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Travel the Globe with an Around the World Party Theme

Marcella Breglia

Contributor

Who says you ever have to leave your house to be a globetrotter? Explore diverse cultures, savor international cuisine, and immerse yourself in international fun with an around the world themed party! Let The Bash be your tour guide and get ready to embark on a worldly journey filled with everything from food and drinks ideas, entertainment, decorations, and much more. 

Setting up an around the world themed party with designated stations for different countries or regions is a fantastic way to immerse your guests in a worldwide adventure. Whether this celebration is a classroom party or just a unique birthday party theme, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about your guests and their cultures. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to stamp your passports as we embark on these around the world themed party ideas.

Bonus: Keep scrolling for Christmas around the world party ideas for this year’s festivities!

Keep reading for Around the World themed party ideas:

Passport invites.

Transport your guests into the world of travel from the very beginning of the party—the invites. With a passport themed invitation, you can literally give your guests a ticket to an around the world themed party adventure. Encourage guests to bring their passport invitations so you can use them for a fun party game. 

Stamp your Passport 

The best part about traveling internationally is getting your passport stamped! Travel around the world and stamp guest’s passports at each country station for an authentic feel. With themed stamps or stickers for every location, these passports can be a creative take-home item for guests to remember their travels and party. 

In an effort to take some stress away from the host and a great way to learn about your guests, host an around the world party potluck! Encourage guests to bring a traditional dish that represents their heritage and share a piece of themselves with the party. Not only will you check food off of your party planning list, but you will also create memories and connect with your guests. Pizza, tacos, and gyros sound delicious to us!

Currency Exchange Photo Booth 

Combining a photo booth and around the world party decorations will add a creative and interactive element to your celebration. Allow guests to place fake currency, like yen, dollars, or euros into a photo booth where they can enter to capture memories. This is a delightful blend of finance and fun, and every click of the camera will commemorate your around the world party adventure. 

Find a Photo Booth

Country Stations

The easiest way to achieve world traveler status for this around the world party is to set up stations for different countries. Guests can travel between countries to try different food, listen to cultural music, and maybe even learn a dance. If you want to bring your country stations to the next level, consider booking live music like Irish bagpipes , Italian singers , or even a Latin DJ .

Night in Paris

You’re definitely going to want to include the City of Lights for a Paris station. Transport your guests to a Parisian cafe with delicious pastries, cheese, and macarons. Hire an accordion player for some added romance and decorate this destination with twinkly lights and an Eiffel Tower centerpiece.  

Las Vegas Casino 

Just because this is an around the world themed party doesn’t mean you can’t stay domestic! Use glittering lights, oversized playing cards, and neon signs to recreate the high-energy ambiance of the famous Las Vegas strip. Set up a cocktail bar staffed with a bartender to make classic cocktails like martinis and cosmopolitans, and bring the Las Vegas magic to life by renting casino games , hiring a magician , mentalist , fortune teller , or a tarot card reader . 

Arabian Nights

Take a magic carpet ride to the Middle East with details from an Arabian nights party theme. Guests can enjoy shawarma and hummus, watch professional belly dancers , or even get a temporary tattoo from a talented henna artist .

Mexican Fiesta

Infuse your around the world party with the vibrant energy and flavors of Mexico by incorporating Mexican fiesta details! Turn this station into a colorful area with bright papel picado banners, piñatas, sombreros, and a mouth watering spread of traditional Mexican dishes.

African Safari

As you embark on your party all around the world, explore the untamed beauty of an African safari for an adventurous touch. Wrangle your station into an African savanna decorated with earthy tones, animal prints, and you could hire a face painter to transform your guests into wild animals or book an African band to delve into the culture.  

British Tea Party

This station will be everyone's cup of tea—literally. Take part in the refined tradition of a British tea party at your around the world themed party. With floral centerpieces, fine china teacups and saucers, this tea time playlist , and a pastel color scheme, your guests will have their pinkies up, Bridgerton style . 

Western Party 

Saddle up and get ready for a rootin'-tootin' good time as you add a thrilling wild west adventure to your around the world themed party. Create an authentic western atmosphere by incorporating hay bales, wooden barrels, and decorating cowboy hats. Set the stage with a country playlist or a live country band to make for some good old-fashioned country fun. 

Pro Tip: If western isn’t your style, you can always take a coastal cowgirl take on the western theme.

Create an oasis during the around the world fun with Hawaiian luau details! From the limbo to leis, everyone will go coconuts over this tropical party station. Hire a hula dancer or a ukulele player to set the beachy vibe as a perfect addition to your around the world party theme. 

Send everyone's taste buds on a global culinary adventure by hiring a caterer to bring various cuisines to life. Consider crowd-pleasers such as sushi rolls from Japan, savory tapas from Spain, or creamy pasta from Italy to create your around the world dinner party menu. Be sure to label each dish with its country of origin for an authentic touch. 

Pro Tip: Work with your caterer beforehand to see if they are willing to dress the part for this theme. If so, you can provide flight attendant and pilot uniforms for servers as an added travel touch. 

Find a Caterer

Treasure Hunt

Add a thrilling adventure to your around the world themed party with a global treasure hunt that will have your guests exploring continents, solving clues, and uncovering hidden treasures. Hide clues or fun facts at each country station and allow guests to travel the globe as guests explore to solve! The details in this quest will also double as perfect around the world party decorations. A global treasure hunt adds an exciting and interactive element as your guests party all around the world solving riddles and games! 

Globe Cake 

The perfect centerpiece for your party all around the world is a globe cake! Picture a cake shaped like a round globe, complete with intricate details like the continents, oceans, and even tiny edible landmarks representing the places you're celebrating. A globe cake is sure to be a delightful and Instagram-worthy addition to your global adventure-themed celebration. You could also very easily decorate sugar cookies to look like globes too!

Flag Decorations

Flag decorations are a simple but great way to infuse your around the world themed party with culture. Whether it's the stars and stripes of the USA, the Union Jack of the UK, or the bold colors of the Mexican flag, flags make the perfect around the world party decorations. So, unroll the flags, let them wave in the wind, and watch as they turn your party into a global celebration!

Postcards featuring iconic landmarks from different nations can become keepsakes that your guests can take home as mementos of their party around the world. Whether used as interactive elements, decorations, or party favors, postcards add a unique and heartfelt dimension to your adventurous celebration.

Suitcase Decor

Imagine your venue adorned with vintage suitcases, both big and small, stacked and open, bursting with exotic trinkets, travel souvenirs, and faux passports. Suitcases as decor will not only create an ambiance of globetrotting excitement but also serve as functional elements, doubling as unique storage solutions or display pieces for party favors. 

Inflatable Globes 

Inflatable globes will serve as around the world party decorations that are playful and interactive additions to your party. Whether they're suspended from the ceiling, placed on tables, or spread across the floor, inflatable globes perfectly emulate the global theme of your party.

Christmas Around the World Party Theme

Christmas is different all around the globe, so why not dive into various cultures to celebrate this year? We’ve got Christmas around the world party ideas that are going to want to make you celebrate big.

Very few people have actually visited the North Pole, so it would be a fun touch to make it the backdrop of your international holiday party this season. This frosty twist will make your guests' dream come to life with snow-covered landscapes, a Santa’s workshop sign, and real reindeer if you really want to elevate the experience!

Santa Claus

Whether you call him Santa, Father Christmas, or Babbo Natale, what’s a Christmas party without the big guy to help celebrate? Browse local Santa Claus characters to bring the Christmas magic to your around the world party theme.

Find a Santa Claus

Christmas Food

There are tons of Christmas food traditions from around the world that your guests probably already make during the holidays! Invite guests to bring their favorite traditional foods like the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Bûche de Noël, or Christmas pudding for a delicious potluck feast.

As a unique and practical party favor, consider getting holiday ornaments from different countries! Guests can grab one on their way out of the party, or you can choose a special one for each person. This is the best party favor because they can go home and add it right to their Christmas tree.

Find more party ideas and inspiration here on The Bash.

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Kim and Kalee

Building a Life You Love

Around the World Themed Party Ideas | 25+ Food, Drinks & Games

Hosting an Around the World party is a fun way to celebrate all the different countries of the world. With these Around the World party ideas, you’ll have fun themes and food ideas that are perfect for hosting a great party with your friends!

From authentic recipes and refreshing drinks to fun games for guests of all ages, these easy party ideas are the best way to put together an amazing celebration.

These ideas also work well for a graduation party, bridal shower, baby shower, and first birthdays!

29 Popular Around the World Themes

Whether you’re planning a corporate event, a themed birthday party, or starting a new tradition, there are creative ways to add a lasting impression on your guests! The first way is to pick a theme!

Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing! We’ve linked to any helpful ideas for each theme, too!

• Welcome to Paris (French Theme)
• African Safari
• County Fair (hay bales, corn on the cob, etc)
• Chinese New Year
• Christmas in July
• Arabian Nights
• Tailgating or Sports Theme
• Mexican Fiesta
• Coachella/ Music Festival
• Las Vegas Casino Night
• British Afternoon Tea
• California Palm Trees & Pool Party
• Beach Party
• Egyptian / Toga Party
• Medieval Dinner
• Western (Cowboy hat, Boots, etc)
• Eat Pray Love Movie Theme
• Christmas Traditions Throughout the World
• Cheese & Wine 
• Cheers to 30 Years
• Murder Mystery (set in a foreign place)
• Roaring 1920’s Great Gatsby Theme
• A Taste of …(Pick any state or country)
• Bollywood 
• Around the World Menu (Buffet of different foods)

Special Touches for a Travel Theme Party

• You could send invitations that look like plane tickets. (Bonus points if you attach an inflight snack for your guest!)
• It’s also a great idea to decide the number of guests you’ll have before planning out your full world party theme.
• Don’t forget to let your guests know ahead of time that it’s a themed event and of any dress code options for the theme.
• Vintage suitcases, maps, paper lanterns, colorful balloons, and string lights are all great party decor ideas.
• Set up special food stations along the party venue.
• If you have server(s), they could dress up as a flight attendant!

• Consider a photo booth or post card as a souvenir from their “trip” at the party.
• You could also do a baggage claim area where guests can pick up their coats or party favors before leaving the party.

We also have specific ideas for a 50th Birthday Party for Adults or for  37 Cool Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas for Teens & Tweens you may also like.

Around the World Themed Party Menu

An around the world theme can be so much fun! Below, you’ll find amazing recipe ideas for your next party!

Sacher Torte

Your party guests will love this chocolate Austrian cake with apricot jam and a chocolate ganache glaze from I Heart Eating.

Prepare a delicious Cuban beef stew made in the Instant Pot in under one hour with this easy recipe from Eating in an Instant.

Ukrainian Beet Salad

Whip up a colorful Ukrainian side dish made with beets, carrots, potatoes, and pickles with this recipe from Savas Kitchen.

Lebanese Baklava

This recipe for Lebanese baklava from A Pinch of Adventure is a flaky pastry crust filled with sugary walnuts and topped with a rose water syrup.

Mini Roast Beef Yorkshire Pudding Bites

These mini bites from Culinary Ginger are filled with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, making them a great option for the London stop on your around the world celebration.

Malaysian Fried Noodles

Head to Malaysian at your celebration with this recipe for Mee Goreng Mamak from Joyous Apron, a fried noodle dish with fried tofu and red potatoes.

Papel Picado Craft

Keep the kids at your party entertained with this fun Mexican paper flag craft from Confessions of an Over-Worked Mom.

French Macarons

Add a pop of color to your dessert display at your party with some classic French macarons with the help of this fool proof recipe from Partylicious.

Pierogies are a classic Polish dumpling made with a variety of filling options. This easy recipe from Spend With Pennies would make a delicious side dish or appetizer for your Around the World celebration.

Around the World Escape Room

Have some educational fun while keeping your party guests entertained with a fun printable around the world escape room kit.

PACANGA BOREGI

Whip up this recipe for Pacanga Boregi from Cooking Gorgeous for your International party menu – a Turkish snack stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, and peppers.

Japanese Rice Balls

This recipe for Onigiri from Drive Me Hungry is a fun way to enjoy some Japanese cuisine at your Around the World party.

SPANISH TORTILLA

Add a traditional Spanish snack to your party food spread with this recipe for Tortilla Espanola from Merienda’s de Pasion.

Brazilian Lemonade

The younger guests at your party will love the combination of sweet and sour flavors in this nonalcoholic Brazilian lemonade recipe from Simple Living Recipes.

German Schnitzel

This crispy pork schnitzel with alpine fondue sauce recipe from Food Worth Feed is a simple main course that allows you to add German flavors to your dinner menu.

Mexican Wedding Cake

Enjoy a classic dessert from Mexican that’s made with just six ingredients with this easy recipe for Mexican wedding cake from Persnickety Plates.

Swedish Meatballs

These classic Swedish meatballs from Sweet and Savory Morsels would make the perfect appetizer or simple main course for your Around the World dinner party.

Irish Potato Candy

Serve some traditional Irish candy to your party guests with this fun sweet treat recipe from Saving Dollars and Sense.

Make your own homemade churros for a sweet Mexican treat to serve at your party using this recipe from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.

A mangonada is a vibrant and delicious Mexican drink made with juicy mangoes, chamoy, and chile-lime seasoning.

Prosciutto and Melon

The sweet and salty combo of prosciutto e melone from It’s Not Complicated Recipes is a classic Italian appetizer perfect for an Around the World celebration.

Korean Corn Dog

This fun recipe for crunchy Korean corn dogs from Braised and Deglazed is a fun way to bring some Korean street food to your party.

Printable Plane Tickets

Get your Around the World party started with the help of these fun printable plane tickets from Barley and Birch to pass out to all the kids at your celebration.

Around the World Trivia

Have some fun testing your international knowledge with your friends with this printable around the world trivia game.

Need more ideas? You may also like:

• 33 Fun Dress Up Party Themes for Adults
• Easy Couples Dinner Party ideas, Recipes & Games
• 99 Fun Party Quotes for Instagram

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17 Around the World Activities for a DIY Summer Camp

By: Author Jacquie Fisher

Posted on Published: May 26, 2021

Categories Kids Activities & Crafts

Welcome to our first week of DIY Summer Camp — this week’s theme is Around the World Activities for Kids !

Summer is a great time to explore a new topic or dive deep into a favorite theme with kids — the days are longer and the schedules are lighter 🙂 Finding summer activities near me that are also related to something my kids really enjoy learning about can be a challenge at times (like the year my son was infatuated with the Giant Squid!) so doing a DIY summer camp is a great solution!

DIY Summer Camp: Around the World Theme

At home summer camps do not have to be complicated or expensive! 

You know me — I do easy 😉

Each week, we’ll share some fun & inexpensive ideas around a popular theme or topic along with some free printables & a simple ‘formula’ that will help you to quickly pull together some fun activites that your kids will LOVE too!

Our first summer camp topic  will take your kids across the globe to explore their favorite countries and learn a little about various cultures and how others live.

The first thing you’ll need is a list for your virtual trip! 

There are a few ways you can approach an Around the World camp when it comes to choosing which countries to visit. 

Planning a Virtual Camp Around the World

For this camp, I would suggest starting with 5 countries or locations so you can visit one each day.  If your kids enjoy this, add on more countries thoughtout the summer months.

To decide on where you’ll travel with this camp, do one of the following:

• Ask your kids which 5 countries they’d like to visit!  Sometimes they’ve heard the name of a place but don’t really know where it is in the world so that’s intriguing to them.
• Choose countries based on your family’s heritage — for example, our family members immigranted from Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Wales and
• Close your eyes and point to 5 places on the map (seriously, this can be a lot of fun!)
• Think about where family members have lived or visited and choose those countries.  This can be really interesting if you have family that can send postcards to your kids or if you have family members who collected any souveniers during their visits.

Supplies for an Around the World Camp

Now that you know where you’ll visit, you can pull together what you’ll need for each day.

Remember, it’s Summertime!  Don’t go overboard and plan out 3 hours of projects 😉

I’ve found that kids respond best to having one activity in the morning and one later in the day (or just one  a day is fine too!)

I’ll provide more details below about how to schedule a day but first, here’s a few items you’ll find helpful as you plan your camp.  We’re including affiliate links to items we’ve used and loved that are related to this week’s theme too.

