Famous Places in the World for Children to Visit

North America

• North America has many stunning sights to see, both natural and man-made. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a wonder of natural beauty with opportunities to hike, raft and camp. The National Park Service has also organized a Junior Ranger program for kids ages 4 to 14. Kids can pick up a "Junior Ranger" magazine when they arrive at the park, and receive a badge upon completion of the activities inside. Washington, D.C., is another place children should visit. It is rich in U.S. history and has sites such as the White House and the Lincoln Memorial, and kid-friendly museums. The National Air and Space museum has planes and a moon rock, while The National Museum of Natural History has dinosaurs.

South America

• The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, has an extraordinary collection of animal life. Children can see giant tortoises, iguanas and seals in their natural habitat on these volcanic islands. Machu Picchu in Peru, with 15th century Incan ruins, is another famous destination in South America. Families can take day trips to the site or join a kid-friendly trek that will involve hiking and camping. Because of the physical nature of climbing and hiking the area, it's better suited for older kids. Both places are preserved as World Heritage sites.

Europe

• Europe has an abundance of famous destinations. Traditional stops include Big Ben and Parliament in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Still famous, but sometimes overlooked, is the Gaudi architecture of Barcelona. His creativity led to buildings such as La Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction long after his death, Parc Guell, a garden complex high in the hills overlooking the city, and La Pedrera, an apartment building that appears to have been carved into rocks. Touring his work can be interspersed with touring the vibrant city and hitting the beach.

Africa

• An African safari can be an excellent vacation for a family. Several countries are well-known for the incredible that can be encountered. Zimbabwe has Victoria Falls, South Africa has many animal reserves, Kenya has large cats, and Tanzania has Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro. A 2013 CNN poll recently rated Tanzania as the best country for safaris.

Asia

• Kyoto, Japan, is World Heritage site that allows kids to experience traditional Japan. They can try out a karate class at Genbu martial arts school, see the 18 steam engines on display at the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum and explore a multitude of shrines and temples. Bangkok, Thailand, is another exciting city to explore. Kids will enjoy traversing the city in ferries and river taxis, the excitement of street markets, stunning Buddhist temples and the enormous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.

Australia

• The Sydney Opera House is to Australia as the Eiffel Tower is to France. Tours of the building are also available. Two of Australia's most famous natural landmarks are Ayers Rock --now known as Uluru -- and the Great Barrier Reef. Uluru is is an enormous rock structure and is revered by Aboriginal people. If your family wants to snorkel and explore the Great Barrier Reef you can stay on the mainland or an island and book a boat tour.