Though September sadly signifies the end of summer, celebrity children are lucky enough that their parents can afford to take them away wherever and whenever. However, even A-list mothers like Heidi Klum and Victoria Beckham know that they have to take relatively quick trips so that their offspring don’t miss out on too much of their studies. Here are the seven best trips that celebs and their families are taking this fall.
BOSTON
WHAT TO DO: There’s plenty to do for everyone in Boston. Check out the New England Aquarium or catch a Red Sox game at legendary Fenway Park. Young art fans can view a Degas or Picasso at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, while more adventurous types can play on the musical keyboard steps at the Boston Museum of Science.
WHO GOES: Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen live there; Mark Wahlberg returns frequently, as he’s actually from the ‘Beantown’ area.
WHERE TO STAY: The Westin Copley Place is close to all the Boston action and very family friendly: children receive coloring books, bath toys and have their own personal phone line that tells bedtime stories.
NEW YORK CITY
WHAT TO DO: Kids can take a bite out of the Big Apple in so many ways. Times Square is an overload for the senses, as is the wonderland that is F.A.O. Schwarz, the famous toy store (and its iconic giant keyboard seen in the film, Big). Make sure to limit your child’s intake at the world’s largest candy store, Dylan’s Candy Bar, which was modeled after Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. You might also want to head over to the Great White Way (Broadway, that is) to watch a matinee of Avenue Q, a musical that uses puppets alongside human actors.
WHO GOES: Anyone and everyone – it IS New York, after all!
WHERE TO STAY: The Gansevoort Hotel. You might think this haute Meatpacking District hotel is only for adults, but it’s completely kid-friendly. Kids actually receive a goody bag upon arrival – and a Nintendo Wii to use for the duration of their stay. Also check out the ritzy Plaza hotel, which has its very own Eloise suite designed by fashion designer Betsey Johnson.
NEW ORLEANS
WHAT TO DO: Want to treat your child to a truly scary Halloween? Head NOLA, which is an outrageously fun, if somewhat ghoulish, stomping ground come All Hallows Eve. While you’re fashioning your daughter’s Sookie Stackhouse costume, you might want to take her to the Voodoo Museum followed by a streetcar ride to Louisiana’s Children’s Museum with its 100+ hands-on exhibits. To cap the day, treat her to some beignets and hot chocolate at the iconic Café du Monde. Yes, it might be scary – but blissfully so.
WHO GOES: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie frequently return to the city with their brood of six.
WHERE TO STAY: The Ritz Carlton New Orleans is just one block away from the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street. The hotel is classy, extravagant and opulent – the perfect fit for any celebrity family. Babysitting services are also available via the hotel’s concierge.
ORLANDO
WHAT TO DO: Need we explain why Orlando is the best location for a celebrity child? It’s home to Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Legoland, SeaWorld and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Yup, enough said.
WHO GOES: Seriously, even celebrity offspring and their parents have passed through Mickey Mouse’s Floridian palace and yes, that does include little princess Suri Cruise.
WHERE TO STAY: Staying in one of Disney’s Beach Club Villas is like having your own personal waterpark on premises. Stormalong Bay features three acres of waterfalls, a river and a waterslide (there’s even a tanning deck for adults). Another option is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, a 43-acre wildlife preserve where gazelles, zebra and antelopes roam.
LONDON
WHAT TO DO: Londoners are still riding high on adrenaline after hosting the Olympics, which is why autumn is a perfect time to visit! A-listers might treat their children to a day at The London Zoo, or an afternoon visiting the food halls at Harrods department store. Though it isn’t a thrill-inducing amusement park, the London Eye is a great place to see the entirety of this wonderful, timeless city.
WHO GOES: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale have a home in London with their sons, as do Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin; Madonna’s brood of four also spend a fair amount of time in Old Blighty.
WHERE TO STAY: Kids have their very own concierge at the Athenaeum Hotel in London’s tony Mayfair neighborhood. There is also a child-friendly menu that was actually created by children (and it’s obvious, given that Nutella features heavily at breakfast).
MAUI
WHAT TO DO: Celebrities with adventurous, outdoor-loving kids will enjoy vacationing in Maui. Go below the sea in one of the Atlantis Submarines, or explore Hana, one of the world’s largest lava tubes. Perhaps your child can even learn to surf (or at least paddleboard) during an afternoon excursion to Wailea, one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii.
WHO GOES: Kelsey Grammer and his family have a second home on Maui, which is also a favorite spot of Britney Spears and her boys, Clint Eastwood and his clan and former Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin.
WHERE TO STAY: The Grand Wailea Hotel & Spa has so many water park options that your kids many not even need to go to the beach! There’s a “canyon riverpool” with slides, caves, a Tarzan-like swing and “water elevator” as well as a waterfall on premises. There’s even an area called Camp Grande with a movie theater and game room. What does that equal? Winning!
SAN FRANCISCO
WHAT TO DO: The weather can be unpredictable in summer, but come fall, San Francisco is a delightful place to be. Kids won’t have to bundle up too much to take a ride on one of the city’s famous trolleys, or spend a few hours gallivanting through Golden Gate Park. Make sure to take them to The Exploratorium, a museum of “science, art and human perception” that houses areas like the shadow room, distortion room and tactile dome. You may also want to take a ferry across the bay to the interactive Discovery Museum in Sausalito.
WHO GOES: Halle Berry, Brooke Shields and Demi Moore have all been spotted there with kids in tow.
WHERE TO STAY: It has a ‘treasure chest’ full of toys in its lobby as well as fun nautical-themed rooms, making the Argonaut Hotel an ideal place for kids to stay. As a bonus, it’s just one block away from the world’s best chocolate and ice cream in Ghirardelli Square.