1. A Map or Globe

One of the few MUST HAVE items for this camp is a map or globe — and really, it’s something your kids will refer to for years to come so also just a great thing to have in the house.

There are a variety of maps & globes that we’ve used and recommend:

The Rand McNally World Wall Map is perfect for a playroom or family room wall and clearly labels all the countries & geographic highlights of the world.

If your preference is a globe, the Illuminated World Globe for Kids is a great option and the fact that it’s backlit makes it ‘come to life’ in the evenings too!

 If you don’t have a lot of wall space, try this World Map Placemat !

You can also use an Atlas (a book of maps) — see our favorites at 8 Awesome Atlases for Kids

Be sure to introduce (or review) things like lines of latitude & longitude, the map’s key, the equator and prime meridan if your kids aren’t familiar with a map or globe.

2. A book about each Country

See our lists below for choosing great books!

3.  Around the World printable

Grab a copy of the FREE Explore the World printable worksheet to keep track of things you learn!

4. Any additional supplies based on the activities you choose below

 You can also print a FREE Invitation to Summer Camp for your kids!  I leave it on the breakfast table on the first day we start camp 🙂

Daily Plan for Around the World Camp

I have a simple formula for choosing activities & planning out an at-home camp —

READ — VISIT — WATCH — DO

We include the following in our camp week:

READ:  Choose a book about each country

VISIT:  Find a local place to visit or an online field trip to take

WATCH: Integrate movies or apps related to the them

DO:  This could making a craft or recipe, playing a game, etc.

Each day, we read a book in the morning about the country we will visit & then add in either an activity, movie, app or place to visit later in the day.  We also talk about fun things we learn about each country and write those on the printable worksheet.

I usually like to do our ‘visit’ or field trip mid-week but for this camp, you may want to save it until Friday if the place you’ll visit highlights more than one of the countries you choose.

Here’s a list of resources to help as you plan your Around the World camp!

READ: Books about Countries around the World

Browse this list of 30 Books about Countries around the World for pictures books that show what life’s like for kids in many places.

Tip if you have Older Kids:  They actually ENJOY picture books!  During the year, they read so many chapter books that they will probably balk if you ask them to do a ton more reading each day — shorter books like these that introduce a lot of fun facts are the perfect option for all ages 🙂

If your kids enjoy following the same book character around the world, then I suggest this list of Children’s Books series that Take Kids Across the Globe!

Younger kids will LOVE the Bella & Harry books while older kids will enjoy the This is … series !

VISIT: Around the World Camp Near Me

I know what you’re thinking — how can we ‘visit’ some of these places??

Here are a number of ideas for ways to have a ‘virtual’ visit:

• Walk through local Art Museum — visit galleries with artwork from various countries or find a piece of artwork from each country you’ve chosen for your camp (museum staff can quickly help you identify these!)
• Eat out at an ethnic resturant with food from the country you’re ‘visiting’
• Visit a cultural museum or attraction — many cities have heritage museums or gardens.  For example, if you choose Japan, your town may have a Japanese garden nearby.  Many places have local heritage museums based on the first settlers to their area.
• Spend an afternoon at the Zoo and find an animal that is native to each coutry you chose for your camp!

DO:  Games & Activities from Around the World

Integrate some of these fun activities into your camp! 

Many can be done with any country you choose.

• Musical Game: Songs from Around the World — includes a free printable!
• Map Your Reading — use removable sticky arrows to mark the places you read about on a map or globe
• Make a Recipe or Eat a Food Item — based on a popular food from that country!  I love the book Kids Around the World Cook! for this activity.
• Have a Scavenger Hunt — search your house for an item from each country in your camp.
• School around the World — learn what a school day looks like in different countries + includes a FREE printable activity sheet!
• Play a Favorite Game — try these 10 Kids Games from Around the World or these Outdoor Activities from Different Country

I also like to set up an ‘Invitation to Explore’ on the first day of our camp — it’s basically a display of the various books, maps and items we might use during the week.  I let the kids go through and browse items and add to it during the week.

Some of our favorite ‘Around the World’ items to include in the layout have been:

• stamps from various countries
• coins or paper money from different places
• puzzles – like this eboo Kids World Map puzzle or this Melissa & Doug Children of the World floor puzzle
• a sticker book or paper dolls from around the world
• the Safari Ltd World Landmarks TOOB
• fun dress up items — things like hats from different places
• flags from various countries

Be sure to check out this list of fun Around the World Books & Activities for Kids too!

WATCH: Movies & TV about Life Across the Globe

This is why technology is such a wonderful thing!  I LOVE educational shows & apps — there’s so many things kids can experience with them.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can watch these show on prime this month!

• Children of the World series  
• Families of the World series  
• Travel with Kids series

If you’re not a member, try Amazon Prime for FREE this month too!  Also visit your local library and check for these titles too.

If your kids like the PBS show Franny’s Feet, they have an online game to play too:  Grandpa’s Globe.

Be sure to join us next week for Summer Camp!

More Summer Activities for Kids

100+ Things to do with Your Kids this Summer

20 Printable Summer Scavenger Hunts

How to Throw An Amazing Travel-Themed Party

Once upon a time in what seems like a previous life, I spent a decade working in the event industry, mostly as an event stylist. It was only natural that when someone asked me about travel themed party ideas, I had a lot of thoughts on the matter. Here I walk you through throwing a travel-inspired bash from the invitation, all the way through to the party favours.

More than just travel

Ok, you’ve decided on a travel theme but there are a few more things to consider first. There are lots of different aspects of travel to channel and it will help to narrow your theme down to something more specific. Think about who or what the party is celebrating and let that guide you. Is it a bridal shower, retirement, birthday or going away party? If so, you may need to consider that special someone’s age, gender, interests and style along with that of your guests. Here are just a few ways to interpret a travel theme:

• Vintage travel – Think old maps and leather suitcases, muted pastels and brass compasses.
• Transport – Planes, trains… Imagine a glamorous Orient Express do, or a whimsical hot air balloon theme taking you anywhere you dream.
• Focus on a destination – Create a Hawaiian Luau to a Mexican Fiesta, an Irish shindig to a French-themed fete.
• National flags – Casual vexillologists will love showing off their knowledge of world flags, a great conversation-starting theme.
• Around the World in Cocktails – A cocktail party exploring the origins of your favourite mixed beverages.
• Travel Trivia Tournament – Can be a romantic night for two or extend to a bigger group of adults.

Travel themed party invitations

The key to a great themed party is weaving the theme into every aspect, start to finish. Sometimes it’s easy and obvious, other times it takes a little more creativity. Let’s begin with invitation ideas. Your invitation will set the tone for the entire party, so consider how it works in with the overall look and feel. Don’t forget to list the following on your invites:

• Date and time
• Theme (especially if it’s fancy dress)
• Dress code (as above)
• Set catering expectations, don’t leave your guests hanging wondering if they should eat beforehand or worse, leaving early because they’re hungry (e.g. finger food provided).
• What people may bring along (e.g. BYO favourite alcoholic beverage, or bring along a dessert to share)
• RSVP date and contact details (ask people to mention any dietary restrictions e.g. vegetarian, gluten free etc)

Food & drink

First, consider the style of the party including the number of guests, space and budget. Is it going to be standing room only, in which case you’ll provide finger food on trays or set up a buffet? Will it be a more intimate, sit down affair? Do you have the seating required? Also, are you buying or making the food or a combination of both? What are your capabilities?

Now get creative. Are you going to theme the food around a particular destination? Alternatively, maybe you go for regular party food, but present it with a travel twist such as aeroplane cake toppers or served on map lined tray. Here are some examples of both:

Travel themed party decorations

When decorating for a party, you can go from 0 to 100 in less than 10 seconds, so make sure you have a budget in mind. Think about things you already own and can repurpose, or if you’re buying something new, how can you use it again? Are you a crafty DIY type who loves to make your own custom pieces, or do you just want something simple and out of the box? Here are travel themed party decoration ideas:

Here are a few sources for travel themed party decor:

Etsy are especially great for vintage-style travel party decor using maps to create items like bunting, favours and seating charts. Amazon is also towing the trend for vintage map-inspired travel party decorations. Oriental Trading takes a little more scouring to unearth their classier travel themed decorations, but there are some great pieces like world globe balloons and pastel suitcases for centrepieces.

For destination themes, check out Meri Meri for tropical decor ,  Coterie for Italian-tile inspired vibes and Sweet LuLu for a Mexican fiesta.

Don’t forget your local thrift store, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and for basic items like vases, candle holders etc. You might find a couple offloading once-used wedding decor!

Setting the mood

Music! You must have music. Create a playlist in advance so on the day, you just have to hit play. Lighting is another sure-fire way to set a mood. If your soiree is a daytime outdoor bbq, you need not be concerned. However, don’t forget lighting for night events, whether it’s lowering the lights and sparking up some candles on the dinner table or creating a festive mood with something a little more disco-esque. Get my Spotify Travel Party Playlist here…

Travel themed party favors

Do you want to send guests home with a memento? What is the age range or interests of the group? Taking home a polaroid from the photo booth might be enough, or you might want to send kids home with something sugary.

Take the time to write a short note or send a quick email to thank guests for coming, especially if they brought a gift. If you are writing a physical note, think about using a postcard or a design that will echo your invitation to round out the event.

Enjoy throwing your travel themed party, and don’t forget to drop your thoughts, questions and ideas in the comments below.

Peace, love & inspiring travel, Madam ZoZo

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Themed Travel Itineraries: A Way to Personalize Sightseeing

If you’ve heard the term “themed travel” and wondered what it is, I’m here to explain it in detail.

Are you tired of the same old “been there, done that” vacations? Yearning for an adventure that revolves around your passion for medieval history, complex ales, or favorite tv show binge?

Well, folks, you have landed in the right place! Welcome to the world of themed travel.

Themed travel an aspect to my travel planning that I incorporate into almost every one of my trips. It helps make my travel itinerary more tailor-made and increases the likelihood of finding hidden gems.

Now, crafting a themed travel itinerary is not just dumping a bunch of related activities into your schedule and hoping for the best. It’s more like crafting a journey that blends what you love with the awesome things your destination has to offer.

So let’s take a look at how to make themed trips that happen!

What is Themed Travel?

First of all, what exactly is themed travel? Themed travel is a type of travel experience where the trip is planned or structured around a specific theme, interest, or focus.

Themed itineraries can include activities, attractions, accommodations, and dining options that align with a particular topic that appeals to you, allowing you to explore and engage with your interests in a more meaningful and cohesive way.

Popular themed travel can be dark tourism, voluntourism, adventure travel, or eco-tourism.

But it doesn’t have to be so formal. It could be about wine tasting, motorcycles, or plein airing.

It’s about picking your interests and discovering more about that topic in new destinations.

Why Have a Themed Travel Itinerary?

A themed travel itinerary gives you a focus when planning your trip and can influence various aspects of your travel experience, including where you go, what you do, and where you stay.

Themed travel aims to create a more immersive and specialized experience by allowing you to explore your interests, passions, or hobbies in various ways while also exploring the world.

Helps with Overwhelm

Sometimes when researching your travel destination, it can be overwhelming with the how many things there are to do and places to go, especially if you are trying to see a whole country. 

A theme will help narrow and niche down your research.

A theme not only simplifies your planning but also adds purpose to your exploration. Whether you’re passionate about history, cuisine, or nature, a theme becomes your compass, guiding your to relevant and exciting experiences your destination has to offer that are interesting to you. 

A theme takes your overwhelming venture of planning a trip and turns it into a game of finding items that almost guarantee a trip that is personal and memorable.

Helps Discover New Places

A themed itinerary can help break up the monotony of a familiar place.

If you are super familiar with a destination that you feel almost bored with it, a theme can potentially help you find places in unexpected corners that you’ve never seen or known about before.

Kinda like turning a picture upside down to reveal a hidden object, a themed approach to travel can give fresh perspectives to a mundane destination, perhaps uncovering hidden gems. 

So, when the familiarity of a place threatens to dull your senses, let a theme be your artistic muse, breaking the monotony with a renewed sense of excitement and wonder to your trip.

It’s Fun! 

Lastly, having a theme is frickin’ fun! It’s an unconventional way to spice up your travel itinerary. 

I find it to be like a scavenger hunt, trying to find specific things as I explore a destination and then checking them off my list. 

How Do You Choose a Theme?

When it comes to choosing the theme for your themed travel, to be a cliche, just listen to your heart. What things do you like to do, eat, see, feel, smell? What are your passions? Find the things that get you excited and make that your theme.

Do you like chocolate? Find chocolate stores, chocolate tours, order something with chocolate at every meal, tour a chocolate farm , take a chocolate making class, visit a chocolate factory, find a chocolate fountain. 

Sure you won’t be able to find all the things in one trip, but you can do your best; searching is part of the fun! And remember these two things:

1. Your theme doesn’t have to be the sole focus of your trip. Incorporate it into your itinerary of other things. 2. It can be as simple or outlandish as you want it to be; it’s your trip.

If you need some prompts, here are some steps to help you find a theme that suits your interests and preferences:

Identify Your Interests : Start by listing your passions, hobbies, and interests. Think about what excites you and what you enjoy doing in your free time. This could be anything from food and history to nature and adventure sports.

Destination Inspiration : Think about the destinations you’re visiting. Some places naturally lend themselves to specific themes. For example, Italy might inspire a wine and pasta theme, while France might lead to a castle hunting focus.

Personal Connection : Consider if there are any personal connections or experiences that make a particular theme meaningful to you. Maybe you have family roots in a certain region or a lifelong fascination with a specific culture.

Travel Companions : If you’re traveling with others, discuss their interests and preferences. Finding a theme that resonates with everyone in your group can enhance the travel experience and reveal common interests you may not have known you shared and become a bonding experience.

Need help brainstorming themed travel ideas? Get my list of 30 Themed Travel Ideas with Examples!

How to Find Theme Things to Add to Your Itinerary?

Ok, so you’ve decided on a theme. Now, let’s work through how to find themed things to add to your travel itinerary.

Depending on how in depth you want to go with your theme, you might have to do some digging and use your imagination.

Let’s continue with the chocolate theme.

Obviously the first step is to just generally ask Google.

Google Search

Let’s type in “ chocolate things to do in Seattle “. Immediately you’ll see chocolate tours and chocolate factories pop up in search results.

The title that caught my eye was “Seattle Chocolate Shops & Events: The Complete Guide”. 

The very first item listed in the article is quite possibly a hidden gem. Chocolati has a location inside the Seattle Public Library. 

First off, the library itself is an exquisite architectural masterpiece, with an almost biodome-type interior. But if you don’t have a reason to check out books, you probably wouldn’t be inclined to go inside. Visiting a chocolate shop gives you an excuse to visit and hang out. 

Secondly, look what’s listed on the menu! Ganache-filled chocolate-dipped Turkish fig and chocolate-dipped ginger. Unique chocolate treats even I’m inclined to try! (did I mention I’m not the biggest chocolate fan? haha!)

Of course, the article lists other chocolate shops in the city and I can make note of the ones that peak my interest and add it to my list of places to visit on my chocolate themed trip.

Later on in the article, we learn that there is The Northwest Chocolate Festival held in Seattle in October. Now, if my trip falls around those dates, I can plan to attend this unique, chocolaty event!

Next I Google “ Seattle chocolate factory tours “. 

I see that Seattle Chocolate Factory offers an hour-long tour through the facilities, learning about the history and origin of chocolate, watching chocolate and truffles being made on the factory floor, and of course chocolate tasting samples. 

Theo Chocolate used to offer tours, but they currently put on chocolate making classes. I could learn from expert chocolatiers how to make hand rolled or molded ganache. Kids might like the chocolate story hour or chocolate bark decorating class.

I tried searching for a chocolate themed hotel room in Seattle, but didn’t find anything. 

However, I found that Hotel Andra offers a box of Dilettante Chocolates that can be added (for a fee) to your booking and can be waiting for you in your room when you arrive. 

I also found an Airbnb that is a converted candy factory. Not chocolate, but we can think a little bit outside the box with this one. 

So, the Google Search Bar is going to be your best friend when looking for themed things to do.

