There are family vacations. And then there are epic adventures that may qualify as the experience of a lifetime
Here are five to consider now.
Join an Expedition
Plan ahead for a winter holiday voyage to introduce the budding scientists in your clan to a one-of-a-kind wilderness. In addition to seeing penguins waddle or whales breach amid blue-tinged icebergs, kids (and adults) will learn how climate change is affecting the ice and wildlife as part of an Antarctic expedition. During an Abercrombie & Kent journey to this wild southernmost destination, zip to remote islands via Zodiac boats where Crabeater and Weddell seals loll on the ice; view ever-changing ice formations; observe smile-inducing Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguin colonies; and embrace the opportunity to step where few have ventured before. Your family will also learn nautical knot-tying with a former British Royal Marine commando, join kids-only scavenger hunts, and learn from deep-sea presentations by a marine biologist as well as a photo-coaching workshop for teens and kids-only Zodiac lessons with a naturalist guide. Book by June 30 for special savings. Ask about other offers for family and multigenerational groups.
For more: www.AbercrombieKent.com
Plan a Family Safari
Visit northern Tanzania’s Serengeti for a wildlife viewing and cultural extravaganza. Home to more than 3,000 lions and 1000 leopards as well as zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, and waterbuck, it’s a magical sanctuary best known for the great migration.
With the Four Seasons Serengeti as your basecamp, choose to explore via half and full day jeep tours, walking safaris, or from the basket of a high-flying, hot air balloon. The excitement doesn’t end when you return to the Lodge, where a watering hole, just beyond the Infiniti pool, serves up hydrating sustenance to elephant families on a daily basis.
Dine on the veranda, with sweeping views of the plains, where giraffe, eland, and topi graze in the distance. Kids can visit the on-site discovery center to learn about Maasai history and culture, the significance of the Serengeti Cheetah Project and life in the bush. Relax at the spa, take a family cooking class and be amazed by a live performance of tribal dance and song offered by local Maasai.
For more: https://www.fourseasons.com/serengeti/ ;
www.tanzaniatourism.go.tz/destination/serengeti-national-park
Revel in a River Cruise
Unpack. Settle in and let the adventure begin.
Explore the Rhine, Danube or Seine river valleys with your family or multigenerational group from aboard a luxury AmaWaterways ship. With itineraries crafted to your family’s preferences, each day you’ll take part in active adventures or culturally immersive experiences in compelling destinations.
Well-trained and knowledgeable Disney adventure guides, paired with local storytellers, combine talents to ensure each member of the family gets maximum enjoyment from the trip. Wander through medieval castles, sample local cuisine, pedal along the river bank, and enjoy private tours and insider access to popular attractions. Adventure guides are at the ready to engage youngsters in evening activities so the adults may opt for a fine dining experience or a musical performance. (Food and wine trips are also possible when it’s time to leave the youngest travelers at home.)
Expect an all-inclusive, backstage pass-style adventure through the heart of Europe.
For more: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/trip-selector/river-cruise/;
https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2023
Explore Alaska
Our sparsely populated and endlessly captivating 49th state lures those who yearn for epic scenery, spouting whales, and glaciers the size of small countries. Experience family travel in rugged Alaska via boutique yachts and expedition ships that set sail for adventure beginning each Spring.
Aboard smaller vessels you’ll have meaningful cultural experiences, find your way to natural nooks and crannies, opt for hiking and kayaking, and discover rarely visited wilderness areas, increasing the chance for up-close wildlife viewing. Those who venture to America’s last frontier will be rewarded with Mother Nature in all her glory.
For more: www.Uncruise.com
Immerse in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands
Given the island’s location on the equator, air and water temperatures remain relatively stable, making the Galapagos Islands a desirable destination any time of the year. Within this pristine and diverse eco-system, your family will thrill to the site of cliff-diving blue-footed boobies and the waved albatross known for an elaborate courtship dance that can include 20 minutes of bowing, honking, whistling, and bill clacking. You’ll want to know about Darwin’s 13 finches, creatures that were central to the scientist’s evolutionary theories. Learn more about the volcanic island’s winged population as well as the abundance of sharks, sea lions, mantas, and iguanas via a live aboard vessel (popular with scuba divers), a cruise or a hotel-based tour.
For more: www.Expeditions.com; www.AustinAdventures.
Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer. Gather more travel intel on Twitter @lohayes, Facebook, or via FamilyTravel.com. Copyright 2023 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
