We’ve been to 35 countries and countless cities with our kids. There are 4 cities we’d bring them back to.

I believe that even the pickiest eaters will love Lyon’s delicious pastries (especially brioche aux pralines roses, a buttery pastry studded with candied pink nuts) and shockingly affordable Michelin-level dining.

We had one of the best meals of our lives at Brocoli: The five-course vegetarian tasting menu was only 40 euros per person.

As much as we loved eating our way through Lyon, the city itself was just as much fun to explore. Old Lyon is beautiful and has a hidden network of covered passageways called traboules.

These passageways cut through Old Lyon’s buildings, shops, and courtyards. We spent an afternoon knocking on random doors and cheering every time one opened up into a secret shortcut, quickly turning a walk into a full-blown scavenger hunt.

The Cinema and Miniature Museum was another highlight, with a massive collection of original movie props from blockbusters like “Batman,” “Star Wars,” and more. Standing inches away from the original Batmobile was definitely a core memory for my boys!

Beyond Lyon, an easy day trip to the beautiful Lake Annecy gave us a welcome break from the July heat. We rented a boat, swam in the sparkling blue lake, and made it back to Lyon in time for yet another delicious dinner.

If your kids love pasta, pizza, and gelato, Italy is an obvious choice. Rome, Florence, and Venice are popular with families, but I’d suggest skipping those hot spots for their less famous, equally impressive cousin: Turin.

Turin has excellent food, beautiful piazzas, and enough desserts to satisfy any kid.

Plus, it’s home to several cool museums and attractions, including the historic Egyptian Museum. The kids were fascinated by rooms full of mummies, sarcophagi, and ancient everyday objects that offered a glimpse of life thousands of years ago.

Nearby, we rode a glass elevator up the Mole Antonelliana for 360-degree city views, then wandered the Royal Palace of Turin, a lavish 16th-century palace with an armory on full display. We felt like we’d stepped into a world of knights and kings.

My car-loving crew also loved the National Automobile Museum. We followed the evolution of cars from early, ginormous vehicles to sleek modern-day marvels. We spent several hours here and could’ve easily stayed longer.

And then there was the food: homemade pastas, nightly gelato, and gianduiotti, Turin’s famous smooth chocolate-and-hazelnut treats. Pro tip for the grown-ups: Turin is the birthplace of vermouth, so be sure to get a glass before dinner!

Busan is a coastal city with beautiful beaches, colorful neighborhoods, and serene temples.

It will always be especially memorable for our family because it was the first city where we let our boys take the lead in planning: They researched activities and food and planned our daily schedule. We simply followed along.

We got lucky and arrived on a Saturday. Hundreds of drones lit up the sky over Gwangalli Beach, with the illuminated Gwangan Bridge as the backdrop. We learned that this happens every Saturday, all year long, and it was a wonderful way to start our trip.

On other days, we rode the colorful Sky Capsule along the coast, explored Gamcheon Culture Village, and visited Haedong Yonggungsa, a beautiful Buddhist temple built into the rocky coastline.

Evenings were for Korean barbecue, street food, and bubble tea, with daily stops at Korea’s famous video game arcades. The trip was planned by kids, after all!

It’s a bold claim, but I’ll stand by it.

Our days here followed an easy rhythm: an enormous breakfast spread at our hotel, lazy pool afternoons, and evenings spent sightseeing.

At night, we wandered through bustling markets, sampling street food and shopping for souvenirs.

We hiked the Marble Mountains and spent a day at Ba Na Hills, where we walked across the famous Golden Bridge. We took day trips to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: My Son Sanctuary, home to centuries-old Hindu temples, and the colorful city of Hoi An.

In Hoi An, we wandered lantern-filled streets before an evening boat ride along the river as the town came alive for the night. The kids were equally fascinated and amused by our tiny, squeaky boat.

I can’t pinpoint exactly what made us fall so in love with Da Nang. Maybe it was the incredibly kind people, the beautiful beaches, or the amazing food. Whatever it was, we’ve been daydreaming about going back ever since.

What’s your favorite city you’ve visited with kids?