One of my favorite places to browse for things to do for my theme is to check out Viator . They are an online tour booking platform that collaborates with many local tours around the world. It’s a fantastic resource to check if there’s a tour or experience specific to your theme. 

If I type “ chocolate tour Seattle ” in the Viator search bar I find one that’s specifically a chocolate tasting tour where you walk around the area of Pike Place Market and try 12 individual chocolate samples from 8 different food stops. Talk about a chocolate lover’s dream!

I also see that there are other food tours not specifically chocolate themed but include a chocolate shop as one of the stops.

Google Maps

Another place I look is Google Maps. I just type in “ chocolate ” in the search bar and search the area around Seattle. 

I see places not mentioned in blogs like Dolcetta Artisan Sweets in Georgetown and Hot Chocolat in West Seattle (which also offers chocolate making classes). 

Something that caught my eye was Flight Wine & Chocolate, another potential hidden gem. Here they serve a fancy chocolate flight of their various handmade chocolates. Since it’s also a wine bar, they will have the perfect local Washington wine to pair with the flight. 

Don’t forget to refresh the “Search this area” button as you move along Google Maps. New places will tend to magically appear.

This is just a sampling of how you can go about researching and finding things to do and see within your theme for your next trip.

🍫 Find a complete Seattle Chocolate Themed Guide here!

How Do You Travel With a Theme?

Now that you’ve done your research of places to visit within your theme, how do you implement it?

Do you have to plan every single detail around your theme? Of course not!

You don’t need to have every single minute planned around your theme in order for it to be considered a themed trip. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to do so. (if you pull it off though, I wanna hear about it!)

Realistically, you will space the themed activities between non-themed activities because you want to allow time for must-do-and-see sites and spontaneity in the area you are visiting.

The idea is to weave your theme into your itinerary, adding layers and personality to your trip.

This way, you are still experiencing the destination holistically, you’re just adding flavor and spice to your “travel entree”.

Here are a few tips on how to travel with a theme:

• Mix themed and non-themed activities: As mentioned before, you don’t need to plan every single activity around your theme. Mix in some non-themed activities like sightseeing or eating foods outside your chosen theme.
• Stay Flexible/Try New Things: Don’t limit yourself to only activities you think will fit your theme. Be open to spontaneously trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Balanced Exploration : Ensure a balanced exploration of your destination by including some general sightseeing, cultural experiences, and relaxation time in your themed itinerary.
• Have fun! Most importantly, have fun with it! Traveling with a theme allows you to fully immerse yourself in a topic you’re passionate about, so enjoy every moment of it.

You Might Also Like:

• Visit Leavenworth, WA, a Bavarian-themed Town • Sunset to Sunrise: A Night Itinerary on the Big Island • Have a Vanilla-themed Lunch at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company

Can You Have Multiple Themes On Your Trip?

Well of course you can have multiple themes in one trip! It’s your vacation, you can see and do whatever the heck you want to. 

Michael and I have totally different themes/focuses that we incorporate into our trips. On our most recent trip to Scotland, he wanted to focus on trying fancy and expensive whiskeys at local distilleries and whiskey bars. I wanted to visit Outlander film locations. 

We did them both on the same trip without any interference.  In fact, one Outlander location was a mere couple of miles from a local Scot’s highly rated distillery, so we were able to do both back to back.

As I said before, having a theme is like calling parle, it is more like a guideline to help you have a focus when planning your trip and to make it more personal and meaningful.

Booking Resources for Themed Trips

Themed Places to Stay:

• VRBO has lots of rentals with themes, from Hobbit-holes to 90s sitcoms to a railcar to a ranch stay.
• Hostelworld is my go-to for hostel stay bookings. Hostels can be converted castles (I’ve stayed in many), hospitals, bunkers, jailhouses, or factories. Remember, many hostels have private rooms for at reasonable rates.
• Booking will have your hotel stays where you can reserve places like Best Western’s varied themed rooms, the Roxbury’s fantasy themed rooms, or a Jurassic World themed room at Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

Themed Things to Do:

• Viator is a great resource for finding a tour that matches your theme. I always reference them to find local tours in the area I’m visiting.
• Ticketmaster is THE place to book major events like seeing a favorite musician or sportsball team.
• Tiqets gets you entrances into museums or Broadway shows or historical sites

Final Thoughts on Themed Travel Planning

Creating a themed travel itinerary is about infusing your trip with purpose and personal interests. It influences where you go, what you do, and where you stay, turning your journey into something truly unique. 

When you’re brainstorming theme-infused adventures, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Have a blast researching and planning—it’s all part of the adventure and discovery. 

You might find places that align with your theme like a Peter Pan hotel room, a cow cuddling experience, or a distillery serving ant-infused gin.

So, the next time you’re planning a trip, dare to sprinkle a little bit of ‘you’ into it, and see how that spices things up. See where it takes you!

Tell me all about it! I’d love to hear what themed travel experiences you’ve come up with or put into action. Reach out and share your travel themes and stories either via:  

email – [email protected]  OR  Instagram – @travelcompositions. 

Let’s inspire each other to create unforgettable journeys with a dash of personality and a spoonful of imagination!

Aloha! I'm Tabitha, an ex-travel agent turned travel blogger. I've lived from fire (Big Island Hawaii) to ice (Alaska) to the lukewarm (Washington State). I've traveled Europe, Scotland and England being my favorite, Costa Rica, Cancun, Canada, various US states, and more. No matter if it's a staycation or international vacation, every trip I take there are things to explore and discover! I'm here to take what I learn and help others think outside the box when composing their own travel itineraries.

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45+ Delicious and Creative Food Ideas for a Travel-Themed Party

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: January 10, 2023  - Last updated: July 1, 2023

Categories Culture

Are you looking for the perfect food ideas for a travel-themed party? Whether it’s a bridal shower, a birthday party, or even a Harry Potter party, we’ve got you covered! You can choose from so many amazing and unique recipes from around the world that your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills.

From New York pizzas to Mediterranean olive oil – and of course, there’s some delicious chocolate inspiration, too – in this guide, you’ll find all the food ideas you need to make your travel-themed party one to remember. So let’s explore some of these delicious treats that will delight any guest on any occasion!

Food Ideas for Various Party Themes

International hors d’oeuvres.

Serve a variety of small bites that represent different cuisines from around the world. Some options might be:

• Sushi is the perfect finger food, especially when served in bite-sized portions. Try sushi rolls with smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber slices, tuna or eel with avocado and cucumber slices, or shrimp tempura rolls with cucumber, carrots, ginger, and wasabi sauce.
• Empanadas – This savory pastry is famous in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. Empanadas can be filled with meat or cheese and are baked or deep-fried until golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. Serve them warm, which is when they taste best! Most grocery stores have frozen empanadas that are easy to prepare.
• Samosas – This Indian appetizer consists of deep-fried dumplings filled with potatoes, peas, and spices.
• Bruschetta – Prepare this Italian appetizer by spreading slices of bread with olive oil and topping them with tomatoes, basil leaves, and salt and pepper.
• Vegetarian hors d’oeuvres – many people like to eat vegetarian, so be sure to include some vegetarian options on your menu. For example, you could offer spinach pancakes or stuffed mushrooms for vegetarians.
• Vegetable platter – offers a selection of raw vegetables and dips such as hummus or baba ghanoush.
• Pita bread with tzatziki sauce – make your tzatziki sauce by mixing Greek yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, and dill weed. You can also buy it at most grocery stores.

Street Food

For a travel-themed party, you can set up a station where guests can create their own street food-inspired dishes. To do this, you’ll need some serving platters, bowls, and utensils, and you can provide all the ingredients for each dish on a table.

Set up a station where guests can create their street food-inspired dishes, such as:

• Tortillas – Tortillas are commonly eaten in Mexican cuisine. They can be served as finger foods with salsa or guacamole dip.
• Fried rice – set up a station where guests can make their fried rice. You’ll need cooking oil and rice (white or brown).
• Noodle bowls – set up a station where guests can make their noodle bowl with noodles (ramen or udon), vegetables, and protein (shrimp, chicken, or beef).

You could also set up an international food bar where guests can choose from different dishes and ingredients they like best.

You could host a Mexican night with tacos and burritos; an Asian night with pho (Vietnamese noodles) or ramen (Japanese noodles); an Italian night with pasta and lasagna; an Indian night with samosas (deep-fried dumplings filled with vegetables) and naan bread; and a French night with crepes with fresh fruit or Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread).

Travel-Themed Main Courses

You can’t go wrong with these main dishes if your party is travel-themed.

• Beef Goulash with Pasta – This recipe is hearty, filling, and meaty! It’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters at your party! Beef goulash is perfect for those who enjoy hearty meals like burgers or sandwiches. You can serve this dish with rice or mashed potatoes on the side if you want something lighter than pasta or noodles.
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole – Another hearty dish that is very popular at parties! It has the same flavors as traditional enchiladas, but without rolling the corn tortillas into little tubes, you have to make it yourself if you make it from scratch. It’s also easy to make and reheat before serving – so perfect for a party!
• Chili con carne – Chili con carne is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes because it’s so easy and delicious! There are so many ways to make chili con carne, but this recipe is one of my favorites because it has great flavor without being overly spicy or sour (like some chilies can be).
• Vegetarian Chili – Vegetarian chili is often made with beans and other legumes but can also be meatless. This recipe uses black beans, but you can also use kidney beans, chickpeas, or lentils. Be sure to add plenty of vegetables to your chili, so it doesn’t get too dry.
• Spicy Thai Beef Lettuce Wrap s – These healthy, tasty wraps make an excellent appetizer for your meal. Fill them with beef and veggies or chicken and avocado if you prefer!
• Grilled Lamb Skewers with Greek Yogurt Marinad e – These skewers are perfect for summer parties because they’re grilled outside on the grill instead of in the oven.
• Baked Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce – This salmon is baked in foil packets, making it easy to transport and serve at a party. The lemon dill sauce gives it a delicious flavor without being too spicy.
• Baked Falafel Burgers with Tahini Sauc e is one of my favorite foods, so I decided to make it into a burger! It’s delicious, easy to make, and has excellent flavor.
• Chicken Satay Skewers – Chicken satay skewers are great for parties because they’re small and easy to eat! You can prepare them ahead of time and keep them warm in the oven until you’re ready to serve them! They also taste great dipped in peanut sauce!
• Vegetarian pasta – You can’t go wrong with a pasta dish at your travel-themed party. This is the perfect recipe to get your friends talking about their favorite travel destinations or past travel experiences.
• Quinoa Pilaf – Quinoa pilaf is another versatile vegetarian main dish that can be served alongside any side dishes or salads at your travel-themed event. This recipe includes dried cranberries, almonds, and raisins.
• Hotdogs on Skewers – Hotdogs on skewers can be served with fresh tomato slices, pickles, and mustard. The hotdogs can be purchased at your grocery store and put in long sticks from the craft store. This is a dish that everyone will enjoy!
• Baked Potatoes – Baked potatoes are easy to prepare and perfect for vegetarians. Bake the potatoes in the oven with butter, salt, and pepper. You can add some vegetables or cheese to make this dish more filling for your guests.
• Spicy Tofu Stir Fry – Tofu is an excellent substitute for meat in many dishes. It has a firm texture and absorbs flavor well, making it perfect for stir fry dishes. This recipe calls for a hot seasoning blend, but you can also use your favorite blend or make your own with sesame oil, chili paste, or Sriracha sauce.
• Roasted Cauliflower Soup – Cauliflower makes an excellent base for soups because it thickens nicely when cooked. Roasting the cauliflower before adding it to the soup adds flavor and keeps this dish low in calories and healthy!

Travel-Themed Desserts

Create a dessert table inspired by your international guests. If you invite people from different countries to your travel party, serve them their favorite sweets from their home country.

You can serve desserts inspired by different destinations around the world, such as:

• French Macarons are made from almond flour, beaten egg whites, and sugar. These little treats are colorful and delicious! They come in many flavors, but some of the most common include vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio.
• Italian Gelato – Gelato is a famous Italian ice cream made with milk, cream, and eggs. It’s often served with toppings such as chocolate French fries or nuts. It’s known for its creamy texture and lightness compared to American ice cream because it contains less fat than regular ice cream. Less air is added during the manufacturing process, making it lower in calories than other types of ice cream. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you can buy it at bakeries or grocery stores near you or find it on Amazon.
• Moroccan sweets – In Morocco, they’re known as baklava. They’re made from phyllo dough and filled with syrup or honey or nuts like pistachios or almonds or walnuts or cashews or dates or figs or raisins.
• Black forest cake consists of a layer of chocolate sponge cake filled with cherries and whipped cream and sprinkled with chocolate French fries (black forest cake).
• Japanese Matcha Cake – Matcha is a green tea powder used in Japanese cuisine and desserts. It consists of specially grown green tea leaves ground into a fine powder. Instead, you can use it in any cocoa powder or baking soda/powder cake recipe!
• English trifle : This is one of the most popular English desserts, and it only takes a few minutes to prepare. The main ingredients are sponge cake soaked with sherry or whiskey and garnished with cream and fresh fruit.
• Portuguese Pasteis de Nata : These custard tarts are very popular in Portugal and are perfect as a dessert. Plus, they’re very easy to prepare!

Easy Party Food Ideas

Cheese and charcuterie.

Party food doesn’t have to be complicated. When hosting a party, it’s always important to keep things simple and easy to eat. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still whip up something delicious and fun!

Cheese and charcuterie boards are a great way to show off your culinary skills and entertain your guests. They’re also perfect for parties because they can be prepared in advance and then placed on the table at the last minute. No one will ever know!

It’s best to put together a selection of cheeses and meats from different regions, along with sides like olives, pickles, and bread. This is an excellent option if your guests have different tastes or allergies – make sure everyone knows what’s on the board so they can avoid foods they don’t like or have restrictions for (e.g., vegetarians).

Travel-Themed Snacks

Provide a snack mix with international flavors, such as wasabi peas, spicy nuts, and Sriracha-flavored popcorn.

• Beach-themed snacks – have tropical drinks on hand for guests to sip while they mouth beach balls made of cheese or pineapple slices with toothpicks.
• Theme park snacks – serve pretzel necklaces and animal crackers shaped like roller coasters for the kids and hot dogs for the adults.
• Music festival treats – serve fruit skewers with marshmallows on sticks, mini doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, and mini sandwiches cut into triangles that look like water bottles with your favorite band’s name on them.
• French fries and dips – serve your favorite salsa with French fries or offer different dips like hummus or baba ganoush.
• Candy bars – wrap candy bars in colorful cellophane bags and tie them together with colorful ribbons for an easy DIY party favor.
• Pretzels – bake homemade pretzels in the oven and serve them with dipping sauces, like honey mustard or chocolate ganache.
• Gingerbread – bake a batch of gingerbread cookies and decorate them with sprinkles for an extra festive touch.
• Popcor n – popcorn is one of the easiest party foods to make (and eat!). You can even make caramel popcorn and decorate it with nuts or candy.
• Hummus and Pita French fries – serve this classic Mediterranean appetizer as part of a snack spread – it goes with just about anything!

Drinks for a Travel-Themed Party

Set up a station with a variety of international drinks, such as:

• Sake – The Japanese rice wine sake is served warm or cold in the winter and at room temperature in the summer. Sake has been drunk in Japan for over 2,000 years!
• Chai Tea – Chai tea is a traditional Indian drink made from black tea leaves, spices such as ginger and cardamom, milk, and sugar. It’s usually served steaming hot but can also be enjoyed cold or iced in the summer.
• Horchata – This sweet drink is popular in Mexico and Central America, especially in Mexico City.
• Cocktail station – set up a cocktail bar where you can mix drinks like lychee martinis or Moscow Mules.
• Wine and cheese bar – set up an area with various cheeses, crackers, and wines for guests to enjoy.
• Beer Garden – Set up a beer garden with tables and chairs, umbrellas, and potted plants.

Inspiration for Your Lunch or Dinner Party Decor

You can host your travel-themed party by decorating your home with travel-related items. You can also make a travel board game for your guests to play. For example

• Travel posters are easy to find online or in a local store. They come in all sizes and colors, so you can choose what you like best. They look beautiful on the walls of your home, especially when combined with other travel-themed decorations like balloons, etc.
• Travel books – you can display books on different travel themes, such as adventure, culture, nature, fancy places, etc., to add depth to your party theme.
• Balloons are inexpensive to decorate your home for any occasion and look fantastic when combined with other decorations such as posters, etc. You can use different colors, such as pastels if you want a feminine touch, or if you want something more vibrant, opt for bright colors like orange, red or green, yellow, etc., that will give your party a vivacious atmosphere!

