations. Backroads family vacations include adventures like biking past castles, hiking beneath waterfalls or kayaking pristine waters. Family-friendly group travel provides quality time together and apart, as well as an instant group of new friends for everyone. Discover why Backroads is the leader in family adventure travel.

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Embark on an Unforgettable Experience with Your Loved Ones

Met Museum Tour for Kids with Skip-the-Line Tickets

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Turkey Family Holiday with Teenagers

8 days from 1700.

Exploring Turkey’s coast with your teenagers, visiting ruins in Xanthos, hiking...

Italy Family Holiday

8 days from 2960.

From the ruins of Rome, to the ancient city of Pompeii and the seaside delights of...

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Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Finnish Lapland Winter Family Holiday

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Northern Italy Family Holiday

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Best of Italy Family Holiday

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Crete Family Holiday

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Take a family trip to sunny Crete, Greece’s largest island. Sail, swim, hike and take...

Why choose Intrepid

Just for families

The clue’s in the title. These trips are for families only (including any aunts, uncles or cousins who’d like to come along, of course). As long as you’re travelling with a child under the age of 18, you’re a family in our eyes. Plus, unlike other travel companies, children aged 17 years and younger receive a 10% discount off the price of their trip.

Travel with other families

Travelling the Intrepid way is a bit like travelling with a group of friends. These trips are made up of 3–5 like-minded families, and the kids tend to hit it off straight away, allowing you to enjoy some well-earned R&R. We often find the whole family ends up making friendships with people from all over the world, staying in touch long after the adventure ends.

Small group sizes

Intrepid’s family group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some out-of-the-way places, but big enough for a good social mix. Our average group size of 10 allows us to hop aboard local boats, buses or trains, eat at friendly, family-run restaurants and kick back in traditional accommodation and homestays.

Action packed

We know the biggest challenge on a family trip is keeping the kids entertained. So we’ve planned in advance. Nearly all of our hotels feature pools, and each day has a great mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time. Your local leader can also suggest activities based on your kid’s hobbies or school curriculum.

Safety first

Our leaders are specially trained to run family adventures, so you’re well taken care of. You can also rest easy knowing we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy. 

Sustainable travel

We strive to use travel as a force for good. That’s why we choose to give back to the communities we visit, carbon offset all our trips and take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid Travel, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet.

Highlights of Europe

Incles Valley, Andorra

Sandwiched in the mountains of Catalonia and the South of France, Andorra is the prettiest little European country your kids have never heard of. A week of biking, hiking and white-water rafting culminates in the Incles Valley, where wildflowers, trout fisherman and a mesmerising lake deliver the photo opportunities.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Nothing says ‘Holiday in Europe’ like the postcard-perfect cliffs of the Amalfi Coast. While the adults are lured by ancient Pompeii and the quality of the seafood scialatielli , little ones bask in the novelty of the funicular, hydrofoil or kayak. You can even make your own gelato with an Italian ice-cream pro.

Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Iceland is pretty hot right now, both literally and metaphorically. Reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius and set in a black lava field, the Blue Lagoon is not your ordinary bath. Great for the skin and perfectly set up for a family visit, it’s one of Iceland’s many must-visits.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Other than being the birthplace of the world’s coolest dogs, Dalmatia is where large chunks of Game of Thrones was filmed. Throw in flawless beaches, ancient ruins, wineries, olive groves, rustic Dalmatian cuisine and some old-world romanticism, and you’ve got the ideal family holiday.

Fun and games in Europe

Be a gladiator in Rome, Italy

Step back into Imperial Roman times and master the basics of gladiator combat. An excursion to a Gladiator School has you decked out in full costume – tunic, belt, gloves and sword – as you try your hand at this legendary pastime. Meanwhile, members of the Historic Group of Rome will school you in Roman history.

Tour a donkey farm in Croatia

The Peljesac peninsula is one of Croatia’s most talked-about gastronomic hotspots. Visit a working donkey farm in Ston for a behind-the-scenes look at how donkey milk – a precious commodity for its medicinal properties – is produced. Follow it up with a lunch of sumptuous Peljesac cuisine in the accompanying restaurant.

Explore the Postojna Caves in Slovenia

Underground caves with dance arenas in them aren’t something you see every day, but that’s Slovenia for you. The Postojna Caves are the second-longest cave system in the country, full of eerie karst stalactites and all kinds of halls and galleries. This awesome labyrinth can also be explored by train.

Where we stay

For our continental adventures, we like to stay in small, locally run hotels where hospitality is key and family-friendly facilities are available. Fortunately Europe has plenty of beautiful old buildings and character-filled properties to choose from.

Learn more about our accommodation

Scenic guesthouses in Iceland

In the land of fire and ice, spectacular scenery is never far away. At our guesthouses it’s right on your doorstep. Featured on both our summer and winter Iceland family holidays, this place has volcanic cliffs on one side and ocean on the other, plus sheep and horses roaming about for good measure.

Central hotels in Italy

In the popular holiday hotspots of Italy, location is key. That’s why we stay in central accommodation perfect for each destination, whether it’s just a two-minute walk from the beach or a stone’s throw away from Old Town.

Read our Family FAQs

Read more about europe.

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Family trips

There's no trip like a family trip. When your family joins one of our group tours, you'll enter a new world of unforgettable educational experiences together.

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We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest-free, monthly installments.

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about .

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

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What travelers are saying about their family trips

3 benefits of family group tours.

Traveling with family is a great way to make lasting memories. Here’s why taking your family on a group tour is even better.

You can experience other cultures together Family tours will bring you closer together in ways you couldn’t imagine. There’s simply no better way to experience other traditions than with the people who created yours.

There’s no stress When you go on a guided family tour, everything is planned for you—from transportation to activities and even most meals. We do all the work, so you can have all the fun.

It’s not just your family Family trips with Go Ahead Tours mean your family will be a part of a larger group tour. If you'd rather keep it all in the family, you can also  book private family group tours  for seven or more.

Frequently asked questions about our family travel packages

While all of our tours are family friendly, Italy, England, France, Greece, and the U.S. National Parks are our most popular destinations for families. Here are a few family friendly vacations that we recommend:

• London, Paris & Rome: You can see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, visit Versailles Palace, explore the Colosseum, and drool over delicious pizza and pasta together.
• The Greek Islands: Relax together in Mykonos, see the stunning coastline in Santorini, and learn all about the characters of Greek mythology like the Minotaur and Zeus.
• A City Stay tour: Live like locals. Our City Stay experiences offer families the chance to go at their own paces, while having access to a guide whenever they need it.

Read more about these three family friendly vacations .

When planning a trip with family, it can be hard to find a time that works for everyone. That ’ s why we offer a variety of week-long, escorted family tours, including:

• A Week in Switzerland, Germany & Austria
• A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Cork & Galway 
• Venice, Florence & Rome
• Costa Rica: Rainforests, Volcanoes & Wildlife

Any tours highlighted on this page are great tours for families. Some of our best family-friendly tours to Europe include:

• London, Paris & Rome
• The Greek Islands
• German Heritage Tour
• A Week in Ireland
• Highlights of Scotland & England

If you’re coming from the U.S. and looking at family travel packages to other countries, yes. However, if you’re looking at our family friendly vacations to  U.S. National Parks  or our  Wild Alaska Cruise , you’re in the clear. If you’re traveling from Canada to the U.S, you will need a passport. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

None of our tours are specifically for families, but you are always welcome to bring your family on them! Whether you’re traveling with your cousins, parents, children, or grandchildren, our tours are perfect for families of all kinds. Just know that children must be at least 7 years old to travel with us, and some tours may not have other families on them. Learn more about our private and customized tours .

