Kids into natural history? How about hunting for dinosaurs on a five-day family dig with the Museum of Western Colorado; helping monitor dolphin activity on a Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society field trip or - for a more hands on experience - heading to the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. The resort's home to the Dolphin Quest Learning Lagoon; where, side-by-side with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, guests can learn about the importance of preserving our oceans. Sure beats normal school!

Of course, if you fancy following in the dolphins wake you could also sign up for a diving course. There are 25 Hilton resorts with fully equipped dive centres offering a range of tuition to suit all ages and abilities. For example, at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, kids as young as five can try out snorkeling using scuba equipment, while from 10 years of age they can gain their PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, permitting them to dive to depths of 12 metres.

Learning to sail, windsurf, water-ski or kayak is a great way to combine fun and fitness. You can try your hand at all manner of watersports at various Hilton Worldwide Resorts, including the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and the Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa - be prepared for the kids to get the hang of things way before you do.

For kicks on dry land, check out Canada. Great for active teens, aside from its legendary winter activities, Canada offers an awesome array of summer entertainment. Stay at the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, British Columbia, and if the gob smacking scenery doesn't leave you breathless, the choice of activities available - including horse riding; mountain biking; rafting; fishing; rock climbing; paint balling, zip trekking... even rap jumping - will do.

For a cerebral workout, Egypt's a great bet. One of the richest, most ancient civilisations in the world, if the sheer size of the pyramids doesn't wow the kids, the sheer gore of how they created mummies is sure to. Why not consider a multi-centre stay and mix up a tour of Giza and Luxor with, say, a Felucca cruise on the Nile and some downtime by the Red Sea? Even if you've already booked your vacation, chances are there'll be something new worth exploring nearby - so get on the internet before you go and investigate. The world's a big place and discovering it anew through the eyes of your children can and should be one of the great joys of being a parent. Who knows, you might even return home with a collective new hobby that will solve the dilemma of what to do on holiday for years to come.

Abigail Flanagan
Travel Editor, mumsnet.com