Ideas for Party Games on the Theme of Travel

Party games are a fun way to get people talking and laughing. But if you’re planning a travel-themed party, why not incorporate games that help guests learn about the places they’ll be visiting?

Here are some ideas for games that will entertain your guests while helping them learn about your destination:

• Geography trivia game – ask guests to name five countries connected to their destination by land or water. For example, if you’re going to Mexico, ask them to name three countries that border Mexico. If you’re traveling to Europe, ask them to name five countries that border one of the European countries.
• What is in my bag? – Fill the bags with items related to different places in the world. Then give each guest a bag and ask them to guess which country each item is from without looking in their bag. This game is both educational and fun!
• The most significant difference between two cities – Get two groups together (one for each city) and have each group list three differences between their city and the other (e.g., one city has more skyscrapers than the other). Have each group share their answers so everyone can see how similar or different these cities are!

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7 Sensational Adventure and Travel Themed Party Ideas

Oh, the places you’ll go! From birthday parties to bridal showers, there are so many adventure-filled ideas you can use to inspire your own celebration. We’ve curated the top travel themed party ideas to spark your creativity! 1. Up, Up and Away in Hot Air Balloons Hot air balloons […]

Oh, the places you’ll go! From birthday parties to bridal showers, there are so many adventure-filled ideas you can use to inspire your own celebration. We’ve curated the top travel themed party ideas to spark your creativity!

1. Up, Up and Away in Hot Air Balloons

Hot air balloons are the cutest vintage touches to a travel theme. Make beautiful table centerpieces with a helium-filled balloon, string, ribbon and a basket filled with colorful flowers!

Create one stunning eye-catching display by hanging paper lantern hot air balloons from the ceiling. This is a great idea for an “Up In The Air” baby shower or birthday party!

One genius idea for a baby shower: take hot air balloons one step further by using diapers for the base!

2. High-Flying Up Inspired Decor

Looking for a fantastic birthday party theme? Disney’s movie Up is an adorable way to incorporate the beloved characters, balloons, and adventure into one fun party!

We love this creative idea! Hand out mini adventure books as favors so little guests can document their own adventures.

3. Pack Your Suitcases

Find inventive ways to present sweets and treats! Open a vintage suitcase and place tiers of cupcakes for a beautiful display.

Small suitcases are also great for displaying favors and drinks!

These adorable vintage suitcase favor boxes filled with candy make fantastic gifts to bid “bon voyage” to your guests.

4. For the Bicycle Lover

Create one fun and creative party theme with bicycles! A Party Studio combined bicycles with a pink, blue and purple color scheme for a darling little birthday party.

Bicycle place card holders and vintage-inspired bicycle favor boxes added a whimsical touch to the party.

Plus, you can spray paint the same bicycle place card holders gold for different look!

5. An International Themed Menu

From South Africa to Peru, take your party guests around the world with a variety of international eats.

6. Vintage Maps & Globes

DIY a glam globe by adding a calligraphy quote and ask guests to sign it!

Send guests off on their journey home with map favor boxes filled with a surprise.

7. Airplanes Ready for Takeoff

Get ready for takeoff! Use airplanes as the main theme mixed with maps, globes and clouds for one charming boyish birthday party.

Vintage airplane bottle openers would make unique and delightful favors to give everyone!

What other adventure or travel ideas do you love? Tell us in the comments!

Happy Planning!

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70+ World Travel Themed Home Decor Ideas

Pretty soon, I’ll have my first place of my own (I’ve moved out before, but I was always in some sort of dorm), and I’m super excited to buy all the furniture, decor, and everything else that goes with getting your own place. Given my very obvious travel addiction, I thought it would make sense for a lot of the home decor in my new apartment to be travel themed. I can’t make EVERYTHING travel themed (my boyfriend would kick me out before we even moved in), but let’s just say people won’t have to guess what I had in mind when decorating our new place. So, if you are moving into a new place, or just looking to do some redecorating, check out these world travel themed home decor ideas!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Find more information about affiliate links on our policy page .

• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Other Decorations

Travel Inspired Living Room Decorations

Travel throw pillows.

Pillows are a great way to add just a touch of travel decor to a living room. They’re not overly obnoxious, but still obvious. Plus, since they come in so many different colors, it’s not too terribly difficult to find one that would match your couch!

Stacked Travel Chests

I found out real fast when looking at furniture that end tables are surprisingly expensive. So, when I saw these on Amazon, I thought it was a really cool idea. Instead of the traditional end table (that may or may not have a small drawer to put things in), why not get suitcase styled chests? They’re stack-able and can store way more than your traditional end table.

Suitcase Shelves

I found these in one of the home decor stores I had visited and thought it was a cute idea. Instead of the traditional wooden shelves, get creative and use shelves that were decorated to look like suitcases. They’ll match your suitcase end tables!

Travel Coasters

If you don’t already have some souvenir drink coasters from your various trips around the world, you can get some world map drink coasters to make sure your new, nice tables don’t get ruined by condensation from drinking glasses.

World Map Tissue Box Cover

I don’t think too many people use tissue box covers anymore, but I thought it was one of the more unique travel decor ideas. If nothing else, it’s a conversation piece!

Traditional Globes

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of travel decor? A globe of course! You can’t decorate your new place with a travel theme and not have at least one globe around.

Travel Themed Dining Room Decor

Travel placemats.

Like I mentioned above, once you get that nice, new table, you don’t want it to be ruined from moisture from cold drinks or hot plates. Placemats are an easy and common fix to that problem. If you’re going to be buying placemats anyway, might as well make them travel themed, right?

World Map Table Runner

If dinner placemats aren’t enough, why not complete the look with a matching table runner?

World Travel Bedroom Decor

Travel lamp.

Looking for something cool and unique to show off to all of your friends? Then you have to check out this floating globe lamp! It uses magnets to make the globe levitate and it even spins around like a traditional globe! It has LEDs built into the frame to make it light up and look even cooler! Of course, you can always go with the more traditional travel home decor too…

World Map Bed Comforter

Do you dream of traveling the world? I thought so! Why not go to sleep surrounded by a map of all the places you dream of visiting?

Travel Pillow Cases

Of course, you can’t have a world map bed comforter and not have matching pillow cases. You just can’t do it.

Travel Themed Bathroom Decor

Travel inspired shower curtains.

Since most showers require some sort of shower curtain (unless you don’t mind lots of water getting all over the floor), having a travel themed shower curtain is an easy way to add a touch of travel to your home life. It’s simple, and separate from the rest of the rooms in the house (in case you don’t want your guests overwhelmed by travel decor the moment they walk into your new place).

World Map Towels

If you are looking to make the entire bathroom travel themed (instead of just having a touch of it), you can also get bath towels that are travel themed. It’s especially nice if you have a rack where you can sort of hang them on display when not in use.

Travel Inspired Kitchen Items

Travel themed alcohol items.

Even if you’re not into the “travel decor” thing, you can still add a bit of travel to your home life. You can break out these glasses when you’ve brought home some souvenir drinks from your most recent destination.

World Map Plates

If you don’t have a big dinning room table, or aren’t really the type of person to use placemats and a table runner, you can still add a bit of travel decor to meal time with these cool looking plates!

Travel Inspired Napkins

My mom always gives me a hard time because I have a bad habit of wiping my hands on my jeans instead of using a napkin (especially when eating greasy or salty foods), but if I had these napkins, I might be a little more inclined to use them (hint-hint mom: these would make a good moving gift).

World Map Cutting Board

Cutting boards are another one of those more subtle items that don’t necessarily get put on display. Since most traditional cutting boards are typically pretty bland, you can spice yours up by getting a travel decorated one.

Travel Themed Office Decor

Push pin cork globe.

My boyfriend and I are to turning our second bedroom into an office since both of us have computer desks. It’s the perfect place to put a tiny globe like this one. Plus, it’s exciting being able to put a new pin in it every time we go someplace new.

Globe Book Ends

I LOVE books. Unfortunately I don’t have as much time to read as I used to (which I think is a shame given how much I really loved it), but I’m really proud of my bookshelves and all the books that sit on them. Plus, I’ve always loved the feel of sitting in a library (especially those rustic ones you see in movies). I figured why not combine some of my biggest passions and add a little travel decor to my bookshelves?

Book Box Covers

If you’ve never heard of book boxes, don’t feel guilty. I hadn’t heard of them either until I started shopping for home decor! Book boxes are great for those book lovers (like me) that want their books to remain in mint condition. You can put your favorite books in book boxes to protect them from dust and moisture. Plus you can give your bookshelves more of a universal look (like the rustic library I mentioned above).

Pencil Holder

Because no desk would be complete without a pencil or pen holder.

Travel Wall Decor

Decorative world maps.

This is what usually comes to mind when you think of travel decor (and usually some of the first results when looking online). You can always go with the traditional, school-like world map, but there are some really cool looking world maps out there if you’re looking for something a little more unique.

Scratch Off World Maps

In more recent years, scratch off world maps have become more popular. They’re a great way to showcase all of the different places you’ve been! My mom got me one for Christmas and I absolutely love it. However, all of the places I’ve been are pretty small, so it doesn’t look like I’ve scratched anything off, but I’m working on it!

Wall Clocks

This is another one of more simple travel decor ideas. It’s a common household decoration and easy to customize to your style. Plus, there are lots of different options out there, so it isn’t too difficult to find one you like.

Word Art and Hangings

You can find all sorts of quotes that have been turned into travel decor. I feel like almost every home decor store that I’ve walked into has had some sort of wall piece with an inspiration adventure quote on it. Even if you’re not looking to go all out with the travel theme, they’re something small and nice you can hang on the wall to express your passion for travel.

Other Travel Decorating Ideas

World map welcome mat.

What better way to welcome guests than to welcome them to your adventures? No better way to set the travel theme than to have it be the first thing you see!

Light Switch Covers

I don’t know if I would replace every light switch cover in my new place with a travel inspired one, but I thought it was a unique way to incorporate travel into home decor. At this point though, the rest of the place is already travel themed, might as well make the light switches travel themed too.

Outlet Covers

If you’ve got travel themes lights switch covers, it only makes sense that you have travel inspired outlet covers too. If you have one, you just have to have the other!

And that’s it for my long list of travel themed home decor! What did you think? Will you be including any of these items the next time you decide to do some redecorating? Let me know in the comments below!

Further Reading

• Useful Gifts for Travelers

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The Craft Patch

Crafts, Home Decor, DIY's and Recipes

Around the World In A Week Activity for Kids

Take your kids on a week-long trip around the world without leaving home.

My kids were supposed to have Spring Break this week, but thanks to the mandated stay-at-home order, everything is cancelled.

My daughter’s dance team was supposed to go to Disneyland in two weeks. My son was looking forward to a special field trip. We were supposed to go to Zion National Park for spring break. I just feel so sad for them.

And I know a lot of you are in the same boat.

So I decided to make the best of it and “travel” to different countries during what was supposed to be their spring break. The kids each made a pretend passport and each day they get to “visit” a new country and do all sorts of activities that relate to that country. Then at the end of the day, they can put a stamp in their passport. I used this free printable play passport .

Normally I’m a low maintenance mom and don’t like to plan elaborate activities like this, but with all of the fear and uncertainty, I felt like it was needed. So you mamas who are in the same boat, take heart. These activities really weren’t that exhausting or difficult and can be adapted to any age and any amount of mom-energy.

France 

• Look up and learn about popular destinations in France. I liked using this Google Travel Guide and I Chromecast it onto our TV so everyone could see the pictures. 
• Find France on a map.
• Read this post that includes facts about France. 
• Take a virtual tour of the Louvre .
• BOOK – Madeline. If you don’t own the book, you can watch someone read it on Youtube .
• MOVIES – Ratatouille, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Aristocats
• Build an Eiffel tower out of Legos
• Ten Eiffel Tower Art Ideas
• Paint in the style of Monet
• Tour De France (aka go on a bike ride)
• French Fashion Show
• SONG – Learn the song Allouette in French.
• FOOD – Make homemade French bread , crepes, croissants, Croque Monsieur , french fries, macarons, eclairs or french onion soup
• Look up popular places in Mexico.
• Learn quick facts about Mexican history.
• Find Mexico on a map.
• Google image search “traditional Mayan clothing” and “traditional Mexican clothing”
• Watch this video of a traditional Folklorico dancing
• MOVIES – Coco 
• Papel Picado
• Paper Bag Pinata
• Ojo De Dios (God’s Eye Weaving Craft)   This version uses small dowels and this version uses popsicle sticks
• ACTIVITY – Learn the Mexican Hat Dance
• SONG – Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in Spanish
• FOOD – Sopapillas , Chips and Salsa, Homemade Tortillas, Tacos, Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Churros, Sombrero Cookies , Pina Colada Smoothies
• Take a quiz to see if you know the meaning of these British words .
• Watch this England Travel Guide video .
• Find England on a map. Learn the difference between England and Great Britain.
• MOVIES – The Great Mouse Detective, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood
• Tissue Paper British flag – Print out a picture of the British flag, then use THIS method with tissue paper squares and a pencil.
• Wooden Clothespin Royal Soldiers
• Make a castle out of cardboard
• BOOK – Paddington Bear
• SONG –  “London Bridge is Falling Down”
• Play a British school yard game . 
• Have a tea party. We happened to have a miniature tea set, so we made pink lemonade, ate sandwiches cut into little squares and had Little Debbie “tea cakes” while trying to speak with British accents (and failing miserably! LOL )
• FOOD – Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes), Shepherds Pie, Fish and Chips, Tea, Cucumber Sandwiches, Scones
• Learn how rice is grown and harvested
• WATCH 10 Places to Visit in China
• Find China on a map. List all of the countries that share a border.
• MOVIES –  Mulan, Kung Fu Panda
• BOOKS – Rikki Tikki Tembo  
• SONG –  Learn Chinese greetings with this short song.
• CRAFTS –  Choose one of these 60 Chinese crafts . We made Chinese dragons out of toilet paper tubes.
• Practice using chopsticks. You could even turn it into a race.
• Play Chinese checkers or Mahjong.
• Fly a kite.
• FOOD –   Homemade fortune cookies , egg rolls, orange chicken , fried rice
• Learn Facts about Russia.
• Watch a video about the best places to visit in Russia .
• Take a virtual tour of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
• MOVIES –  Anastasia
• BOOKS – Masha and Her Sisters or  Babushka’s Doll
• Free Printable Version to Color
• Nesting Dolls Made from Easter Eggs
• Print and Cut Version
• Practice the  Russian Ukrainian Cossack Dance
• Listen to music from The Nutcracker, written by famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky or watch the full ballet
• FOOD –  Blinis, Borscht, Beef Stroganoff, Russian Tea Cakes

This is just what we did. It’s meant to serve as inspiration to get your wheels churning. You could follow the same general outline for any country that you’re interested in visiting. Think about the types of activities your kids like to do and adapt from there. It really was a fun experience, even for me! And I hope it helps some of you that are missing the opportunity travel for real. Hang in there! Some day we’ll look back on this time and it will just be a crazy memory.

Like this idea? Pin it so you don’t forget it.

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Comments & Reviews

July 15, 2021

I just came across this while looking for new activities for the children I nanny. I cannot wait to start this; thank you so much for this amazing roundup of activities! All the options will allow me to adapt the activities to both the 8 and 5 year old.

July 23, 2021

Thanks for sharing this amazing idea. I tried this activity with my daughter & she loved it.

June 20, 2023

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Stay At Home Educator

intentional teaching for purposeful learning

Free Preschool Lesson Plans for Around the World Theme

November 29, 2020 by Sarah Punkoney, MAT

Teaching an around the world preschool theme is a fun and effective way to teach preschoolers about different cultures and countries . Download these free preschool lesson plans for around the world lesson theme and start teaching today!

