Bucket List Travel – Family Vacation Edition

Who says your bucket list travel experience has to wait until the kids are grown and out the house?  There are many exotic destinations and bucket list travel experiences that offer the perfect blend of family and adult activities.  Take a look at a few of our family friendly bucket list destinations.

Alaska Expedition Cruises– Get up close and personal with America’s natural havens by breaching whales, foraging bears and calving glaciers throughout the Inside Passage. The expedition begins with a cruise which lasts months then progresses to a road trip along the Kenai Peninsula’s Seward Highway. When you reach Homer, the “halibut fishing capital of the world,” parents can let the children go out and catch their own dinner. Along the way you’ll find several eye catchers such as the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward and Exit Glacier, one of several active ice flows you can hike on in the state.

Galapagos Islands Step into the shoes of Charles Darwin and let your tiny tots embark on a visual journey across a historical landscape. Lodging in the islands was limited to staying on a boat or on local hotels but the recent boom in tourism has allowed the industry to invest in better hotels making it a better experience for families.

Lucia:- Renowned for its Kids Sea Camp which hosts scuba diving certifications for children, four-year-olds can get in the water for the Professional Association of Scuba Instructors’ (PADI) sanctioned training program. The family travel association further incorporates such bonding activities between parents and children. In between dives, guests can hike through an 18th-century ruin of an old sugar plantation or take a ride on a mountain bike through the rain forest.

 

THE BRANDO(TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA:- A tropical sun kissed destination with vibrant culture and a diverse wildlife, there’s more than what meets the eye at The Brando. What might seem like an average sandy beach actually serves as a spot for a list of family activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, beach-combing, nature walking, local Polynesian dancing, and much more. Plus, The Brando’s Lagoon School offers child-friendly versions of whale-watching tours, deep-sea fishing excursions, and other experiences tailored to the lodge’s youngest visitors.

NIMMO BAY WILDERNESS RESORT(BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) Because of Nimmo Bay’s intimate size, it is perfect for large families who would like to rent the entire resort as well as smaller families looking for a quiet place to connect. An ideal location for American families who wish to experience a thrilling aspect of nature without leaving the continent. Activities include fishing, rafting, whale watching, kayaking, and helicopter rides that are complemented by lively family-style meals, bonfires and music in the evenings.

 

TSWALU KALAHARIKALAHARI, SOUTH AFRICA:-Tswalu is surrounded by storybook wildlife that would thrill a traveler of any age. It is a hands-down awe-inspiring experience to watch lions, zebras, and giraffes at home in their natural habitats. Nevertheless, kids and adults may experience this wonder differently. Tswalu caters to those differences through a number of kid-focused activities with guides like animal tracking, picnics, children’s bush walks, horseback rides, and more.

 

BANYAN TREE RINGHA(SHANGRI-LA, CHINA):-Banyan Tree Ringha is a niche Tibetan village filled with fascinating cultural encounters bound to make the trip a rich exchange of cross country relations. Take a walk through the village lanes to encounter yaks, horses, and other livestock, and stop in for a visit with a local family. Hike to a Buddhist temple right near the lodge or take an excursion to nearby villages where kids can try their hand at traditional crafts.

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK(WESTERN MONTANA WILDERNESS, UNITED STATES):- Home to the famous Grizzlies Kids Club, which offers hands-on discovery activities, arts and crafts, and pony rides for kids while parents relax or explore on their own, the ranch is a must visit location for families who want to keep the fun alive even with their kids in presence. Accommodations are designed to fit families of all sizes, and trail adventures, winter sports, and ropes courses are great fun for the whole family to try together.

ASHFORD CASTLE(MAYO, IRELAND):- Picture this, a spooky old castle built on green pastures with the hurtling sounds of the sea nearby. Ashford Castle is one such destination that might seem scary from the outside but is a ton of fun. From horseback riding, zip-lining, and falconry to discovering secret passageways and earning a “Wolfhound’s Badge,” kids have plenty to keep them entertained. The Dungeon restaurant offers kid-friendly dishes in an informal atmosphere and there’s even a tea time ritual designed specifically with kids in mind.

 

WESTERN GHATS, INDIA:- Dive into the breathtaking topography of India’s most visited plains and plateaus interlocked between a beautiful stretch of deserts, forests, villages, lakes and ponds. Families should definitely visit the Sabramati Lake, learning about the historic salt making process or head up north to the deserts of Rajasthan, tumbling away in the dunes and living among the local Bedouins