After you have decided that you are going on a family vacation, 
the next step is to decide where to go. The tourist industry 
offers many destinations that will welcome you but certainly 
there are better and there are worse choices. Since you have 
decided that you go on vacation with your children, it is clear 
that this must be the primary consideration in choosing the 
destination.

The most common travel mistake with children is Las Vegas or Reno 
in Nevada.  While the tourism industries of both cities have 
been trying to make the towns into family vacation destinations 
(Las Vegas a bit more than Reno), these towns are not originally 
geared toward family.

Both Las Vegas and Reno offer very little attractions for 
children. And they do not offer anything special which cannot be 
found elsewhere. If you are thinking about visiting Las Vegas, 
perhaps you are hoping for at least some gambling. Gambling does 
not bode well for a successful family vacation with children.

Where travelling with children is concerned, some of the 
perennial favourites are the Disney theme parks.  These parks are 
ideal for children between the ages of five and twelve - though 
they are still fun for older children!  However, it's recommended 
that you wait until your children are old enough to walk.  If you 
bring a child who is younger than three years old, the chances 
are that he or she will not remember the trip at all.

You should keep in mind, however, that Disney parks are an 
energetic vacation destination.  These are not good places to go 
for a relaxing time, since they tend to be crowded, and there is 
always something new to go and see.  With younger children, 
expect cranky afternoons.

For a more relaxed family vacation, you should think about a 
destination like Hawaii.  While Hawaii is not geared specifically 
toward children, there are still plenty of things for you to do 
depending on which island you're staying on.

Hawaii is the best place for a family vacation with children who 
are ten or older. The reason is that most entertainment 
activities are suitable for older children - for example Pearl 
Harbor. If you visit it and your children are too young, they 
will hardly figure out the significance of the place.

Another suggestion for a family vacation with children is cruise 
ships. When choosing to spend your vacation on a cruise ship, 
there are some important facts to consider. First, it is most 
likely that you will share a cabin with your family and there 
won't be enough room for everybody's liking. But since there are 
so many things to do outside the cabin, it shouldn't be too much 
of a problem to view the cabin as a sleeping spot rather than a 
permanent hang-out.

You should also consider that cruise ship vacations may not be 
the best choice for teenagers.  This is due to the fact that 
most of the children's programs are designed for children 12 and 
under, and teenagers are not quite old enough to participate in 
the entertainment designed for adults (for instance, lounges and 
casinos).  The benefit of a cruise is that you'll get to see 
breathtaking ocean views and visit several different ports.  
Keep your eyes open for whales!

In the end, however, where you go for your family vacation is up 
to you.  Nobody knows what your children will be interested in 
better than you do.  So, consider your children's interest, and 
to what extent they will be catered for, combined with your 
preferences for where you would like to go, and the type of 
vacation that you are most interested in. 

Andrew Westforth is the webmaster of FHT Travel -- a large 
And comprehensive collection of information on travel, 
Including resources, articles and a free newsletter. For 
More information, go to:  http://www.fhttravel.com