TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
FAMILY TRAVEL
FROM LEFT: DAVID BALL/GETTYIMAGES; COURTESY OF STORY BOOK GARDEN; 2CDESIGN/GETTYIMAGES61 VENETIAN MASK
INSTEAD OF TAKING HOME ONE OF THE MASS-PRODUCED MASKS
FROM VENICE, YOUR KIDS AND YOU CAN GET TO MAKE AUTHENTIC
ONES YOURSELVES. SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN SIX YEARS AND OVER,
THE 1½-HOUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOP COSTS US$150 PER PERSON
(FOR A GROUP OF THREE TO NINE PEOPLE). LEARN THE CRAFT
FROM A REAL MASCARERI, AND BE GUIDED ON PAINTING AND
DECORATING YOUR MASKS WITH GLITTER, FEATHERS, SEQUINS
AND RIBBONS.SELECTITALY.COM
The Metropolitan
Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of
Art in New York has kid-friendly
family maps or audio guides ideal
for children aged 6-12 years.
Plus, they have select concerts
throughout the year that offer
special US$1 tickets for kids (aged
7–16) accompanied by an adult
purchasing a full-price ticket
(maximum three children’s tickets
per paying adult). metmuseum.org
ArtScience
Museum
ArtScience Museum in Singapore
showcases art, science, design,
media, architecture, and
technology. Every Friday, up to
four children under 12 can enter
for free with every adult ticket
purchased. The admission ticket
allows a one-time entry to the
exhibition, same day re-entry,
and complimentary access to the
permanent ArtScience exhibit.
Special prices for family
(2 adults and 2 children) for
US$27.72. marinabaysands.com Storybook
Gardens
One of Australia’s premier wine
growing regions, Hunter Valley,
in New South Wales, is popular
among family travellers owing
to its Storybook Gardens, a
nursery rhyme themed park built
for children. Enter the Storybook
Garden through a giant storybook
being ‘read’ by topiary giraffes!
Join Humpty Dumpty, Jack and
Jill as they tumble down the
hill, Alice in Wonderland at the
Mad Hatters Tea Party, Little Bo
Peep and many more characters.
Special price for family (2 adults
and 1 child) is for US$44.76
huntervalleygardens.com.au Specialist
Travel Agency
Family Twist is a specialist travelagency in Paris and London. They
offer treasure hunts round the city’s
world famous museums and guided
walking tours in the atmospheric
medieval quarters. You can also
choose from their workshops on
bread-making or Impressionist art
classes. family-twist.com Alcatraz Island
Once home to some of America’s
most notorious criminals, the
Alcatraz Island now houses
rare fl owers and plants, marine
wildlife, and thousands of roosting
and nesting sea birds. The Family
Ticket for two adults two children
(ages 5-11) costs US$94.25 for
a round trip tour of the island.
alcatrazcruises.com Vienna Card
The Vienna Card offers more
than 210 discounts at museums
and sights, theatres and concerts,
shops, cafés, restaurants, and
free travel on the city’s public
transport system for 48 or 72
hours for US$21 and US$24.27
respectively. The card also
entitles one child up to the age
of 15 to travel free with you on
production of ID card on Vienna
public transportation that
includes underground rail, tram,
and bus. wien.info Boston Harbour
Cruise
Boston Harbour Cruise’s hi-
speed catamaran takes you
to Stellwagen Bank Marine
Sanctuary, a rich feeding
ground for whales, dolphins, sea
birds and more. This includeshumpbacks fi nbacks, and the
critically endangered right
whales. Whale sightings are
guaranteed, so if there are none
on your trip, you’ll receive a free
ticket for a future whale watch.
A ‘Family 4’ ticket is for US$140.
bostonharborcruises.com Irish Rail
They have special family fares for
travel to/from Dublin. Take your
pick from Cork, Galway, Limerick,
and more for a family of one or
two adults and up to four children.
Or simply ride the electric rail
within Dublin along the coast of
the Irish Sea from Malahide or
Howth in north County Dublin,
southwards, as far as Greystones,
Co Wicklow. Family tickets offer
unlimited travel by DART (Dublin
Area Rapid Transit) or Suburban
Rail for a day at US$22. irishrail.ie Ridged Inflatable
Boat
The Ridged Infl atable Boat (RIB)
offers a thrilling, high-speed ride
on the Thames. The tour starts
at London Eye Millennium Pier
where you get a waterproof
jacket, a life jacket, and goggle-
style visors. Once the boat gets
past Tower Bridge, it really speeds
up, going at almost 30 knots.
Making the regular river cruises
staid. US$56.42 for adults, US$37
for children below 14 years.
londonribvoyages.com Prague Card
Prague Card gets you
free public transport, airport
express, bus tour, river cruise,The entrance to the
Metropolitan Museum
of Art, New YorkThe beautiful landscape as seen
At the Story Book Garden from an Irish Rail train in Dublin.