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Have you crafted travel plans for the year ahead? Here are five ideas to consider.
Celebrate snow in Montana
For big views and expansive terrain, sample a snowy getaway in Big Sky, a family-friendly vacation destination. The Montana resort features 5,850 acres of skiable terrain, with 23% dedicated to beginners, There are lessons for every age group with dedicated learning areas as well as challenging expert runs for those looking for an adrenaline push. Kids under 6 ski for $1 a day plus a $5 ski card fee. You’ll also want to plan for zip-lining, tubing or a sleigh ride. At Base Camp ask about gemstone mining, the climbing wall or the bungee trampoline experience. For a top-notch adventure, consider a snowmobile tour inside nearby Yellowstone National Park. New this year is Kircliff. It’s a marvel of modern architecture and engineering, making it possible for pedestrians and skiers alike to experience views that span three states, two national parks and multiple mountain ranges. Guests begin at the base of the resort, entering the new Explorer Gondola, before connecting directly to the Lone Peak Tram. Inside Kircliff, at more than 11,000 feet, visitors are surrounded by unobstructed 360-degree views. Guests can look down and through a transparent glass floor that creates the sensation of floating above Big Sky’s legendary extreme terrain.
For more: www.bigskyresort.com
Mark the milestone moments
Geographic spread, busy careers and school and sports schedules make it more difficult than ever to spend time with the family and friends you care about. Therefore, planning ahead to celebrate birthdays, graduations, retirements and anniversaries can be an important touchstone and meaningful part of a family’s legacy. With plenty of advance notice, you’ll increase the odds that more family members will be able to take part in the fun. Ask your clan to save a date and then get to work creating a gathering that will be a lasting memory for all. Choose a resort, rent a beach house or a mountain cabin. Consider a cruise, a camping adventure or a ranch vacation. Then, relish the special time together.
Craft a grand adventure
Is this the year to embark on that epic adventure you’ve talked about for years. There are plenty of boundary-pushing vacations that will intrigue families of various sizes, interests and bank accounts. Will you make your way into the Amazon? How about a hut-to-hut hike in Colorado or Switzerland? Will you raft the waters of the mighty Colorado through the grandest canyon of them all or paddle through the Boundary Waters of Minnesota? Or, consider snorkeling or diving in Palau, the Maldives or the Galapagos Islands? How about fishing for trout in Wyoming or tracking the Big Five on an African safari? Whether you sail, ski or sample culinary delights, the opportunities to make memories with your family are many. The choice is yours in the year ahead!
Consider a family sabbatical
Overwhelmed? Tired? Ready for a reboot? Give yourselves permission to take a long holiday away from the pressures of family life and the world as you know it. While it may take some time to lighten your economic load, (cancel subscriptions or rent your house?) and plan for such an adventure, the benefits of an extended time away with your family can pay lifelong dividends. You’ll discover the joys of relaxed afternoons at the beach, evenings around a game table or hiking on a new trail. Your children will benefit from the rare and valuable lessons learned while exploring new cultures, listening to and then learning an unfamiliar language and forging a new path. Whether your sabbatical lasts for weeks, months or a year, you’re likely to return revitalized and with a fresh perspective.
Go far. Stay Close
There is plenty of research to support the benefits of introducing children to new experiences and cultures apart from their own. When time and money are in short supply, open their eyes and hearts through books and movies that offer a window onto unfamiliar places. Consider an around-the-world tour powered by the written word or the visual splendor available on a large or small screen. Mix old classics (think “Heidi” in the Swiss Alps) with modern documentaries. Blend animated features, like “The Lion King” with epic films like “Out of Africa.” See a bit of the Big Apple through the eyes of “Eloise.” In no time, those places on the map will come to life and inspire future trips, all without leaving home. Add a culinary twist for extra international flare.
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