Blog Carnival: Fun Adventures for Families

Family travel is always an adventure: "expect the unexpected", as you never quite know how things will go. And with little kids in tow, packing for even a short trip seems to require enough stuff for a Himalayan trek. The good part is that kids always bring a wonderful spirit of adventure along.

Below, eighteen of our intrepid Guides in the Travel Channel offer inspirations for traveling families, from once-in-a-lifetime family safaris in Africa, to a safari park in England, to fun in the Wild West, to dinosaurs in a New York City museum.

Toddler Attractions in New York City: Start off by seeing the real-life dinosaurs -- well, their skeletons are real -- at the amazing American Museum of Natural History.

Wild West Fun in Cody Wyoming includes the Cody Nite Rodeo and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center.

Alaska Glacier Helicopter Tour: Our Guide to Cruises calls this "one of the best excursions" she's ever taken. ( And that's saying a lot.)

Whalewatching at Virginia Beach, VA: Each winter, something huge happens off the coast of Virginia Beach: humpback whales and fin whales pass by on their migration, with prime opportunities for whale-watching.

Fun Things to Do With Kids in Arizona: From a mule trip into the Grand Canyon, to a wild west show in Tombstone, the town that's "too tough to die."

Top Indoor Water Park Resorts: Private water parks at family resorts get bigger and the slides get wilder; which one makes the biggest splash? Our Guide to Theme Parks shares his top picks.

Montreal, Quebec: Young astronauts can climb into the space ship "Endeavor," or get weightless on a space walk, at the Cosmodome Space Science Centre.

Vancouver BC: See beluga whales at the Vancouver Aquarium, ride the Virtual Simulator at the Planetarium, or a wild wooden coaster at Playland.

Top Family Attractions in the UK: Who knew, that Longleat-- southwest of London-- has one of the best safari parks in the world? There's also a castle adventure playground, giant maze, historic manor, and more. Or try "Jorvik the Viking City," or LEGOLAND Windsor.

Free Family Day Out in London: A great free day starting with the (free!) British Museum, and onto a free playground, and spooky university museums.

MoominWorld, Finland: Moomin fans can meet their favourite characters at this family tourist attraction. (Moomins being the white hippo-shaped cartoon characters beloved by many.)

Disneyland Paris: Disneyland is always a land of adventure for little kids, and if you're traveling in France, your family may find this popular attraction irresistible.

Northern Ireland: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: This rope suspension bridge connects a tiny island to the mainland, spanning 20 meters, 30 meters above the rocks below. Do you dare?

Germany: Fairy Tale Road: Germany is the country of the Brothers Grimm who wrote Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and other famous tales. The German Fairy Tale Road connects towns and landscapes that are the settings of fairy tales: explore forests, castles, and medieval villages with cobblestone streets.

Family Safaris in Africa: The ultimate family adventure of a lifetime. Read and dream about family safaris in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, and Namibia.

Beijing For Kids: Taking the family to China is a big adventure in itself. Our Guide to China Travel offers highlights in Beijing, including a theme park of world landmarks in miniature, an aquarium, amusement park, and more.

Jamaica - Water Parks: Need a break from the beach? Kids love to have fun at a water park.

Fantastic Family Adventure Trips: Our Guide to Adventure Travel suggests a family safari in Kenya, watching Old Faithful at Yellowstone, gliding down the Amazon in a classic riverboat.

*Photo © Sami Sarkis/Getty Images.