Winter has arrived. Time to Head South.

by Natalie Preddie, Family & Travel Writer

Winter is coming. In fact, winter has already arrived. If you hadn’t planned your family getaway for winter 2018, I’m sure the snow has reminded you that it is time to book a trip somewhere warm.

When traveling with small kids, there are a few key things to consider before landing on a destination: short flight time and resort transfers, family-friendly activities, sunshine. Whether you are looking for an all-inclusive or self-catering vacation, here are my top destination choices for your family’s winter getaway.

Cayo Coco, Cuba

Cuba is a nice and short 3 and a half hour flight from southern Ontario. As Cayo Coco is a small island, it won’t take long to get from the airport to your resort which is a huge bonus after check-in, security and the flight itself. The sun is (nearly) always shining, the water is crystal clear and long stretches of white sand are just waiting to be made into sand castles. There are a lot of fantastic all-inclusive resort options on Cayo Coco and most of them host fantastic kids club with certified babysitters and baby clubs for their guests under 4 years old. Everyone is happy!

Fort Myers, Florida

Fort Myers is the home of spring training baseball and a game is a great day out for the whole family. With a flight time of 3 hours and 10 minutes, it is ideal for families with young kids: This was actually C’s first flight at 5 months. Fort Myers Beach has live bands, ice cream parlors and killer sunsets. Take a day trip over to Sanibel Island for miles of quieter beautiful beach, check out alligators, flamingos and more at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge or play in Henry Ford’s winter estate. Air BnB or VRBOa place in Fort Myers- There are lots of apartments for houses for rent which means your own kitchen, bedroom and often, your own pool.

Caribbean Cruise

Most cruises depart from somewhere in Florida so you are looking for a 3 to 4-hour flight which is ideal when traveling with little ones. Cruises are a great way to get some winter sun and visit many different Caribbean islands. You and the family an settle into your cabin and have a base from which to explore. The cruise ship itself will be an adventure: themed cruises are great for kids and often cater to multigenerational travel as well. The ship will have activities for the whole family such as shows, five-star dining, swimming pools, ice rinks, ball pits- the options are endless. Take some time to research different ships and cruise line offerings, routes and offshore excursions. You can play on a beach in Barbados or do a rum tasting in Jamaica before climbing back onto the ship and heading somewhere new. There is a boat out there with your name on.

About the Author

Natalie Preddie is a new mom to a beautiful baby boy who already shares her love of adventure. From traveling solo in her younger years to more recent travels with her husband, she now captures her growing family’s adventures on her blog and through social media.

From backpacking to luxury resorts, she has traveled to more than 30 countries and looks forward to visiting much more with her baby in tow. She has worked with Visit Jamaica, Magical Kenya, Four Seasons Resorts, Island Expeditions and Visit California to name a few. She is currently focusing on the best way to travel and enjoy the world with a baby. She is a Sunwing Kidcations Expert and a Huggies #nobabyunhugged mom ambassador.

Twitter: @_NattyP  Instagram: _NattyP  Facebook: The Adventures of Natty P