Ideas for Winter Family Travel 2022

Northern Lights in Tromso, Norway

Family holiday inspiration for winter

Check out this amazing guest post written by Mike Sheer!

Looking for a change of scenery, or want to get away from the cold winter weather? Why not book a family holiday this winter. There are many great places to choose between – from sunny escapes to snowy mountain towns. We’ve put together a list of things to do and places to go that families will love, so pack your bags and get ready for some fun.

Hobbiton in Auckland, New Zealand

1.   New Zealand

27% of parents say travel helps their children to be more brave and adventurous. And where better to be adventurous than in New Zealand? The country is renowned for its natural beauty. Families can explore stunning landscapes, from towering mountains to verdant rainforests, and encounter unique wildlife, such as kiwis and tuataras.

It’s also home to a vibrant culture, with a rich Maori heritage and a growing food scene. Families can learn about the country's history and customs while enjoying delicious local produce. And with plenty of activities on offer, from hiking and biking to kayaking and surfing, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

New Zealand has four seasons per year but because it’s located in the southern hemisphere, these come at different times, with their summer falling at the same time as the northern hemisphere’s winter. So it’s a great opportunity to escape the cold too!

Side note: Josh and I went here on our honeymoon and went to visit Hobbiton! Anyone watching the new Lord of the Rings series?!

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Visiting Reindeer in Tromso, Norway

2.   Lapland

Lapland is a truly magical place, and there is no better time to visit than during the winter months. Families can enjoy all the festive activities that the region has to offer, from meeting Santa Claus and his reindeer to going on a sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests, and curling up in front of the fire with a delicious hot cocoa.

In addition, Lapland is home to some of the best ski resorts in Europe, making it the perfect destination for a winter sports holiday if you’re looking for something more active.

With so much to see and do, it's no wonder that families flock to Lapland every year. So if you're looking for a truly unforgettable Christmas experience, be sure to add Lapland to your list of must-visit destinations.

Check out how we found the Northern Lights in Norway!

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Disneyland Paris

3.   Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is the perfect destination for families who are looking for an unforgettable vacation. The park offers a wide range of activities that will appeal to people of all ages, from thrilling rides to enchanting shows, and extra festive events throughout the winter season to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

There is also a variety of dining options available, so everyone can find something to their taste. Best of all, Disneyland Paris is home to some of the most iconic characters in the world, making it the perfect place to create lifelong memories. So why not take the whole family on a magical journey to Disneyland Paris?

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Winter is a great time to take a family vacation. We’ve shared some of our favourite winter destinations, but we want to hear from you. Where do you like to go on winter vacations? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family.

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Wanna read s’more? Did someone say s’mores?

DISNEYLAND PARIS GUIDE - Things you MUST see from a Disneyland expert!

Disneyland Paris Entrance

Everything you need to know about DISNEYLAND PARIS GUIDE - best things to do and see from a Disneyland expert!

We passed a billboard on the train that said Disneyland Paris tickets were around $80. We had one more day in Paris and thought that could be a fun way to end our vacation! Since we were with Josh's family, I really didn't think we were going to go and that it would take some convincing, but both Josh and his brother were game!  I’ve been to Disneyland in California literally hundreds of times. We’ve also been to Hong Kong Disneyland and Walt Disney World so we were excited to explore another Disney Park and see how different it was from the other parks we had been to.

Don’t forget to pack these dresses!

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HOW TO GET TO DISNEYLAND PARIS

Disneyland Paris is about 40 minutes outside of Paris, so we set out early to get there close to when it opened. For less than 8 Euro (one way), we took the RER A train from Auber to Disneyland Paris (at Marne La Vallée station). It took almost an hour and I was definitely more excited (and impatient) than the 6 year olds we shared a car with.

ENTRANCE TO WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

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WHAT'S DIFFERENT IN DISNEYLAND PARIS?

After going to Disneyland hundreds of times and Walt Disney World a handful of times, what did we need to go to Disneyland Paris for?

