We’d all love to give our children the world — sometimes quite literally. A family boat ride off the coast of Capri? Yes, please. A personal meet-and-greet with the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands? Sign us up!
The benefits of international travel extend far beyond exotic beaches and scenic vistas, however. Exposing children to different parts of the world helps broaden their horizons, inspire curiosity, teach tolerance, and foster a lifelong love of exploration. There’s just that one pesky little obstacle: flying a family overseas isn’t exactly cheap! So, what’s a family with wanderlust to spare but a limited budget to do?
Stay home! In the United States, that is. There are many ways to give your family fun and meaningful globe-trotting experiences right here stateside. From multicultural culinary adventures to outings where kids can get up close and personal with exotic animals from oceans away, we’ve rounded up just a few ideas for ways to explore the wonders of the world as a family this summer…no passport required.
Spend a day soaking — and eating — up the culture in China…
Chinatown, that is! Most major cities have their own Chinatown (New York, Boston, San Francisco, just to name a few) which serves as the epicenter of these cities’ East Asian and Southeast Asian cultural lives. For the fraction of the cost of, say, a one-way plane ticket to Shanghai, you and your family can spend an entire day exploring a different side of an American city you thought you knew. And when we say explore, what we mean is eat everything in sight! Chinatown in any city is densely populated with eateries boasting the most authentic Chinese food this side of the Orient. And no, we’re not talking crab rangoon (for the record, cream cheese is not indigenous to China). Spend a day sampling wildly affordable delicacies like soup dumplings (little pouches of steamed heaven) and dim sum (bite-sized eats meant for sharing and served in small steamer baskets) and we bet your family will never look at P.F. Chang’s quite the same way ever again. (That’s a good thing.)
Take a walk with a wallaby...
At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! It’s a bit of a hike to get to the actual Australian Outback, but why bother with a 14+ hour flight when you can visit all manner of wildlife from Down Under in sunny Southern California? The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s new Walkabout Australia exhibit gives visitors a chance to get close to kangaroos, cassowaries, magpie geese, and all manner of Aussie fauna in an outdoor exhibit designed to make visitors feel as if they’re strolling through the sun-soaked Outback.
Indulge in a sweet, gooey stroopwafel…
Wait, a stroop-what now? A stroopwafel (literal translation: syrup waffle) is a delicious treat that originated in the Netherlands, made from two thing waffles sandwiched together with caramel or jam filling. We’re guessing we had you at the word waffle. Luckily, you don’t have to fly to Europe to score an authentic version of this uber sweet snack. Instead, we suggest a trip to Solvang, a traditional Danish Village nestled in, of all places, Santa Barbara County! There, you’ll find purveyors of traditional stroopwafels, but there’s more than just good eating to be done. Historical attractions abound in Solvang, including replicas of Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue and the bust of beloved Danish fairy tale author Hans Christian Anderson. Bonus for mom and dad: Solvang is surrounded by Santa Barbara wine country. Skål!
Encourage your kids to eat with their hands...
At an Ethiopian restaurant! Pick a night, or multiple nights, to eat out at a restaurant serving a cuisine the family has never been exposed to — or possible ever heard of. Ethiopian diners traditionally forego silverware and eat with their right hand (it’s considered impolite to eat with your left). It serves for a more intimate dining experience, and kids will delight in being encouraged to get a little messy. In Ethiopia, it’s also customary to feed your dining companions (with your right hand) as an act of affection. Of course, not every Ethiopian restaurant strictly adheres to these customs (you can request silverware at most), but they certainly won’t discourage it! If rich, spicy stews aren’t your thing, pick another type of cuisine for this special night out. The world’s the limit!
Practice your French in preparation of…
Bastille Day! Celebrated on July 14, Bastille Day, aka la Fête Nationale — the national day of France — commemorates the storming of military fortress the Bastille, which effectively ushered in the French Revolution. The French holiday has since taken root in many English-speaking countries, including America, where it’s celebrated with Bastille Day festivals boasting traditional food, music, fashion, and more! For example, San Francisco’s annual Bastille Day fest — 139 years running — offers guests free entry to an all-day, family-friendly party featuring live music, an outdoor bistro (with French wine and beer for parents), a kids’ playground, and vintage car show, among other attractions. Vive la révolution!
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