Family travel 5: Give the gift of travel this holiday season
Tie a ribbon around your travel plans. Here are five family-friendly ways to share the gift of travel with those you love.
Adventure lovers
Give your family the world via an adventure trip crafted by Tauck travel industry pros. Through their program, you’ll experience hands-on learning, off-the-beaten-path adventures and insights into local cultures often scheduled during school breaks. Whether you opt to explore Costa Rican rain forests, the wilds of Tanzania, the Swiss Alps or the islands of the Galapagos, you’ll create memories more lasting than the latest gadget or hip fashion item. The company’s e-brochure is designed to offer parents and grandparents a colorful tool that will lure children into the vacation-planning process. After all, anticipation is part of the adventure.
For more: www.Tauck.com
Snow lovers
For those who relish the white stuff, the gift of travel to Colorado ski country will be a high-altitude hit. At resorts throughout the state, kids under various ages are offered the opportunity to ski free. For example, kids under 5 always ski free at Arapahoe, Aspen Snowmass and Loveland. Steamboat’s Kids Ski Free and Grandkids Ski Free programs enable children 12 and younger to ski free the same number of days as their parent/grandparent with the purchase of a five-or-more-day adult lift ticket. Other resorts offer lift-ticket deals as well as lodging, lesson and gear discounts.
Consider a trip to Powderhorn, a western Colorado favorite for its reliable snowfall and 1,600 acres of impressive terrain. The resort is rolling out the first phase of on-mountain lodging in the form of six tiny homes that are fully equipped and sleep up to eight people.
For more: coloradoski.com; colorado.com.
Museum lovers
Make a plan to visit our nation’s capital with your family and immerse yourselves in the depth and breadth of opportunity provided by the Smithsonian Institution. From art and history to the National Zoo and the Air and Space Museum, there is plenty to explore in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss the National Museum of African American History and Culture, devoted to sharing the story of Black life. The museum's more-than 37,000 artifacts include Harriett Tubman’s hymn book, a sunken slave ship and a segregated rail car. The museum is committed to a robust schedule of programs for children and families. Also, before your trip, consider a review of the online resources that inspire, prepare and educate.
For more: si.edu; https://nmaahc.si.edu
Music lovers
In Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Grand Ole Opry and the best in country music, learn how a simple radio broadcast spawned a global entertainment phenomenon. From industry legends to the latest luminaries, you’ll get a taste of history along with a contemporary dose of the genre in the “home of American music.” Take in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, the Bluebird Cafe and the Johnny Cash Museum. Ask about backstage passes, behind-the-scenes tours and family packages. Or, indulge your teen with tickets to see his or her favorite pop star on stage in Las Vegas. Avoid some of the bright lights by staying at the Four Seasons, a nongaming oasis.
For more: opry.com; visitmusiccity.com; https://www.fourseasons.com/lasvegas/
Island lovers
If you’ve ever dreamed of casting away to a tranquil hideaway where white sand beaches stretch for miles and your worries dissolve in soft ocean breezes, then this coral island is for you. The only resort on a small spit of land in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Four Seasons Desroches Island in the Seychelles pairs warm and welcoming service, top notch cuisine and rustic luxury with a pristine natural environment.
Stay in villas, suites or expansive residences, each with private pools and beach access. Ride bikes to the Island Conservation Society’s Giant Tortoise Sanctuary before stopping on a private stretch of beach for a family picnic. Explore your choice of 14 world-class dive sites around the island or soak up the sun in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard.
In Costa Rica, wake to a chorus of tropical wildlife in the only lodge located inside the Arenal Volcano National Park. The majestic and perfectly shaped volcanic centerpiece of a rich rainforest setting can be observed from most guest rooms, the dining room and an expansive deck. Horseback riding, biking and hiking trails wind through old lava fields and soft jungle trails where howling monkeys, slithering snakes, butterflies and colorful birds beckon visitors.
For more: https://www.fourseasons.com/seychellesdesroches; www.arenalobservatorylodge.com ; www.VisitCostaRica.com
These gifts are for someone who'll eagerly tell you which mileage-reward program to choose, what pillow is best for a 14-hour flight, and how resort fees are the devil's own invention.
How is it possible to spend so much time with your parents and grandparents and not really know them? If you skirt the small talk and dig a little deeper, you’ll be surprised at what you might learn.