Disneyland might very well be the most magical place on Earth, but it seems that tickets to any theme park nowadays costs a family a small fortune, plus two arms and three legs–worth of travel expenses. Worse, besides the enchanted expressions and elated squeals of their little ones, most parents have very little to enjoy during such kid-centric vacations.
Instead of depleting your kids’ college funds for a family trip to a theme park, you can travel to any of the following equally entrancing destinations for true family fun. These shops, restaurants, and cultural centers are built on the dreams and wishes of your children, but they are located in urban centers that make for excellent adult playgrounds, so everyone should be fascinated and have good family fun.
1. Hello Kitty Sweets
Hello Kitty tends to inspire different reactions in different people, but among kids, the overwhelming emotion is devotion. Those who love that adorable feline in her bow and dress usually own and proudly display multiple Hello Kitty items, from plushies and figurines to plates and shirts — and they just can’t get enough. For a Hello Kitty experience that is nearly overwhelming in its cuteness, you should take your Hello Kitty disciples to Taipei’s Hello Kitty Sweets. Everything here is Hello Kitty — the décor, the staff, the food — so even the most ardent fan of Hello Kitty should have a sated appetite.
2. HERSHEY’S Chocolate World
Imagine a world made entirely out of chocolate and candy. Chances are your mental picture isn’t a far cry from HERSHEY’S Chocolate World, a store dedicated to all things sweet. While HERSHEY’S may be available in your home grocery store, your kids will flip to find hundreds upon hundreds of their favorites candies in the exact same place. The store offers handmade sweets as well, in the form of fresh baked goods, milkshakes, unique candy bars, and more.
The HERSHEY’S Chocolate World in Pennsylvania isn’t a far cry from an amusement park, with a handful of rides based on the best Hershey’s sweets. If you want to avoid the park atmosphere entirely, head to another one of Hershey’s stores. HERSHEY’S Chocolate World Las Vegas is an excellent choice considering the wealth of family-friendly activities around the Strip.
3. 826 Valencia
Your kids likely still dream about becoming pirates, but pirates need quite a bit of swag before they can accomplish any devilry on the high seas. Thank goodness for 826 Valencia in San Francisco, the Pirate Supply Store. Finally, your kids can outfit themselves in peg legs, hook hands, eye patches, swords, and more to truly transform into their pirate passions.
Author Dave Eggers founded 826 Valencia as a means to fund his literacy and creative writing campaigns amongst inner-city youth. Every penny spent in the store goes to helping kids learn to read and write. Plus, San Francisco doesn’t have the only 826 Valencia; Brooklyn offers Super Hero Supply Co. and Los Angeles has a Time Travel Mart, among several other locations.
4. Ninja
You can forget the idea of a theme park when you visit this outstanding ninja-themed restaurant in New York City. Performers trained in the ancient martial art perform knife tricks, jump and flip, and serve delicious Japanese cuisine. If your kids weren’t previously enamored by this particular Japanese warrior, they will be after your dinner here.
5. Paddington Bear Shop
The teddy bear is the most beloved stuffed animal in most kids’ menageries, and there is no bear more iconic than Paddington, in his charming red hat and blue coat. If you know anything about Paddington Bear’s origins — abandoned at a train station and adopted by the loving Brown family — you will truly appreciate the world’s only Paddington Bear Shop at Paddington Station in London. Your kids can come see their bear in his hometown and pick up a handful of one-of-a-kind Paddington pieces.
6. Please Touch Museum
Museums usually bring about mixed emotions in kids: They are offered fascinating artifacts and unprecedented knowledge but told stringently to keep their hands and feet to themselves. However, at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, kids can let their fingers run free. Exhibits here are designed for ultimate interaction, to educate kids by employing all of their senses, and include subjects such as physics, engineering, biology, history, and more. The staff is trained in early childhood development and fully understands the importance of play in helping a child grow and learn.