Around the World Lesson Plan Activities

Teaching your preschoolers about the world is not only fun, but also a great way to expose them to different cultures and countries. If you’re looking for an effective way to do this, then look no further! Download these around the world preschool activities for and start teaching today! The best part? They’re totally free! Not only are these lessons designed to help your students learn about different parts of the world, but they’re also designed to help them understand different cultures. From cooking traditional dishes to learning about holidays celebrated in other countries, your students will gain a better understanding of cultural differences and how they impact our lives. It’s also important to note that these lessons are designed with sensitivity in mind—they focus on celebrating similarities between cultures rather than emphasizing differences.

FAQ About Teaching an Around the World Preschool Theme

Have questions about teaching an around the world theme? We’ve answered a few questions for you so you can rock these around the world activities in your preschool classroom!

For preschoolers, the concept of around the world can be a little abstract. Developmentally , preschoolers are insular. They see others as just like them. They have many similarities and many differences, and both those should be celebrated. It’s important in an around the world theme in preschool to teach little learners that children live all over the world. You can use a world map or globe to describe this.

Like all well-planned preschool lesson plans, an around the world theme should include literacy and math activities, as well as sensory, art, dramatic play, and even science activities. It’s important to read plenty of children’s books that talk about other countries and cultures, and even books describing holidays around the world. Be sure to check out our highest recommended children’s book for this theme.

An around the world preschool theme offers so much opportunity to be creative. In this theme, we built pyramids out of paper cups , built the longest wall in our block center , explored foreign money in a sensory bin , and even “visited” a world market in our dramatic play center .

Important Info about these Around the World Lesson Plans

These around the world lesson plans for preschoolers are just one theme in a set of over 40 that will become a part of my free Learn At Home Preschool Lesson Plans.

The Learn at Home Preschool Activity Plans are a set of free activity plans you can use to teach your preschooler at home. Each set of lesson plans is centered around a weekly theme and includes a minimum of 16 activities that can be done throughout the week. They are designed to be done at home with parents, but many preschool teachers are using these lesson plans, too! Just glance over the lessons each day, gather the very few materials needed, and you’re ready to go! All the preschool learning  activities are quick and easy to set up , requiring very little (if any at all) prep and only require the most basic of household materials. This makes them especially easy for parents to implement…and this makes preschool teachers happy, too! These activities also work wonderfully in the classroom, and if you’re a preschool teacher who is remotely teaching you can send these lesson plans to your student’s parents.

Get the Convenience Bundle!

Yes, these really are free preschool lesson plans, but since it’s a part of so many other free weekly lesson plans for preschoolers, I’ve saved you some time and bundled them together.

Activities in Around the World Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

These free preschool lesson plans feature hands-on learning activities in all the most important content areas in preschool. They include cultures and countries preschool activities that cover literacy, math and science, sensory and art, safe online activities, as well as other playful learning activities. Read all about them below.

Literacy Activities for an Around the World Theme

Packing Visual List – It’s time to explore the world! Practice “packing” a suitcase for a trip. What will you need to bring? Help your preschooler draw and write the sounds they hear for the items they’ll bring. Encourage them to think outside the box. Ask questions to help your preschooler determine what things they will need. Do they want to go somewhere cold or hot? How long will they be staying? What kinds of clothing will they need to bring for their location? Will they be doing anything or going anywhere special while there? How about a toothbrush or bedtime stories? Sun Name Craft – Although we live in all corners of the world and have different time zones, we all share the same star: the sun. (Read about how the sun influences culture in this article ). Invite your preschooler to make the sun by cutting a circle out of yellow paper or using a paper plate. Cut out yellow strips of paper for the sun rays and encourage your preschooler to write a letter from their name on the end of each ray. Glue the rays onto the yellow circle to create a bright sun. While creating this literacy craft, talk to your preschooler about different names they know. What are their friends’ names and family members’ names? Talk to your preschooler about how names are special and how they can reflect different cultures and traditions.

Teach your child about different cultures with picture books!

One of the best ways to teach young children about different countries and cultures is by using high quality picture books. Look for children’s books with beautiful illustrations to help bring out the details of the text.

Math and Science Activities for an Around the World Theme

Paper Cup Pyramids – Using small or large plastic cups, invite your child to build a pyramid tower . Show your preschooler the pyramids of Egypt and model stacking the cups on top of each other to make the large pyramid shape. Once done, count together all the cups that you use! Or for an added challenge, have your preschooler first count out 100 plastic cups. (Do this by counting sets of ten cups.) Then challenge your preschooler to build a pyramid that uses all 100 cups. This is the perfect challenge for preschoolers because they will begin building and run out of cups, or have left over cups, and then they have to figure out how to modify their design to use all 100 cups. If you are a kindergarten teacher, this is an amazing STEM activity for the 100th day of school. Beaded Necklace – Cut a piece of string about two feet long and grab some beads of any shape. Invite your preschooler to string beads on their own unique necklace to represent their culture. You can try something like this: red beads represent holiday traditions, blue beads represent favorite family foods, yellow beads represent religious traditions, and so on. This activity can be done on a larger scale with wooden lacing beads and used as an activity during circle time. Each day, add a few beads until you have created a class necklace. Take it one step further and invite your helper of the day be the one to add that day’s bead and wear the necklace that day. Longest Wall STEM Challenge – Grab some blocks and challenge your preschooler to build the longest wall possible. Show some images of long structures like the Great Wall of China. This activity is a surprising challenge because preschoolers have a tendency to want to build up, not sideways. Building the longest wall also requires preschoolers to navigate their creation around obstacles in the way, like chairs and tables. Make this activity even more challenging by adding more parameters, like having to make the wall three blocks high–no more and no less.

Don’t forget picture books that are all about maps!

Maps are one more thing to add to your around the world lesson plans. You’re not limited to traditional maps, either. Try some of these picture books, board games, and puzzles that all feature maps and map skills.

Playful Learning Activities for an Around the World Theme

Skin-Toned Playdough – Mix white playdough with brown and even a little bit of yellow. Do this several times and notice the difference in colors. Share with your preschooler that everyone around the world has different skin colors and that is what makes us special and unique. Cultural Foods – Go to an ethnic market or supermarket and try new foods from various countries. Many ethnic markets will sell prepared or packaged foods, which means that enjoying a meal from another country with your preschooler can be quick and easy. If possible, take your preschooler to the ethnic market and invite him or her to choose a handful of items to try. You might be surprised at what your preschooler ends up liking. Shrimp-flavored chips? Seaweed-flavored candies? Thick, tangy udon noodles? Building with Blocks – Look up buildings on the internet and share the images with your preschooler. Challenge your preschooler to try to build them with blocks. Get creative and build “water” around the base or add people to their block cities. Here are some famous buildings to consider : the Empire State Building, the Taj Mahal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Coliseum, or the White House.

Social-Emotional Activities for an Around the World Theme

All Are Welcome – Go to YouTube and listen to the book All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. Discuss the stunning illustrations and focus on the flags on the lunchroom page. Discuss the significance of the flags and the countries they represent. Encourage your preschooler to think of ways to make everyone always feel welcome, whether they are at school, a playdate, at a restaurant, etc.

Around the World Market – Host your own Around the World Market ! Invite your preschooler to use food containers to sell cultural foods. Most grocery stores have an ethnic aisle where you can purchase food items from various countries around the world. Go shopping together and pick out items that your preschooler is interested in trying. Then, use those food containers to set up a market for dramatic play. If you have a toy register or play money, incorporate it for more hands-on math learning. Encourage your preschooler to sell the items and “make” the food items to serve.

Make Your Around the World Theme Even More Fun!

These around the world themed items are great fun for making your theme more fun and interesting! Kids love using puzzles, maps, and flags to learn more about new countries

Just Plain Fun Activities for an Around the World Theme

Where in the World? – Check the labels on things around the house for where they were made and then look for that place on a map or globe. Go even further by looking up some locations on the internet and looking at images. Use small dot stickers to mark the map for where items were made, and discuss with your preschooler how some countries produce a lot of commodities and why that might be. Hola, Hi, Bonjour – Practice saying hello in different languages with this song . Invite your preschooler to practice saying hello to friends and family in a different language.

Pilot Dramatic Role Play – Encourage your preschooler to pretend to be an airplane pilot and play follow the leader. Set up chairs and sit in the cabin for takeoff and landing. Develop oral language skills by asking your little pilot where everyone is traveling. What things might they see out the window of the airplane as it approaches its destination?

Safe Online Activities for an Around the World Theme

Online Story – Go to YouTube and listen to the book Me On the Map by Joan Sweeney. After reading, invite your preschooler to draw a map of their own room or house. Encourage them to share where they would like to travel on the map or where they like to spend time and why.

Where Are You From? Song – This catchy song introduces new countries and traditions to young children in a simple and fun way.

Schools Around the World – This book and video is a quick view of what school looks like around the world. Invite your preschooler to ask questions about their clothing and their school set-up. How is it similar to their own school experience? How is it different? Which school would they like to spend a day in and why?

Bonus Activity!

Pen pals are an amazing way–like really, really amazing–to learn about other countries and cultures. You can match your preschooler with a pen pal from the United States or from another country with the Kids for Peace: Peaceful Pen Pals Project link below. They will feel like they are meeting children around the world.

Download Your Free Around the World Lesson Plans Here

Think your preschool will enjoy learning about other countries and cultures? Download these free preschool lesson plans by clicking the image below.

Around the World Activities for Toddlers

Paper Cup Pyramids – Around the World Theme

Around the World Suitcase Activity

I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

Around the World From Home: Travel Theme Preschool Activities

Wishing you could get out and travel…but can’t? Looking to introduce travel to your littles or classroom? Find our favorite around the world activities and travel theme preschool crafts to spark wanderlust from home.

Disclosure : This site contains affiliate links for products and services I recommend. When you make a purchase through an affiliate link, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read our full disclosure here.

As much as I’d love to travel all the time, I can’t.

We have jobs. Travel isn’t cheap. My kids are a handful to deal with. Sometimes things just happen and you’re stuck at home!

But who says you need to put the travel bug on the shelf?

Travel, adventure, and having some sort of understanding of the vastness of the world is part of our everyday lives, too. We continue to teach about and introduce travel and culture, even from home.

From reading books, to doing map puzzles, to learning languages, our hearts and minds are often immersed in worlds way beyond our living room windows.

Whether you’re looking to fill the days stuck at home or simply wanting to introduce new places and cultures for later, you’ll love the suggestions below.

I’m sharing my favorite theme activities, preschool crafts, and DIY adventures so you can travel around the world without leaving your home.

After reaching out, five travel and family bloggers submitted their favorite travel activities for kids. You’ll find their incredible suggestions, as well.

So, go beat the boredom and start sparking that wanderlust with your kids.

Adventure Around the World with these Travel Theme Preschool Activities

Read some travel books.

My librarian years haven’t failed me yet.

I may be home with my kids now, but in a past life, I planned hundreds, if not thousands, of children’s storytimes. I adored taking kids around the world through stories, and then following it up with preschool crafts and on theme activities.

With library books, digital resources, and even materials you may have at home, you can easily recreate a travel themed book-venture.

Reading books about and set around the world is great for prepping your kids – whether they’re in preschool or high school – for an upcoming trip. Even with no travel plans, though, introducing a lesson on a specific country, keeps their views of the world vast!

Teach Kids to Navigate With Analog Wayfinding

Are you dreaming of fun family hikes? Exploring forested trails, splashing through creek…wait, the phone with the trails map just fell in that stream!

Did this dream hike just turn into a nightmare? In a GPS world, adventurous families still go off-grid (sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident).

Kids of all ages can navigate without digital devices—it’s a life skill best learned before getting lost on a trail. Here are three ways to begin wayfinding:

• Look for Landmarks: In the car or on bike rides, even preschoolers can navigate the way home. Asking “Which way should we go from here? How do you know?” trains them to pay attention to landmarks. Older kids can take on trail-boss responsibilities, in charge of the rout out and back.
• Get Comfortable with Paper Maps: Drawing maps is more than a fun art project—it helps kids internalize spaces. Start small, drawing the neighborhood. Include favorite places—even the dog’s! Work up to reading printed maps symbols and identifying hills and valleys by topo lines.
• Compass Games in the Backyard Develop Orienteering Skills: Start with basic skills like holding the compass flat so the needle floats freely. To find magnetic north, hold the compass straight and turn until the needle points to N (red goes in the shed!) Low-tech geocaches and treasure hunts are a fun way to grow orienteering skills. Most importantly, stash a compass in each backpack, ready for the next real adventure!

*Submitted by Suzanne from Blue Planet Travels .

Go on a Home Safari

Our DIY home safari adventure was one of my finer ideas as a parent. You know you’re winning when something keeps your kids engaged for more than 20 minutes.

The best part about this adventure, was that I didn’t really need to do much. My son has a safari play set, so we simply pulled it out and highlighted the safari theme with other books and activities.

Some of his favorite add-ons were putting animal stickers on his map and watching a virtual safari on our TV.

Even if you don’t own a safari play set, this is easy to recreate with a few stuffed animals and books or DIY flashcards.

Create a Travel Vision Board

Kids can get excited about travel without ever leaving home by designing a travel vision board. Vision boards are a crafty and creative way to spark kids’ dreams about future fun trips and adventures.

Creating a travel vision board simply consists of cutting out inspiring words and pictures of places you’d like to visit from magazines – or printing some off the internet – and pasting them on to poster board.

My daughter likes to customize her visual creations using crayons, markers or colored pencils, decorating with stickers and glitter, designing borders around each picture and including fun quotes.

Young children may need a little help getting their imagination rolling. You can ask questions like “if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you do while there?”

Let children run wild with their ideas. Are they dreaming of an Arctic dogsledding adventure in their future? A visit to a theme park or waterpark? Or maybe a trip to Italy for pizza and gelato?

Whether children tailor their board for ultimate bucket-list destinations or for upcoming family trips, designing a travel vision board helps kids visualize and look forward to future exciting experiences.

*Submitted by Deanne from Scenic and Savvy .

Play Travel Related Board Games

One of my favorite indoor activities for young children is to play board games.

A travel-themed board game young children particularly like is Ticket To Ride First Journey. It is suitable for ages 6 and up. You can either purchase the Europe or United States of America map. The goal of the game is to be the first player to complete six Tickets. You complete a Ticket when you have built a continuous line of trains between the two cities printed on your Ticket. The map, pieces and cards are all bright and colorful, which will appeal to young children. It inspires children to travel to and visit different cities in Europe or the United States of America, depending on which version you purchase. 

Another favourite travel-themed board game for young children is My First Carcassonne, which is suitable for ages 4 and up. The first player to place all their meeples down wins the game. The game consists of placing a tile down to build the medieval city of Carcassonne in France. You can place a meeple down when you close a street. The tiles and meeples are also bright and colourful like Ticket to Ride First Journey. The tiles fit together no matter the placement, which makes it easy for little ones.

Playing board games is a fantastic travel activity to do at home with young children.

*Submitted by Clara of Petite Capsule. Check out her roundup of indoor activities for babies for more at home ideas.

Learn a New Language

Learning a new language has never been as popular as it is right now! Experts all agree that the younger children learn a new language, the more easily they will learn it fluently and remember it throughout their lives.

Not only will it strengthen their brains, but it will also help them to understand other cultures. If your family can’t travel, you might as well learn.

Fortunately, there are several ways to help your children learn a language – even if you don’t know the language yourself. There are tons of apps out there for a variety of age groups.

My personal favorite is Mondly Kids. It covers a multitude of languages and uses sounds and pictures (in addition to words) so children who can’t read can still learn. This would be good for children about 4 to 10, but I have known 2-year-olds who could have figured it out. If you help them learn how to use the app for a few levels, most kids will pick it up pretty quickly.

Different apps have different features, so be sure to explore your options. Any type of helpful app will have music, stories, or videos in another language. YouTube has tons of options, but there may be better apps for specific languages.

While immersing your child in the language (without any English words during learning), bilingual videos also have their perks. Since children under 3 are still learning English, it doesn’t hurt to sing songs that teach them words for both languages.

* Submitted by Raquel of Meals and Mile Markers. Check out more of her recommendations to feed your wanderlust from home.

Camp in Your Living Room

Did you not grow up setting up a living room tent and begging your parents to let you sleep in it?

