When travelling to a place, especially one you haven’t been to, it is vital to visit it at the right time. In this article, I’ve listed places depending on summer holidays in the northern and southern hemispheres. Select the months you’ll travel, and find the perfect summer family vacation spot here. Take a look!
From June to September
If your country of residence is in the northern hemisphere, the summer lasts roughly from June to September, depending on which zone you are located in. Therefore, the destinations mentioned below are ideally experienced in these months.
Summer family vacation spot: Bhutan
One of the world’s happiest countries, Bhutan is a destination you shouldn’t miss out on. Nestled near the East end of the Himalayas, the country is home to some of the most scenic backdrops in the world today. Bhutan is the perfect opportunity for you to introduce your children to a different, mystic, and unique world. Apart from the attractions in this country, the various festivals celebrated all year round are also famous.
Bhutan starts getting pleasant from the 2nd week of September. Though you have just a week to 10 days of summer left and might have to miss an additional weekend at work, the vacation is worth it all.
Attractions
- Lhuentse Dzong
- Paro Valley
- Phobjika Valley
- Taktsang Palphug Monastery
- Dochula Pass
- Haa Valley
Remember: Buying cigarettes is illegal in Bhutan.
Summer family vacation spot: Finland
A trip to any Nordic country has benefits of its own. A clean, unpolluted, and highly well-kept environment will welcome you everywhere in this country. With approximately 2,00,000 lakes, Finland is a country that is unique, beautiful, and undoubtedly worth visiting.
If you want to see the Northern Lights, try to plan your vacation towards the end of summer, preferably after September 10. You can also take your children to visit the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Apart from these, other attractions are mentioned below, none of which should be missed.
Attractions
- Lake Päijänne
- Lake Saimaa
- Lake Inari
- Lake Jyväsjärvi
- Petäjävesi Old Church
- Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki
- Suomenlinna
- Old Rauma
Summer family vacation spot: Mongolia
Another Buddhist country on this list, Mongolia, will take you by surprise. Almost half the population lives in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. This tells us how sparsely populated the rest of the country is. This is also the country where you will get to see the Bactrian camel.
Attractions
- Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape
- The Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai
- Ubsunur Hollow
- Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
- Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
- Khustain Nuruu National Park
Summer family vacation spot: Slovenia
The European country of Slovenia will definitely surprise you with the kind of variety it has in the vacation spots it offers. In just one small country, it has the Julian Alps, the Mediterranean, Dinarides, and a small coastline with the Adriatic sea. Apart from these natural wonders, the country, especially its capital, is home to many Baroque buildings.
Attractions
- Mediterranean town of Piran
- Škocjan Caves
- Postojna Cave
- the picturesque Lake Bled
- Triglav National Park
- Pohorje Mountains
- Kamnik-Savinja Alps
- Town of Škofja Loka
- Ptuj (oldest city in Slovenia)
- Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija
- Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
Summer family vacation spot: Russia
A country like Russia will probably take your entire vacation dates and still leave you many more vacation spots to cover. Two attractions in this country deserve a special mention. One is Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake in the world, and the other is the Trans-Siberian railway, one of the longest railways globally, a priced journey for travellers. Also important is visiting the cities that make up the Golden Ring, a group of towns that best portray the culture of this country.
Attractions
- Uvs Lake
- Golden Mountains of Altai
- Lena Pillars
- Virgin Komi Forests
- Volcanoes of Kamchatka
- Western Caucasus
- Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra
- Kremlin and Red Square
- Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands
- The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
- Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg
- Kizhi Pogost
From December to March
If you stay in the southern hemisphere, the summer lasts roughly from December to March, depending on which zone you are located in. Therefore, the destinations mentioned below can be enjoyed in these months.
Summer family vacation spot: Oman
A nation almost closed to travellers until the 1960s, today, Oman is a cultural delight. Lands adorned with souks and unpolluted waters decorated with dhows, Oman quenches a traveller’s thirst for visual pleasure. Cultural tourism is growing here, giving you many opportunities to teach your children about various global cultures.
