7 Tips for Planning the Perfect Family Adventure

With winter’s essential wardrobe staples of galoshes and snowsuits, it seems hard to believe that spring break and the summer holidays are just around the corner. And while local amusement parks and day camps might seem like the obvious boredom-busters for youngsters, a Wildland Adventures family vacation just might be the ticket to both entertainment and enlightenment. 

Wildland Adventures Family VacationsHaving earned the titles of “Family Travel Pro” and “Family Adventure Gurus” by National Geographic Traveler and Adventure magazines, the Seattle-based Wildland Adventures has created all-ages family adventure vacations to just about every destination in the world. And with special discounted pricing for children and teens, parents won’t have to worry about breaking the bank during the upcoming holidays.

To ensure a successful holiday, follow these tips from Kurt Kutay, founding president and director of Wildland Adventures, for planning the perfect family adventure. 

1. Walk among the people. Following local footpaths through villages and farmlands opens windows to family life far different from our own. During your vacation, walk through the new land and meet people of different cultures.

2. Capitalize on everyone’s interests. When planning your family adventure, gather around the kitchen table and make sure everyone’s interest and ideas are included in the itinerary.

3. A good family guide is key. The best guides for family trips are parents or teachers who are familiar with young minds so they can deliver age-appropriate, interpretative information. Guides should possess the spirit of a child for fun, discovery and exploration.

4. Build anticipation. Provide pre-departure trip materials that include colorful, age-appropriate information about the destination. Some suggestions are laminated wildlife guides of animals they can expect to see or posters of the rainforest and other habitats they’ll visit.

5. Anticipate a peak experience. Plan activities in a walking itinerary that kids find personally rewarding: come across a waterfall or ruins or climb to the top of a castle or ancient temple. The trick is to make the journey as much fun as the destination.

6. Show the parents a thing or two. Involve activities that allow all family members to participate together – learn about yourselves, discover inner strengths or skills and do things you never imagined. Try out activities that parents might not be as adept as kids to reverse normal roles at home: kids can show their parents a thing or two!

7. Kids leading kids. Plan to invite young people from the local area to join in on the trip. Walking is a normal and daily fact of life in many cultures, and North American kids will more likely keep up the pace with other kids than adults!

To learn more about these or other Wildland family adventure vacations, visit http://www.wildland.com or call 1-800-345-4453. 

For the 2011 spring and summer season, check out these Wildland Adventures for family travelers of all ages:

Wildland Adventures Family Vacations

Central America Family Adventures – With weather that is warm and dry, there’s no better place to travel for spring break than Central America. Activities on Wildland’s family adventure tours in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize/Guatemala and Panama range from zip lining, jungle walks, snorkelling, beachcombing and, of course, relaxing together. Rich with culture, families can connect with many indigenous communities, including the Mayans in Guatemala and Belize, the Garifuna people on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and the seven indigenous groups in Panama. Plus, family vacations to Central America make the most of those limited spring break days – it’s only two hours from Miami to Belize and four hours from Houston to Panama City!

Galapagos Family Adventure – The Galapagos Islands provide the ideal setting for a family vacation where young people can observe wildlife close-up, explore the marine life by snorkel and learn about the basics of evolution. Separate activities are geared toward younger audiences and kid-friendly meals and child-sized snorkelling equipment, wetsuits and life vests are all included. The cruise is adapted to fit each family’s needs and guided, on-shore excursions are oriented towards the interests and knowledge of young people.

Peru Family Vacations – On these two specially-designed family adventures in Peru, our child-friendly guides enable you to actively experience the best of Peru’s Andean highlands and bring to life the culture and archaeology of the Incas. June 26 to July 2, 2011, join other Wildland family travelers on this Sacred Land of the Incas trip: hike amongst Inca ruins, explore the towns and Quechua Indian markets of Cusco and the Sacred Valley and at the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, crown jewel of the Incan Empire. And from Aug. 4 to 15, 2011, lace up your boots for the Inca Trail Trek and Amazon adventure (appropriate for children 11 and older). Wildland’s Inca Trail guides will hike at a pace appropriate for little trekkers during the day and at night pitch your tent under the stars, next to ancient ruins and far from the crowds of other trail-goers.  Next, hike and bike through the Amazon: spot monkeys from a treetop platform and learn the secrets of the Ese’Eja tribe.

Turkey Family Adventure – The 13-day Turquoise Coast Odyssey, led by local Turkish guides, give families an insider’s look into the history, political affairs and everyday life in Turkey. This summer vacation includes hikes through the underground cities and hidden churches of Cappadocia and voyages along the Mediterranean. Spend nights in a restored Ottoman home and boutique cave hotel and days swimming, snorkelling and kayaking in the clear blue waters. Be sure to go on the optional day hike to ancient sites only accessible by footpaths from the sea.

Serengeti Family Safari – This summer, experience Tanzania’s abundance of wildlife and interact with local tribes on the Serengeti Family Safari. Come face-to-face with a lion or elephant in the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks; walk with a warrior; or bead with a Massai woman. Top off your vacation by basking in the warm Indian Ocean and exploring the exotic island of Zanzibar. 

South Africa Family Safari – Discover the amazing diversity of South Africa’s culture and natural history from the sea to the savannah. Beginning in cosmopolitan Cape Town, witness the kaleidoscope of cultures on display. In the nearby Winelands, parents can enjoy wine tasting while the kids meet the winery’s resident goat herd and learn how its award-winning cheese is made. From there, it’s off to one of our favorite family safari camps in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Kids and parents will share in the sense of awe in exploring the African bush on the lookout for the Big Five.      

To learn more about these or other Wildland family adventure vacations, visit http://www.wildland.com or call 1-800-345-4453.

About Wildland Adventures

Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Do-it-all’ Outfitter on Earth, Wildland Adventures has guided travelers through fragile natural and cultural environments for 25 years, creating innovative ways to support local people and help protect their culture, environment and communities. Offering over 130 unique itineraries in 28 countries, on a Wildland adventure vacation there are remarkably few barriers between visitors and local cultures, creating an authenticity in the way people travel and the places they encounter. A sample of destinations offered include Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia, the Galapagos, Belize, East and Southern Africa, Alaska, Turkey, the Middle East, India and New Zealand. Wildland Adventures is proud to be a founding member of Trusted Adventures, an alliance of top adventure travel companies offering adventure trips around the world. www.wildland.com. Facebook.com/WildlandAdventures. Twitter: @WildTravel. 

Source: Wildland Adventures.

Comments

[Darren Bates]

Hey, nice post. Especially because addressing central american adventure. I went to Mexico last year and availed myself Hidden Worlds family adventure package. It was amazing, we still have lot to know about south and central america.