Last weekend, I took my two-year-old son to the stunning Angkor Wonder Garden in Siem Reap. You know the type—rainbow stairs, giant colorful statues, and flowers everywhere. I had my camera ready, thinking we’d get some amazing family photos.
Well, things didn’t go exactly as planned. But I learned something important about traveling with a toddler.
Why We Love Picture-Perfect Places (And Why Toddlers Don’t Care)
As parents, we’re always looking for those special spots. The ones that look amazing on Instagram. We imagine our kids smiling in front of beautiful backgrounds, creating memories we’ll treasure forever.
But here’s the thing: toddlers see the world completely differently than we do.
That gorgeous flower garden? To your child, it’s just a place with interesting textures to touch. Those artistic statues? They might be scary or confusing. The fancy architecture? Honestly, they’d probably rather play with a stick they found on the ground.
This is what I experienced during our family travel with toddlers this past weekend. And it taught me some valuable lessons.
The Giant Deer Statues: When Decorations Become Monsters
The park had these beautiful red deer statues. They were tall, colorful, and perfect for photos. At least, that’s what I thought.
Standing next to those towering red deer, he looked absolutely tiny in his pink t-shirt. You can see in the photos that he wasn’t sure what to make of them—he just stood there frozen, hands clutched together, eyeing these giant red creatures suspiciously.
Why? Because to him, these weren’t cute decorations. They were absolutely massive.
Think about it from his perspective. He’s only about waist-high to most adults. These statues towered over him like giants. The legs alone were taller than he was.
I was trying to frame a cute shot with the purple flowers, but he was too busy trying to figure out if the giant red legs were going to move. It was overwhelming for him.
What This Means for Family Travel Tips
When you’re traveling to Instagrammable places with a toddler, remember that scale matters. What seems beautiful and harmless to you might seem huge and intimidating to them.
Give your child time to adjust to new sights. Don’t rush them for that perfect photo. Let them observe and process what they’re seeing.
The Rainbow Stairs: A Photo Op or an Obstacle Course?
The park’s rainbow stairs were gorgeous. Bright colors are painted on each step, leading up to a viewing area. Every tourist was stopping to take selfies there.
The stairs were painted in these brilliant yellow, red, and blue stripes, which I thought would be perfect. But as you can see, my son had zero interest in looking at the camera.
To him, those stairs weren’t pretty—they were a challenge. Each step was almost as high as his knees. While I was begging him to ‘say cheese,’ he was completely distracted by something off to the right, probably wishing he wasn’t wearing thick jeans in the heat. The colorful steps weren’t a photo op to him; they were just a difficult obstacle course.
He grabbed the railing. He lifted one leg. He pulled himself up. Then repeated it all over again for the next step.
By the time we reached the top, I wanted to admire the view. He just wanted to sit down and rest. He was proud of himself for making it up, but the “Instagrammable” part meant nothing to him.
Travel Activities for Kids: Make It About the Journey
Here’s what I realized: for toddlers, physical challenges ARE the activity.
When planning family travel with toddlers, don’t just think about what you’ll see. Think about what they’ll DO. Climbing stairs, walking on different surfaces, and touching safe objects—these are things toddlers enjoy on vacation.
The photo you want might take 30 seconds. But the experience of climbing those stairs? That’s what they’ll remember (even if they can’t tell you about it yet).
The Expensive Flowers vs. The Dirt Path
The park spent a fortune on its purple flower displays. Professional landscaping, perfect arrangements, gorgeous colors everywhere.
Want to know what my son loved most?
The gravel path between the flowers.
I’m not kidding. He spent twenty minutes running back and forth on the gravel path, his favorite pink whale shirt flapping in the wind. He was far more excited about kicking up dust with his purple sneakers than looking at the expensive landscaping.
He was obsessed with the crunching sound his shoes made on the rocks and kept looking up at the sky, completely ignoring the flower beds behind him.
Meanwhile, those thousand-dollar flower beds? Barely noticed them.
How to Keep a Toddler Happy While Sightseeing
This taught me something crucial about traveling with a toddler: freedom matters more than scenery.