First of all, there are 2 parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Disneyland Park has your basics with exclusive features only in Paris: Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain: Mission 2, Haunted Manor. Walt Disney Studios Park has the newer rides: Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster,  Crush's Coaster, Toy Story Land. If you only have one day here's what you should see...

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Walt Disney Studios Park:

Walt Disney Studios Paris

I thought it was weird we didn't see the Walt and Mickey Statue in the Disneyland Park, but lo and behold, there it was in the Studios Park.

WALT AND MICKEY STATUE - Hollywood Tower of Terror PARIS

BONJOUR BUZZ!

Elements were taken from both Disneyland and Disney World, but when we approached Toy Story Land and a giant Buzz Lightyear greeted us with, "Bonjour," Paris Disneyland definitely had a unique charm.

Related Post: Guide to Hong Kong Disneyland

Toy Story Land had rides for little kids, much like A Bug's Life Land in California Adventure so we didn't spend much time there. Now Walt Disney World and Hong Kong Disneyland have Toy Story land. I personally liked Hong Kong’s version of Toy Story land the best!

Down the street from Toy Story Land, there was a little bit of Car's Land, not quite like California Adventure but there were a few familiar buildings that occupied one of the street corner's including the bumper car ride, Flo's Cafe, and a gift shop.

CAR'S LAND CORNER

 Crush's Ride was a favorite at the Studios Park. It can't be found in any of the US Parks (although they should add it - preferably to California Adventure), and is a unique roller coaster type that you ride with Crush from Finding Nemo in a turtle shell along the EAC. It's fast, it spins, it's fun! We waited about an hour for it, but it was worth it (and dry).

 Much like the studios in Orlando, you could also find rides such as the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror.

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Paris Disneyland Park:

SLEEPING BEAUTY'S CASTLE - Paris Disneyland

We went in October and the park was all decked out with Halloween decorations. Main street was full of spooks and pumpkins everywhere you looked!

Related Post: Halloweentime at the Disneyland Resort

In the US parks, you can enter through the gates of the castle and there are shops or restaurants within the walls. Here, you can go under Sleeping Beauty's castle and visit a DRAGON. He has a little smoke that come from his mouth and moves around.

DRAGON UNDER SLEEPING BEAUTY'S CASTLE

Space Mountain: Mission 2 is one of my favorite rides but Paris wins in my book! It not only takes place dark in space inside, but also goes outside AND HAS A LOOP! So nice, we did it twice. Compared to the other Disney parks, this one is the best. Make sure you grab a fastpass!

SPACE MOUNTAIN MISSION 2

 As a huge fan of the Indiana Jones ride in California Disneyland, I was surprised when we came across Paris' Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril. It was still a thrill ride, but it was an outdoor roller coaster (kinda like Everest at Animal Kingdom). Space Mountain Mission 2 was better if you're looking to go one one or the other.

We also enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean. Of all the different versions, this one seemed to tell the story the best.

You could also find other Disneyland classics such as Big Thunder, Small World, Haunted Mansion, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear, and Dumbo. In Frontierland, they have the Lucky Nugget, which I'm used to seeing the Golden Nugget at home! 

Haunted Mansion

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FOOD AT DISNEYLAND PARIS

We ate at the Hakuna Matata Restaurant because we were hungry and it was raining. They had chicken tenders and fries that were pretty good for Disney Park foo. They had more options but all we needed at that time was basic food.

Of course we had to have ice cream so we indulged in some ice cream sandwiches. Yum! 

 Overall, if you're a Disney fan, I highly recommend it!

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DISNEYLAND PARIS GUIDE

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How about more Paris and Disney Posts?

Best Restaurants and Where to Eat in Paris

Best Restaurants in Paris

If you're as starving as a gargoyle (I mean, come on, they HAVE to be hungry), then you've come to the right place. Here is a list of restaurants/bars and the neighborhoods to find them:

Breakfast

Get a croissant (chocolate croissants are my favorite) or a crepe wherever it smells good. A few places make crepes near the window leaking that delightful smell of sweetness in the air. It's hard to resist! 