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase prior to your tour, online, or over the phone, as well as on tour.

Know where you want to travel?

See the latest from our travelers @goaheadtours.

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• All-Inclusive Vacations

10 Best All Inclusive Family Tours for Teens

Oct 16, 2015

See recent posts by Lissa Poirot

Have a teen, or — gasp! — two? What to do on a vacation where they will enjoy themselves and and actually want to spend time with you? Consider a tour operator that specializes in teen travel, particularly with adventure-filled getaways or cultural vacations that will broaden your child”s mind. While tour groups may seem expensive, consider they include transportation, guides, meals and lodging. Some of the more upscale tour operators even provide four- and five-star accommodations. Tours are kept small, so you”re not packed into buses with hordes of people following a heavy itinerary. Instead, you”re getting the help you need getting to and from places that require a little finesse, as well as help pleasing ever-finicky teenagers. Here are some tour operators with specialized family programs.

Written by Lissa Poirot

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Our Favorite Family Destinations Across the U.S. for 2024

Hikes, museums, and train rides await, from hawaiʻi to new york and beyond..

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Our writers have taken their families to New Mexico, New York, and Kaua’i this year.

Travel changes when you have kids, but it doesn’t have to end; you just need to factor in a few more needs and opinions than before. Thankfully, the United States is packed full of must-visit destinations for the whole family, where parents and children alike can have a great time. I’ve personally enjoyed roaming southern California with my brood, exploring forests, sea caves, and snowy mountains in Sequoia National Park, La Jolla, and Big Bear, respectively.

We asked a bunch of our contributors who wrangle children as well as words for their family travel memories across the country—and their recommendations for 2024 and beyond. Your next family adventure starts here.

Kids will remember the watery spray of Niagara Falls and the contours of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum in New York State.

Buffalo, New York

My husband’s family lives in Buffalo, New York, and I’ve been visiting the city annually for more than two decades. But I’ve only learned how kid-friendly it is in the past few years. Our two-year-old son, Julian, loves romping around the seven interactive play zones—including a pretend car wash and a splashy water exhibit inspired by the Erie Canal—at the sprawling Explore & More Children’s Museum . We ride the whimsical, hand-painted ostriches and giraffes on the Buffalo Heritage Carousel , a century-old merry-go-round now fully powered by the sun; twirl among the painted branch sculptures at the Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center ; and sample new foods at the recently expanded West Side Bazaar , a nonprofit food hall that highlights cuisine from Egypt, Myanmar, Congo, and beyond. While Julian is too young to appreciate Buffalo’s iconic architecture (including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House ), we love building our own towers in the LEGO-centric Creative Commons lab at the newly reopened Buffalo AKG Art Museum . Then, of course, there’s Niagara freakin’ Falls—it will leave you so utterly gobsmacked, silencing even the fiercest toddler tantrum.

Where to stay

The 88-room Richardson Hotel inhabits the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane on the landmarked Richardson Olmsted Campus , designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (of Central Park fame). Its spacious suites have vaulted ceilings and enormous windows, but it’s the colorful tiles in the mile-long hallways that form the ultimate toddler runway. —Ashlea Halpern, contributing editor

Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

The Twilight novels shined a spotlight on the small town of Forks, Washington , depicting its gloomy climate and casting it as the ideal hiding spot for sun-fearing vampires. What the books failed to capture, however, is the sublime beauty found nestled among the rainforests, waterfalls, and hot springs of the enchanting Olympic Peninsula.

As a preschooler, my son delighted in splashing in the ocean as it lapped against the craggy coastline, and later, as a burgeoning hiker, he tested his limits while clambering over felled Douglas fir trees to earn a coveted Junior Ranger badge . The Pacific Northwest keeps bringing my family back for new adventures, and with nearby Mount Rainer joining the ever-growing list of popular national parks instituting a reservation system in 2024, Olympic remains blissfully open to explorers of all ages—even those adverse to advance planning.

Calling us to visit this year is the Tree of Life , a seemingly magical tree that suspends itself in midair. With the ground beneath it having eroded, the tree’s roots are now exposed, leaving no soil to keep it secure. It’s only a matter of time before the Tree of Life comes tumbling down, and we’re hoping to catch sight of this magnificent phenomenon before it’s gone—and perhaps snap a photo with the “Welcome to Forks” sign on our way through town.

Camp alongside towering Sitka spruce at one of several national park campgrounds , or nestle into comfier digs at the scenic Lake Crescent Lodge . Or, for those seeking upscale accommodations with a rustic chic design, try Olympic Lodge by Ayres , located in the charming town of Port Angeles . — Amanda Adler

Sante Fe offers indoor and outdoor fun—and the famous Meow Wolf immersive art space.

Photo by Ritu Manoj Jethani/Shutterstock

Santa Fe, New Mexico

This New Mexican city can make you feel as if you’ve traveled abroad without the need for a passport, thanks to a strong Indigenous history and connection with Mexico. Explore indoor and outdoor attractions like Bandelier National Park , which contains preserved ancestral pueblo dwellings; the Museum of International Folk Art , which includes the Tree of Life play area; the small Georgia O’Keefe Museum ; the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market ; and the Santa Fe Reptile & Bug Museum , which has a new location housing live animals and natural history exhibits.

When we visited Santa Fe, our whole family had a blast exploring the incredible interactive installation that is Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return , a massive and ever-changing adventure inside an old bowling alley. Be sure to also book a ride on the Sky Railway , which offers themed rides on two fantastically painted trains that make their way between Santa Fe and Lamy as riders enjoy entertainers, music, storytelling, and more. Kid-friendly dining includes the Shed for traditional New Mexican dishes like burritos, enchiladas, and tamales. We also loved breakfast at Dolina Café & Bakery , which has New Mexican breakfast burritos as well Eastern European baked goods. For a treat, stop by Kakawa Chocolate House for chocolate truffles, ice cream, or hot chocolate.

The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado recently completed a multimillion-dollar revitalization of its spacious 65 casitas, which can be stocked with baby gear and child-size robes and slippers on request. If you want to be right on the plaza in the heart of downtown, book a room at the historic La Fonda on the Plaza , which has a heated pool and a variety of rooms, some with sleeper sofas. Ask for the scavenger hunt booklet at check-in to keep kids busy. — Devorah Lev-Tov

Columbus, Ohio

As our plane touched down in Columbus from Tampa in Fall 2023, my then six year old told his sister they’d be welcomed on the ground with flower necklaces called leis . He’d somehow mistaken Ohio for O‘ahu when I told him we were going on a fall trip. But Columbus delivered so deeply on family fun that there was never a regret. In the Franklinton Arts District we hit the community festival called Franklinton Fridays (held two Fridays a month). And along the Scioto River nearby, the COSI (Center of Science and Industry) Museum had a Barbie exhibit in addition to all its hands-on science fun. From now through early September, there’s a Titanic exhibition with full-scale room re-creations from the ocean liner. In Columbus’s vibrant Short North Arts District, where the fall leaves were piled in a manner no Florida kid could resist, we devoured macaroons at a bakery and made bracelets at pop-up project Tenspace , where the interactive offerings are always changing.