Your child doesn’t care if a place is beautiful or famous. They care if they can move, explore, and interact with their environment.
Sometimes the simplest things bring the most joy. A path where they can run freely. A safe space where they can make noise. Room to move without being told “don’t touch that” every five seconds.
What Parents Should Know About Instagrammable Places with Kids
So does this mean you should skip beautiful places when traveling with a toddler? Not at all!
Here’s what I learned:
Go With the Right Expectations
You might get that perfect Instagram photo. You might not. Either way is okay.
Your toddler won’t appreciate the artistic value of where you are. And that’s completely normal. They’re experiencing the world through touch, movement, and simple curiosity—not through aesthetic appreciation.
Plan for Their Perspective
Before visiting an Instagrammable spot, think about what your toddler will actually experience there:
- Are there safe spaces where they can move around?
- Will there be things at their eye level to look at?
- Can they touch anything, or is everything off-limits?
- Are there scary elements (loud noises, large objects, crowds)?
The Photos Are for You (And That’s Fine)
Be honest with yourself. You’re visiting these beautiful places because YOU want the photos and the experience. Your toddler is along for the ride.
There’s nothing wrong with that! Just don’t expect them to share your enthusiasm or cooperate perfectly. They’re doing their best in an environment designed for adults.
Build in Simple Activities
If you’re spending the day at a scenic location, plan some simple travel activities for kids:
- Find a safe area where they can run.
- Bring a ball or a small toy they can play with
- Take breaks where they can just sit and watch people.
- Let them lead the way sometimes, even if it’s nowhere “interesting.”
Celebrate Their Discoveries
When your toddler gets excited about something “boring” like a dirt path or a regular bird, join their enthusiasm. These moments are just as valuable as your planned photo ops.
Some of our best family memories come from the unexpected things our kids notice—not from the famous landmarks we dragged them to.
Essential Visitor Info: Angkor Wonder Garden
If you are planning to visit this spot in Siem Reap, here are the details you need:
Location: Near Wat Khach pagoda (about 500m away), Siem Reap.
Ticket Price:
- Adults: $4 USD
- Children (under 1 meter): Free
- Best Time to Visit: Late afternoon when the sun isn’t too hot for the little ones.
My Final Thoughts on Family Travel with Toddlers
That day at the flower park didn’t give me the relaxing, picture-perfect experience I imagined. Looking back at our camera roll, I realized I didn’t get a single ‘perfect’ smile. In almost every shot, he’s looking away, running off, or staring skeptically at a statue. And honestly? I love those photos more now.
But you know what? We still had a good time.
He conquered those stairs all by himself. He experienced the wonder of giant deer statues (even if they confused him). He ran freely on a crunchy gravel path. And I got to see the world through his eyes for a few hours.
Traveling to Instagrammable places with a toddler requires patience and flexibility. You might not get the photos you wanted. Your carefully planned itinerary might fall apart. And that expensive attraction might hold their attention for exactly four minutes.
But here’s the secret that makes it worthwhile: they’re not traveling to see beautiful things. They’re traveling to experience new sensations, practice new skills, and spend time with you.
The dirt path might not look impressive in photos. But the joy on your toddler’s face while running on it? That’s the real memory worth keeping.
Quick Tips for Your Next Trip
Ready to try visiting some beautiful places with your little one? Here’s what helps:
Before you go:
- Lower your expectations for photos.
- Research the location for toddler-friendly features.
- Pack snacks and water (always)
- Bring a favorite small toy or comfort item.
During your visit:
- Follow your toddler’s pace.
- Take frequent breaks
- Don’t force photo opportunities.
- Look for things at their eye level to point out.
After your trip:
- Remember that meltdowns are normal.
- Celebrate the small moments that went well.
- Save the photos you DID get, even if they’re not perfect.
- Plan your next adventure with lessons learned.
Traveling with a toddler isn’t about checking famous places off a list. It’s about introducing your child to new experiences while managing everyone’s needs—including your own desire for those special photos.
And sometimes, the best family travel tips are the ones you learn yourself, one chaotic outing at a time.
