Quality family time with bonding experiences…the burgeoning travel trend. I remember when I was a child, this meant sitting in the back seat of a car for long periods of time, and then sitting in a relative’s living room while the adults talked. Thank heavens, my parents were also up for adventures which became the highlight of our family vacations.
Now there are resorts, tours, cruises and travel services which cater to all ages. Many tour operators now offer educational experiences (without calling it school) with tours to local historic and cultural sites. Eco-tours and children’s programs have come a long way. Immersion and experiential activities, such as making pizza in an authentic Italian kitchen, a painting class in a world renowned gallery, or ghost walks in a haunted village bring life to the world around us.
As a former single parent, I longed for vacations with my son where I didn’t have to be the coordinator of all activities. Imagine doing an archeological dig for dinosaur bones right here in Canada or star-gazing the midnight sky through one of the world’s largest telescopes in Arizona!
Cruise companies are offering a wider range of activities for families, with Disney leading the way. Their cruises have something for everyone and they certainly know how to entertain. Disney has partnered with AmaWaterways to offer exclusive family river cruising with all the amenities and comforts. Royal Caribbean Cruises has always appealed to the adventurous clientele and its sister company Celebrity Cruises is upping its appeal for family experiences.
Tauck Tours has an amazing program called Bridges, which is, as the name implies, activities which bridge generations.
Travelling in and of itself is an education, even if it means playing with a kite on a beach with your grandchildren – hours of fun! When was the last time you played as a family…and I’m not talking video games? It’s time to build memories that last a lifetime!