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If you are just dipping into the family adventure travel scene, a few simple tricks can make sure you cruise through your trip.
• Get buy in » Ask your kids where they want to go, what they want to see and what they want to do. Feeling like they’re a part of the decision-making process will help keep them invested in the activities on trip.
CLARK FAMILY EN ROUTE. PHOTO: DAN CLARK.
• Travel less » Transitions are tough for all of us. The less packing and unpacking, buses, planes, trains and hotels, the easier it is on many kids. Staying in one spot can also immerse your family in the local community, which adds a whole new dimension to the travel experience.
trips in the Great Bear Rainforest and Galapagos Islands, to multi- week treks in the Himalayas. He notes that kids are much more a part of the adventure travel scene than they were just a decade ago—40 percent of his return cli- ents are families. Family adventure travel doesn’t
have to include far-off internation- al destinations or high-adrenaline activities to be beneficial. Accord- ing to McCutcheon, what parents are craving are real experiences with their kids. “People seem to be more busy
than ever, so spending quality, meaningful time with their kids has never been more important,” he says. “A wilderness experience is so much more authentic than a contrived resort vacation—no matter how fancy the pool.”
Dave Quinn recently returned from a fam- ily surf trip in Nicaragua with his wife and two kids, Tumelo, 5, and Mariha, 1. They went for the sun, but savored the slow pace of beach life and cultural immersion.
jDIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video diary from the Clark’s family biking adventure.
“CAN WE GO NOW? “ PHOTO: DAVE QUINN
• Avoid restaurants » What used to be a romantic evening out for two can easily become a fork- flinging, tantrum-filled nightmare. Cooking for your family is cheaper than eating out, creates a normalized sense of home and minimizes the risks of food-borne illness.
• Call the doctor » Health concerns can be a major stress when traveling with kids. Visit a pediatrician for advice on recommended medications and how to stock your first aid kit. Even where there is no risk of malaria, bring a small mosquito net to avoid sleepless, itchy kids covered in bug bites.
• Kid-friendly destinations » Everyone will have more fun if you are confident that your kids are safe, happy and healthy. Do research before you go to identify red flags—big riptides, stinging jellyfish and hordes of biting sandflies are red flags for me, but each family will have their own. —DQ
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