April 22, 2016
Taking that trip of a lifetime - safely
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What is a travel loving parent supposed to do?
There is a U.S. Department of State travel alert for Europe through June 20. Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants and transportation, the State Department warns. The New York Times reports that Britain, Germany and Italy are high on the list of targets.
Meanwhile, Zika Virus has now spread across the Caribbean and into popular Central American destinations like Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico, not to mention Brazil, where the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio this summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns pregnant women, and those trying to become pregnant, about travel to Zika-affected areas. The virus, transmitted primarily through infected Aedes mosquitoes, has been shown to cause devastating birth defects. So far, there are no long term effects for children or others who contract the virus. And there is also no vaccine.
Many families are opting to stay closer to home. Others, lured by the strong U.S. dollar and affordable airfares to many places (or expiring frequent flier miles) are electing to travel out of the country anyway, looking for memorable adventures. Here are six wonderful options:
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| | Bike tour around Lake Garda in Italy |
- Opt for a kid-friendly bike tour where all of the details are handled by other people. You'll certainly get away from the crowds. Here's what I wrote about biking in the Lake Garda region of Italy with Austin Adventures, which offers special family itineraries in Germany and Holland. Other companies like Backroads offer family bike tours in Europe and elsewhere; How about a Hawaii family bike tour or one in Portugal.
- Go hiking in the Alps, perhaps staying in rustic mountain chalets or huts. Tirol, Austria, offers lots of opportunity and spectacular scenery. The American company Alpenwild puts together many family trips for as little as $1000 per person for a week.
- Consider Chile - I've had amazing experiences in Patagonia and the Atacama desert where we stayed at Tierra Atacama where kids up to 17 are free right now and the $690 per night rate includes all accommodations, meals, amazing excursions and transfers. There is also a kids' free deal at Tierra Atacama and Casa Club Patagonia invites two children up to 18 to stay free.
- Explore the land of Fire and Ice in Iceland-waterfalls, floating icebergs and some of Europe's largest glaciers as well as affordable airfare. Boundless Journeys is among the companies that offer organized trips.
- Scotland is a way to get away from the crowds but soak up plenty of history -you have more than 2000 castles to choose from! Hike or bike for miles on country roads. Kayak and explore tide pools along the Coast. Maybe even spend a night or two in a castle! Here's what I wrote about our stay at famous Gleneagles Resort that is as much about families as golf these days.
- Canada is close and your dollar is worth $1.29 there which may make a stay at a wilderness lodge more affordable. Consider a sea kayak adventure at God's Picket Resort or Orca Basecamp in Johnston Strait from Row Adventures, for example. Wilderness North runs a network of fly-in fishing lodges in the Northern Ontario wilderness that attract a lot of families.
Got your passports?
Find out what local and visiting kids have to say about nine great American travel destinations through our Kids' Guides Series from Globe Pequot Press.
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