Beyond Disneyland: Holidays for More Adventurous Families

An adventure travel column by Joyce Hill,
Travel Manager, Macleod Trail Centre
Phone: 299-4383

If you're thinking of a family vacation, but want to see more than a theme park, or do more than sit on a beach, adventure tours are a wonderful alternative. Adventure tours aren't just for adults anymore. Many tour operators have family packages and tours especially suited for families with children as young as six years old.

They've adapted their small-group, "grown up" adventures to families by making all the right adjustments: shorter travelling times, more hotels with pools, more than one night at any one place and child-friendly tour leaders. Along the way, they've managed to maintain the authenticity and adventurous character of their holidays.

Is adventure travel a good fit for your family? Ask yourself a few questions. Is your family active? Do you like activities like hiking, cycling and watersports? Are you excited about discovering people, places and animals that are different from what we have at home? Do you enjoy making friends? Would you enjoy travelling with a small group of like-minded families? Do you believe in preserving the environment and respecting the world's distinct cultures? Do you believe first-hand experience is a great way to learn about other countries and cultures?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, you're in luck. There are twice as many family adventure travel packages to choose from in 2006. All itineraries are fun, active, and carefully planned so you get the right balance of rest and play without being exhausted - or bored! They ensure that everyone gets optimal enjoyment from each destination, rather than just passing it on a coach. Itineraries encourage interaction with local people, and ensure that you see a country's out-of-the-way places along with its more popular tourist attractions.

For many, hands-on learning is a key feature. You have an opportunity to bring Ancient Egypt to life as you ride a donkey to the Valley of the Kings. Walk in the footsteps of the kings and queens of Europe while exploring the chateaux of France. Spend the night with a family in the Mekong Delta. Learn about the conservation efforts in the Panda Sanctuaries in China, or at the Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka . . .

If this sounds like your kind of family vacation, read on. The following is just one example one of the many holiday packages tailored to families. Your Calgary Co-op Travel consultant has all the details.

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