We food hall–hopped, too, from the city’s 150-year-old public market, North Market , where we sampled Somali cuisine and Himalayan dumplings, to Budd Dairy Hall , where we played foosball while digging into pizza and cheesesteaks. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and its more than 10,000 animals might have to wait for our return visit. But at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens , blue morphos landed on our heads in the butterfly garden, and a nature playground beckoned in the crisp fall air outside. Streets lined with beautiful homes in German Village lured us later, with the 32 warrenlike rooms of the Book Loft and Schiller Park, with its pond stocked with rainbow trout and yet another great playground.

The Junto sits right across the street from the Scioto Riverwalk and COSI Museum and sometimes offers themed rooms reflecting visiting exhibits. (We stayed in a temporarily Barbie-themed suite during our visit, at the height of the hype.) The hotel’s cozy lobby has open fireplaces and board games you can play at big tables within a few steps of beverages for adults at the Trade Room lobby bar. And the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Brass Eye , does a great brunch with river views. — Terry Ward

Denver is an essential stop for family fun in all seasons.

Photo by Evan Semón photography

Denver, Colorado

Marrying the best of a thriving city with spectacular natural beauty, Denver is a pedestrian-friendly metropolis that’s a blast with kids and, I’ve found, especially fun for an active family. On a recent trip we enjoyed visual stimulation and storytelling during a two-hour walk through RiNo street art with Denver Graffiti Tour , and our toddler found the immersive spaces of the weird and wonderful psychedelic art experience Meow Wolf thrilling and tactile. The city’s excellent museums—including the Denver Art Museum and Denver Museum of Nature & Science —capture the attention and imagination of all ages, while outdoors enthusiasts have a slew of options for hiking, such as Red Rocks (the amphitheater is the legendary home of concerts but also summer movie nights) and quaint Golden, where we enjoyed strolling with our then-baby.

Summer 2024 in Denver includes such events as the Tennyson Street Fair (July 20) and Denver Burger Battle (August 1) while this June 1 to 2 sees the inaugural Outside Festival at Civic Center Park with a family-friendly lineup of music, adventure, wellness, film, and kids activities and programming. Additionally, the country’s first carbon-positive hotel—with sustainable design and construction by Studio Gang— Populus at Civic Center Park is set for a summer debut. As appealing as the warmer months are, our favorite time to visit is winter, when it’s an alluring place to acclimate to higher altitudes and enjoy a vibrant city before heading off to mountains like Breckenridge or Vail for snowboarding.

Four Seasons is the gold standard for optimizing the hotel experience for babies, and the Four Seasons Hotel Denver is no exception, offering families traveling with youngsters miniature robes, no-tears toiletries, gear such as small bathtubs and diaper pails and, for our then 10-month-old, a welcome snack of freshly made applesauce. For older kids, the Curtis Denver – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and its hyper-themed rooms—think Barbie, Comic Book Heroes, and Ghostbusters—are a must. — Kathryn Romeyn

Jackson, Wyoming

It’s impossible to say whether the national park gateway and Wild West town of Jackson (known to many as Jackson Hole: the name of the valley and the ski resort) is more captivating in snowy or warm months. Both are gorgeously sunny and blue-skied, ripe with experiences active and peaceful. My family’s recent trip was into a winter wonderland: My two-year-old began giddily learning to ski, all of us soaked in steamy springs at Astoria Hot Springs Park , and we spotted bighorn sheep, fox, and moose on a spectacular snow-blanketed safari with locally owned Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures . Dogsledding with Call of the WYld ‘s adorable huskies was one of the most entertaining activities we’ve ever done together and cemented Jackson, for me, as a place to make indelible memories as a family.

When the snow is gone, there’s plenty of amusement in the form of fishing and floating on the Snake River, hiking, tram and gondola rides, and the rodeo. In the warmer months, there’s always something lively happening, whether it’s the Grand Teton Music Festival or the Snow King Summer Concert Series. In June, the Snow King Observatory and Planetarium open to the public with a 24-foot AstroHaven dome, a state-of-the-art one-meter PlaneWave telescope, plus interactive galleries that should entice the space-obsessed no matter their age.

From the decor—see giant video screens at the end of each hallway playing striking wildlife videos—to the pool and large hot tub plus gratis snack and hot chocolate stations, the Cloudveil, Autograph Collection Hotels , appeals to kids and kids at heart with a luxe twist. Just off the town square, family-owned Hotel Jackson is rustic meets plush with a Lebanese restaurant downstairs and a steaming hot tub a few floors up. — Kathryn Romeyn

A trip to Kaua‘i will foster a love for the environment in kids.

Kaua‘i, Hawaiʻi

With incredible hikes, marine life, and chocolate tours, lush Kaua‘i (it’s not called the Garden Isle for nothing) is a veritable playground for families. My crew learned all about how cacao is grown, harvested, and processed, and sampled all manner of deliciousness (macadamia nuts, apple bananas, lychee, spiky rambutan, cacao nibs, truffles!) during a three-hour tour at Lydgate Farms , which has won some major awards for its locally grown, sustainable chocolate. For snorkeling, join sailing excursions with Holo Holo Charters , which monitors areas where reef fish and green sea turtles are active. The grand finale of our island time? Taking to the sky (and even managing to catch a double rainbow) with Island Helicopters for a 50-minute ride over the dramatic Nāpali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and rainforests.

Try oceanfront Timbers Kaua‘i , part of the 450-acre Hōkūala resort, along the island’s southeast coastline. Boasting gorgeous multi-bedroom digs, an on-site farm (from which pineapples and papayas are delivered to rooms), a spa (a Lomi Lomi massage is a must), a restaurant, and a stunning infinity pool, the property is pure bliss. — Tanvi Chheda

Lake County, Northern California

I live in Northern California’s Bay Area, meaning my husband and I and our two kids (ages five and seven) spend a lot of time in Sonoma and Napa Valley . But we recently discovered a lesser-known spot just north of the iconic wine regions with fewer crowds, but plenty of scenic rolling hills, lakes, hiking trails, and vineyards. On a recent visit to Lake County, we went to Six Sigma Ranch and Winery , where families can book a tour of the mountainous property in an all-terrain Pinzgauer (a hefty military vehicle the kids loved bumping around in). After, our little ones fed pigs and goats at the ranch, and then we noshed on cheese and charcuterie plates while the adults sipped tempranillo and sauvignon blanc.

There’s plenty more to do. At Anderson Marsh State Historic Park , wander through the 19th-century ranch house and barn before heading out on a nature walk through beautiful marshlands full of birds and frogs. Head to Clear Lake State Park on the shores of California’s largest freshwater lake for access to a swimming beach and more hiking trails. On the way to or from Lake County from the San Francisco area, you can take a detour toward Safari West , an African safari experience on a 400-acre private preserve where the kids can be on the lookout for giraffes, rhinos, wildebeest, and zebras. Fuel up at Oxbow Market or Gott’s Roadside on the way.