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Best Restaurants in Saint-Germain des Prés

It seems we ate near here more than any other area! It's been awhile since I've been to some, but they still deserve recognition.

Le Bon Saint-Pourçain

Address: 10 bis r. Servandoni, 75006 Paris

I still remember this meal like it was yesterday. This was the best meal in Paris. It was off the beaten path and was authentic inside and out. Even our chef looked like a cartoon character with his thick eyebrows and long white apron. For our entrees, I had a chicken with wine sauce served with the softest potatoes.  Even though we were full, we ended the meal with an incredible creme brulee, with the consistency having the perfect amount of sticky and goodness. Apparently, new owners took over in 2015, and it has been re-vamped. I hope the food is still just as good.

Les Deux Magots

Address: 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris, France

This was a great bistro in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area. So nice, we went there twice with my family. It once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual élite of the city. The waiters were very nice and helpful on our first night in Paris. No, they don't serve maggots - don't let the name get to you. They actually had a chicken dish that was delicious. To end your night, make sure you try their sorbets and chocolate mousse! 

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Relais de l'Entrecôte

Address: 20 Rue Saint-Benoît, 75006 Paris, France

Relais de l'Entrecôte has a few locations, but you must go for their steak frites. What's better than steak frites? They have even better desserts! We went to the one on RUE SAINT-BENOÎT. Like most of the Parisian restaurants, the tables were really close and it was pretty loud, but the price wasn't bad for the amount of food you basically inhale. The Chocolate Profiteroles were the highlight of the meal in my book!

CHOCOLATE PROFITEROLES - ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR DESSERTS: DELICIOUS DONUT LIKE CAKES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM, ALL SPRINKLED WITH HOT CHOCOLATE AND TOASTED ALMONDS.

VACHERIN DU RELAIS - A SUPERB DESSERT WITH MERINGUES, VANILLA ICE CREAM AND PRALINE ICE CREAM, COVERED WITH HOT CHOCOLATE AND WHIPPED CREAM

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We found the cutest little Cupcake and Macaron stand. Literally!

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Restaurants Near the Eiffel Tower 

Au Pied De Fouet

45 Rue de Babylone, 75007 Paris, France

The translation means “At the Whiplash,” I don’t quite know what that means but the FOOD WAS AMAZING! As a traditional French meal, many courses came out and the place looked like it had been there for years! It was small and crowded but we enjoyed the authenticity of the restaurant (and the wine).

Alfio

43 Avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, France

We were watching the lights twinkle on the Eiffel Tower and felt rumblies in our tumblies. We walked along the cobblestone streets and after walking 10 miles that day (see our How to Spend 24 hours in Paris post), pizza sounded good. We stumbled upon Alfio after watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night. It's a small quaint place but the pizza and pasta were delicious. I ordered spicy pasta and it was pretty spicy! Decor is great too, they melted wine bottles down and hung them around the restaurant. Highly recommend for those looking for a non fancy, great food, decent price kinda place.

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More Paris Guides:

HOW TO SPEND 24 HOURS IN PARIS AND SEE EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY - COMPLETE ITINERARY AND MAP

10 MILE GALAVANT ACROSS PARIS SEEING ALL THE SIGHTS

Can you see everything in Paris in one day? Yes! It may be exhausting but totally worth it (your feet might not agree). Pro-tip wear SUPER comfy shoes.

Here is a map to guide you throughout your day! You can save it to view offline on your phone if you save it to the Google maps app when you have Wifi.

Park Hyatt Paris - Best hotel in Paris!

MORNING IN PARIS

7:00 AM We started with a big breakfast in the hotel (we stayed at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome using our reward nights).

