Our Favorite Cities for an Active Vacation

by Jill Schuman | June 02, 2017 | 0 Comments

Going on an active, outdoorsy vacation doesn’t mean you can’t have a cultural and educational trip! Our favorite vacation destinations offer the best of both worlds – which is great, especially if you have kids. Check out our favorite cities for mixing indoor and outdoor fun. 

Wellington, New Zealand 

Photo courtesy of Simeon W

Wellington has got a great vibe. It’s trendy yet down to earth. It’s got great restaurants, shopping, and some incredible scenery to boot. The Te Papa Museum, New Zealand’s national museum and art gallery has incredible exhibits and offers visitors a unique insight into New Zealand’s history and culture. Wellington itself has great walking on the the greenbelts that run throughout the city. It’s easy to forgot you’re in the middle of New Zealand’s capital city!

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle, photo courtesy of Michael D Beckwith

In addition to Edinburgh’s wealth of museums and galleries, Scotland’s capital city has a fantastic mix of medieval and ultra-modern architecture. It’s a great city for walking – albeit very hilly. Take a stroll down the Royal Mile or walk up the extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat. You can also rent sea kayaks and paddle about the gorgeous Firth of Forth.

Denver, Colorado

Photo Courtesy of Sheila Sund

Denver has a vibrant art scene with numerous new galleries opening up and lots of museums like the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Clyfford Still Museum, and a massive aquarium. It’s also one of the most active cities in America. Ride a bike or go for a run along Cherry Creek, explore the large city parks, or go climbing on the cliffs above the Coors Brewery!

Vancouver, Canada

Photo courtesy of JamesZ_Flickr

We love Vancouver. It’s currently attempting to be the greenest city in the world by 2020 and has fantastic greenbelts throughout the city – like Stanley Park. From whale watching to sea kayaking to hiking the 47-mile West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, there’s no shortage of outdoorsy things to do in this beautiful city. On top of that, it’s super modern and trendy with plenty of great restaurants and galleries and museums.

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