5 Magical Storybook Vacation Destinations for Kids
Want to take a real life storybook vacation?
Do you remember your first trip to the Land of OZ. What about the Hundred Acre Wood? Narnia?
Books take us places. Raising a child to love reading means taking them on these trips with you, showing them the worlds they can only go to between the pages. But what if you could really go on a storybook vacation in those worlds? Well, for some of them, you actually can!
Check out these Storybook Vacations for your family.
OZ
I recently read a version of “The Wizard of Oz”, adapted for the younger reader, to my 4 year old son. He was fascinated. He’s not yet seen the film or any other adaptation of it, but the story came first. Even though we didn’t read the full unabridged version of Frank L Baum’s text, we read a version of it that appealed to him and interested him, written for a younger audience.
And I was reminded once again of how wonderful Oz really is, with its winding yellow brick road and enchanted forests, its fields of poppies and glamorous Emerald city. Oz is an incredible place to visit.
And after you visit that magical land in the pages, take a storybook vacation in a real life OZ.
Yup. And it’s in Kansas. Wamego, to be exact. I first visited this tiny tourist town with my husband about 7 years ago, but we intend to go back with my son some day when we can make the trip again. Everything in Wamego, KS is Oz themed, from the restaurants to the shops. There’s even a small stretch of Yellow Brick Road, and an OZtober Festival every year. The main attraction, however, is the Oz Museum. The museum hold artifacts from the film as well as original keepsakes pertaining to Frank L Baum’s books and the tour is quite fun and engaging. If your child really takes to OZ, whether it be in the film or the books, this is a definite must visit location.
The Hundred Acre Wood
As a child, one of my favorite characters to read was Winnie the Pooh. While I enjoyed the cartoons, I also loved the original stories. A.A. Milne managed to created something utterly timeless in her tales of that silly old bear. I strongly recommend the original stories for anyone who loves the Disney version. There is a lot of wisdom to be found in the Hundred Acre Wood, no matter what your age.
And if your child loves to read about Pooh’s adventures, they may be surprised to know that they can actually visit the hundred acre wood!
Well, technically, it’s the Five Hundred Acre Wood. But yes. The Hundred Acre wood is based on an actual forest— Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, England. There are two public paths in the forest that you can take, which take you through places that inspired A.A. Milne’s stories.
Hogwarts
Well, it had to make it on here, didn’t it? I remember I was 11, the same age as Harry when the books came out, and grew up alongside him. Harry Potter was a big part of my childhood, and going to Hogwarts was a lifelong fantasy. And now…
You can actually go to Hogwarts.
Universal Studios now has Harry Potter experiences at both of their locations, complete with a Castle, Rides, restaurants, and shops. When there, you are fully immersed in the world of Harry Potter. You can walk through Diagon Alley, drink butter bear, and even ride a dragon.
And if theme parks aren’t your speed, you can always go to London.
London is full of Harry Potter sites and attractions, from Alnwick Castle—where the films were shot— to Platform 9 and 3/4. It’s actually there! While my husband and I (both huge Potter fans) have visited the Orlando theme park attractions (squealing like children all the way down Diagon Ally), London is on our bucket list for when our son is older and able to begin his Harry Potter education. Either way, being able to visit the world of Harry Potter, even in a small way, is magical.
Narnia
When I was little I used to go into my closet, shut the door and go all the way to the back of it, hoping I’d land myself in Narnia. Bummer, that doesn’t work.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could visit that vast enchanted land of magical creatures?
Well, actually…
You can.
Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, Newry (UK) has a Narnia Trail. The park itself inspired C.S. Lewis to write the books, and now it is a themed family trail experience which you enter—GET THIS— through a wardrobe door! There are sculptures throughout the trail, and magic around every corner. In November, you can even attend a Narnia festival, celebrating the books.
So yes, if your child reads or watches the Chronicles of Narnia and asks you if they can visit Narnia, it’s totally possible. It’s just, unfortunately, not in their closet.
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination…”
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory had it all, a chocolate river, geese that laid chocolate eggs and all the latest in completely illogical candy technology. Going there would be the best thing ever!
Okay, so Willy Wonka isn’t real, which makes visiting his actual factory kind of impossible. Plus, the factory itself had a number of unsafe attractions and you certainly wouldn’t want your child tossed in the garbage, shrunk, or thrown into a chocolate. But…
Wouldn’t you love to visit a place with that much wonder?
Well, there is a hands on chocolate factory in Switzerland that comes really darn close to Wonka’s chocolate paradise, without all the danger of being turned into a blueberry. It’s called Chocolarium, and it is a whimsical tour of a real working chocolate factory. Best part, it’s educational too. So If you ever get to go to Switzerland, be sure not to pass this one up.
What do you think?
Which fairytale world do you wish you could visit?
Have you been to any of these?
Are there any other real-world storybook vacation dedications you’ve visited or heard about?