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

Paris views from the Park Hyatt Vendome

Of course I had a chocolate croissant and coffee, but there was also cheese and cured meat so I had to have some! Do as the Parisian's do!

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

From the Hyatt, we went down to the fountain in the Place de la Concorde. I love it because it's the fountain Anne Hathaway throws her phone in, in the Devil Wears Prada. It was Fall and the leaves were turning, adding extra charm to the city (who knew it could get better?). We walked through the gardens and past the Grand Palais.

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

10:00 AM We strolled down the Champs-Élysées past Chanel, Cartier, Lauderee, and then there's Nike, H&M, Tiffany, Gap... come on, a GAP shirt would be that much better because it came from PARIS!

Arc de Triomphe

I could shop all day, but we had tons to see. We went down to the Arc de Triomphe. You can actually see the sights atop the Arc for about 12 euro or so. We have already walked about 2 miles.

EIFFEL TOWER

From the Arc, we enjoyed the fall day and walked along the Parisian neighborhood via Avenue Pont d'Iéna for another mile or so to the Eiffel Tower.

After taking a ton of pictures and finding out the wait to go to the top was over an hour, we decided to find some lunch. We came across a little cafe to get some sandwiches and take a little break. 

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AFTERNOON IN PARIS

2:00 PM We hopped on the metro to head to the Catacombs of Paris. From following our map we had trouble finding the entrance, and after making a loop around the block, we discovered it was closed due to ventilation issues. 

Panthéon

Our next destination was Notre Dame, and along the way we came across rain and the 18th century mausoleum, the Panthéon. We didn't go inside but continued on through the Latin quarter to find the cathedral. Totaling a 2 mile walk from the Catacombs, we had finally arrived at Notre Dame! After a 15 minute wait or so, we went through the Cathedral taking in all the beautiful stain glass windows, chandeliers, and fine craftsmanship of the church (note - this was prior to the fire ☹️).

NOTRE DAME before the fire

At this point, I was wishing I would have worn sneakers instead of my cute boots. We had already walked over 6 miles, it was time for a break and a crepe. We stopped in Crêperie du Cloître across from Notre Dame for crepes and french fries.

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EVENING IN PARIS

PONT DES ARTS - Love Lock Bridge

5:00 PM We set out again, walking another mile to the bridge, Pont des Arts, where tourists would leave "love locks" or an engraved padlock along the fence of the bridge. However, the excess weight of the locks were destroying the structure of the bridge and on June 1st, 2015, more than 700,000 locks weighing 45 tons were removed.

Sunset in Paris

Louvre

Mona Lisa

From the bridge, we trekked over to the Louvre. After 6 PM on a Wednesday or Friday, entrance fees are only €6 (instead of €9) and the museum is open until 9:45 PM. Free Admittance to those under 26 on Friday evenings. I had just missed the free entrance by a year. Note: they are closed on Tuesdays. If you are an art fan, you could spend hours or days going through the museum. We weren't that enthused to spend more time on our feet, so we did a brief walk-through to see the must-see artwork such as da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, and the Sphinx. If you stretched out the Louvre walking paths, it would cover 8 miles. We didn't walk that much, but got in a good 2 miles or so.

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PARIS AT NIGHT

8:00 PM It was worth every penny to take a cab to save our feet. From the Louvre, we went back to the Eiffel Tower to see it twinkle at night. You'll be able to see the well known iron lady lit up every day from sunset to 1AM. During summer, it turns of one hour later at 2AM.

Eiffel Tower AT NIGHT!

After a few pictures, it started to rain, meaning it was time for dinner.

We found the best little place called Alfio (along the Avenue de la Bourdonnais across from the Eiffel Tower) that had spicy pasta and tasty pizza. The decor had wine bottles that had been melted down and were hung from the ceiling. 

Alfio Restaurant

 It was finally time to head back to the hotel (we took a cab) where we posted a picture or two to Facebook / Instagram and passed out!

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MORE PARIS GUIDES: