DH and I were there for a conference years ago. Ipanema and Copacabana beaches were beautiful, but I wouldn't go back. We were discouraged from walking around town due to muggings and such. It was strongly suggested to take a cab everywhere. This was in Rio, and there was a strong police presence since the Pan Am games were being held there. We spent a day in São Paulo after the conference, but didn't do any "touristy" things.

Writersblock,

That's uncanny! I notice his focus was food. I am sure that was intriguing but not for a family vaca.

2pups,

Sao Paulo just seems miserably congested from all I hear, too.

It is tough because one thing I always say about travel is that when you research a destination, you almost never find anyone who wrote an article saying "don't go".

It's been years since I was there. I remember the smell of sewage along parts of the nicer beaches. Lots of women who had had plastic surgery walking around. The beaches were lovely and hopping all night. Lots of beach volley ball going on. Sugarloaf and Corcovado were meh. I enjoyed an historic town called Paraty. It's not a place I think of when I think of family vacation. The favela were kind of fascinating, but I think some were cleared out for the Olympics.

It's not a place I think of when I think of family vacation

Yup. But it is a very big country, and most of us are talking really about Rio. I"m curious about the rest.

Eg this is intriguing but I wonder about the tourism infrastructure to see and stay

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/15/brazil-destinations_n_4682383.html

I notice his focus was food.

Well, yes, for posts in the cooking forum, but I"m sure if you ask he has plenty to say about other aspects of the trip.

I went to Rio--twice!--in 2003. My husband and I rented bicycles and biked around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. We stopped at the botanical garden, and got to see monkeys running and climbing trees, seemingly occupying the same niche as squirrels do here. We also stopped to rent a paddle boat and paddled on the lake.

We did the Copacabana flea market, and Corcovado. On the way down from Cristo Redentor we ran across a street fair that I think was put on by a church--very much a community thing, not a tourist thing.

We went to the Parque das Ruinas and took the Santa Teresa tram to downtown, and then a cab back to Ipanema.

Apropos of nothing, I was reading an old Architectural Digest in the dentist's waiting room today and found this article about Anderson Cooper's get-away in Trancoso, Brazil:
Trancoso Bungalow

Saw this article that so much of the Olympic facilities are now abandoned, and it has been a complete bust.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2017/feb/10/rios-olympic-venues-six-months-on-in-pictures

Would you consider Argentina and Iguazu Falls? We did that more than a few years ago and it was great. (You will likely fly to Iguazu from wherever anyway) Iguazu was definitely worth it and we loved Buenos Aires. I think we went late March and the weather was really pretty mild.

What about like an Eco resort thing up in the Bahia? I think it's a good place to learn to surf? http://www.txairesorts.com/en/mobile-site/resort-m/. 

Even after so many years (OP’s kids are adults now), I still feel the need to comment, in case someone else stumbles upon this post like I did.

Saying “Brazil isn’t for families” is such a prejudiced phrase that I don’t even know where to start — so I won’t.

Compared to other countries, including the US, I’d say Brazil doesn’t offer much when it comes to tourism infrastructure. Our museums are generally small and few. Our beaches can be beautiful, but some areas are risky due to crime, so travelers need to do their research. We have some water parks and amusement parks, both indoor and outdoor, but they’re limited. Personally, I would never go to Rio, not even for work — I’d rather change jobs.

That said, we live in Brazil, we have kids, and we have families here. There are things to do, and no, we are not just about soccer, women, and samba. If that’s the extent of what you know about our country, then you’re stuck with the outdated image that our own government pushed in the 1960s and 70s.

We’re just a country like any other. São Paulo (the city) has plenty to offer — it’s one of the most culturally rich cities in Brazil. There are theaters, concerts, excellent restaurants, beautiful parks for family outings, many museums, and a lot of tourist spots to visit. It’s not as dangerous as Rio, but like any large city, you should take precautions.

In the South, there are great destinations like Gramado, which has lots of attractions for kids; beaches (though the water tends to be cold); Curitiba, which is worth at least a day trip; and Beto Carrero World, a major amusement park.

In the state of Goiás, there’s Rio Quente, a town famous for its natural hot water parks. The most well-known is Pousada do Rio Quente, though there are probably newer, more modern options now — it’s worth researching.

In the state of São Paulo, besides the capital, there are also natural water parks in Olímpia. There are wine routes, farm hotels, and other rural experiences.

The Northeast has stunning beaches and resorts, though the infrastructure is often not as developed as in São Paulo.

Yes, there’s Manaus and the Amazon, and probably tours (no, you don’t need to start in Peru), but I’ve never been, so I can’t speak from experience. I would personally be cautious about doing a trip like that with kids — but that’s how I’d feel about any tropical forest.

There are zoos, museums, parks, play areas (“brinquedotecas”), libraries, science museums, planetariums, and amusement parks. They may not be as large-scale as those in the US, but they exist — and yes, they can absolutely justify a trip to Brazil, especially if you already want to visit.

And yes, the food here is great!

Interesting--- I read through ( not realizign this was old DUH) and I somehow posted as User? That's definitely my post ( and we did go in March). How did I become user?

bizarroworldhouzz

I know your kids are grown but there are some interesting suggestions here for families: What to do

I was confused when I saw this and it said 2017, because we are going to Brazil (and Uruguay and Argentina) in a few months.

Saying “Brazil isn’t for families” is such a prejudiced phrase that I don’t even know where to start — so I won’t.

Someone is sensitive! First of all, what about this, posted above:

"It's not a place I think of when I think of family vacation

Yup. But it is a very big country, and most of us are talking really about Rio. I"m curious about the rest."

The fact is, no one is being prejudiced. What people are saying is that, in their personal experience, people they know who have travelled to Brazil have not been families so much as younger often single people who go for things like the beaches or carnival. That is all they are saying.

Sheesh, I didn't see it was old, either!