15 Trips Every Mother and Daughter Should Take Together
Updated: Dec. 23, 2022
Whether you're a mom traveling with a school-age daughter or a grown daughter taking her mom on a special trip, there's a meaningful choice for a mother-daughter journey to enjoy each other's company and explore together.
Live like royalty in a real Irish castle
Follow in the footsteps of centuries of royal mothers and daughters at historic Ashford Castle in western Ireland. The 800-years old castle first opened its doors as a luxury hotel on July 6, 1939, and has been host over the years to royalty, presidents, and celebrities, not to mention mother and daughter duos who come to enjoy elegant teas, horseback rides, falconry, fishing, and shooting, just like the original queens and princesses did here centuries ago. The best way to escape to this historic Irish castle is to explore Ireland with Brendan Vacations on their luxury private chauffeur trips. Completely customizable to your interests, these trips include a luxury car with a private driver to chauffeur you around Dublin, Killarney, Galway, iconic natural sites like Ring of Kerry, and to the doors of your royal castle.
Explore Japanese culture
For the mother-daughter duo seeking to immerse themselves in a cultural experience, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto offers a Kimono tour of Kyoto by Rickshaw that gives the pair of you the chance to experience the vibrant traditions of Japan’s cultural capital. First, family duos will have the chance to choose their favorite colors, patterns, and designs of kimono with a local expert before being dressed and whisked away to travel through time and experience a rickshaw ride through the most authentic and beautiful old streets of Kyoto. Here are the trips every mom should take with her child.
Indulge your inner foodies in California
Foodie mom and daughters will want to head to Southern California where wine, olive oil, and farm-to-table cuisine are celebrated. Go winery-hopping making stops at the Ojai Vineyard, Topa Mountain Winery, and Casa Barranca Winery Tasting Room for a day of delicious wines and beautiful scenery. Pop into Tippe & Ramble for a charming outdoor wine bar and picnic shop. Stay at the Ojai Valley Inn, the luxurious Spanish-style resort focusing on wellness and culinary offerings. The hotel recently opened the Farmhouse which hosts bucket-list worthy epicurean events, cooking and mixology classes, wine tastings, parties, and an extraordinary Mother’s Day brunch that any foodie-mom and daughter would love. Check out these gorgeous wineries everyone should visit at least once for more inspiration.
Immerse into India
Explore a multifaceted India Women’s Expedition an all-female trip with Intrepid Tours. Female guides will take moms and daughters (ages 15 and up) to celebrate the female-only Gangur Festival in Rajasthan, with Rangoli making, henna painting, dance show, and traditional dress. Then it’s off to enjoy a home-cooked meal at the home of a local family in Delhi and explore Jaipur with female rickshaw drivers. Shop for clothes, accessories, and crafts in support of the development and empowerment of marginalized women and girls in Rajasthan and visit the center where they produce their creations. Finally, stop by a cafe run solely by female acid attack survivors and hear the heartbreaking yet overwhelmingly inspirational stories of perseverance and strength.
Explore the high seas with Disney
Say Ahoy to Captain Minnie with your daughter on a Disney Cruise Line. With a collection of new initiatives, DCL is aiming to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the maritime industry. The debut of Captain Minnie Mouse, new youth STEM programs, hands-on and fun maritime-themed activities and the funding of scholarships are designed to empower girls and young women to pursue careers in the cruise industry and chart a course for success—all that while you’re both enjoying the Caribbean and everything else DCL has to offer.
Run for good in the Serengeti
There’s no better way to elevate a mother/daughter relationship than by giving back and doing good. Mothers and daughters can tag team on a women-empowerment mission with Singita’s 2019 Serengeti Girls’ Run. Comprising five all-inclusive days at Singita Sabora Tented Camp, this year’s itinerary includes a variety of activities and a run that will see participants complete 13 miles daily over three days, traversing some of the most iconic wilderness areas in Africa, with an abundance of wildlife and breathtaking scenery at every turn. The exclusive, purpose-driven experience is aimed at raising funds for empowerment programs for girls and women, which are focused on providing opportunities for women to become leaders in African conservation. Each donation assists in funding numerous non-profit initiatives, including scholarships for local girls in secondary school, vocational studies, and university; training girl mentors and providing life skills and internships; as well as enterprise development training for women and environmental education for girls from local secondary schools.
Take a bite out of the Big Apple
A trip to New York City is the ultimate girl’s getaway; shopping, fine dining, walks through Central Park, and seeing a musical or play are all must-dos while in the Big Apple. Moms and daughters can enjoy quality time together at one of the many Broadway shows featuring strong female relationships with Broadway Collection, including Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, and Wicked.
LUMA Hotel Times Square, with its prime location in the heart of the Theater District, is making it easy to plan the ultimate Broadway stay by partnering with Laura Heywood, aka @BroadwayGirlNYC, a nationally recognized theater personality and expert who can provide custom tips, insider knowledge, and guidance on building the perfect theater-centric itinerary. Extra bonus: as part of the hotel’s Broadway package, mother and daughter are gifted with gourmet chocolate truffles and prosecco, delivered by Alina, the hotel’s robot butler.
Skydive together over Portugal
Tivoli Évora Ecoresort offers tandem skydiving for adventurous moms and daughters in the Alentejo region of Portugal, which is known for its exceptional wines. After you’ve soared above the vineyards together, you can celebrate your epic bonding jump with wine tasting in the spectacular natural surroundings.