The Intercon Beach is a family destination, just like the Qantab beach, that also offers boat rides by local fishermen. You might even have the chance to spot whales in the country’s magnificent waters. Apart from all this, you have other activities, such as bird watching, caving, and desert safaris, to keep you interested for your entire vacation. Some events at this time of the year are: the Muscat Festival, the Bidiyah Challenge and the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race.
Attractions
- Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn
- Bahla Fort
- Land of Frankincense
- Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman
- Al Sawadi Beach
- Mokallah also called White Beach
- Al Fahal Island
- Jebel Shams
- Al-Hoota Cave
However, keep calm during your entire trip. Remember, you can be taken to court under Omani law for calling someone names.
Summer family vacation spot: Namibia
Namibia is your best bet if you’re looking for cheap summer family vacation ideas. There is so much you can do with such little money. Safaris, culturally-rich cities, heritage monuments – everything in one short trip. Namibia is known mainly for its safaris, and March and/or April are among the best times to take one. It’s a great time to view wildlife; with softer light, this is also an excellent time for photography. If you’re a bird-watching enthusiast, this is the best time to visit the country. Also, since the sun is a little less harsh, you’ll have a fabulous safari experience at the desert. You’ll also miss the high prices of the dry season.
Attractions
- Twyfelfontein or ǀUi-ǁAis
- Etosha National Park
- Namib-Naukluft National Park
- Tintenpalast
- Zoo Park, Windhoek
- Swakopmund City
- Fish River Canyon
- Ai-Ais Hot Springs
Summer family vacation spot: Turkey
Turkey, with its capital Istanbul is famous on the travelling map. Istanbul has a lot to offer, given its status as the centre of the Ottoman Empire and Byzantine rule. Resorts in the Mediterranean are particularly famous. For local shopping, try the Grand and Spice Bazaar in Istanbul.
Attractions
- Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia
- Library of Celsus
- Hagia Sophia
- Selimiye Mosque
- Mount Ararat
- Turquoise Coast
- Uzungöl Lake
- Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Sümela Monastery
- Archaeological Site of Troy
- Historic Areas of Istanbul
- Hierapolis-Pamukkale
- Xanthos-Letoon
Summer family vacation spot: Japan
Japan is one of the world’s most distinctly culturally different modern countries today. The country’s ancient capital Kyoto has more than what a city can offer in terms of culture and heritage. The sites in this city are truly spectacular. Take your children to stay with the monks at Koya’s mountaintop temples. This is a great place to introduce them to the concept of spirituality.
Vacation spots are spread throughout the country, and it would be better if you could spend more than a week or ten days exploring the country properly. Also, Japan is an expensive country, be prepared.
Attractions
- Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkakuji
- Skyscraper district of Shinjuku
- Kamakura Daibutsu
- Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial
- Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama
- Itsukushima Shrine
- Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
Summer family vacation spot: Vietnam
Vietnam was hardly ever considered a tourist destination. Only after the 1990s, and thanks to the state and private sector investment, do we now see Vietnam on the global tourism map. The country is still developing according to international standards, meaning you get to see the best of this nation minus all the crowds. Sometime between January and March, you can witness the Tết celebration, the Vietnamese New Year.
Nationals from selected countries, such as Indonesia, Japan, Finland, Denmark, etc., do not need a visa. However, the number of days you stay is limited and varies from citizen to citizen.
Attractions
- Con Dao Island
- Cu Chi Tunnels
- Cuc Phuong National Park
- Vietnamese Demilitarised Zone
- Ha Long Bay
- Mỹ Sơn
- Cao Dai Temple
- Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- The Citadel of Ho Dynasty
- Complex of Hué Monuments
- Hoi An Ancient Town
- Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
The summer family vacation ideas mentioned above have given you plenty of ideas. Select one that intrigues you the most and set sail.
