There seems to be a consensus among many parents that the minute you have kids, your life has to change completely. Now, on a day-to-day basis we wouldn’t argue with that – it’s funny how quickly you adjust to just 4 hours of sleep a night – but having kids doesn’t necessarily mean all your holidays from now on will involve a predictable line-up of theme parks and “family resorts”.
- Adventure Holidays for Familiesalles-schlumpf / Animals Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
If, prior to the the pitter-patter of tiny feet, you enjoyed sailing, skiing, hiking or kayaking, there are plenty of destinations that still cater to you now that you have children. We’ve selected 5 of the best, from around the world.
1) The Pyrenees (Spain)
Few regions in Europe offer as diverse a range of adventure activities for the family as the Pyrenees. In the winter months this mountain range, which forms the natural border between Spain and France, is home to some excellent ski resorts for beginners and intermediaries, while in the summer you can go hiking, kayaking, horse riding, canoeing, abseiling… the list goes on. It’s fairly easy to get around the Pyrenees, so you won’t need to restrict yourselves to one activity. Posets-Maladeta National Park is particularly great for climbing and mountaineering, while Noguerra Pallaressa is famous for its white water rapids. And if all this sounds a little hair-raising for those with children, don’t worry. Many of these locations offer excellent classes and beginners’ courses for first-timers.
2) Tour the Canyons (USA)
Particularly great for those with teenagers, many companies run tours around the canyons region of the American West, from southern Utah, via Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon itself. But a trip around this stunning, cinematic landscape isn’t just about sightseeing and taking pictures! There are some excellent hiking trails through Zion National Park, and a river rafting trip down the Colorado River is the experience of a lifetime. Few holiday destinations on the planet – let alone in North America – give you a taste of the pioneering spirit as much as an adventure tour around the west.
3) Akdeniz Bolgesi (Turkey)
These days many in Europe (and particularly the UK) think of Turkey only as a destination for beach holidays, and most visitors to the country – which straddles Europe and Asia – stick mainly to the popular resorts in Dalaman and Bodrum, but a trip to Turkey doesn’t have to involve getting stuck in the tourist trap. A tour of southern Turkey’s Akdeniz Bolgesi (literally ‘Meditteranean Region’) will allow you to take in the sights of Ancient Turkey, dating back beyond the days of the Ottoman Empire to Byzantium and Rome. But if you’re not a culture vulture, worry not! Resorts such as Kaş also offer water sports, pony trekking and hiking activities for all the family.
4) Tour the Zulu Regions (South Africa)
After getting off to something of a slow start in the post-Apartheid years, tourism in South Africa is really beginning to take off. A number of operators run tours through the Zulu regions of South Africa that cater specifically to families with children of 6 and over. Activities include safari tours, water sports, visiting crocodile farms (note: these last two aren’t combined!), and experiencing Zulu culture first hand. It’s a unique experience your family will never forget!
5) New Zealand (er… New Zealand)
When it comes to adventure holidays, New Zealand pretty much covers all the bases (hence why we struggled to narrow it down to a single location or activity!) Plus, if you’re travelling there from Europe or North America, chances are you won’t want to stick to a single location. Auckland (the largest city in NZ) offers whale and dolphin safari tours, while in Pauanui and Tairua you can go sea kayaking. Queenstown is known as the “Adventure Capital of the World”, and with good reason, being the home of both first class ski resorts and excellent water sports, mountain climbing and hiking facilities that cater excellently to younger visitors.
Author Bio
David Llewellyn writes about outdoor activities and adventure holidays for Life Is Good.
