Pico with children
Is Pico a good destination with children?
Quick answer
An outline. The honest constraints are known, more driving than people expect and swimming that depends on the swell, but nothing here has been checked against a primary source yet.
The outline
Two things shape a family trip here, and both are covered elsewhere on this site.
The first is driving. Pico is long, the coast roads are slow, and there is no useful bus network, so days involve more car time than the map suggests. See driving on Pico.
The second is swimming. There is almost no sand: swimming means natural pools cut into the lava, which are excellent in calm conditions and not suitable when there is swell running.
Montanha do Pico is not a family walk. The Gruta das Torres and the Museu dos Baleeiros are the reliable indoor options.
This page stays an outline. Minimum ages for boat trips and the cave, family accommodation, and anything about facilities have not been checked against a primary source. See planning a trip.