Going Places, Far & Near: Active Summer Family Vacations Forge Bonds, Lifelong Memories and Lay Groundwork for Learning

Karen Rubin

It’s summer! It is widely known that getting out and experiencing things first hand is the best way to cultivate learning. The experiences also engage children, forge bonds and provide lifelong memories. Here are “get out there and do it” summer family vacation ideas.

Wild Planet Adventures Tailors Costa Rica Wildlife Ecotours for Families

 

Wild Planet Adventures has family-focused departures of its Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife Eco-Tour, scheduled in July and December. Itineraries ranging from 9 to 14 days, include expert-led wildlife excursions in up to eight national parks and wildlife reserves, cloud forest canopy bridges and zip-lines, whitewater rafting, wildlife-spotting float trips, smoking volcanoes, bubbling hot-springs, sun swept beaches on both coasts, scarlet macaw migration, hands-on learning at a wildlife rescue center, sea-kayaking with dolphins, snorkeling at night in the bioluminescence, night hikes for nocturnal animals, plus a specially arranged experience at La Selva Biological Reserve. Young travelers are also treated to Wild Planet’s special Sloth Rescue program where they can interact with animals, scientific researchers and wildlife experts. There is also a special hands-on “voluntourism” segment at a wildlife rescue center, complete with feeding. This trip is designed for kids as young as eight  Wild Planet Adventures tours are conducted in Africa, Borneo, Brazil, Costa Rica, Galapagos, India, Laos, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Thailand and Zambia (800-990-4376, www.wildplanetadventures.com, email trips@wildplanetadventures.com.

Other adventure operators that offer family-focused trips:

Thomson Family Adventures, Watertown, MA, familyadventures.com, 800-262-6255

Backroads, Berkeley, CA, backroads.com, 800-462-2848

Austin Adventures, Billings, austinadventures.com, 800-575-1540

Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic, New York, NY, 800-EXPEDITION, expeditions.com

Wildland Adventures, Seattle, WA, wildland.com, 800-345-4453

Moab Adventure Center Gears Up for Families During National Parks Centennial Celebration

 

Flanked by not one but two national parks, Moab, UT, one of Nature’s great playgrounds, will be in a party mood this season as it celebrates with visitors the 100th anniversary of the United States National Park Service.

 

The go-to hub here is Moab Adventure Center just 4.5 miles from Arches National Park and 30 miles from Canyonlands National Park. The Center is gearing up for a rush of families who have marked 2016 as the “it” year for visiting “America’s Best Idea.”

Families with children ages 5 and up can discover some of the most scenic canyons in the Southwest from the perspective – and excitement – of rafting through rushing but playful whitewater. Half and full-day as well as two day programs inclusive of overnight camping and meals can be arranged. Half-day rates start at $60 for adults and $40 for youth. (See: www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/rafting). A Day Raft & Camp package ($265 for adults and $195 for youth) places families on an overnight adventure along the Colorado River (www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/rafting/twoday.php).

Off-road 4×4 excursions make a wonderful family experience. Professional guides operate custom Hummer® vehicles with raised seating in the rear for optimum passenger viewing while climbing to the top of seldom-seen, awe-inspiring Moab overlooks. Scenic outings are for two or four hours and at sunset. Rates are from $83 for adults and $51 for youth ages 3-15. https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/hummer/

The Rock & River Package includes a two-hour guided Hummer Safari in the morning and a five-hour river rafting trip in the afternoon ($149 per adult and $107 per youth).  (www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/packages).

Older youth may want to do some slick-rock mountain biking and zip lining; everyone can partake of hiking, guided or not; and just possibly Mom and Dad can get away for a romantic hot air balloon ride over the mysteries this landscape holds. Families may also opt to hire a private tour guide for a day or longer.

