USA & Canada for families

There’s no sitting still in North America. In fact, it could turn the most docile of dynasties into get-up-and-goers. Yet depending on where you end up, there’s a different definition of high-octane – particularly in the quadfecta of New York, California, Canada and Florida. Where snow-capped mountains merge into waves that welcome all water babies, the Golden State is one big road trip where the thrills exude Cali-cool in the form of family surfing lessons, VIP movie studio tours and a helicopter ride over San Francisco’s iconic landmarks.

Even the littlest travellers will delight in the Big Apple. A bike ride through Central Park uncovers adventure playgrounds and serene picnic spots, while the American Museum of Natural History amazes young dinophiles with the world’s largest collection of fossils. Meanwhile, outdoorsy households have it best in Canada, with all ages getting their hands dirty. Outstanding nature is a given so to mix things up it’s all about experiencing the great outdoors from different perspectives.

Custom made boats give close-up encounters of the aquatic variety, while those with a head for heights get a great view from the top of a Sitka fir tree. Later on, tales are swapped around a campfire on a night so quiet it’s almost possible to hear the cries of joy all the way in Florida. Bathed in eternal sunshine, this mostly peninsula-based state is where adrenaline-inducing theme parks and lollygagging on stretches of fluffy sand merge perfectly.