How to Find the Right Family Adventure Vacation

Guest post by Peter Smith

Planning a solo adventure holiday is one thing. Once you involve your entire family, things can get a little sticky. By doing a little research on possible stops beforehand, you can plan the perfect trip for your family.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, a natural wonder cut by the Colorado River in Arizona, is a good destination for a family trip. You can take a rafting trip down the Colorado River and enjoy the sights in the Grand Canyon National Park. Other activities in the area include horseback riding, mountain biking and helicopter rides over the canyon. Rafting activities do have age requirements, so check with the operator if you have younger children in your family.

If you decide to go to the Grand Canyon, consider a helicopter tour in addition to any sightseeing and hiking you do with your family. Since some areas are not accessible on foot safely, taking a tour by air allows you to see some of the more untouched areas of the canyon as part of your family adventure holiday.

Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies and the surrounding areas offer plenty of family adventure activities. You can take your pick of various trails throughout the Rockies, as the paths have differing levels of difficulty. Whether you’re a novice hiker or experienced, you’ll be able to find a trail that accommodates you and your family.

Both Banff National Park and Yoho National Park have natural features to explore and a variety of wildlife for animal lovers. If you want to see something different, there’s also the hot springs of the Sulphur Mountain area and waterfalls in the Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Costa Rica

Located in Central America, Costa Rica is a popular spot for both single and family travelers. Its main city, San Jose, offers a variety of family friendly activities, including museum tours, beaches and restaurants. You’ll find coffee plantations that offer tours and plenty of coffee shops in the country as well.

Tortuguero National Park, in the Limon province, is a place you shouldn’t miss if you visit Costa Rica. The park has eleven different habitats, including swamps, a rainforest and a lagoon. The wildlife is diverse, with sea turtles and other marine life. Since the park is protected, many areas are untouched except for traces left behind by visitors.

Arenal Volcano National Park is another unique destination in Costa Rica. Located in the country’s central section, the park has distinct geographical features due to the Arenal Volcano. The park’s second volcano, Chato, has a lagoon in its crater, but it has been inactive for more than three thousand years. The park offers guided tours and outdoor activities, including mountain biking, rafting and canopy tours. You can take advantage of rafting classes if you or your family has never been on a raft before.

Don’t forget to hold a family vote if you’re stuck between multiple destinations and can’t make every stop with the time you have available. By involving your family in the planning, you can ensure everyone’s voice is heard. If your entire family feels like their opinions were taken into consideration, you’ll depart with a great atmosphere for your trip.

Peter Smith writes regularly on family adventure holidays for a range of travel websites and blogs. He’s an experienced traveler with a family of his own.