The main draw in Lake County for families is Huttopia Wine Country , a glamping concept opened by a French family in 2023. With a veritable summer camp vibe, Huttopia features 93 solar-powered wood and canvas tents with an outdoor kitchenette and barbecue grill. Many also have en suite bathrooms with showers (otherwise, it’s a shared bathroom setup). There’s a swimming pool, a main lodge with dining, concessions, games (like Ping-Pong and foosball), and activities (like arts and crafts for kids and movies under the stars). We loved that there was a playground, and you can rent electric mountain bikes. Your kids will inevitably team up with newfound friends for nature exploring. — Michelle Baran, deputy editor, news

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Best Tours in Rome for Families That Won't Disappoint! (2024)

T he Italian capital is a great city to visit with kids of all ages. Rome’s history stretches back thousands of years and the city’s ancient ruins are sure to impress the whole family. Sometimes the size and grandeur of the Eternal City can overwhelm younger kids. Luckily, many tour companies in Rome offer family-friendly tours allowing you to skip long lines, learn from enthusiastic guides, and create lasting memories. This guide includes only the best tours in Rome for families from city tours to cooking classes to full-day excursions.

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please check out our  disclosure policy  for more details. Thank you for your support!

Best Rome Tours with Kids

Free walking tours in rome italy, city walking tour.

First time visiting Rome? Traveling on a budget? No problem, the  Free Walking Tours of Rom e  is the perfect tour for you and your family.

This two-hour city tour meets at the Spanish Steps in the city center twice during the peak season. They offer morning and afternoon tours.

In the morning, your English-speaking tour guide will lead a group of no more than 20 through the historic center. Along the way, they will provide a brief overview of ancient Roman history and modern daily life.

Some of the sights you will visit date back to the Roman Empire, including the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Castel Sant’Angelo with a view of St. Peter’s Basilica.

If you take the afternoon tour, expect to explore different landmarks like an ancient Roman Aqueduct, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Imperial Forums, and outside the Colosseum.

Most major European cities offer free walking tours where you can tip your guides at the end of the tour. Due to their huge popularity, Rome Free Walking Tours requires a deposit of €1 to confirm your booking. We recommend a tip in cash or card once the tour is finished!

These cheap tours are a great way to see the highlights of a new city and welcome travelers of all ages.

Best Food Tours Rome

Pizza making class.

Booking a pizza-making class on a vacation to Rome is a no-brainer. This local, unique experience is something the entire family (and your taste buds) will enjoy! Rome4Kids Tours runs some of the best family tours in the city. They offer both private and group pizza-making classes in Rome for kids .

This one-hour workshop is located in a real pizzeria near Piazza Navona so it’s in a super central location. The class is held twice a day around lunch and dinner time. It is the perfect amount of time for the attention spans of young children. They will love learning new cooking skills in a fun, hands-on way. 

Drinks are included and, of course, you get to eat your creation at the end! 

Gelato Making Class

Everyone knows the best way to enjoy pizza is to follow it with a scoop or two of gelato afterward. Learn how to make authentic Italian gelato (different from ice cream!) in this highly-rated,  private gelato-making class .

Private classes allow the chef to give you special attention. Families will have ample time to ask questions about the gelato-making process. Everyone can wear fun aprons and chef hats and try a second gelato flavor in addition to the one you will make together.

Rome Culinary Food Tour

A walking tour of the city’s top culinary delights is one of the best Rome tours you can take, with or without kids. Secret Food Tours runs fantastic food tours all over the world. We highly recommend adding their top-rated Rome food tour  to your vacation.

Sample Roman pasta, authentic cannoli, lots of ham, salami, cheese, fresh pizza, gelato, and a signature secret dish. The company offers a private option which is a sensible idea when traveling with younger children. You can easily skip visiting coffee shops for espressos and wine pairings if you would prefer.

This tour lasts over three hours, which is great value! Another option is a tour with a private guide. This will allow you to travel at your own pace to make sure the whole family has a great time.

Twilight Trastevere Food Tour

Most will agree the best area for authentic Roman dishes and a true Rome experience is the neighborhood of Trastevere across the River Tiber. Check out this  perfect tour of the culinary scene in Trastevere at Twilight  if you’re traveling with older kids.

On this incredible four-hour tour, dine out on the best street food at restaurants like Da Enzo al 29 and ‘Spirito Divino . Expect to visit ancient wine cellars and listen to interesting stories about the neighborhood as you walk through it. You will learn how to spot fake gelato while gorging on the best gourmet scoops you’ve ever tasted.

It’s hands down one of the best tours in Rome for families with teenage kids , though children aged four and up are very welcome. You can choose the group tour option or enjoy a private tour to explore Trastevere your way!

Riding Tours in Rome

Bike ride at night.

Rome’s historical center is  huge . It’s full of incredible archaeological sites and iconic landmarks which would take you many days to explore on foot. Get out of the midday heat and save little legs by booking this cool  e-bike tour of Rome by night !

Over three hours, you can tick off many iconic spots on your Rome hit list as well as have a fun time with your family. Just some of the stops include Oppian Hill (one of the best views of Rome!), the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and Capitoline Hill.

Enjoy the sunset as well as the architecture of this beautiful city. This is one of the best Rome kids tours because they offer options for kids of all ages. You can request child seats, a trailer bike, or a child-sized bike so no one is left out.

Rome Golf Cart Tours

Another fun way to explore Rome on wheels is to book a golf cart tour for the whole family. Venture on a  golf cart tour along Rome’s Appian Way or explore Rome’s seven hills on a golf cart tour with Rolling Rome .

On a two-and-a-half-hour tour of the  Appia Antica  Roman road, head out of the crowded city and see important ancient sites. You will travel past the Aurelian Walls and the Baths of Caracalla followed by an underground tour of the Catacombs of Rome.

On the three-hour tour of Rome’s hills, you will visit over a dozen places including the famous Mouth of Truth from  Roman Holiday,  the Arch of Janus, and the Knights of Malta keyhole. Most of these spots are in or close to the historic center on top of famous Roman peaks like Capitoline, Aventine, and Palatine Hill.

Both of these tours of Rome are private. Not only are they two of the best kids’ tours of Rome, but they are both ideal if you’re traveling with older family members with limited mobility too. 

History Tours in Rome

Gladiator school.

Rome’s Gladiator School  is exactly as awesome as it sounds. We are sure your kids will be talking about this experience for years.

Known as  Gruppo Storico Romano  in Italian, your children can take part in a two-hour lesson where they will learn how to become gladiators. They will be just as fierce as those who fought in the Colosseum during the times of Ancient Rome.

Passionate child-friendly guides with years of experience will teach your kids about the history of gladiatorial fights. They are provided with armor and (wooden) weapons as instructors teach them the skills necessary to ‘compete’ in one of the ‘bloody’ games at the end of the session.

Free drinks, a small snack, and free entrance to the Gladiator Museum of Rome are included in this experience.

Sistine Chapel

Visiting the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel can be a busy, overwhelming experience for adults, let alone kids! But you can’t visit Rome with kids without witnessing the beauty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

Make the most of your visit to the holy Vatican City by booking an early morning express tour of the Sistine Chapel  or a  Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour  with Context Travel.

Both tours offer skip-the-line tickets. The early morning express tour of the Sistine Chapel is semi-private for up to six people and lasts one hour and 45 minutes. On the Vatican tour of both the museums and the Sistine Chapel, you can book the small-group or private option which lasts around three hours.

There are two of the best tours in Rome for families visiting Vatican City. You can choose the tour that makes sense for the age and interests of your kids. We promise your family will be glad you booked ahead and aren’t stuck waiting in a huge line outside in the baking sun!

Visiting Rome without a stop at the Colosseum is like visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef but not snorkeling. It has to be done! Luckily, the scale and history of this Seventh Wonder of the World are sure to impress even the most unfazed kids.