Why not set up a simple home tent (use a sheet if you don’t have a play tent) and transport your family to the mountains? Maybe your kids prefer the National Parks? Or the Grand Canyon.

We’ll pack some “camping” snacks, roll out our sleeping bags, read books and listen for animal sounds. Set your TV for theme-appropriate background noise!

Take a Virtual Theme Park Ride or Tour

Theme parks are a special place, especially for kids! No other destination combines so many varieties of fun – thrill rides and rollercoasters, playgrounds, candy, shows and live entertainment, animals, and the chance to meet your favorite characters in person. When we aren’t able to visit our favorite theme parks, we can experience some from the comfort of our own couch.

Make sure nobody suffers from motion sickness before proceeding .

To watch as a family, access YouTube through your smart TV, or project your laptop screen to your TV. Google has plenty of tips on how to do this if you have any trouble.

If you have a VR headset, there are many options to install virtual rollercoaster apps, which are heaps of fun, but only one person can use these at a time. If you don’t have one, there are plenty of options to play along with just your TV or computer.

Disney teamed up with Google to create a street-view virtual visit of their parks, allowing you to walk through. You can choose which direction you want to go, look from side-to-side, and, just like always, there are crowds. You may even spot some of your favorite characters around the park! Start here and just use your mouse to click through!

If you want something slightly more thrilling, there are rollercoasters you can virtually ride! To make it as realistic as possible, try clearing some space in front of the T.V, and put some chairs in front, side-by-side.

Here are a few YouTube options to get you started:

• Virtual Disney World
• Canada’s Wonderland
• Universal Studios

Best of all, there are no crowds, and lunch won’t cost a fortune! Until we can go back, enjoy these virtual theme park experiences.

*Submitted by Jenna of I Know The Pilot .

Cook an Ethnic Recipe

Sometimes I serve Ikea Swedish meatballs from a bag and call it a Scandinavian delicacy. Other times, we make curry from scratch.

My kids love ethnic food, because they’re exposed to it frequently. It’s one of my favorite family travel benefits . Recently, I’ve started trying to teach about the places certain foods come from.

This doesn’t work for boxed mac and cheese, though. Sorry.

We’ll talk about where a certain food comes from and if we’ve been there or are planning on it soon. Sometimes we read stories from that area and look at maps.

Personally, cooking is one of my favorite activities and I love being able to transport my family anywhere around the world right from my kitchen.

It makes trying new food fun and gets them excited to travel. My toddler also loves helping me in the kitchen…then eating his creations!

If you’re enjoying these at home travel activities, check out our Travel Gifts for Kids . Many gift suggestions are geared towards preschool kids, and are ideal for venturing around the world when you can’t travel!

Around the World Theme Preschool Crafts

Anytime my kids have a chance to create something or get a little messy, their day is made!

With simple craft supplies, household products, and recyclables we’ve created instruments from around the world, masks, toy airplanes, nature mandalas, binoculars, and many more preschool theme crafts!

A quick online search will yield more global crafts and activities like printable passports and flags, along with an endless supply of free coloring pages.

Typically, when we spend some time learning, reading, or planning an at home adventure, I’ll search for related crafts and activities to keep my toddler engaged and busy!

We have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to learning about and introducing travel at home. You can find our favorite travel theme crafts, preschool books, and other fun activities to take you and your kids around the world.

What activities and adventures take you around the world? How do you keep the wanderlust alive for your kids when you’re stuck at home. How do you prep them for an upcoming trip, whether it’s tomorrow or in ten months? I’d love to hear your favorite at home travel ideas.

Save these travel theme activities and around the world adventures for later. Pin to Pinterest:

The at home safari sounds like a ton of fun! Connor already gets super excited to go see his Winnie the Pooh, so I’m sure he’ll love finding animals around the house as he gets older! I like the idea of camping inside your house or in the yard too. I remember doing that as a kid!

Awe that’s so cute!! Camping inside is always a hit..it’s like they’re allowed to make a mess!!

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Travel around the world with this amazing classroom theme!  Grab your passport and luggage, and don’t forget your camera!   Be ready for a year of ADVENTURE with the Schoolgirl Style World Traveler collection!   EXPLORING the world has never been so much fun!. Behind the Scenes:  This collection took me some time to perfect. […]

Travel around the world with this amazing classroom theme!  Grab your passport and luggage, and don’t forget your camera!   Be ready for a year of ADVENTURE with the Schoolgirl Style World Traveler collection!   EXPLORING the world has never been so much fun!.

Behind the Scenes:  This collection took me some time to perfect.  I changed ideas and concepts several times until I felt like I got it right.  I didn’t want a “kiddie” classroom…I wanted it to look sophisticated, since I assumed that this theme would be geared for upper elementary and beyond.   After several tries of designing, I happened to see a Ralph Lauren bedding set that I adored.  It featured classic plaids, herringbone, houndstooth, and even a little leopard print.  IT WAS PERFECT and it ended up inspiring my designs for this collection.

 I used a classic black and white backdrop throughout the room, then layered it with these amazing details for some added color.

Plane cutouts are double sided.  I wanted you to be able to hang these coordinated airplanes around the room and have them look fantastic when they spin!

 Learn about different countries and cultures…there are so many learning opportunities with this collection!

I created the world flag cutouts in several sizes for different applications.

The suitcases are SO cute…I mean SUPER DUPER cute!  Check out that editable luggage tag!  Ahhhh….LOVE!  (I don’t have any photos, but I did create luggage stickers to attach to the suitcases after your student has visited a country.)

A plane cutout was created to coordinate with every pattern included in the collection.

I absolutely LOVE these too…editable passports in two different sizes!

Check out that plaid can cover with the flags…such a rich, sophisticated pattern!

Coordinating papers are also included in the collection and can be used to wrap aluminum cans used for supplies.

Leopard can be extremely sophisticated and chic, especially paired with textured patterns and plaids.

I created one side of the room to show you how you can create two different different looks with this collection.  The left side is a little more playful, while the right side is more sophisticated and classy.

Travel to faraway places and track your visits with a poster size map of the world!

I found the top suitcase at a local antique mall and the bottom suitcase is from Hobby Lobby.  What a great storage solution for this theme!

I used glue dots to attach my mini flags to the large poster sized map.  Black and white continent maps are also included in the collection.

Large monogram letters are also included.  These are great for bulletin boards or to hang as a focal point in your classroom!  You can also use these letters to spell your name and attach to your desk.

Tweed storage boxes were found at Target.  Don’t forget your globes…you need at least one, but the more the better!

Brown stacking boxes were found on Amazon.

A gorgeous stationary set is also included in this set.

Stationary sets include monogrammed prints for your desk, Avery label templates, note cards, thank you notes, editable business cards, and personalized stationary.

Start planning for your adventure today!

How would you like the chance to win this entire collection?

I’ve teamed up with Erin Klein from Kleinspiration  to offer you an amazing prize package!   If you follow Erin, you know that she is one of the most distinguished bloggers out there.  Erin is an expert on educational technology and has her hand in every area of the teaching world.  Currently, Erin is traveling the country for work and will return today to get the Rafflecopter up and running for your chance to win!  Perfect person for this giveaway, right?!?

You have an entire week to enter, so no worries, you have more than enough time!

Here are the prizes:

-World Traveler full digital collection

-Fadeless paper from  Pacon

-Coordinating border from  Pacon

-Poms/daisies/lanterns of your choice from the Schoolgirl Style Shop

Over $100 value!

Click here to head over to Kleinspiration!

Let’s Go Shopping!

Photography:  E.C. Campbell Photography

World Traveler decor:  Schoolgirl Style Shop

Fadeless bulletin board paper:   Schoolgirl Style Shop

navy poms:   Schoolgirl Style Shop

tweed storage boxes, leather desk accessories:   Target

ribbon yellow clothespin:  Michaels

ribbon:   Joann Fabrics

suitcase – Hobby Lobby

cream flowers, globe:  Homegoods

Brown stacking boxes:   Amazon

Paper:  Staples  (I used a high gloss photo paper for best results)

Most items are editable and can be personalized for a custom look  (Type in your student’s names and customize classroom labels…perfect handwriting every time!)

Share the Style!

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• Trip Around the World – a themed dinner party

This is an innovative blog post on a themed dinner : a Trip Around the World Dinner for Family and Friends. When it comes to special occasions, we all want to make them memorable. So why not host a dinner around a theme that speaks of inclusion and diversity? 🙂 This type of party is becoming more and more popular, and for a good reason! It is a great way to bring people together and celebrate different cultures. This blog post will discuss tips on planning a Trip Around the World Dinner Party that your guests will never forget!

1) Decide on a theme:

The first step to planning any party is to decide on a theme. This will help you determine the overall tone and feel of the evening. For example, you could choose a specific region or country to focus on for a trip around the World Dinner Party. This will help you select appropriate foods and activities. Alternatively, you could opt for a more general theme such as “Tastes of the World”. This would give you more flexibility when it comes to menu planning.

2) Choose your foods wisely:

One of the most important aspects of any dinner party is the food. You want to make sure that you select dishes that will be both tasty and appealing to your guests. When it comes to a Trip Around the World Dinner Party, there are many different options to choose from. You could opt for traditional dishes from a specific country or region, for instance, Spaghetti Bolognese from Italy, French Onion Soup, creamy mashed potatoes and bangers from Ireland. Or, you could try something more adventurous and create your own fusion dishes. Whichever route you decide to take, be sure to do some research beforehand and plan your menu accordingly.

3) Set the scene:

Another important aspect of any dinner party is the setting. You want to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere for your guests. You could choose to decorate your space with traditional items from the country or region you are focusing on. For example, if you have an Italian-themed dinner party, you could hang strings of garlic and chilli peppers around the room. Or, if you are having a French-themed dinner party, you could decorate with Eiffel Towers and other iconic French symbols. Alternatively, you could keep the décor simple and let the food be the star of the show.

4) Plan some fun activities:

No dinner party is complete without some fun activities to keep your guests entertained. For a Trip Around the World Dinner Party, you could plan some cultural activities such as making homemade pizzas or learning how to make traditional sushi rolls. Or, you could opt for something more low-key such as setting up a photo booth with props from different countries. Whichever route you decide to take, be sure to plan ahead and have everything ready to go before your guests arrive.

5) Don’t forget the details:

Last but not least, don’t forget to take care of the small details. This includes things like sending out invitations, setting up a playlist of international music, and having enough seating for everyone. By taking care of the details in advance, you can relax and enjoy the party without having to worry about anything last minute.

In conclusion, a Trip Around the World Dinner Party is a great way to celebrate your loved ones and enjoy different cultures. By following these tips, you can be sure to plan an unforgettable evening that your guests will never forget!

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Travel-Themed Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas (& Printables)

Last updated: Apr 4, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

How to pull off an incredible appreciation week for your teachers and staff. Printables, food ideas, and gift ideas make it easy and quick to pull off a travel-themed week for your first class teachers!

What is Teacher Appreciation Week?

Teacher Appreciation week is a week-long celebration to honor and thank the teachers and staff at schools nationwide.

When is Teacher Appreciation Week?

Teacher appreciation week is always the first week of May. Teacher Appreciation week 2024 is Monday, May 6- Friday, May 10.

Teacher Appreciation Week Themes

There are so many fun themes for teacher appreciation week you can choose from.

But this post is all about our the Travel Around-the-World themed teacher party week we threw at my kid's elementary school.

We also included teacher appreciation week ideas for staff since it takes an entire crew to run a school!

Teacher Appreciation Schedule

It is a great idea to give a schedule to both students and teachers/staff so they can know what to expect during the week.

STUDENTS SCHEDULE

We printed out these schedules for the kids to take home. We DID NOT want the kids to feel obligated to spend a lot of money, so we gave them some ideas that didn't cost anything.

• Monday - give a fist bump and thanks to the teachers you see
• Tuesday - be helpful and kind to your classmates
• Wednesday- bring a snack or drink for your teacher
• Thursday - be extra respectful by listening and staying involved
• Friday - write a note with a favorite memory or something you've learned

TEACHER/STAFF SCHEDULE

• Monday - enjoy flight snacks in the staff room
• Tuesday - enjoy lunch
• Wednesday- taste the world- enjoy international treats
• Thursday - enjoy a fiesta lunch in the staff room
• Friday - pick up a thank you gift from the baggage claim in staff room

Teacher Appreciation Kit

Get the complete printable bundles to make Teacher week super easy!

Teacher Week Decorations

We used a few simple decorations to turn the teacher and staff room into something special for teacher week.

We used this world flag bunting to drape across the ceiling. Using this flag pennant was an inexpensive way to fill up some visual space in the room and make it feel like a party!

Teacher Week Centerpieces

We wanted to add some centerpieces to the tables, but wanted to save our budget for the food and gifts. We came up with some practically free teacher appreciation week centerpieces and they turned out pretty cute!

We grabbed some butcher paper from the supply room for table runners. We printed off the "Reserved For First Class Teachers & Staff" sign and folded some paper airplanes.

Teacher Week Food

One day, we had "in-flight" snacks for the teachers and staff. We filled up baskets with various packaged snacks like trail mix, chocolates, cookies, and other treats they could grab throughout the day.

Another day we served a full lunch for the teachers and staff. We picked up pre-made deli sandwiches from Walmart and served sides of grapes and chips.

This lunch was an affordable way to serve a meal without breaking the budget!

More Teacher Appreciation Ideas

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• Recital Themes

Around The World Recital Theme

Travel around the world and experience cultures everywhere! With a little inspiration from all over the world, this theme is a fun collaboration of rhythms and instruments.

Why Have A Themed Recital?

Marketing inspiration.

• Curate videos of dance styles from around the world and do a daily countdown to your recital or performance on social media by sharing artforms from around the world.
• Sell "passports" to the dancers (instead of Candygrams) where the audience members/dancers can collect signatures from other dancers.

Song Inspiration

Costume inspiration.

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8 Hotel Afternoon Teas Around the World Worth a Visit

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

1. The Palm Court at The Plaza, New York City

2. afternoon tea at claridge’s hotel, london, 3. h tasting lounge at the westin bayshore, vancouver, canada, 4. afternoon hi tea at the oberoi udaivilas, udaipur, india, 5. afternoon tea at baccarat hotel, new york city, 6. afternoon tea at the ballantyne, charlotte, north carolina, 7. petrossian bar at bellagio hotel & casino, las vegas, 8. mad hatters afternoon tea at sanderson, london, how to save on a hotel tea party.

Attending a hotel’s afternoon tea party can be a classy way to experience a luxury hotel — even if you're not staying there.

Some hotel tea parties are so extraordinary that they're practically worth planning a trip around. We’re spilling the tea on eight of the most exquisite afternoon tea experiences in New York City, London and beyond — plus how to save on your bookings.

(Photo courtesy of The Plaza – a Fairmont Managed Hotel)

Like a scene straight out of the movie “Eloise at the Plaza,” sip on afternoon tea under the soaring stained-glass dome of The Palm Court in New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel. The historic hotel has been serving afternoon tea for more than 115 years in an elegant affair that requires formal attire.

Kids are welcome, and there’s even a specific version of the menu with an Eloise theme available to children under 13.

(Photo courtesy of Claridge’s)

Tea is a classy affair at Claridge’s, a British landmark that began operations in 1856. Tea is served in The Foyer & Reading Room alongside a classic combination of finger sandwiches, scones and pastries. It’s all served on fine bone china and silverware, made specifically for Claridge’s.

(Photo courtesy of The Westin Bayshore Vancouver)

On weekends, the H Tasting Lounge at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver transforms into the Hundred Acre Wood. And though Westin is Marriott’s wellness-focused brand , this particular hotel equates wellness with whimsy thanks to its Winnie the Pooh-inspired afternoon tea.

You might channel your inner bear and drizzle honey in your cup, and much of the food is honey-infused, too. That includes a snack tray dubbed “Pooh’s Pot of Gold” featuring cotton candy with honey crystals. Savory dishes include honey-smoked salmon and salad with honey-poached chicken. One of the desserts is a meringue whipped to resemble a beehive, served with — what else? — honey mousse.