Moab Adventure Center, www.moabadventurecenter.com, 866-904-1163

 

Context Travel Adds Prague to List of Family Walking Tours in Great Cities Around the World

 

From mosaic workshops on the Amalfi Coast to spy adventures along the Berlin Wall, get the kids going with fun, “totally cool” interactive experiences in the cultural capitals of the world. Context Travel, which specializes in walking tours, has designed programs specifically for families with interactive experiences:  a private tennis lesson on Henry VIII’s court in London; turn the whole family into samurais for the day in Kyoto; children will never want to leave Paris after this sweet immersion into French food; go underground to the forgotten streets and houses buried under Rome;

A new addition to its family program: a child-focused 2 ½-hour tour of Prague’s castle complex and historical center. Prague Discovery for Families,  introduces families to the city’s history and includes a series of activities designed to engage children under age 12, using contemporary principles of pedagogy and drawing inspiration from Prague’s complex and vivid cityscape.  The walk begins on the grounds of the world’s largest castle complex: Prague Castle. This sprawling medieval site is perched above Prague, overlooking the city and the river Moldau that runs through it. The route continues downhill through the Lesser Town, across the storied Charles Bridge, and winds in and out of the historical Old Town towards Wenceslas Square.

“The family program is really a touchstone for our goals of promoting lifelong learning,” says Stephanie Taralson, Context’s Associate Program Manager for Central Europe. “Prague’s compact size and beautiful architecture make it the perfect playground for families, and it’s exciting to offer such an interactive and fun opportunity for even the youngest of visitors to become ‘Deep Travelers.’”

Family walks also are available in cities across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. 

Context also can create a custom family tour in the 37 cities where it offers programs across the globe. Contact info@contexttravel.com or call 800.691.6036.

Embrace Great Outdoors

Vail Resorts to Launch On-Mountain Epic Discovery Summer Adventures:Want to soar like an eagle? Travel through the forest canopy like a squirrel? Find out if you’re as strong as a bear? See the world through the eyes of a trout? This summer, Vail Resorts is introducing Epic Discovery at Vail Mountain in Colorado and Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, a comprehensive on-mountain summer adventure featuring components such as zip lines, canopy tours, alpine coasters, wildlife trail exploration, and interactive, “learn-through-play”  activities (www.vail.com or www.skiheavenly.com).

 

Sebasco Harbor Resort, Mid-Coast, Maine: This resort (“Pure Maine”) manages to be a delightful cross between a fine resort and a camp, with plenty of opportunity be outdoors, while still enjoying such refinements as golf on a superb course, full-service waterfront Fairwinds Spa, plus marvelous activities like kayaking (do the moonlight kayak trip, it is beyond fabulous), boating.. Actually, you can imagine Sebasco being the kind of “camp” that the Gilded Age moguls would have for one of their holiday homes. Nestled among whispering pines on the rugged coast Sebasco is tucked away on 550 acres with breathtaking views and a wealth of activities the entire family can enjoy. We stayed in the converted Lighthouse for the most magical experience. Check out special deals. (Sebasco Harbor Resort, 29 Kenyon Rd., Sebasco Estates, ME, 04565, 877-389-1161, info@sebasco.comwww.sebasco.com).

Want something more rugged? Point Sebago is a resort spanning 775-acres on the shore of Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine. It has its roots as a campground, but while there are still 100 RV, travel trailer and tent sites available, it is a well-equipped resort affording small two-bedroom cabins, with a mile of sandy beach, an 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course that is hailed as one of the finest in Maine. There is a full activities program for kids and families – like a summer camp – with camp counselors, mini-golf, arts and crafts, kayaking, canoe races, boat rentals, fishing, swimming, sand volleyball, shuffleboard, golf, tennis, basketball, games, happy hours with entertainment and free hors d’oeuvres, nightly entertainment for families and adults, dancing, shows, and s’mores by the campfire, free wireless internet access. Also, great bass and landlocked salmon fishing. The resort is next to Maine State Park at Sebago Park where there are hiking trails. (Point Sebago, 261 Point Sebago Road, Route 302, Casco, ME 04015, 800-530-1555, 207-655-3821,info@pointsebago.com.