If you want to take a Colosseum family tour, there are so many great ones. This express Colosseum tour for kids  is a classic. The private family tour lasts two-and-a-half hours and includes a skip-the-line ticket, games, a treasure hunt, and prizes to engage little ones. 

Booking a private, underground Colosseum tour will give you access to areas of this ancient ruin which are usually restricted to the general. Both the  underground tour of the Colosseum  and the  underground Colosseum tour with LivTours include skip-the-line tickets.

On either tour, you can visit the underground where animals were kept for gladiator fights, all levels of the structure, access to the exhibition, and further exploration at the Roman Forum.

Visiting the subterranean burial chambers of Rome’s Catacombs is a fun thing to do with children who are intrigued by spooky and macabre places. One of the best tours in Rome for families of the Catacombs is this  private Catacombs tour .

With over 2,000 years of history underneath Rome, it is a great place to learn about Roman gods, pagan temples, and Christian crypts. There are even graves of some of the first popes in the Rome Catacombs!

This tour goes the extra mile by offering luxury transfers to the city center. It lasts three hours and since it’s a private tour, you can linger at places or skip whatever you want.

Day Trips in Rome

Only two and a half hours south of Rome, Pompeii is the perfect place for a fascinating and educational day trip. However, the hassle of renting a car and driving on windy Italian roads is no one’s idea of fun!

LivTours offers a fantastic  semi-private, small-group day tour of Pompeii  or you can book a  private day tour to Pompeii and Capua with Tours of Pompeii.

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city near Naples whose residents tragically perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. They were preserved under the ash for over a century until excavations began and unearthed this window to the past.

LivTours works with an archaeologist in Pompeii who will show you around the site and answer any questions. Tours are limited to six people and include transfers to and from Rome in a luxury van.

Tours of Pompeii also includes transfers but has an extra stop in Capua, a city north of Naples with some fabulous ruins. This is also an opportunity to visit the second-largest Roman amphitheater after the Colosseum and all the top sites in Pompeii including the Vettii House, the Baths, the Forum, and the House of Faunus. 

Ostia Antica

Do you only have space in your itinerary for a half-day tour? Viator offers five-hour  private tours of Ostia Antica from Rome . 

This ancient Roman port town is only 17 miles away from Rome. Kids of all ages (even those in strollers!) are welcome on this tour which includes hotel pick-up, a driver, and a child-friendly guide.

Check out the ancient Roman buildings in Ostia Antica including the necropolis, dye houses, cleaners, large baths, city center, apartments, and bakery!

It’s a completely flexible tour and you could easily turn it into a full-day trip. The beach is only two miles away from Ostia Antica so it’s the perfect place to enjoy a family picnic.

Enjoy the Best Tours in Rome for Families on Your Vacation

Whether you’re looking for private tours with a dedicated, expert guide or budget-friendly tours for small groups, you won’t regret booking as many tours as possible on your family vacation. They take the pressure off you to entertain and inform so that you get to be hands-off, learn something, and enjoy a fun tour too. Happy kids plus happy parents is a win-win!

Hopefully, this list of the best tours in Rome for families has given you plenty of inspiration when planning your trip to this ancient city. 

The post Best Tours in Rome for Families That Won’t Disappoint! (2024) appeared first on Kids Are A Trip™ .

'Family Guy' Season 22 Is Cancelling Christianity in Epic Time Travel Finale

Brian is using Stewie's time machine for nefarious purposes again.

The Big Picture

• Jesus returns in an epic time-travel finale for Family Guy Season 22.
• Brian falls for a religious woman and tries to go back in time to cancel Christianity so she'll sleep with him.
• The Family Guy finale promises the show's trademark offensive humor and some unexpected twists.

Our dear lord and savior returns to Family Guy in the Season 22 finale. At this point, Jesus has made so many appearances that he might just move in with The Griffins . It's been a while since he's appeared to clarify some things or respond when he's called upon, but tonight he returns in an epic time-travel episode. In an interview with TV Insider , showrunners Richard Appel and Alec Sulkin previewed the season finale, which airs tonight on Fox, and what Jesus has to do with it all.

This time around, he doesn't appear to the characters, and like when he was crucified all those millennia ago, he is seemingly innocent. His only crime is being associated with a religion that puts a damper on Brian's (voiced by Seth MacFarlane ) plans. In the "Faith No More" episode, the official episode synopsis (below) teases another one of Stewie (voiced by MacFarlane) and Brian's classic adventures.

"Brian becomes romantically interested in someone and it inspires him to use Stewie's time machine. Strange consequences result from their journey"

Brian Falls In Love With A Religious Woman

The dog is in love again. He falls in love with a devout vet technician (voiced by Mae Whitman ) and pretends to be religious himself to score with her. However, things don't play out in a neat rom-com manner, something Sulkin calls a mislead. "You go a little bit down a road with something that seems like it could be a Family Guy story, and then it turns into something else," he said.

What does a dog have to do to get frisky when his girlfriend has decided she's not having sex until marriage because she doesn't want to go to hell? For Brian, however, the answer is obvious. The dog will use Stewie's time travel tech . The goal? To cancel Christianity. How? By stopping Jesus before religion was invented and evolved to ruin his chances in the present. Stewie is not one to be left behind during a time-travel adventure, so the duo will jump back in time together.

They find themselves in medieval Israel circa A.D. 30, and they've already messed up. What can go wrong in a place and time they don't understand? And all this just so the dog can get lucky? The last time Jesus was on the show was in Episode 10 of Season 19, as Peter faced off with his mortal enemy: The Giant Chicken. It seems that we should be ready for another round of humor that will most definitely be deemed offensive , with Appel saying, “I never thought I’d hear myself say this as a writer, but the Standards and Practices department at Fox is easy to work with and pretty good with us.”

Catch the Family Guy Season 22 finale tonight on Fox. Stream past episodes on Hulu.

WATCH ON HULU

The Marley Brothers Unite For ‘The Legacy Tour’ A Historic One-Of-A-Kind Outing Celebrating Bob Marley’s Music, Influence, And Legacy

Tickets Available on Tuesday, April 16, with Artist Presales

General onsale begins on friday, april 19 at 10 am local via marleybrothers.com.

Today, The Marley Brothers – Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian – announce The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour , their 22-date run produced by Live Nation which historically marks their first outing together in two decades . The tour will commence on September 5, 2024 at Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver, BC then continues across the U.S. and Canada through the fall.

Bob Marley’s music endures as a beacon of strength, hope, and unity, attracting a growing global fanbase. For over three decades, his sons have each established themselves as renowned solo artists and collectively boast an impressive count of 22 GRAMMY® Awards , with Julian securing 2024’s win for “Best Reggae Album.”

Now reunited on The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour , they’ll honor their father’s worldwide impact by performing both individual hits and classic Bob Marley songs during a momentous year for the genre. As the world nears what would have been Bob Marley’s 80th birthday in 2025 , there’s no greater homage than experiencing his music live through his sons, who carry on his enduring influence across popular culture.

Tickets will be available beginning with artist pre-sales on Tuesday, April 16 . Additional presales including a Citi presale (details below) will run throughout the week. The general on-sale starts on Friday, April 19 at 10 AM local time via MarleyBrothers.com .

Citi is the official card of the The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour . Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 16 at 10 AM local time until Thursday, April 18 at 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com .