Explore the fjords in Iceland
Created by a mother and daughter team, AdventureWomen has launched a series of mother-daughter tours, including the natural wonders of Iceland that offer a balance of outdoor fun and opportunities to explore the local culture and cuisine. Best of all AdventureWoman’s active adventures are designed so that even if mom and daughter are at different physical activity levels, they can both have fun. Highlights in Iceland include horseback riding to a secret lagoon; ATV riding on a volcanic peninsula; hiking in Snæfellsjökull National Park; exploring lava fields; relaxing in the world-famous Blue Lagoon; a boat trip around Breiðafjörður Bay to encounter whales and puffins, and visits to Þingvellir National Park and Gullfoss Waterfall.
Walk in the footsteps of women’s history
Let’s hear it for the girls! Seneca Falls was the home to the first women’s rights convention, and today, civic-minded moms and daughters can share the great moments in women’s history at the National Women’s Hall of Fame, which honors bold women including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who fought for women’s equality. Then head to the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, a 6.8-acre park that was the site of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention; it connects to the Votes For Women History Trail, a route that links a string of other historical sites in upstate New York. Be sure to leave time to visit Harriet Tubman Home in nearby Auburn, New York. It celebrates the life of the escaped African American slave who helped lead hundreds of other slaves to their freedom along the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. Stay at the Gould Hotel, a 1919 lodge on the main drag. If you love history, you won’t want to miss these 15 other cities for American history buffs.
Take a digital detox in the Galapagos
Quasar Expeditions offers luxury cruises around the Galapagos Islands, perfect for adventurous nature-focused moms and daughters. You’ll spend each day snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and getting up close and personal with the islands’ amazing animals while learning about different ways to help conserve the islands. Quasar’s weeklong cruises give guests the opportunity to disconnect from their devices and connect with nature and each other, meaning plenty of quality time for the two of you.
Camp in the wilds of Africa
Camping isn’t just for the boys! Moms and daughters can experience the adventure of a lifetime on Robin Pope Safaris’ mobile walking safari in the teeming landscape of South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Leaving from their luxurious permanent lodge in the Nsefu Sector, the itinerary trip takes guests through wild African terrain with a completely portable camp. The remote, lagoon-rich wildlife reserve nearly guarantees frequent game sightings, from rare birds and buffalo to elephant herds and elusive leopards. The full-service camp, entirely moved by guides, includes Meru-style walk-in tents and full bedding. Meals might be served on a portable dining table (with a white tablecloth and a bottle of wine, of course) under the open sky, or perhaps around the campfire, for the ultimate mother and daughter camping experience.
Make wellness a priority
Want to get back to basics with health and wellness? Then head to the beautiful private island of Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas for special Silver Linings Retreats. Surrounded by turquoise waters and sugar white sand, moms and daughters will have personally tailored programs lead by wellness experts for restoration and rejuvenation. The lauded whole-body wellness program created by Chrissy Sundt include yoga, exercise, juices, meals, and stunning waterside rooms for the two of you to share while you work on your wellness goals together, whether it’s to de-stress, detox, lose weight, or kick start a new fitness routine.
Paris in springtime
To quote Audrey Hepburn, “Paris is always a good idea.” We couldn’t agree more, especially when moms and daughters can visit the City of Lights together, exploring the stalls along the Seine, strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens, sipping hot chocolate at elegant Angelina tea shop, and visiting the myriad museums that dot the city like jewels in a necklace. Make Paris feel like home by staying in a chic apartment at Paris Perfect’s flagship property, 25 Place Dauphine. This historic spot was transformed from a 17th-century building to six luxury apartments, located right in the middle of Paris on the charming Ile de la Cite off of the Pont Neuf. It is within walking distance of all of the hotspots in the center of Paris, including the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and the not-to-be-missed shopping and cafés on Rue de Rivoli, and it’s also an easy stroll or metro ride to Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, ideal for a day of Parisian shopping.
Eat off the beaten track in Laos
Laos, “the Land of a Million Elephants,” is still one of Asia’s least-visited and most underrated destinations; a land of mystery and adventure yet to gain the recognition it deserves. Brimming with ornate palaces and temples, former capital Luang Prabang is one of Southeast Asia’s most atmospheric towns for moms and daughters looking to explore a completely new destination. Beyond its pretty streets and into the countryside, there are rugged jungle-clad mountains, vast caves, archaeological mysteries, and laid-back riverside locations.
The perfect escape for a mother-daughter getaway, InsideAsia Tours’ Flavors of Laos itinerary encourages female family duos to get off-the-beaten-track to savor the country’s best dishes from street food BBQ to Michelin Star experiences. Develop a deep connection with Laos, seeing historical highlights and cultural wonders but with a distinctly foodie twist while the two of you learn the secrets of Laotian cuisine with a hands-on cooking class, enjoy a range of street food, home-cooked dinners, and fine dining restaurants, stay overnight in a local homestay on a coffee plantation, spend a hands-on day at a local organic farm, and then indulge at Laos’ first Michelin star experience with dinner at Paste restaurant. Read on for more of the most underrated destinations in the world.
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Originally Published: April 29, 2019