Get out there! Kampgrounds of America, with 485 locations in North America, makes it easy to find camping resorts by destination, amenities and programming (www.KOA.com). We have a personal favorite: the Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA is a true camping resort, set along a creek (tubing, fishing) and close by the Erie Canal (cruises, biking), and most unique of all, a chance to mine for Herkimer diamonds! The Herkimer KOA offers unbelievably delightful themed cabins (would you believe a cabin with its own planetarium?), fabulous activities. Choose a cabin, cottage or RV or tent site. (Herkimer Diamond KOA, 4626 State Route 28, Herkimer, NY 13350, 315-891-7355, E-mail: hdmkoa@ntcnet.comwww.herkimerdiamond.com; mining info at 315-717-0175,diamonds@ntcnet.com.)

 

Stay in a Dude Ranch – One of the best family experiences is on a dude ranch. New York State actually has several of them, such as Pinegrove Ranch, in the Catskills, which has been delighting generations of families with its all-inclusive fun (meals, entertainment, activities and riding). Look for special deals for Fathers Day and throughout the summer Pinegrove Ranch, 30 Cherrytown Road, Kerhonkson N.Y. 12446, Ulster County, Reservations: 800-346-4626, email info@pinegroverach.comwww.pinegroveranch.com. Other nearby favorites: Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Highland, Hudson Valley, 845-691-2927, www.rockinghorseranch.comRidin’ Hy, an absolutely delightful guest ranch in the Adirondack State Park, near Lake George, Warrensburg, NY, Warrensburg, NY 12885, 518-494-2742, www.ridinhy.com.

 

Further afield, check out the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association members (www.coloradoranch.com, 866-942-3472), like the luxurious C Lazy U Ranch which since 1919 has provided highest level of personalized service, professional horsemanship programs, first-class amenities, enriching children’s programs, gourmet meals and upscale accommodations; or the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch, which opened in 1912 and considered the oldest continuously operating guest ranch in Colorado, is also ideally located just southwest of Rocky Mountain National Park and nestled in a peaceful valley along the Colorado River

Among our favorite grand, historic resorts for families (for facilities, activities programs, destination):

Basin Harbor Club, Vergennes, Vermont on 700 acres of Lake Champlain shoreline is about the best family-friendly luxury resort you can imagine with golf, hiking, biking, kayaking, cruises on Lake Champlain, fishing, watersports, tennis, outdoor pool children’s activities program (4800 Basin Harbor Road Vergennes, VT 05491 info@basinharbor.com, 800.622.4000 or 802.475.2311, www.basinharbor.com).

Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club, Lenox, Massachusetts

Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York

The Hotel Hershey®,Hershey, Pennsylvania

Skytop Lodge, Skytop, Pennsylvania

(See more at Historic Hotels of America, historichotels.org, 800-678—8946, www.historichotels.org/experiences/family-vacations.php)

Hilton Head Golf Island Announces Summer Family Golf Clinics, Camps and Foot Golf

 

Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ North American “Golf Destination of the Year” for 2016 – announces a slate of exciting and enjoyable family golf promotions for the summer.

 

The Heritage Golf Group is taking multi-generational golf to the next level at Port Royal and Shipyard Golf Clubs. Both offer “Family Golf” daily from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. featuring free rental clubs, nine holes ($30 adult, $15 junior), junior tees and a family-friendly pace of play. Kids eat free following rounds at Shipyard, while free ice cream is available for juniors at Port Royal. For reservations and more information, call 843-681-1750.

 

For family-focused game improvement, Shipyard and Port Royal host daily “Family Golf Clinics” at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Cost is $15 (juniors) and $20 (adults) and includes complimentary junior clubs (age 4 and up) and professional instruction. Full and half-day camps are also available for $199 and $99, respectively. For more information, call (843-686-3355).

 

Unique to the island, Port Royal is also rolling out “Family Foot Golf,” a golf-soccer hybrid in which each hole is assigned a “par” and players tee off using a soccer ball, strategically kicking it until they make it in the 21-inch cup. Available Thursday through Sunday starting at 3 p.m., nine-hole rates are $13 (adult), $11 (junior). Cart rental is $10 and balls are available for $3 (or bring your own). For reservations and more information, call (843-681-1766).

 

At Palmetto Dunes Resort, the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy features lessons and clinics for all ages and skill levels. “Little Swingers” is offered Monday through Wednesday from 5:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. for $25 (ages 3–7) at the Robert Trent Jones Course. The “Junior Morning and Afternoon Clinic” occurs Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m. for $25 (ages 6–18) at the Robert Trent Jones Course and focuses on different aspects of the game every class. For reservations and more information, call 843-785-1138.

