Introduce the kids to adventure travel

ByDrew Miller

After the snow melts and my household fights its way through what we affectionately refer to as “mud season,” we turn our attention to summer adventures. And when I say adventures, I use the term stringently. In past years, I’ve delighted in bungee jumping in New Zealand, rafting Class V rapids in Colorado and heli-hiking the Coast range in British Columbia. Then … magnificent for us, but disastrous for our adventure wish-list, our daughter was born. My wife and I assumed that the adventure travel agenda would need to be placed on the shelf until our child grew up. As much as I was looking forward to raising a child, I was secretly a little sad about halting our plans for the sailing trip on the Dalmatian Coast and summer skiing in Portillo, Chile.

I am happy to report that with a daughter the age of 4, we have already sampled more adventure with her than I thought possible. Admittedly, it’s important to broaden your definition of the term adventure. There are many parents who see any trip outside of their comfort zone as adventurous, and rightly so. But seeing the world though the eyes of my daughter is my biggest adventure of all so far. It’s truly amazing to watch the world grow in front of her eyes every time we step out of our suburban town. So far, we’ve tasked ourselves with activities that are fairly low on the adrenaline scale. It’s important to remember what will grow on the foundations that we are having fun laying today. We have spent days and nights introducing our daughter to tent camping, skiing and hiking in the hopes that she becomes keen on advancing her skills while growing an appreciation for the great outdoors and adventure.

Mexico

Another adventure we’ve had is spending days at Xcaret Ecological Park, outside of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A short drive from the massive hotel zone in Cancun lies a refuge for the all-inclusive weary, Xcaret (pronounced eesh-car-et). The park is chock-full of fun exhibits including local flora and fauna, archaeological vestiges, a replica of a Mayan village and even afantastic cultural show that is easily worth the price of admission. However, where the park truly shines is in its water activities. In addition to a wonderful beach, Xcaret features a fantastic “Swim with the Dolphins program” called Delphinus. It’s a truly touching experience to spend time swimming with and interacting with the dolphins. They offer two options based on your child’s size and swimming ability. Stronger swimmers who are taller then 3’6″ are welcome to participate in the full program, which includes lots of water-time with trained dolphins featuring jumps, a hug and close-up view of a “bar jump.” If your child is smaller than the required minimum, you can accompany them on the Fun Kids program, which allows you to experience a less involved version of the program.

Xcaret also has two underground rivers, which are great and safe places for your child to learn the basics of snorkeling. They even have the “Sea Trek” which allows people 8 and up to experience the thrill of scuba diving, while not even having to know how to swim. You get a special helmet that allows you to breathe normally while you literally walk across the ocean floor (15 feet under water). These types of activities can lead your little one to be interested in snorkel and scuba trips and you may be parenting the next Jacques Cousteau!

Disney World

There is no shortage of places where you can bring out your child’s inner cowgirl (or boy) with a pony ride. Last fall on a Walt Disney World vacation, we took time to visit the Fort Wilderness campground’s pony arena. After making a few loops around the trail on Scout, our daughter’s interest in horses was piqued, paving the way for a full-blown dude ranch adventure planned for next summer. Look for other resorts in tourist havens like the Adirondacks, Wisconsin Dells and virtually any ski resort open in the summer to give your child this taste of the old West.

You can also introduce your child to two other great activities that can lead to high adventure at Fort Wilderness, canoeing and fishing. Spend a little time with your kids paddling among the trees and birds, fishing Bay Lake and you could soon find yourself planning your next whitewater rafting trip or fly fishing trip. Kids starting at age 5 and weighing as little as 50 pounds can raft the Clear Creek Canyon, just 30 minutes from Denver, and there are literally hundreds of great options for flyfishing tours out West if you find the call of the river too loud to be ignored. Building up some experience with boats and fishing can also lead to your child getting interested in deep-sea fishing.

A day on a fishing charter with your family can be extremely exciting, especially when catching lively billfish like marlin and sailfish, or the beautiful mahi mahi. Children as young as three may have a blast out on the ocean. Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and encourage the children to nap on the way out to the trolling area, so they will be sure to have plenty of energy for the main event!

Of course, you know you children best and you don’t want to force the action too soon. However, you’ll be surprised by what the little ones can handle if you mentally prepare them for what they are going to see and experience. Planning ahead can always help ensure a smooth experience. If you’re headed on a particular family adventure for the first time, ask friends with kids who’ve already been there about what to look out for. If you don’t know anyone with experience, call someone in the destination for advice — the concierge or front desk staff at the hotel, can be a gold mine for child-prep info. Everyone loves to talk about their kids and their hobbies, so if you ask around, you’ll find advice easy to come by in most destinations. Most importantly, just get out there and have fun!(But be prepared to start small.)

Related Orbitz resources:

• Family travel
• Adventure travel
• Mexico vacation

When he’s not at the Orbitz office, Drew Miller is an attentive dad, avid skiier, and globe-trotting traveler.

Tagged: Mexico