While we aren’t big on setting new year’s resolutions here at Take a Break Vacations, we do love the idea of creating a yearly bucket list; you know, one big list of all the cool things you’d like to get accomplished this year. We like bucket lists because they help you set a vision for the year without the sense of pressure (and impending failure) that resolutions create. After all, a bucket list is what you’d LIKE to accomplish, not a big list of things you need to “fix” about yourself.
In that vein, we thought January would be a great time to share some travel bucket lists–suggestions and inspiration for trips you might want to add to your list of dream experiences for 2012. Today’s list focuses on two of the best family-oriented adventure tours we’ve discovered. These are the once-in-a-life time memory making vacations that even your cynical teen will be bragging about!
Thomson Family Adventures Galapagos Multi-Sport Adventure
Have a budding biologist or botanist in your family? What about an adrenaline junkie or intrepid explorer? Naturalist, scientist, or adventurer, the Thomson Family Adventures multi-sport tour of the Galapagos Islands is sure to please. Situated along the Equator in the Pacific, the Galapagos Islands are home to some of the world’s most unique animal and plant populations, and are famous for their role in inspiring Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The eight day Thomson Family Adventures tour offers your family the opportunity to experience the Galapagos in a way few tourists ever do–up close and personal, as you hike, snorkel, swim, kayak, and camp your way through this World Heritage Preserve site.
Click for video clip of a recent Thomson Family Adventures Galapagos Islands Multi-Sport Tour
We love this tour for a few reasons:
- Action, action, and more action– Tricia and I both have sensory seeking children who don’t like to sit still, plus I have one of those teens who finds everything so “booooring” so out-of-the-ordinary activities like orienteering are perfect for keeping everyone engaged.
- There’s planned community service included. Sustainable travel includes giving back to the communities we visit, and teaching our children these values by volunteering together is something we strongly support.
- Thomson Family Adventures has been dedicated to organizing family specific tours for the past 13 years. That means these aren’t “adult” tours with a couple of kitschy kids “activities” thrown in. We trust parents to understand what makes a family activity worthwhile (and they do… they even manage to make their trips “educational” without the kids realizing it!). Family specific tours means you’re also traveling with other families; no single adults giving you snarky looks because your kids ask a million questions (that’s not just mine, right?)
- All Inclusive… easy to budget for with no last minute surprises and travel insurance included so you’re protected if “Life” happens.
Austin-Lehman South African Safari
Horseback Riding Austin-Lehman Adventure's South African Safari
I love nature and I love being physically active, but I don’t love the idea of camping out. Although I WILL rough it rather than miss out on a great trip, in truth, I don’t really believe the words “sleeping bag” should be used in the same sentence as vacation, no matter how much Tricia tries to convince me otherwise. That’s why Austin-Lehman’s family-friendly South African Safari is right up my alley– adventure with the comforts of a real bed!
While other safari tours consist of you riding hours on end in a safari vehicle–something that is too sedate for my hyper children, regardless of how many exciting animals we’d see– Austin-Lehman’s tour gives you the opportunity to go cycling, kayaking, horse back riding, and bush walking throughout South Africa. Just the kind of active vacation my gang thrives on! The eleven day tour takes you from Cape Town to the Sabi Sabi private reserve, with stops in Stellenbosch (wine country) and Johannesberg, as well as visits to Cake’s Point Nature Reserve, Table Mountain, Grootbos Nature Reserve, and Kruger National Park.
Reasons we love this tour:
- Interesting mix of activities, with something catering to the interests and abilities of everyone in the family.
- Offers a wonderful alternative to the typical family cruise vacation/reunion/destination wedding option.
- Consistently receive excellent feedback about their services and willingness to make sure your family has an amazing experience.
Interested in learning more about either of these tours? Email me or Tricia for details on the itineraries, tour dates, and to discuss scheduling.
- Shauntelle
Want to Save on Luxury Travel?
Passionate About Travel? Join our community!