 

With its Escape Vacation Package, The Sea Pines Resort treats juniors age 12 and under to complimentary golf on Heron Point by Pete Dye with each paid adult round. Additionally, junior golfers age 17 and under receive 50% off regular rates.

For additional information about rates, restrictions and other package inclusions, or to receive a quote: www.hiltonheadgolfisland.org, 800-523-3373.

Discovery Map Intl Introduces Family-Oriented Games, Quizzes, Instagram Sweepstakes

 

Just in time for vacation planning, Discovery Map International (DMI), creators of the colorful and functional cartoon-like maps found in more than 130 destinations, is offering families preparing for summer road trips helpful and engaging tools that include classic car games and fun quizzes.

The “Are We There Yet” Survival Guide, available at www.discoverymap.com/are-we-there-yet, is a walk down memory lane for moms and dads looking for ways to re-engage kids and reduce screen time.  Classic car games featured will stretch creativity, test memory skills and tap knowledge, such as “I Spy…,” “Twenty Questions,” “Going on a Picnic,” and the “License Plate Game” along with a geography quiz and pointers to help teach children how to read a map.

DMI is rolling out new maps over the summer to destinations that include Tacoma, WA, Albuquerque, NM, and Cave Creek and Carefree AZ, with its first map of New York City’s vibrant downtown slated for fall publication.

These new destinations will receive the same hand-drawn, cartoon-like treatment featured in more than 130 cities and towns.  Familiar to nearly 40 million users each year, DMI maps are found in participating hotels, restaurants, shops, activities and other local businesses.

Also new on the maps are designated “selfie spots,” ideal places for visitors to take selfies in front of iconic landmarks to share on social media. For a complete list of destinations, and to order a map in advance, visit www.discoverymap.com.

Instagram Sweepstakes Alert: Each month, Discovery Map is giving away a $100 gift card to one lucky Instagram user through March 2017. Travelers can enter the sweepstakes by posting an image, a destination shot or selfie, on Instagram from a Discovery Map location using the designated hashtag #discoverymap.  One winner is randomly drawn each month.  For rules and regulations visit www.discoverymap.com/instagram.

Triller App Lets You Turn Vacation Travel, Family Events into Music Video You Can Share

 

Here’s another way to keep kids engaged in their travel experience and for families to preserve priceless memories: turn a vacation trip into a professional-quality music video using a smart phone (iphone and android) and sharing on Instagram.

Trilleris the first of its kind, allowing users to create lip sync videos for their favorite songs with an editing algorithm that uses intelligent audio and facial analysis to decide when to cut.

You simply pick a song, select the portion of the song you want to use, shoot a few takes, and with the tap of a button you have produced your own celebrity-quality music video starring yourselves which you  can share instantly with friends and family right from inside the app.

Triller is the creation of award-winning music video director Colin Tilley, who directed  videos for Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo, Lil Wayne among others  and helped design Triller’s beautiful filters and its editing algorithm, and app developers David Leiberman and Sammy Rubin (creators of Mibblio®, the first interactive musical storybook, and the chart-topping Disney Frozen: Karaoke).

Not only is Triller easy to use, but it offers infinite creative possibilities with stylish filters, zooming capability, and even the power to tweak the video’s edit to the individual’s liking. Once users create their videos, they can either share publicly to social networks like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, share privately to their friends via text message or WhatsApp, or just save to their camera roll.

Triller is available for free on the App Store and GooglePlay. For more information, visit www.triller.co.

Follow Triller on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vine to stay up to date on new versions, featured videos and the latest contests.

 

____________________

© 2016 Travel Features Syndicate, a division of Workstyles, Inc. All rights reserved. Visit goingplacesfarandnear.comwww.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin,www.examiner.com/eclectic-traveler-in-long-island/karen-rubin, www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin  and travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/. Blogging at goingplacesnearandfar.wordpress.com and moralcompasstravel.info. Send comments or questions to FamTravLtr@aol.com. Tweet @TravelFeatures. ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Share this Article