Argentina has plenty to offer little ones, from dinosaur museums to beach resorts and plenty of outdoor activities to use up all that extra energy. With a culture that is very family-friendly, you’ll find Argentina makes a good, interesting and, yes, at times challenging, but fun, family destination.

• Buenos Aires

Argentina’s capital provides plenty of museums, parks and shopping malls, many with fun areas for kids.

• Atlantic Coast

Beaches and more beaches – bring swimsuits and sunscreen, and start building castles. Wildlife watching is also a plus.

• Iguazú

Waterfalls and wildlife galore, plus thrilling boat rides that guarantee a fun soaking.

• Península Valdés

Rich with wildlife, such as splashy whales, smelly elephant seals and supercute penguins.

• Bariloche

Outdoor activities are the draw here – go hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding and rafting.

• Mendoza

Wine tasting is off-limits for the kids, but you can take them skiing and white-water rafting.

Argentina is remarkably child-friendly in terms of general travel safety and people’s attitudes toward families. This is a country where family comes first.

Argentine parents will often send unaccompanied pre-adolescents on errands or neighborly visits. While you’re not likely to do this, you can usually count on your children’s safety in public.

Argentina’s numerous plazas and public parks, many with playgrounds, are popular gathering spots for families. Argentines frequently touch each other, so your children may be patted on the head by friendly strangers. Kids are a great ice-breaker and certainly make it easier for you to meet the locals.

And remember that families stay out very late in this country – it’s common to see young kids and babies out past midnight with their parents. There’s no early curfew and everyone’s out having fun, so consider doing the same!

• Outdoor activities are best experienced outside the winter months of June through August (with the exception of skiing, of course).
• Small kids often get discounts on such things as motel stays, museum admissions and restaurant meals.
• Supermarkets offer a decent selection of baby food, infant formulas, disposable diapers, wet wipes and other necessities. Big pharmacies such as Farmacity also stock some of these items.
• Strollers on crowded and uneven sidewalks can be a liability, so consider bringing a baby carrier.
• Public bathrooms are often poorly maintained, and baby changing tables are not common.
• For all-round information and advice, check out Lonely Planet’s Travel with Children.

• The great majority of hotels accept children without any problems; the most upscale may even offer babysitting services.
• The only places with possible minimum age restrictions are small boutique hotels or guesthouses.
• Hostels are usually not the best environment for kids, but a few welcome them.
• During summer, reserving a hotel with a pool can be a good idea. Also look for places with kitchenettes.
• Apartments are available, especially in BA; in less-urban holiday destinations you can look for cabañas (cabins) with full kitchens.
• Larger campgrounds often have cabañas, common cooking facilities and sometimes play structures.

• Most restaurants offer a selection of food suitable for children, such as vegetables, pasta, pizza, chicken and milanesas (breaded meat cutlets).
• Empanadas make good, healthy snacks that are fun to eat, and don’t forget to take the kids out for ice cream – it’s a real Argentine treat!

• When it comes to public transportation, Argentines are usually very helpful.
• Taxis and remises (radio taxis) are common, easy to arrange and safe.

• Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio Kids can overnight in their pajamas at Trelew’s dinosaur museum.

• Museo de La Plata Argentina’s best natural history museum; the taxidermy and skeletons are especially awesome.

• Glaciarium El Calafate’s slickest museum; highlights the wonders of glaciers.

• Shopping centers The bigger ones often have playgrounds, video arcades, toy stores and ice-cream shops.

• Museo Municipal Ernesto Bachmann Marvel at the world’s largest predator, as well as the spectacular skeletons of other locally found dinosaurs.

• Güirá Oga Zoo in the Iguazú Falls area.

• Parque Esteros del Iberá Full of marsh deer, black caimans and adorable capybaras.

• Península Valdés Check out whales, elephant seals and suit-wearing penguins.

• Jardín de los Niños Rosario's fun discovery park offers activities and puzzles for the little ones.

• Glaciar Perito Moreno El Calafate's superactive glacier is a wonder to behold for all ages.

• Beaches Argentina's Atlantic coast beaches are family-friendly, and offer up plenty of sand, surf and sun.

• Estancias Horseback rides and folkloric shows are highlights during your stay on an estancia (ranch).

• Parque de la Costa Just outside BA in Tigre; has roller coasters and other theme-park fun.

• Complejo Termal Cacheuta Outside Mendoza; is a thermal-baths complex with wave pool and waterslides.

• The Andes mountains Offer great skiing around Bariloche and Mendoza.