VIP PACKAGES:  The tour will also offer a variety of immersive VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, invitation to the pre-show soundcheck with the Marley Brothers’ band, access to the pre-show VIP lounge, specially designed VIP gift item and more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit VipNation.com .

Additionally, on April 20th, Bob Marley: One Love will expand its screenings , inviting audiences to celebrate alongside one of the most influential icons of all time. Coming off the heels of a worldwide record-breaking theatrical run and the 40th anniversary of Marley’s revolutionary album , Legend , this tour further underscores his enduring impact on the cultural landscape.

THE 2024 LEGACY TOUR DATES:

9.05 | Vancouver, BC | Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park

9.06 | Ridgefield, WA | RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

9.08 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre

9.10 | Concord, CA | Toyota Pavilion at Concord

9.11 | Chula Vista, CA | North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

9.12 |  Phoenix, AZ | Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

9.13 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater

9.15 | Austin, TX | Germania Insurance Amphitheater

9.16 | Dallas, TX | Dos Equis Pavilion

9.18 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center

9.19 | Clarkston, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre

9.22 | Queens, NY | Forest Hills Stadium

9.23 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center

9.25 | Bridgeport, CT | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

9.26 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center

9.27 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live

9.29 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage

9.30 | Laval, QC | Place Bell

10.02 | Wilmington, NC | Live Oak Bank Pavilion

10.03 | Atlanta, GA | Lakewood Amphitheatre

10.04 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp

10.05 | Miami, FL | FPL Solar Amphitheatre

ABOUT THE MARLEY BROTHERS

About Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years.  The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful songcraft.  Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity, while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing; alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.

Official Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

About Stephen Marley

Stephen “Ragga” Marley is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, and producer whose work has earned no fewer than eight Grammy Awards. Born into a musical family, Stephen is the child of reggae legends Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He began singing professionally at 6, touring the world with his elder siblings Ziggy, Sharon, and Cedella in The Melody Makers. In 2008, he released his first solo album, Mind Control, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His subsequent solo albums include Mind Control Acoustic, Revelation Part I: The Root of Life, and Revelation Part II: The Fruit of Life. Stephen’s first new full-length album in more than seven years, Old Soul, was released on September 15 via Tuff Gong Collective/UMe/Ghetto Youths International. The new album is a departure from his previous Reggae repertoire, showcasing more of his bluesy, acoustic soul side, as evidenced by the first single, “Old Soul.” Stephen is also an acclaimed producer, working closely with his brother Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley on the massive crossover hit Welcome To Jamrock. In addition, Stephen continues to champion charitable endeavors centered in Jamaica as a co-founder of the Ghetto Youths Foundation, along with his brothers Damian and Julian Marley.  In 2017, Stephen established Kaya Fest, the annual music festival, which features special guests and rare family performances, all with the larger purpose of raising awareness around the benefits of cannabis, guided by the mantra “Education Before Recreation.”

About Julian Marley

Julian Marley, born in London, England on June 4, 1975, to Bob Marley and Lucy Pounder, embraced a musical upbringing, mastering various instruments as a self-taught musician. Mentored by reggae greats in Jamaica, he released his debut album “Lion in the Morning” in 1996, followed by international tours. He contributed to Lauryn Hill’s Grammy-winning album and collaborated on a Stevie Wonder tribute. His sophomore album, “A Time and Place,” showcased a fusion of reggae and jazz. Julian spearheaded the ‘Africa Unite’ performances and performed at the 2008 Olympic Games. His Grammy-nominated album “Awake” in 2009 garnered acclaim, winning ‘Best Album of the Year’ at the IRAWMAs. Julian, deeply rooted in Rastafarianism like his father, remains committed to spiritual and global messages in his music, embodying a conscious movement in reggae.

About Ky-Mani Marley 

Ky-Mani Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, is a Grammy-nominated artist who burst onto the scene with his 1996 debut album “Like Father Like Son,” blending reggae with hip-hop. Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, he has a diverse discography including “Many More Roads” (2001), “Maestro” (2015), and a collaboration with Gentleman titled “Conversations.” Beyond music, Ky-Mani has showcased his acting skills in films like “Shottas” (2002) and “One Love” (2003). With his soulful voice and powerful lyrics, he upholds the Marley legacy while forging his own distinctive path in entertainment.

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About Damian Marley

Multi-Grammy winning talent, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley is a highly acclaimed Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer.  He is the youngest son of the revered legend, Bob Marley. His musical style fuses reggae with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, crafting a fresh and modern sound that is uniquely his own. Damian was the first ever Reggae artist to win a GRAMMY AWARD® outside of the Reggae category. The acclaimed 2005 breakthrough disc, Welcome To Jamrock , won a GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album, with the New York Times naming the track “the best reggae song of the decade.” In 2010, Marley teamed up with Nas and brother Stephen Marley for his Distant Relatives project, and went on to partner with Skrillex for their groundbreaking track “Make It Bun Dem,” which Rolling Stone called “a monster mash-up of dubstep and dancehall.” Which went platinum with over 1 Million copies sold in the United States alone. Following the track’s success, the reggae superstar released his fourth studio album, Stony Hill , resulting in his third GRAMMY AWARD® for Best Reggae Album. In September of 2022, Marley produced the studio album, The Kalling, for Kabaka Pyramid which won Best Reggae Album at the 65th Annual GRAMMY AWARDS®. Most recently, “Jr. Gong” released his rendition of the famed George Harrison track, ‘My Sweet Lord.’. The track got the stamp-of-approval by George’s beloved wife, Olivia, as well as the George Harrison Estate. Damian is the co-founder of the renowned Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise, which is gearing up for its 9th annual.

ABOUT LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ziggy Marley

Michelle Rodriquez | [email protected]

Damian Marley

Carleen Donovan | [email protected]

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Stephen Marley

Meg McLean Corso | [email protected]

Ky-Mani Marley

Tanya Moore | [email protected]

Julian Marley

Reggie Kerr | [email protected]

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Ana Bárbara to Celebrate 30 Years in Music With U.S. Tour: ‘It’s a Family Celebration’

The 30-plus dates trek is being produced by Reventon Promotions and EDIM Talent in a joint effort.

By Griselda Flores

Griselda Flores

Senior Editor, Latin

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Mexican star Ana Bárbara is set to celebrate her three decades in music with a 30-plus dates tour that will kick off Aug. 2 in Reno, Nev. Called the Reina Grupera Tour 2024, produced by Reventon Promotions and EDIM Talent in a joint effort, the stint will make stops in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta and other major cities across the United States before wrapping up in Chicago on Nov. 16.

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All the u.s. tours from latin artists announced for 2024 (updating).

Since launching her career in the ’90s, she’s racked up 16 hits on the Regional Mexican Airplay  chart and 12 on  Hot Latin Songs . Earlier this year, Bárbara was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Premio Lo Nuestro, where she dedicated her award to Mexican women and Mexican music.

“The idea for this production is to have a great impact because it takes us back to this era where the woman with boots and sombrero was not the common denominator, but from day one I felt very proud of my roots and that pride is what is going to be projected in the production along with the music,” she said.

