Best cities for toddlers

[Anonymous]

Does it have to be a city? We enjoyed Acadia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Toronto- sooo mch to do. Miami was pretty bad- lots of driving, hard to find parking. San Francisco and NYC are great too- walkable and lots to do.

I live in San Francisco and have raised a toddler into a teenager here. We are actually KNOWN for NOT being child-friendly here. But OP, if you decide to come here I'm happy to give you a list of toddler-friendly things I 've found.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love travel, and TBH that sounds like a nightmare.

Public transportation, car seats, strollers, naps...

We live near DC (I assume you do too?!) and we have dozens of museums, parks, activity centers, etc. to keep toddlers busy. My kids are older now but thinking back, they liked to do stuff like play in sand and simple things like that. At that age, we really just did want they were interested in. They will want to explore and won’t care whether that’s in Atlanta or Washington DC.

I agree. Take them places locally. There are no good large cities to take toddlers to.

I disagree with this. Lots of cities are great for toddlers with large parks, museums, and kid-friendly activities. I would wait for the weather to get better. Boston and Toronto are wonderful in the nice weather. Philadelphia too, but you wouldn't fly there.

[Anonymous]

We loved Chicago when our kids were little, but then again we were living there and were only a 20 minute train ride to the attractions. I see no reason to “introduce” air travel to two-year-olds (it sounds like there might be more than one?). I could see this being a huge nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Not a large city but Savannah. great childrens museum, train museum, parks everywhere and as a parent you can get drinks to go from bar.

[Anonymous]

Wait 2 years but I had so much fun in nyc recently with my 4yo. We did Times Square and the Disney store there. Other than that, we just focused around Central Park. Amazing zoo including a petting zoo, carnival, climbing the rocks, horse ride. Loved the excitement of the hotel and train to get there - like a little companion with lots of observations. Thinking we’ll try the Lion King when he’s 5.

At age 2 (I have another this age) - I’d just pick where would be enjoyable for you and keep the pace slow. I personally prefer beach vacations at that age - mine love the sand, ocean, pool. We went to the Caribbean a lot as well as a couple of local beaches.

Philly has a lot of amazing museums and restaurants. They have the Please Touch museum and others for kids but you could really just hit up all the grownup ones you want to see at this age - take advantage!

[Anonymous]

I think cities aren’t great for small kids. Of course you could find stuff to do (and maybe it’s because we live in a city but there’s no novelty to metro/bus, museums, tall buildings etc.). Also constant hand holding, don’t run in the street etc.

I think the better trips are parks - do a fun and easy national park where you can do an easy hike, kids play in the dirt and collect rocks and you do picnic lunch. Don’t need to worry about cars, restaurants, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 year old (so older than 2...) loved Boston, especially the Children's Museum and Boston Common.

I love in Southern California and San Diego is very family friendly- beaches, lego land, the zoo and Sea World- if u are into that sort of thing. However, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boston. My grandparents lived there and we visited all the time in my childhood and there are so many things for young children. It’s a wonderful city.

NP. We're new to the east coast and I'm planning to take my 2yo and 4yo to Boston this summer.
Do you have any other recommendations apart from Children's museum and Boston Common? (we have that checked)
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Toronto- sooo mch to do. Miami was pretty bad- lots of driving, hard to find parking. San Francisco and NYC are great too- walkable and lots to do.

I live in San Francisco and have raised a toddler into a teenager here. We are actually KNOWN for NOT being child-friendly here. But OP, if you decide to come here I'm happy to give you a list of toddler-friendly things I 've found.

I am pp and grew up in berkeley- curious why sf is not child friendly??

[Anonymous]

Florida is an easy, direct flight. St. Petersburg and Sarasota both have lots to do with kids. But it really depends on when you want to travel - I'd do Florida between now and April. May through August, I'd probably go with Toronto (but need a passport), Boston, or Chicago. Since kids passports expire every 5 years, I wouldn't get one just to have a weekend away in Toronto.

Don't plan for a long flight for the first one at that age. 2 yr olds have a harder time sitting still, so once the novelty of the flight and playing with a cup of ice wears off, you don't want to be stuck for a few more hours with a fussy kid. Before kids walk and after they're about 3 flying isn't bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 year old (so older than 2...) loved Boston, especially the Children's Museum and Boston Common.

I love in Southern California and San Diego is very family friendly- beaches, lego land, the zoo and Sea World- if u are into that sort of thing. However, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boston. My grandparents lived there and we visited all the time in my childhood and there are so many things for young children. It’s a wonderful city.

NP. We're new to the east coast and I'm planning to take my 2yo and 4yo to Boston this summer.
Do you have any other recommendations apart from Children's museum and Boston Common? (we have that checked)


Thanks!

First Boston recommender here. We were only there for a weekend, so apart from visiting friends, that’s about all we did. Sorry!