The Oberoi Udaivilas sits on the banks of Lake Pichola, in Udaipur, India, a destination that ranks as one of American Express Travel's 2024 Trending Destinations . Afternoon tea at the opulent hotel is reminiscent of an English tea experience while embracing local cuisine, including shufta (a sweet dish of dry fruit, sugar and saffron) and Anjeer badam ladoo (fig and almond sweet dumplings).

(Photo courtesy of Baccarat Hotel)

The tea party at Baccarat Hotel offers another option for afternoon tea in NYC. And some of the packages — which are named for historical, royal personalities — are ultra-luxurious.

The “Princess of Monaco - Grace Kelly” package goes for $125. Meanwhile, bigger spenders might splurge on the “King Louis XV Caviar Tea,” which costs as much as $450, depending on the type of caviar you choose.

The cheapest package is designed for kids and inspired by “The Little Prince.” For $85, the tea service includes chicken and waffles, apple cider doughnuts and a mini-lobster roll.

(Photo courtesy of The Ballantyne)

The Marriott-owned Ballantyne touts its classic Southern hospitality, but its tea service embraces Western Europe. You sip tea from London-based Rare Tea Co. and nosh on French macarons.

Plus, the Ballantyne occasionally hosts themed tea service, like the “Bridgerton” afternoon tea party inspired by the Netflix hit series. There, English Regency attire is encouraged.

(Photo courtesy of Bellagio Hotel & Casino)

In a city known for alcoholic beverages, Las Vegas offers a fair amount of tea. That’s particularly relevant as more young people cut back on alcohol. Just 62% of Americans ages 18 to 34 say they drink, according to a Gallup Consumptions Habits survey of 1,015 adults conducted in July 2023. That’s down from 72% two decades ago.

For tea on the Las Vegas Strip, visit Petrossian Bar at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, which features a live pianist tickling the ivories on a grand piano.

(Photo courtesy of Ennismore)

For a whimsical experience, head to the Sanderson hotel in London. Inspired by “Alice in Wonderland,” the menu includes a sandwich filled with smoked carrots and seaweed creme mousse called “The Cheshire Cat.” There’s also a White Rabbit-inspired carrot cake on the menu.

Unlike many of the other hoity-toity tea parties on this list, afternoon tea here is a more casual affair, with no fancy dress required.

While delightful, splurging on a fancy hotel tea party is typically not cheap. Here are some ways to save:

Pay with a hotel credit card: Many hotel-branded credit cards grant bonus points on hotel spending (which often includes spending at their restaurants, too).

These co-branded credit cards (usually associated with big hotels or airlines) are popular. In fact, almost 74 million U.S. consumers accrue rewards by using co-branded credit cards, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2023 Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

Some co-branded credit cards also offer statement credits on qualifying travel purchases. Sometimes — though not always — purchases at hotel restaurants can trigger those credits.

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

• 3 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 2 points per $1 on other travel purchases (such as airfare, taxis and trains).

• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.

• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 7 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.

• 5 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

• 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.

• 2 points per $1 on dining, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.

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On a similar note...

I've been to 54 countries and have lived in 10. These 5 underrated places are worth the trip.

• Kate Boardman has visited 54 countries around the world and lived in 10, including the US.
• She's enjoyed spots like France and Bali but says people should visit underrated places like Oman.
• In Guatemala, she climbed an active volcano, and in Ecuador, she swam with hammerhead sharks.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman , a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I first lived abroad when I was 15, when I participated in an exchange program in Germany. I lived there for a year, attending school and staying with a host family.

That was my first exposure to living overseas and truly immersing myself in other cultures. From there, the travel bug hit me hard. It inspired me to study international business in France while I was at university, and future trips after that.

I've been to 54 countries and lived in 10, including the US. The sense of freedom and self-growth that comes from traveling is unbeatable. I also love being able to see the world in a different way.

The most popular destinations are popular for a reason.

Everyone talks about Paris, London , Bali — all travel destinations that are super popular, in part thanks to social media.

I visited Bali in early 2012 and saw it expand firsthand. There was a lot of construction — with many beach clubs being built — and it became overcrowded by foreigners. It's led to locals being priced out of their homes.

I also think spots like Cancun are super overrated; there are way cooler places to visit in Mexico. Many tourists spend a week in an all-inclusive resort and think that's fun — but that couldn't be more unattractive to me.

Obviously, there's still beauty in places that are oversaturated and famous. But I think that there's an excitement that comes from experiencing places that are off the beaten track.

It's often in those places that you can have the most surprising experiences.

I was treated like family in Iran

I would say my favorite country that I have visited is Iran. I went in 2018 and was there for 10 days.

Normally, when I'm traveling, I backpack alone and stay in hostels as a solo traveler. However, in Iran, if you're American, Canadian, or from the UK, in order to get permission to enter the country, you need a set itinerary and a licensed travel guide.

It was a very coordinated trip and a bit more challenging to visit, but it was so rewarding because I was welcomed with the warmest hospitality.

One of the unique aspects of this trip was how close my guide and I became. He went above and beyond, inviting me over to his family's house for dinner, where I got to meet and hang out with his friends and family. It was truly special.

Because I had a guide, everything was kind of set for me in Iran. He arranged different accommodations, including a road trip through the country, where we stayed in various cities at different guesthouses.

It only cost me around $1,000.

The nature and landscape of Iran are absolutely beautiful and amazing. The sights, attractions, and history are mind-blowing. You've got these gorgeous mosaics everywhere. All of the architecture had my jaw dropping in awe while walking around.

The food is also delicious, and the markets are incredible, each filled with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, turquoise, and rugs.

I would totally visit there again. I hope the political situation changes because that would definitely be one of my group trip destinations. I think it's just incredible.

Georgia took me by surprise

Georgia is just one of those countries that's not on a lot of people's radar. And then they go there and they're like, 'Whoa, that's awesome. Why didn't I know about this before?'

I knew very little about Georgia before I visited in 2018. I spent only five days in the country, but I was completely blown away.

I stayed in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. It's a really beautiful, trendy, and artsy kind of city. It has amazing wine and incredible food.

Probably one of my favorite things about the trip is that I stayed in this hostel called Fabrika . It was an old Soviet Union sewing factory that they turned into a super cool, industrial, hipster hostel.

In Tbilisi, I also went on a pub crawl throughout the Old Town, which featured a bunch of underground cellars and bunkers that have been turned into trendy nightclubs and bars.

During my time in the country, I took a trip out to the countryside to an area called Kazbegi, which is absolutely stunning. There were gorgeous and breathtaking mountains, hills, and massive churches.

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In the city, I also had a Turkish bath, which is a big thing in Georgia. I got a full scrub down.

Guatemala has something for everyone

When most people from the US think about going to Central America, they're focused on Mexico or Costa Rica. Guatemala seems to be a place that kind of gets overlooked.

But life is great in Guatemala.

You've got beautiful weather all year round, the jungle, rainforests, and the Caribbean's white sand beaches, while the Pacific side has its black sand beaches. It's got a little bit of everything.

I first lived in Guatemala in 2021, where I worked as a teacher at an international school. They provided housing in Guatemala City. However, after I finished working for them, I moved to a beach town on the Pacific coast and lived there for about six months.

I've traveled there on other occasions too, staying for periods of four or five months.

The typical salary for a Guatemalan is about $500 a month, with a good salary being $1,000. I would say that $2,000 a month is more than enough to live there extremely comfortably.

There are a lot of digital nomads moving there, especially to Antigua — an old colonial town with a lot of charm, cobblestone streets, and painted buildings.

There's just so much to do in Guatemala; it's so magical.

The biggest must do is hiking the active volcano called Acatenango . Sometimes, you can see it erupting right from its base camp. There's not many places in the world where you can experience that.

Another good place to visit is El Paredon, a super up-and-coming hippie surf town. The surfing is great, and you've got these black volcanic sand beaches. It's just a really laid-back place.

Lake Atitlan is also an incredible spot. It's surrounded by volcanoes and several Mayan villages, each with its own personality and vibe.

Oman's deserts are magical

Oman is in the Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. I've been there three times between 2016 and 2018.

The country is culturally rich, and the capital city, Muscat, is really beautiful. It has old traditional marketplaces and gorgeous architecture — the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is definitely worth checking out.

The deserts there are incredible, so doing a desert trip is a must. I camped out in the desert with the locals, rode camels, and drove Jeeps over the sand dunes.

Having tea and watching the sunset in the desert was magical too.

Oman also has wadis, which are basically big canyons in the middle of the desert with swimming holes. There, you'll find bright turquoise water contrasting with the orange rock.

The country's islands are also beautiful and incredible for snorkeling. They look like you'd be in the Caribbean, but you're in the Middle East.

The Galapagos Islands are truly like nowhere else in the world

I visited Ecuador last year for about six weeks. I was leading a gap year program with a group of high school students. We split our time between the Galapagos Islands and the mainland, which consisted of cities and the Amazon.

Because Ecuador has incredibly unique biodiversity that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must. I've never seen such incredible wildlife in my life; so many species exist only on those islands.

While visiting The Galapagos, my group went snorkeling with 50 to 100 hammerhead and Blacktip sharks. We also swam with sea lions and saw giant tortoises.

Another amazing aspect of Ecuador is learning about the Inca culture. My group did a homestay and lived with a family for about 10 days and learned about their way of life.

We experienced how connected they are with Mother Earth, whom they refer to as Pachamama, and learned about their traditional medicine: They grow their own food and seek out plant medicine when they're sick, rather than relying on processed foods.

Learning about and sharing their way of life was truly special.

I want to show people how to travel the world

There are many beliefs people have about different countries and cultures, sometimes considering them too dangerous, expensive, or unattainable.

I want to inspire more people to explore, step out of their comfort zones, and experience more of the world. I am hosting group trips with the goal of bringing people to these countries and showing them why they are so life-changing.

Watch: From Nepal to Kosovo, here's how countries are celebrating Pride

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Love Exploring

Roar-Some Dinosaur-Themed Destinations Around the World

Posted: November 25, 2023 | Last updated: November 25, 2023

Prehistoric adventures

Ever since the very first dinosaurs were discovered in the early 1800s, humans have been obsessed. Luckily, there are endless destinations around the world where dinosaur enthusiasts can get their kicks. Whether you fancy yourself as a budding Ross Geller, or you think geology rocks, there's a Jurassic destination awaiting your discovery. From beach fossil hunting to the world’s greatest natural history museums, these fascinating places are sure to bring out your inner paleontologist.

Deep History Coast, Norfolk, UK

Great Britain was once an abundant oasis for dinosaurs and it's thought that more than 100 different species once roamed the isle. Offering a piece of history dating back millions of years, the Deep History Coast in Norfolk is the perfect place to go hunting for fossils. Cromer Museum houses a fantastic fossil collection, but those wanting to get their hands dirty can head to the beaches at West Runton and Sheringham to see what can be unearthed from their rockpools.

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Drumheller, Alberta, Canada

Nicknamed the Dinosaur Capital of the World, Drumheller has much to offer. Located in Alberta, Canada, the town is surrounded by the breathtaking Badlands, which appear plucked from a prehistoric landscape. In 2011, a 110 million-year-old nodosaur fossil was discovered here. Weighing close to 15,000 lbs (7,000kg), it took paleontologists six years to extract the skeleton, which is now on display in Drumheller’s Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada’s only dedicated paleontology institution.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is home to thousands of fossils and one of the world’s largest dinosaur displays. There’s a Preparation Lab, where finds are examined, as well as fascinating exhibitions and paleontologist-led fossil hunts. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and advance booking is required. The town is also home to the world’s largest dinosaur, a 82-foot (25m) replica that visitors can climb for unobstructed views from behind its pearly whites.

Museum of Natural History, Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s Museum of Natural History is one of the world's most important research institutions. Home to an incredible exhibition hall, the museum boasts 30 million objects, including dinosaur skeletons, fossils and the remains of the ancient bird, Archeopteryx lithographica. Many of the items on display were extracted by the museum's scientists from Tendaguru Hill in Tanzania, an expedition now considered one of the most successful dinosaur digs in history.

Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK

The Isle of Skye is big on history thanks to its fossil-rich coastline. Across this dramatic Scottish island you’ll find plenty of places to see prehistoric footprints, frozen into the earth. An Corran beach in Staffin is perhaps the best place to get up close with authentic prints, left by a family of Ornithopods 165 million years ago. Offering history buffs the chance to touch the tracks, visitors are brought one step closer to our Jurassic past.

Where to go on the Isle of Skye

In 2015, there was also a major discovery on the Isle of Skye. Fossilized dinosaur prints were found on the shoreline near Duntulm Castle. Only visible at low tide, the prints are considered among the best in the world and are thought to be 170 million years old. Then, in 2018, researchers from The University of Edinburgh discovered more dino markings close to Brothers' Point. Staffin Dinosaur Museum is now the best place to learn and discover more about Skye’s prehistoric world. 

Isle of Wight, England, UK

Nicknamed the Dinosaur Island, the Isle of Wight is one of the richest areas for dino discoveries in all of Europe. In fact, evidence of over 25 species has been found here. Positioned off the south coast of Britain, dinosaur bones and relics are regularly discovered along the island’s 57-mile (92km) shore – and there are plenty of places to see them, including Compton and Brook beaches. The Dinosaur Isle Museum takes care of the area’s geological finds and runs regular expert-led fossil hunts – advance booking is advised.

Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Queensland, Australia

Australia was founded in 1788, but its history goes back much further. The most complete pterosaur ever found in Australia was discovered in 2017 in Queensland, and its remains can now be seen at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum in Winton. The institution is home to the country’s largest collection of fossils, including 100-million-year-old sauropod tracks, and invites visitors to go behind-the-scenes at the most important Fossil Preparation Laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere.

Jurassic Coast, Dorset, UK

England’s Jurassic Coast stretches 95 miles (153km) between Exmouth and Old Harrys Rocks. Spanning the counties of Devon and Dorset, this spectacular strip of shoreline is England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back 185 million years, the region is renowned for its rock formations, prehistoric fossils and dramatic limestone cliffs. From The Etches Collection – a museum of Jurassic marine life – to fossil hunting on the beaches between Charmouth and Lyme Regis, this patch of England has it all.

The Field Museum, Chicago, USA

Chicago’s Field Museum is home to the largest dinosaur discovered to date, the titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum. Named Máximo, the dino is 122 feet long (37m) and would have weighed more than 10 African elephants. Other highlights include the fossil skeleton of a 42-foot-long (13m) T. rex named SUE and Illinois’ state fossil, the Tully monster. From talks with real paleontologists to otherworldly dinosaur bones, this museum has something for everyone.

National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France

The National Museum of Natural History in Paris is ultimately one for history buffs that prefer a more serious look at our evolutionary journey. A sophisticated space of research and education, the museum started as the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants, founded by Louis XIII in 1635, and has retained an impressive reputation ever since. The Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy Gallery is the best place for dino enthusiasts, since it boasts 650 fascinating skeletons, including an authentic skull of a triceratops.

These are the controversial museum treasures waiting to go home

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

PaleoAdventures is the ultimate day out for history buffs and budding paleontologists. The tour is run by Walter W. Stein, who has found more than 30 dino skeletons during his career spanning more than two decades. Tour guests will join Stein on a hunt for bones, as he provides the tools and guidance needed to uncover these ancient treasures. What's even better, visitors have the opportunity to take some of their finds home with them.

Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark, British Columbia, Canada

The ultimate place to uncover the beauty and history of British Columbia, Tumbler Ridge is also a spot for adventure. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Global Geopark is celebrated for its magnificent lakes, vast waterfalls and towering peaks, each harboring hidden relics and authentic dinosaur tracks. Footprints can be found at the Cabin Pool in Flatbed Valley, while the summit of Pinnacle Peak offers spectacular views and Permian Period fossils.

Colorado, USA

When it comes to dinosaur discoveries, nowhere compares to Colorado. This US state is home to an exciting collection of prehistoric artifacts and none is more important than Dinosaur National Monument that extends into Utah as well. This 2,500-foot (762m) canyon harbors countless dinosaur remains embedded in its sandstone cliffs. The Quarry Exhibit Hall is also a must, where 1,500 bones are left in place inside a huge cliff wall – timed tickets are required to enter the hall.

