Adventure Vacations
by Candyce H. Stapen
Whether you want to track lions, giraffes and wildebeest in Kenya,
trek the nature paths in the Galapagos, or travel to the temples
of Thailand, there's a tour company that can take you and your kids.
High-end companies that sell "dream" trips are putting together
more and more family-oriented vacations to exotic destinations than
ever before. In addition, rafting, hiking, and biking outfitters
that traditionally market rough and rugged backcountry forays are
increasingly designing less challenging itineraries for families.
On these "soft adventures" the danger's taken out, but the thrills
remain. Many exotic family vacations come with a hefty price tag,
but you can also enjoy a budget adventure by booking a nature oriented
family camp hosted by national parks and conservation organizations.
Wildland Adventures
Peru, Panama, Alaska, Kenya, Belize and New Zealand are some of
the family destinations offered by Wildland Adventures. Wildland's
expanded their program, creating active trips for families with
teens. On the Costa Rica Multisport, raft whitewater, glide on a
zip line, and kayak a jungle river. Departures are from May to August,
November to December. The Galapagos Wildlife Odyssey, appropriate
for families with younger kids, features a manager/guide for the
children, a kid-pleasing menu and opportunities for snorkeling with
sea lions and close encounters with blue-footed boobies and fat
iguanas. Departures are from June through August, November and December
(800-345-4453; www.wildland.com).
Grandtravel
Grandparents and grandkids share a special bond. Grandtravel designs
U.S. and international trips for these dynamic duos. For many destinations,
the company offers two departures-one geared to youngster ages seven
to 11 and one for teens 12 to 17. Escorts teach children about the
region's customs and culture and trips always include activities
for kids and adults to do together and apart. On the seven-day Dinosaur
Discovery, Colorado, grandparents and grandkids dig for dino fossils,
meet life-size robotic dinosaurs, and go on a river float trip and
ride horses (June 17-23, 2006). On the 14-day China trip, learn
T'ai Chi Ch'uan, fly kites, take a calligraphy lesson as well as
visit the Forbidden City, see the Great Wall and lots more (June
20-July 3; 800-247-7651; www.grandtrvl.com).
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Great Places, Great Deals
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Beaches Resorts, Jamaica and Turks &
Caicos:
With Beaches' Single Parent Friendly promotion
(SPF), available in May and from August 18 to
October 31, the resort waives the single supplement
(of up to $180 per night) for single parents traveling
with children and creates special single parent
receptions and kids' movie nights. Available at
Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa; and in Jamaica,
at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, Beaches Sandy
Bay, Negril and Beaches Boscobel, Ocho Rios. Valid
with a three-night minimum stay (800-BEACHES;
www.beaches.com).
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Sierra Club
Raft rivers in Utah, kayak pristine wilderness
in Alaska, and hike through red rock canyons in Arizona on Sierra
Club's family trips. Naturalist leaders on each of the 34 adventures
focus on the region's wildlife, wilderness and conservation. Sierra
Club's trips are moderately priced. Trips range from $395 per adult
for a volunteer vacation to $1,395 for a lodge based adventure in
Alaska. Most trips cost between $600 and $1,000 per person with
discounts for children. On the four-day Green River Raft trip, July
3 to 7, float through Utah's scenic canyons, examine ancient rock
art and swim. On the five-day family hike through Arizona's Canyon
de Chelly, Navajo guides relate the canyon's history and kids get
to try weaving, sand painting and cooking frybread (415-977-5500;
www.sierraclub.org).
Abercrombie & Kent
Family trips have become so popular for upscale operator Abercrombie
& Kent that the company's launched Adventure Crew, a club for kids
six to 14 booked on an A&K trip. Along with receiving backpacks
with travel journals, playing cards and binoculars, kids go online
to learn foreign phrases, find out about Africa, the Galapagos,
Italy, Egypt, China and Antarctica, as well as create electronic
postcards. Among A&K's family vacations are a 15-day adventure in
Kenya and Tanzania (June, July, December) and 12 days in Thailand
(June to August) (800-554-7094; www.abercrombiekent.com).
Austin-Lehman
Austin-Lehman's family trips in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica
aren't just re-packaged versions of adult trips. In Costa Rica,
on a seven-day excursion, look for monkeys and turtles (June to
September) in Tortuguero National Park, as well as raft rivers,
attend a local elementary school and visit butterfly gardens. New
this season is the Vancouver Island Family Adventure, a six-day
trip that has you observing black bears, bicycling, and kayaking
in search of eagles and seals (July to August; 800-575-1540; www.austinlehman.com).
National Parks
Although the accommodations may be budget-often bunks in dormitories-the
scenery is priceless. Several national parks offer family camps
that get you and your kids into the backcountry, safely led by guides
who reveal the region's special wonders. Hike, search for salamanders
and admire the stars at evening campfires with the Great Smoky Mountains
Institute at Tremont's Family Adventure Camp (July 3-8; 865-448-6709;
www.gsmit.org).
Each summer the Olympic Park Institute, Olympic National Park, Washington,
operates several day and weekend programs for families. Past adventures
focused on hiking and canoe weekends and day sails on Puget Sound
(www.yni.org/opi).
*****
– Candyce H. Stapen's 26 travel books include National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations.
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