Tickets will be available for general sale on April 19 at 10 a.m. local time via reventonpromotions.com  and  anabarbara.com . See Ana Bárbara’s Reina Grupera Tour 2024 dates below:

• Aug. 2 — Reno, Nev. — Silver Legacy Resort- Grand Exposition Hall
• Aug. 3 — Santa Rosa, Calif. — Luther Burbank Center
• Aug. 9 — Seattle — Moore Theatre
• Aug.10 – Portland, Ore. — Newmark Theatre
• Aug. 17 — Santa Barbara, Calif. — Arlington Theatre
• Aug. 18 — San Jose, Calif. — San Jose Performing Arts
• Aug. 23 — Bakersfield, Calif. — Fox Theatre
• Aug. 24 — Oxnard, Calif. — Oxnard California Performing Arts
• Aug. 30 — Anaheim, Calif. — City National Grove
• Aug. 31 — Fresno, Calif. — Saroyan Theatre
• Sept. 6 — Tucson, Ariz. — Linda Ronstadt Hall
• Sept. 7 — Mesa, Ariz. — Mesa Arts Center
• Sept.12 — Yuma, Ariz. — Quechan Casino Resort
• Sept. 13 — Cabazon, Calif. — Morongo Casino
• Sept. 14 — Las Vegas — The Pearl Theatre
• Sept. 27 — Houston — Arena Theatre
• Sept. 28 — McAllen, Texas — McAllen Performing Center
• Oct. 4 — Hadden Township, N.J. — The Ritz Theatre Company
• Oct. 5 — New York — United Palace
• Oct. 6 — Boston — Lynn Auditorium
• Oct. 11 — Charlotte, N.C. — Ovens Theater
• Oct. 12 — Atlanta — Center Stage Theatre
• Oct. 13 — Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
• Oct. 18 — San Antonio — Majestic Theatre
• Oct. 19 — Austin, Texas — Paramount Theatre
• Oct. 24 — Wichita, Kan. — Orpheum Theatre
• Oct. 25 — Albuquerque, N.M. — Kiva Auditorium
• Oct. 26 — El Paso, Texas — The Plaza Theatre
• Nov. 1 — Los Angeles — Youtube Theater
• Nov. 2 — San Diego — The Magnolia Theatre
• Nov. 8 — San Juan, Puerto Rico — Coca Cola Music Hall
• Nov. 9 — Orlando, Fla. — House of Blues
• Nov. 15 — Minneapolis — Orpheum Theatre
• Nov. 16 — Chicago — Rosemont Theatre

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Why Your Big Sister Resents You

“Eldest daughter syndrome” assumes that birth order shapes who we are and how we interact. Does it?

By Catherine Pearson

Catherine Pearson is a younger daughter who still leans on her older sister for guidance all the time.

In a TikTok video that has been watched more than 6 million times, Kati Morton, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Santa Monica, Calif., lists signs that she says can be indicative of “eldest daughter syndrome.”

Among them: an intense feeling of familial responsibility, people-pleasing tendencies and resentment toward your siblings and parents.

On X, a viral post asks : “are u happy or are u the oldest sibling and also a girl”?

Firstborn daughters are having a moment in the spotlight , at least online, with memes and think pieces offering a sense of gratification to responsible, put-upon big sisters everywhere. But even mental health professionals like Ms. Morton — herself the youngest in her family — caution against putting too much stock in the psychology of sibling birth order, and the idea that it shapes personality or long term outcomes.

“People will say, ‘It means everything!’ Other people will say, ‘There’s no proof,’” she said, noting that eldest daughter syndrome (which isn’t an actual mental health diagnosis) may have as much to do with gender norms as it does with birth order. “Everybody’s seeking to understand themselves, and to feel understood. And this is just another page in that book.”

What the research says about birth order

The stereotypes are familiar to many of us: Firstborn children are reliable and high-achieving; middle children are sociable and rebellious (and overlooked); and youngest children are charming and manipulative.

Studies have indeed found ties between a person’s role in the family lineup and various outcomes, including educational attainment and I.Q . (though those scores are not necessarily reliable measures of intelligence ), financial risk tolerance and even participation in dangerous sports . But many studies have focused on a single point in time, cautioned Rodica Damian, a social-personality psychologist at the University of Houston. That means older siblings may have appeared more responsible or even more intelligent simply because they were more mature than their siblings, she said, adding that the sample sizes in most birth order studies have also been relatively small.

In larger analyses, the link between birth order and personality traits appears much weaker. A 2015 study looking at more than 20,000 people in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States found no link between birth order and personality characteristics — though the researchers did find evidence that older children have a slight advantage in I.Q. (So, eldest daughters, take your bragging rights where you can get them.)

Dr. Damian worked on a different large-scale study, also published in 2015 , that included more than 370,000 high schoolers in the United States. It found slight differences in personality and intelligence, but the differences were so small, she said, that they were essentially meaningless. Dr. Damian did allow that cultural practices such as property or business inheritance (which may go to the first born) might affect how birth order influences family dynamics and sibling roles.

Still, there is no convincing some siblings who insist their birth order has predestined their role in the family.

After her study published, Dr. Damian appeared on a call-in radio show. The lines flooded with listeners who were delighted to tell her how skewed her findings were.

“Somebody would say: ‘You’re wrong! I’m a firstborn and I’m more conscientious than my siblings!’ And then someone else would call in and say, ‘You’re wrong, I’m a later-born and I’m more conscientious than my siblings!” she said.

What personal experience says

Sara Stanizai, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Long Beach, Calif., runs a virtual group with weekly meet-ups, where participants reflect on how they believe their birth order has affected them and how it may be continuing to shape their romantic lives, friendships and careers.

The program was inspired by Ms. Stanizai’s experience as an eldest daughter in an Afghan-American family, where she felt “parentified” and “overly responsible” for her siblings — in part because she was older, and in part because she was a girl .

While Ms. Stanizai acknowledged that the research around birth order is mixed, she finds it useful for many of her clients to reflect on their birth order and how they believe it shaped their family life — particularly if they felt hemmed in or saddled by certain expectations.

Her therapy groups spend time reflecting on questions like: How does my family see me? How do I see myself? Can we talk about any discrepancies in our viewpoints, and how they shape family dynamics? For instance, an older sibling might point out that he or she is often the one to plan family vacations. A younger sibling might point out that he or she often feels pressured into going along with whatever the rest of the group wants.

Whether or not there is evidence that birth order determines personality traits is almost beside the point, experts acknowledged.

“I think people are just looking for meaning and self-understanding,” Ms. Stanizai said. “Horoscopes, birth order, attachment styles” are just a few examples, she said. “People are just looking for a set of code words and ways of describing their experiences.”

Catherine Pearson is a Times reporter who writes about families and relationships. More about Catherine Pearson

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Texas Tech Now

Newly hired rawls college leader founded the world poker tour.

April 19, 2024

Steve Lipscomb will use his expertise to expand the Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship as its executive director.

Steve Lipscomb wants his students at Texas Tech University 's Jerry S. Rawls College of Business to understand it's not often a business comes together according to plan. 

He knows success stories like that can seem unrealistic, but from his experience creating the World Poker Tour (WPT) in the early 2000s, it can happen – and fast. 

“The first three to five years played exactly as I had pitched to our investors,” Lipscomb recalled. “I told them we were going to make this into a televised sport and people were going to flock to it.”

Lipscomb remembers it was like riding a wave as he juggled the titles of CEO, promoter, writer, producer and director, determined to transform poker into a televised mainstream sport. As he gained his balance and began to enjoy the view, he became a huge believer in the art of doing – an endurance race he still enjoys today. 

