Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a city which invites you to stroll, with graceful buildings and sidewalk cafes on grand avenues. Kids like wandering in Buenos Aires, where every block seems to have a pastry shop or pizzeria, and they can watch craftsmen at work. As you wander, take breaks in neighborhood parks for simple pleasures like pedal boats or Parque de la Costa.
Plaza Italia - A whole bunch of places in one spot. Locals hop on the subway to go straight to the Plaza Italia.
In the Park Rosedal (Bosques de Palermo), take paths that wind through beautiful plants and around artificial lakes. Rent bikes for everyone or a boat and paddle your way around.National History Museum - Located in one of the city's prettiest parks, the Parque Lezama, with its winding paths of magnolias, palms and elms, this museum combines 400 years of history with fine art
Open air markets - This is a weekend experience, browse and mingle with the Argentines. Who knows, you may find a treasure! Not a bad place to give the kids their souvenir money. Try the market at Plaza Francia (near Recoleta) on Saturdays and Sundays.
Recoleta Cemetery - What? A cemetery? Well, but there's more here than just Evita's bones. This is a real "city of the dead" with enormous mausoleums and towering memorials. It's like walking through a miniature city (one with very polite residents) and kids love it. And it's in a fashionable dining area of Buenos Aires (but you can still find a pizza. In fact, pizza is second only to barbecue in the Argentine diet).
Museo de los Ninos (Abasto Shopping Center) - This children's museums has plenty of hands-on activities - shop or work in a supermarket, build a wall, crawl through a giant water pipe, cook in a fast food restaurant, pilot a plane above the clouds. Closed Mondays (except January and February, summer hours).
Also in the Abasto Shopping Center, kiddie rides for little ones at the Neverland Park.
Bioparque Temaiken (Rte 25, Escobar) - Temaiken, a combination zoo, aquarium, botanical garden and natural history museum, is a great place to see the wildlife of Argentina, including Patagonia.
In addition to habitats for mammals, reptiles and birds, there's a large aquarium with the marine life of the Mar Argentina, interactive exhibits about Patagonia, a 360 degrees theater, playground for toddlers and cafes for casual eats and snacks.
Temaiken is 50 km north of the city, buses from the Plaza Italia will drop you at the park.
Parque de la Costa - Plan a whole day in this amusement park, located on the Rio de la Plata, 45 minutes from Buenos Aires in Tigre suburb (get there by train or bus).
Rides include roller coasters and thrill rides for teens, bumper cars, ferris wheel, rides for little ones, carousel, miniature train, climbing wall, go karts, paddleboat and catamaran rides on the river.
Boat tours - Cruise the delta (Delta del Parana) for a couple hours and enjoy lunch while you sight-see.
Shopping
When you want to shop for local crafts, Puerto de Frutas is the place: leather, artisans, etc. The best day to go is Sunday, when the biggest variety of crafts people come to display their wares.
