Family travel is about having fun, but that doesn’t mean parents can’t nurture their budding performer at the same time. Travel writer Heather Greenwood Davis and her 14-year-old son, Cameron—also a published writer—discover some experiences that will nurture your child’s current obsessions while still teaching them valuable life skills.

The Main Experience

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, California

There are a bunch of studio tours in California and each offers something different. Warner Bros. is a good pick when trying to bridge the generations (Friends’ Central Perk Café set is here, as is the set of The Big Bang Theory), kids aged eight and up can participate (tours at Sony and Paramount have higher age requirements). Deluxe tours are more than triple the price of the basic one, but include the props and costume departments along with breakfast and lunch.

wbstudiotour.com

Heather says: “This is a working lot, so kids may get to see some of the effort that goes into creating a popular television show. It’s also a career eye-opener to show your kids how they can be involved in media without being a YouTube star. “

Cameron says: “Bring your smartphone and snap selfies with the Batmobile and the costumes worn by DC Comics superheroes like The Flash and Wonder Woman. I love Harry Potter, so a chance to try on the Sorting Hat would be awesome.”  

3 More Things to Do

See Murals in Montreal

Skip the long museum  lectures and introduce kids to the history and culture of the city through a street art tour. Spade & Palacio offer mural tours between April and November.

spadeandpalacio.com

Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville

Impress your music lover with a trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Taylor Swift Education Center offers educational programs and hands-on experiences for all ages.

countrymusichalloffame.org

Go to Comic-Con in San Diego

Taking comic book fans to Comic-Con in San Diego will require some patience (2019 is sold out) but the opportunity to rub shoulders with their superhero idols will pay off in parental adoration.

comic-con.org

[This story appears in the March 2019 issue of WestJet Magazine]

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