5 thrilling family vacations
Big Five Tours & Expeditions are specifically created for ages 5 to 11 and designed to offer real-world experiences in destinations such as Ecuador, seen in this photo taken at Hacienda Zuleta, Costa Rica and Kenya. Credit: Hacienda Zuleta, Ecuador
Traveling solo with your kids? Here are five ways to bond while carving out time for yourself, too.
1 GO ALL-INCLUSIVE Check into the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, one of two all-inclusive properties recently introduced by a brand well-known as an early adopter of family-friendly practices. Relax by the pool, stroll on the beach, take a kayak tour, balance on a paddle board or hike to a waterfall while the kids enjoy a sandy play area or camp adventures. For a special treat, sample a spa treatment inspired by local ingredients.
INFO nwsdy.li/hyattziva
2 RETREAT UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN Get to know all things Italian in the heart of Tuscany at the luxury villas Podere Bianco and La Capitana. You and your children can learn to cook, swim and speak Italian. Then enjoy a yoga class or wine tasting in the restored 18th-century farmhouse while your youngster plays nearby. Later, visit a quaint village together for a museum stop or shopping.
3 RAFT A RIVER Instead of being tethered to technology, try splashing through rapids, hiking side canyons, ogling Native American rock paintings, discovering pioneer homesteads and stargazing. As you wind through the 8,000-foot-deep Hell's Canyon on Idaho's Snake River, you'll be carving a lasting memory. Mention the Solo Parent trip for a $100 discount for each child younger than 16.
INFO nwsdy.li/hellscanyonrafting
4 EMBARK ON A PRECIOUS JOURNEY Join Big Five Tours & Expeditions for a family travel adventure. Specifically created for ages 5 to 11, the journeys are designed to offer real-world experiences in destinations such as Ecuador, Costa Rica and Kenya. Expect itineraries that offer breathtaking landscapes as well as activities to inspire young travelers and spark interest in future careers as a volcanologist, naturalist or archaeologist.
INFO bigfive.com
5 RELAX ON A RANCH Take the kids to 4UR Ranch, a family-owned, 22-room guest ranch in Creede, Colorado, and go exploring together or choose the children's program in which youngsters learn natural horsemanship, fly fishing, archery and mountain hiking. Added incentive: Two children may enjoy the ranch experience for the price of one during the week of June 6.
INFO 4urranch.com
