They're one of the most popular types of vacations and are only continuing to increase, with 81% of parents saying they are likely to travel with their children in 2024. However, if your family has taken a lot of trips together, it can be a challenge to find new places to visit and new experiences to try while ensuring everyone will enjoy. Beach trips and city tours are the usual go-to vacations, but you can also find inspiration from unique sources that can truly take you somewhere exciting, like your children's favorite books.
Reading a book, getting whisked away into fictional lands, and joining the protagonists' adventures is always a thrilling experience, especially for children who are easily captivated by these new worlds. You can replicate this feeling by planning your trip inspired by your kids' favorite reads to bring them into the real-world settings where the story unfolds. Parents can enjoy visiting popular landmarks and digging into local cuisine, while kids can immerse themselves in the story's worlds. Here are some book-inspired family trip ideas and tips to inspire your next vacation:
London - Harry Potter
London is home to many beloved literary characters, from Peter Pan to Paddington. However, it's also been the top spot to visit for fans of the Harry Potter series, which continues to capture the hearts of children and adults today. The massively successful series has made its mark in the city, with nods and tributes to the books and movies in the locations mentioned. You can visit King's Cross Station to see Platform 9 ¾, complete with a disappearing trolley and sign. Head to Piccadilly Circus and the Millennium Bridge to recreate scenes from the series and enjoy the sights. You can even board the Jacobite Steam Train—the real-life Hogwarts Express—and tour the Scottish Highlands. For a truly immersive experience, you can visit Harry Potter World, which can feel like stepping into the world of the book. Exciting rides and attractions like The Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff can make you and your kids feel like wizards as you explore the world of Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. After the fun, you can dig into classic British meals and try magical drinks mentioned in the books, like Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks.
Greece - Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series has been sparking an interest in Greek mythology in young readers for years. While the series takes a more lighthearted and whimsical approach to Greek tales and characters, your kids may be curious about their origins. Greece is the no-brainer destination for Percy Jackson fans who want to take a deeper dive into the ancient history and mythology that inspired the books. Fortunately, Greece is home to incredible historical sites like the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, the country's capital. You can also stop by the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, which is dedicated to the Greek god of the sea and also Percy Jackson's father in the books. Locations like Delphi and Olympia are also notable locations in the series and are rich in ancient history and culture. Though the trip may be inspired by this captivating children's series, even parents can enjoy the wondrous sites that have been preserved for centuries.
Prince Edward Island - Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables has become an enduring children's classic book, resonating with young readers who see themselves in the free-spirited and lively Anne Shirley. While the town of Avonlea is fictional, Prince Edward Island in Canada is very much real, and you can make it the next destination for your family trip. Lucy Maude Montgomery based the Green Gables farm on her aunt and uncle's farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, which still stands today and has become a major tourist attraction for lovers of the book. You can take a guided tour of the home and stroll through Green Gables Heritage Place in the Prince Edward Island National Park. Visit spots like Lover's Lane and the Haunted Woods, or relax at Montgomery Park and take in the sights that inspired the book's author. You can even bring home souvenirs from the Anne of Green Gables Store in Charlottetown.
How to make your trip even more fun. Bring the book along with you
Since your trip revolves around a book, bringing it along with you can help make your travels more immersive and can help you and your kids remember the important story points and locations. It can be a fun experience to go over pages and chapters of the book while you're in the actual places where the events took place. If you're not keen on bringing a heavy physical book that can take up luggage space, ebooks are a great solution. You can find your kids' favorite reads in digital format and access them through your phones or tablets. Digital libraries can also be a great platform to find a new read the whole family can enjoy. Children's ebooks on Everand showcase the wide variety of titles available, such as Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell or Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. You can even access them without a Wi-Fi connection, allowing you to read them wherever you are and find the next book that can inspire future tups.
Explore the book adaptations
Many popular children's books have gotten their own adaptations and have been turned into TV series or films. Before you head to your trip or even on the way there, you can watch or rewatch these adaptations to drum up excitement. The books mentioned above all have their own adaptations. The Harry Potter films were massively popular and set the stage for more fantasy book adaptations. The Percy Jackson series also produced two movies for the first two books, but the new series adaptation on Disney+ is where many fans say the story shines. While the family may have seen all these versions of these modern books, they may not be familiar with the various Anne of Green Gables adaptations, such as the 1934 and 1985 films. It's an excellent opportunity to show them these older movies to reignite their love for these books. Watching adaptations can also introduce them to more books and help them grow in their reading journey.
Ashley Pugh ;
Ashley Pugh is one of the Co-Founders of Familydaysout.com and has been committed to writing family related content since 2008. There isn't much about family attractions that Ashley doesn't know, after visiting hundreds of them worldwide over the last 20 years.
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