Deciding where to go on your next family vacation can be a stressful, divisive process. You want to go to Alaska, while your children are longing to get their hair braided in the Bahamas. By figuring out where kids really want to go on vacation these days, (even if your own kids don’t realize they have a preference), you can choose a kid-friendly destination that you will also enjoy.

Recent movies like “Madagascar” have children longing for adventure travel to exotic locales. While Madagascar itself may not be the most family-friendly destination, other options, such as Costa Rica or Kenya, can be surprisingly inexpensive and true cultural learning experiences.

In Costa Rica, children can learn Spanish while exploring lush rainforests or erupting volcanoes, and parents can listen to calypso tunes while sipping on some of the best coffee in the world. Or in Kenya, the whole family can learn a bit of Swahili while watching and listening to the mass migration of the wildebeests in Kenya. Listening to the sounds of the rainforest or sleeping under the stars on safari is sure to be more interesting for both parents and children than a third trip to Disneyland.