Lipscomb will not only practice this work ethic, but also will strive to “create and iterate” as the newly hired executive director for the Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship . The center provides innovative networking opportunities, insightful educational forums and discussions, relevant academic programs and applied research to a wide range of entrepreneurs including emerging leaders, successors, senior generations, students and key nonfamily executives.

“The center is an important addition to the fertile ground we are seeding at Rawls and Texas Tech to encourage students, faculty and our community to help us build the futures we all desire,” said Rawls College Dean Margaret L. Williams . “We are excited to have Mr. Lipscomb join our exceptional faculty as an associate practice professor and look forward to benefiting from his years of experience building, advising and shaping successful public and private ventures.”

The Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship is strategically positioned at the intersection of corporate enterprise, entrepreneurial innovation and academic research. Lipscomb is “all in” to further elevate its collective creation, progress and understanding.

“I think nobody knows what you're capable of more than you do,” he said. “The center will be a place where people can discover what that means for them.”

Taking a Gamble

In Lipscomb's case, the more he was told the WPT would never work, the more he knew it would. 

There was a time when The New Yorker magazine even weighed in on the WPT phenomenon with a cartoon that jokingly questioned why poker was featured on the Travel Channel. Lipscomb shares in the same bewilderment about his own life path, having earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from University of Chicago Law School with the intent to become a lawyer. 

While he enjoyed law school and thrived there, the Tennessee native found himself equally intrigued by the classes and performances he participated in at The Second City, a comedy club/theater and school of improvisation in Chicago. Post graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and quickly realized his law firm work was just a way to support his entertainment habit. 

“It was pretty clear in my mind that I was headed do some sort of crazy showbiz stuff,” he said. 

His first film venture was a documentary chronicling changes in the Southern Baptist Convention and its impact on women pastors. The film performed well at festivals, won numerous awards and garnered the attention of Hollywood producers and screenwriters like Al Burton and Norman Lear. 

That opened the door for Lipscomb to begin producing television with them and others. While on hiatus from producing a show for Comedy Central, Lipscomb had the opportunity to produce and direct a one-hour documentary about poker to air on the Discovery Channel. He accepted and quickly became intrigued about the poker world. 

“I witnessed this remarkable, but very small community of people playing poker for a living,” Lipscomb said. “When that one-hour documentary aired, it doubled its audience in an hour with no promotion. Very clearly, there was an audience who wanted to watch poker.”

Lipscomb pitched “poker as a sport” to every network he could find focused on sports or reality programming but was turned down flat. 

“They thought I was nuts,” he recalled, “which turned out to be the best “bad beat” of my life. When they said ‘no,' I quickly managed to raise money and launched the World Poker Tour as the first poker sports league on the planet.”

At first, it was a challenge for Lipscomb to figure out how to make a card game appear exciting and digestible to viewers who are not poker aficionados. He described this trial-and-error process as a post-production tangled mess that took eight months to unravel. 

The solution involved 16 cameras with angles that showed the cards not too little or too much, paired with custom-built graphics that popped out when players looked at their cards and disappeared when they folded. This enabled viewers to comprehend the game even while on mute or in a bar.  

“We did testing in Las Vegas that helped the network understand people were not just interested in fluffy pieces about casinos,” Lipscomb explained. “They wanted to watch the poker.”

Sure enough, once the WPT began airing in 2003, all doubts about Lipscomb's creation were crushed by numbers. Almost immediately on the Travel Channel, they had a household rating of 1.5-2% – comparable to National Basketball Association games at the time. 

Publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine featured Lipscomb and his WPT success story on their front pages and covers as the show continued to skyrocket in popularity. 

Just one year later, Lipscomb and his executive team looked up in awe at the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square after ringing the bell to take WPT Enterprises, Inc. public. From that point forward, he progressively removed many of his early WPT hats, one by one, to focus on the company's growth as its president and CEO.

“The world changed and I sort of found what I would call ‘my jam,' which was the excitement of building something from nothing and scaling every vertical we could find,” he said, “from consumer products to electronic video games and other categories.”

No Bluff Business

Looking back, Lipscomb considers the WPT as his business school of sorts as he worked to transform a television show into a global sports/gaming brand.

“We had an incredible team that didn't say ‘no' a lot,” he credited. “We found ways to say ‘yes' to build things that worked, and when they didn't work, we got better and better at moving on quickly.”

He and his teammates created award-winning consumer products, marketing partnerships and brand-building verticals; while, at the same time, seeding and launching numerous businesses, including the world's first poker talent management company, the first televised card tour in China's history and a popular mobile phone game. 

By 2009, Lipscomb was approached by multiple companies interested in purchasing the WPT. After carefully analyzing the hand in front of them, he and the board decided it was time to cash in those chips. 

“The acquirer was an online gaming group in the market segment that was making most of the money at the time,” he said. “I was not interested in staying onboard, so I walked off into the sunset to find the next thing.”

After his WPT chapter closed, Lipscomb felt empowered by the business knowledge he absorbed from the experience. He remained CEO of the publicly traded shell company and merged it to expand an existing energy company, quadrupling the stock price. He then became CEO of the spinoff company to oversee a private placement memorandum and the monetization of leftover WPT assets, which produced more than $25 million for the new company to deploy in the domestic oil and gas industry.

“Once I handed off management of the two spinoff public companies, I blissfully worked myself out of a job,” he said. “I planned to spend the rest of my time trying to help people build stuff to make the world a better place.”

Lipscomb formed Practicrats, LLC to chase this passion by working with corporations, sports leagues and foundations to build businesses. He is founder/board chair of Gamers.Vote which partners with gamers, influencers and companies to encourage voter participation, as well as GamersAct.org, inspiring gamers to address climate change. He also spent a decade as managing director of FixItAmerica.org which supported bi-partisan resolutions in state legislatures. 

As part of those initiatives, he attended the EarthX conference in Dallas last year where a government official inspired him and other private enterprises to aim toward a more sustainable future. 

“I walked away from there thinking I needed to find a way to do more,” he admitted.

A few conversations later, he learned about the job posting for the Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship and felt what he describes as a “Star Wars” tractor beam drawing him to the position. 

He is convinced the work being done at Texas Tech can change the world, and this belief only strengthened after his visit to campus. 

“The sort of visionary people like Dean Williams and the leadership at Texas Tech pulled me in,” he said. “I think we have lofty goals, and I say ‘we' because I feel like nothing gets done by an individual. It's always done with people, so to join that community and find a way to try to help it grow and flourish is exciting to me.”

Lipscomb officially began his Rawls College role April 11. He plans to teach one class a semester beginning in the fall, but the Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship activities will begin immediately and include the ongoing McCoy Family Business Speaker Series .  

“There are great minds here and great things happening,” he said. “I think there's never been a better time, with all of the resources around us, for people to join together and do amazing things. That's what this opportunity means to me.”

Lipscomb laughs as he discloses he would have never imagined jumping up and down to participate in a business school program a year ago. But he says that is the beauty of his remarkably blessed and wonderful journey. 

“I find in life it's always better to pick a path and start walking,” he shared. “If you had told me when I made my first social issue documentary about religious faith that I was going to be the poker guy, I would have told you that was crazy. But that's the way life works, I think. 

“And I certainly encourage everyone around me to do the same. So, if you have something in you that just won't be quiet – something you feel like you need to build – please come and join us.”

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