Although writer Tom Lamont once accurately described parenting as a “chore-pocalypse”—a cold war of instilling responsibility and expectations on your progeny, before an inevitable meltdown or disappointment ensues—there are countless perks to being a dad. The world opens. Small moments blossom into large discoveries. And adulthood suddenly becomes a portal for exploration, relearning, and joyful wonder.
No one is saying that fathering a child, or teenagers, is easy. It can often feel like you are tasked with reversing the direction of a waterfall with your bare hands. (Ever tried making breakfast with a toddler clinging to your leg, a work deadline looming, and no coffee pot in sight? I have, and it’s certainly not for the weak.) And yet, the bond that is built—steadily, slowly, surely—between you and your little ones is unlike anything else you can experience in this lifetime. There’s a certain comedy of survivalism-turned-glorious-triumph that unfolds between a father and his children when left to their own devices.
So what else is there left to do but hit the open road for an adventurous outing? What imperfect gaffs and missteps await, ready to be turned into the stuff of legends? Outside of newborn infancy, dads can—and should—go at it alone from time to time: whether it’s a ghost hunting trip to New Orleans, a lake-hopping tour of Stockholm, or a weekend in the wilds of South Africa. From Bolivia to the Carolinas, there’s a trip for every intrepid dad and his kids out there. Here are 11 ideas for dad-captained vacations of various interests, budgets, and ages.
Ideas for trips with dad:
Getty Images
A sky-high ride across Bolivia
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
An egregiously underrated South American stop, there’s no high quite like Bolivia’s La Paz—literally. At 11,975 ft above sea level, it’s the most altitudinous capital city in the world, an urban center teeming with art, museums, and one of the most intricate systems of teleferic cable cars in the world that crisscross above the streets like an aerial subway. Chart your trek across the mountain clouds and get around the city in these easily accessible cable rides while hitting up budget-friendly eateries, public parks, and taking in the distinctly surrealist architecture—from the comfort of your seat in the sky.
Where to stay in La Paz:
ferrantraite
A ghost hunting tour of New Orleans
Best for: Toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens
New Orleans may be known as the premier Southern locale for sin, but it offers so much more than a boozy jaunt down Bourbon Street. Unlike most zip codes in the United States, Louisiana’s former French colony is rife with Creole history and shadowy echoes of the past that are sure to captivate young and old imaginations alike. Whether you are already a spiritual clairvoyant or are a believer-in-the-making, enroll in the New Orleans Paranormal Society and embark on a private ghost hunt replete with voodoo, séances, and more. For a tamer variety, take a simple ghost tour of the city’s French Quarter, and follow that up with a walk through Jackson Square en route to powdered-sugar beignets and bowls of gumbo along the shimmering Mississippi River for good measure.
Where to stay in New Orleans:
A lake-hopping adventure around Stockholm
Best for: Grade-schoolers, teens
If summers are enjoyable, then summers in Stockholm are simply euphoric. Launch from one of the Swedish capital’s extensive canal docks, where local swimmers picnic and take midday dips, and begin your day-long cruise to nearby islands that provide the tranquility of Scandinavian nature and uninterrupted lounging beneath the mild sun. Take in the sights as they gently glide by, occasionally disembarking to explore land on foot before hopping back onto your seafaring vessel for the open lake waters. Pro tip: You can reach Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town, via boat from Ostermalm, a centric Stockholm area. And while in Stockholm, sprinkle in a visit to The House of Film, the beautiful gardens at Rosendals Trädgårdskafé, or the Vasa Museum. The most populous Nordic city has no shortage of its own soil-bound entertainment, including a life-sized viking ship, an amusement park, a naturally-ensconced zoo, and world-class photography exhibits.
Where to stay in Stockholm:
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin
A video game, anime fantasy in Tokyo
Best for: Grade-schoolers, teens