Elsewhere in the state, Picketwire Canyonlands is home to the largest collection of fossilized dinosaur footprints in all of America and offers nearly 1,300 tracks from 100 prehistoric creatures. Self-guided and expert-led tours are also available to Dinosaur Ridge, one of the world’s most famous fossil zones. During tours, visitors can get up close with real excavation sites and witness exposed fossils in situ, untouched for more than a million years.

Colorado's neighbor Utah has the most complete record of prehistoric life of any geographic area in the world. The state boasts more fossil records than anywhere else in America and has the most complete record of prehistoric life than any other area on the planet. Apart from the Dinosaur National Monument, Utah is also home to some of the planet’s best discovery sites. For one, 25 dinosaur species have so far been found inside Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The biggest dino fans can take the 512-mile (824km) loop known as the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, stretching across Utah and Colorado. Along the way Moab Giants Dinosaur Park awaits with over a hundred life-size dinosaur replicas, self-guided Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail follows in the footsteps of fossilized dinosaur tracks and Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry at Jurassic National Monument houses over 12,000 bones and an authentic dinosaur egg.

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, London, UK

An important part of Victorian history, the dinosaur sculptures in Crystal Palace Park have been in situ since 1854. The large-scale installations were created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, a natural history sculptor, and it's reputed that Queen Victoria visited the site numerous times. Despite only a handful of more than 30 statues being technically accurate, this fun-filled and historic park represents the world's first ever attempt to model these incredible extinct creatures.

Take a look at the recent prehistoric discoveries that wowed archeologists

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales, UK

Well worth a visit for the sheer beauty of the landscape, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales is also home to its fair share of fossils. Proving that bigger isn’t always better, this strip of British coastline boasts thousands of tiny graptolites frozen in its ancient rocks, many of which can be found on Abereiddy Bay beach. These minute creatures actually predate dinosaurs and existed over 400 million years ago. The perfect place to head for a spot of fossil hunting, the area's spectacular coastal path is not to be missed.

Nova Scotia, Canada

The petite Canadian province of Nova Scotia is renowned for its rugged red cliffs and its iconic lighthouses (the island has 41), but also for its dino discoveries. One of the world’s smallest dinosaur tracks were discovered in Parrsboro in 1984, which led to the discovery of the largest fossil find in North America. Many of the fossils, including some of the oldest dinosaur bones in Canada, are now on display in the Fundy Geological Museum. 

The museum also boasts a working fossil lab, where you can watch scientists reconstruct the past. The museum also hosts dinosaur digs, where budding paleontologists have a chance to get hands-on with real field work. If you’d rather go it alone, head to The Bay of Fundy or the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Joggins Fossil Cliffs, where ancient fossils can be witnessed in situ.

These are the destinations most in danger around the world

American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA

No trip to New York City would be complete without a visit to the American Museum of Natural History. Founded in 1869, the impressive institution boasts one of the greatest fossil collections in the world. The museum runs self-guided tours of its renowned dinosaur exhibits, which include a 122-foot-long (37m) titanosaur and the nearly complete T. rex skeleton, recovered from Big Dry Creek in Montana in 1908. 

You won't believe these places actually exist on Earth

Cretaceous Park, Sucre, Bolivia

Known for its snow-capped mountains and glasslike lakes, Bolivia boasts a distinctive terrain that spans the Andes Mountains. In 1994 an incredible discovery was made by miners working in a quarry on the outskirts of Sucre. The Cal Orck’o limestone quarry wall was almost a mile long (1.5km) and featured over 5,000 footprints from over 150 different species of dinosaurs, including the world's only prints of a baby T. rex. Today, the fossils reside inside Cretaceous Park, which is usually open for guided tours.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden lies in the Chonburi Province of Thailand. The 500-acre botanical park is made up of astonishing tropical gardens as well as orchid nurseries and a vast area dedicated to bonsai trees and tropical palms. Yet Nong Nooch also boasts a rather unique feature: the Valley of the Dinosaurs. With more than 300 to-scale statues, each based on factual details, Nong Nooch brings us all one step closer to walking with dinosaurs.

Natural History Museum, London, UK

London's Natural History Museum is perhaps the world's most iconic place to learn more about our planet. Housed inside one of the city's most spectacular buildings, the museum dates back to 1881 and offers 80 million specimens spanning millions of years. No natural history museum would be complete without a dinosaur collection and London doesn't disappoint. It boasts the skeleton of the world's most complete stegosaurus, as well as part of the first Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. 

Dinosaur Valley State Park, Texas, USA

Glen Rose is often referred to as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas and for good reason. Millions of years ago, sauropods and theropods left footprints in the bed of the Paluxy River and these incredible tracks can still be seen to this day. One of the best ways to see them is to rent a kayak from Dinosaur Valley State Park and take a scenic journey down this ancient river. Guided horseback tours are also available with the Eagle Eye Ranch Carriage Company.

Discover the most beautiful state park in every US state

Galleta Meadows Estate, California, USA

If you're seeking culture as well as dino-related fun, then Galleta Meadows Estate ticks all the right boxes. Spread across 1,500 acres of ancient desert land in Borrego Springs, California, this unique Jurassic park is open 24 hours a day and is home to 130 large scale, meticulously crafted metal sculptures. Created by artist Ricardo Breceda, the sculpture park features saber-toothed tigers, raptors and mammoths, as well as an array of dramatic dinosaurs. 

That's not all Texas has to offer, though. Prehistoric Texas Trail takes visitors back 100 million years, while Fort Worth Museum of Science and History brings the fascinating story of the region's dinosaur discoveries to life. Even better, Waco Mammoth National Monument features a live dig site and from a bridge above the area lucky visitors can take in the unforgettable remains of ancient mammoths still half-encased in the earth.

Ancient mysteries we don't know the answers to

Cabazon Dinosaurs, California, USA

Fun for the whole family, Cabazon Dinosaurs is one of America's most iconic roadside attractions. Located in the heart of a desert landscape in California, its outdoor trail features two towering dino models Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr Rex. The attraction opened in 1975 and has appeared in movies including Pee-wee's Big Adventure . It also boasts the Wafflesaurus Truck, which serves delectable dinosaur-themed treats to top off your trip. 

Universal Orlando Resort, Florida, USA

Universal Orlando Resort in Florida takes dinosaurs very seriously, housing an array of dino-related activities. While Universal's Islands of Adventure boasts the Raptor Encounter, where you can get up close with this fearful predator, the Jurassic Park Discovery Center™ is packed with incredible exhibits for the whole family. Visitors can marvel at T. rex fossils and see dinosaur eggs in the nursery, where a baby Velociraptor might just hatch before your eyes...

Now discover the most exciting fossil finds from recent times

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Travel Aura

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Introducing Travel Aura, your go-to solution for creating stunning tour and travel websites! Crafted especially for travel agencies, this free WordPress theme is your ticket to an unforgettable online presence. Powered by the renowned WP Travel Engine plugin, Travel Aura ensures seamless booking experiences for your visitors. With its sleek design and user-friendly features, Travel Aura is perfect for showcasing your travel packages in style. And here's the best part - it's mobile-friendly and responsive, guaranteeing an immersive experience across all devices. Say goodbye to tedious setup processes! Thanks to the one-click demo import feature, setting up your website is a breeze. Just a click and you'll have default content and layouts ready to go. And the customization options? Endless! Compatible with Elementor and Gutenberg, Travel Aura empowers you to personalize every aspect of your website with ease. Ready to embark on your digital journey? Dive into the world of Travel Aura and create a website that truly stands out! View theme demo here: https://preview.wptravelkit.com/travel-aura/

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The Disneyland theme park that isn’t actually Disney – with ‘better’ rides and unique snacks

• Kara Godfrey , Deputy Travel Editor
• Published : 14:23, 18 Apr 2024
• Updated : 11:07, 19 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THERE are six Disney resorts around the world - yet one of them isn't actually owned by Disney.

While everyone knows of Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland Paris , there is a smaller one further afield.

Tokyo Disney Resort opened in 1983, with two parks at the resort Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, which opened later in 2001.

Despite this, it isn't actually owned by Disney.

It is instead owned by Japanese company, who pay licenses and royalties to Disney.

Tokyo Disneyland is just 115 acres, while Tokyo DisneySea is 176 acres.

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This is compared to Disneyland Paris , which is 140 acres, or Disney World's Magic Kingdom which is 142 acres.

Tokyo Disneyland has many of the well-known rides include Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain, as well as It's A Small World and Space Mountain.

One unique ride visitors love is Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast , which takes guests through the castle before being part of the famous scenes will singing along to the soundtrack.

These are spread across seven lands, all connected visa the central World Bazaar.

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This includes Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland, Toontown and Critter Country - all of which can be visited with one park ticket.

But many people say Tokyo DisneySea is the better park, with other aquatic themed rides such as live Little Mermaid shows, Flounder-themed rollercoasters and boat spinning cups.

The park also has seven lands - American Waterfront, Mediterranean Harbour, Arabian Coast, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Port Discovery and Lost River Delta.

Another unique ride at Tokyo DisneySea is Sinbad's Storybook Village, a dark ride with original songs inside.

And opening later this year are four new rides.

Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey will let guests singalong to the songs while boarding a boat.

And Tangled themed ride Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, another boat ride, will be inspired by the film 's lantern scene.

A Peter Pan ride and Tinkerbell ride will also launch in June.

Day tickets can be found for as little as 7900 won, which works out to £41 - a fraction of the other Disney theme parks .

What is Tokyo Disneyland like?

The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Tokyo Disneyland - here's what she thought:

Having visited Tokyo back in 2019 , I knew one day trip had to be to the Disney theme park.

One thing that stood out to me was the amazing treats - my favourite being the Toy Story mochi (sticky sweets made from rice flour) that were shaped like the green aliens.

Others included the Mickey's Fried Chicken Pao Sandwich, with a fluffy steamed bun, as well as the Mike Wazowski Melon Bread and even Mickey shaped churros.

Even the popcorn flavours are unique, with matcha white chocolate and curry flavours.

Apart from that, I found the experience to be less overwhelming (in a good way) compared to other parks, thanks to being much smaller and easy to walk around.

I managed to go on all the classics - It's A Small World, Space Mountain and Jungle Cruise - while enjoying walking around and taking it in.

I just wished I had made an effort to dress up more - locals really go all out!

Next year, the cheapest day ticket for Disney World will cost $119 (£95).

Tourists who have been to other Disney parks around the world have raved about the Japan version.

One said: "It's a completely different world compared to the others.

"I had been to the one in Paris which left me speechless, but this one managed to surpass it."

Another said: "I found the rides superior to those in the US.

"The rides seem to run better and smoother; there is more colour and more characters. Truly magical, amazing rides.

A third said: "Absolutely fantastic theme parks here. They surpass the American and French versions."

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Tourists agreed about Tokyo DisneySea too, saying: "We have been to most Disney parks, Orlando, California, Paris, but there is something about Disneysea that makes it stand out."

Another agreed: "We have been to Disney parks in USA and Paris but this is my favorite park."

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What to do before or after your cruise from port canaveral.

By Janet K. Keeler

The act of “blasting off” is certainly an apt way to describe the action of Florida’s Space Coast, home to the Kennedy Space Center .

But Port Canaveral Cruise Por t is also taking off. Last year, nearly 7 million cruisers boarded one of the 13 ships that set sail from Port Canaveral. A fourth terminal is being built to accommodate even more travelers.

Port Canaveral is the closest of Florida’s seven cruise ports to the Orlando theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. That means travelers can fly into Orlando International Airport , spend a couple days in the parks, then head over to Port Canaveral, about an hour away. In fact, Disney is banking on that and has theme-park-and-cruise packages with transportation included to shuttle vacationers to its ships homeported at Port Canaveral.

Besides the theme parks, there is a variety of things to do around Port Canaveral either before or after a cruise. A novelty for many visitors is riding bikes on the hard-packed sand of Brevard County. There are loads of places in Cocoa Beach to rent bicycles by the hour and hit the sand, among them Beach Bums , A1A Beach Rentals and Village Cycle Shoppe .

Many of the bike shops also have kayaks, paddleboards plus fishing and beach gear. And surfing? They hang 10 along the Space Coast and you might want to book a lesson which usually comes with board rental. The Cocoa Beach Surf School caters to families and kids. Sebastian Inlet State Park is the epicenter of Florida competitive surfing and finding a place to watch the surfers ride the waves is a cool thing-to-do near Port Canaveral Cruise Port if you’re not ready to go all cowabunga.

Port Canaveral is near lots of small cities that have their own flavor. You could head over to the historic downtown of Melbourne and browse the unique shops then stop into Meg O’Malley’s for some serious Irish grub. Drive south to Indialantic and visit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society . North of the cruise port is Titusville and Dixie Crossroads restaurant, a favorite local spot that serves shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp and other seafood landed at the docks just miles away.

If you don’t have a car and depending on where you are staying for your extended vacation, the Brevard bus and trolley system could get you where you want to go. Tickets cost about $1.50 per ride, less if you qualify for a reduced fare or buy a multi-ride pass.

Here are four more things to do before or after a cruise from Port Canaveral.

 - Merge Studios

The Space of the Space Coast

For more than 50 years, Brevard County has been the center of America’s space program and there’s no better place to experience the history than the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex . The visitors complex is every bit as much of a theme park as the ones in Orlando except there’s no roller coaster—yet. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of thrills. The Rocket Garden gets you up close to some of the towering vessels that explored space, including the Mercury-Atlas which launched John Glenn’s historic mission to orbit the Earth in 1962. Like the brochure says, you really do feel like you’re walking among giants, literally and figuratively. Visitors have opportunities to meet astronauts in person. There is a shuttle simulation ride that punctuates both the excitement and danger of space travel, and astronaut training simulators , too. Don’t forget that the visitor center is part of the working space center. Look at the schedule in advance and you might be able to hear a bonafide countdown and watch a launch. You can also watch launches for free almost anywhere in the county. The beaches will be lined with folks and their binoculars.

 - Lauren Tjaden

The Natural World on Display

Just north of the cruise port is the Canaveral National Seashore , the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline. With so much development all around, the national seashore offers a respite to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The visitors center in New Smyrna Beach provides the history of the area and more information on things-to-do. There are 24 miles of beach and since this is Florida’s East Coast, the sunrise is a big draw. The park opens at 6 a.m. so you can get there in time for the daily sun show. The beach is also a nesting ground for protected marine turtles so you’ll need to tread lightly. Two-thirds of the park is Mosquito Lagoon , a favorite place for kayakers. Nearby is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge , a favorite spot for birders—there are 350 species in the refuge—and photographers (keep that smartphone charged!). Even without a fancy camera you can capture photos of bald eagles and egrets. Merritt’s bird population swells from November to April as migratory birds take to the Atlantic Flyway.

 - Florida Travel

The Zoo the Locals Love

The Brevard Zoo in Melbourne holds a special place in the hearts of many people who grew up on the Space Coast. They remember birthday parties, summer camps and feeding the giraffes especially. Giving nibbles to the lorikeets might come in a close second. If you’ve got young children in tow, the zoo is a wonderful spot to entertain them for at least a half a day—just remember that the giraffes take a rest on Tuesday and Thursday mornings so if you have your heart set on feeding them, plan accordingly. There are 900 animals from all around the world at the zoo, and the adventurers among you might want to kayak past the giraffes, rhinos and lemurs. The gentle train trip—it’s just 10-minutes long— past the camels might be more your wee kids’ style.

 - The Wizard of Oz Museum

Oddly, the Wizard of Oz

No, you for sure aren’t in Kansas. The new Wizard of Oz Museum in Port Canaveral is just minutes south of the cruise port. Why Florida? Mostly, the operators say, because there are so many tourists in Central Florida either going to theme parks or sailing away on cruises and they figured if they build it, they will come. The museum houses historic displays and artifacts from the making of the movie, including Dorothy’s iconic blue pinafore . But what sets this museum apart is the immersive experiences. Through modern technology, mostly laser projectors, visitors feel like they're caught in that movie’s tornado, traveling through Munchkinland or even floating in the poppy field. But wait, there’s more. The museum also houses immersive experiences via the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh and a space experience using images from the James Webb telescope. Keep an eye out for the Wicked Witch everywhere. It’s open daily and tickets are $29 for adults and $15 for kids, immersive experiences included.

Places to Remember

Cape Canaveral

Cocoa Beach

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