Kerrick James/Glacier Bay Tours and Cruises National Geographic Guide to Family Adventure Vacations: Wildlife Encounters, Cultural Explorations, and Learning Escapes in the U.S. and Canada
by Candyce H. Stapen, National Geographic, 2000
Families crave a new kind of travel – a form of shared discovery that values insight over sights. That’s why wildlife encounters, cultural explorations, and learning escapers have become so popular with families. In addition to trips designed for parents and young children, there are trips for families with grade-schoolers, teenagers, and adult children. (Recommended age ranges accompany the write-ups.) Packed with 327 entries, the book showcases a wide range of family adventures for day trips, overnights, and extended explorations.
“Award-winning travel writer Stapen is the author of eight previous travel books, including 50 Great Family Vacations and Cruise Vacations with Kids. Organized by region in the United States and Canada, her new book offers 327 top family recreational ideas that also have educational value – a refreshing change from the usual tourist attractions. Experiences range from dogsledding in Minnesota to a wildlife safari in Texas to gold panning in Canada’s Yukon territory, and many of the sites are recommended for children over eight years old. Stapen warns about weather hazards, discusses the strain of various adventures and the appropriate attire, and provides name and phone numbers of tours and lodging.” – Library Journal
“…offers parents the information and inspiration they need to turn their next family outing into an enlightening expedition (that is utterly fun, too).” FamilyFun magazine
From Readers
***** Amazon Review
This guide was a wonderful breath of fresh air. As parents of a 14 yr old we were really tired of the same old vacations and really had no idea that exploring North America could be so interesting. Our family used this book as a guide on a recent trip to Montana and South Dakota. It was a terrific trip – from the Blackfeet tours to Little Big Horn to Lakota Pony Rides, we truly had a unique experience. Ms. Stapen’s guide helped us navigate and explore the most interesting sites these states had to offer. The guide was very informative, especially pointing out those places that are “kid friendly”. The book was even helpful in pointing out certain tours not especially suited for kids – ie the tour at little Bighorn. While this did not stop us from going on the tour, it did prepare us for the “are we finished yet” complaints of our 14 yr. old. I highly recommend this guide for anyone considering vacationing anywhere in the U.S. From the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast and throughout Canada, this book will help you if you are truly looking for a different type of vacation. I urge anyone to consult this guide – it will open up a whole new world!
