Best national park experience with 4 and 2 year olds?

[Anonymous]

My husband really wants to do a national park vacation this year, but our kids are pretty little -- a young 2 and young 4. I would also love to go, but I feel like a lot of the fun stuff in places like Yosemite or Yellowstone is for bigger kids (rafting, climbing, hiking, etc.).

I am one of those people who has pretty much completely failed to explore my own country so I don't have any ideas.

Thoughts on which parks are little-kid friendly? And more specific recommendations are always welcome - where to stay, what to do, and so on. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

For those ages I would do something more low key. Not for summer, but Everglades are great to see a ton of alligators.
Close to home, Shenandoah

[Anonymous]

I took my 3 kids, then 8, 5, and 2 to Acadia last summer. We had a great time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those ages I would do something more low key. Not for summer, but Everglades are great to see a ton of alligators.
Close to home, Shenandoah

My parents live next to the Everglades NP. It's a great day trip, but it's not the same as the other national parks where you stay overnight in them and can see things for days.

[Anonymous]

I have a 4 and a 2 year old and I would not plan this trip. I'd do something close to home. What does your DH want to do at the national park? They will not be wowed by the Grand Canyon or the beautiful vistas somewhere. They can't really "hike".

Take them to "hike" around Roosevelt Island. Drive down to Skyline drive and get a cabin to "camp" in. But keep it low key with low expectations and work your way up.

My kids are excited about a big muddy field or driving over to Clemyjontri.

BUT if you two will have fun and want the kids along, fine. But don't expect them to get much out of it just yet.

[Anonymous]

What about the bay area and hitting Muir Woods and Point Reyes? If you want more you could road trip down to Pinnacles and even Sequoia.

[Anonymous]

Take pictures to prove they were there. Let them run around as much as possible. The "where", which park, won't matter to them, not at that age. If a visit to a specific park is something you want to check off your parent list, that's the reason to do it.

[Anonymous]

Have they been to Great Falls? I'd start there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 4 and a 2 year old and I would not plan this trip. I'd do something close to home. What does your DH want to do at the national park? They will not be wowed by the Grand Canyon or the beautiful vistas somewhere. They can't really "hike".

Take them to "hike" around Roosevelt Island. Drive down to Skyline drive and get a cabin to "camp" in. But keep it low key with low expectations and work your way up.

My kids are excited about a big muddy field or driving over to Clemyjontri.

BUT if you two will have fun and want the kids along, fine. But don't expect them to get much out of it just yet.

I agree with your suggestions but would plan and did plan a National Park trip with a 2 and 4 year old, and it was wonderful! (Actually, the 2 year old was not quite 2 at the time, but almost.) We went to Moab, Utah and Arches National Park. We had a great time hiking, and the now-5 year old still talks about it and recognizes landmarks from the trip when she sees them on tv, etc. She learned about new plants and animals and landscape features. My kids really love the outdoors though, so that trip was right up their alley.

[Anonymous]

Acadia has plenty of short walks a 2 and 4 year old can do, with rocks to scamper on and tide pools to play in. Plus it'd be inexpensive. Then again, since they won't remember anyway, go somewhere you also want to go.

[Anonymous]

We took our kids to Yosemite at that age. We rented bicycles with child carriages attached - that was fun. 4 yr old would enjoy the 'junior ranger' program (he can get the booklet at the visitors center, and when he completes it and turns it in, he gets 'sworn in' as a junior ranger. I think all national parks have this). We had to bribe the kids to do any 'hikes'. DH and I each took turns doing a longer hike alone while the other watched the kids.

[Anonymous]

So with kids those ages they will not be into the incredible views and such. They just do not perceive that far away. They will be into a stream with smooth rocks they can pick up, a foot bridge over a fast moving stream/river, a beach, tide pools, large trees, etc.
Yosemite, kings canyon, Olympic are good parks. Hiking on the easy trails to waterfalls, getting pancakes at the lodge, etc.

[Anonymous]

This is why Great Wolf Lodge and Disney Wildersness Lodge Exist! If you want to go for yourselves (b/c YOU the adults want to see a National Park), then go to a real national park. If you are doing it for your kids, HAVE PATIENCE! There will come a time when the youngest is 8 or more that you will really enjoy the big national parks. Until then, you go to WV camp sites, or Poconos/Sesame St. park, or the beach (with a condo). But, the big national parks are a waste of money for the 2 and 4 yr old. And frankly, it takes a LOT of effort to get to Yellowstone/Zion/Bryce/Grand Canyon. They are somewhat remote. So, you want kids who are capable of dealing with long travel days and TIME CHANGES.

Stay on the East Coast, continue to learn and plan for someday... and pick a more toddler-friendly vacation.

[Anonymous]

Acadia for certain.

Save the western national parks until they are a little older with more stamina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acadia for certain.

Save the western national parks until they are a little older with more stamina.

I'll third the Acadia suggestion for the reasons given...