Family vacations give gifts of experience
This year, give the gift of experiences that will create lasting memories. Here are five ideas to consider:
Island lovers
If you’ve ever dreamed of heading to a hideaway where white-sand beaches stretch for miles and your worries dissolve in ocean breezes, then this coral island is for you. The only resort on a small spit of land in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Four Seasons Desroches Island in the Seychelles pairs warm service and topnotch cuisine with a pristine natural environment. Stay in villas, suites or expansive residences, each with private pools and beach access. Ride bikes to the Island Conservation Society’s Giant Tortoise Sanctuary before stopping on a private stretch of beach for a picnic. Explore your choice of 14 world-class dive sites or soak up the sun in a kayak. Youngsters can explore with the Kids for All Seasons crew while adults spend the day deep-sea fishing or relaxing in the open-air spa.
Contact: www. fourseasons.com/ seychellesdesroches
National park lovers
Visit Death Valley National Park for untamed adventure, stunning landscapes and sunny days. After a multimillion dollar revitalization, the Oasis at Death Valley is your perfect base camp for hiking, biking and exploring the expansive park. Consider the Inn at Death Valley, an elegant hideaway where new casitas provide privacy and luxury within easy walking distance of the Hollywood-style, springfed pool. The Ranch at Death Valley offers a more casual, family-friendly setting with a children’s playground, expansive lawns and fire pits, as well as a spring-fed pool. Families are welcomed in a new Mission Californiastyle Town Square where they can gather, shop or visit the Last Kind Words Saloon, a signature dining and entertainment venue.
Contact: www.oasisat deathvalley.com Bird lovers
Visit southern Arizona to see as many as 250 bird species including more than 15 kinds of colorful hummingbirds, the elegant trogon and a painted redstart. Make your way to Muleshoe Ranch Cooperative Area, a 49,000-acre conservation region that's rich with winged wildlife thanks to careful preservation of the fragile ecosystem. Each January, the Wings Over Wilcox (WOW) festival celebrates the sandhill cranes that migrate to the area.
Contact: www.southern arizonaguide.com; www. natureconservancy.com; www.visitarizona.com
Horse lovers
Consider a ranch vacation, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about horsemanship in an authentic and scenic setting. Opt to ride in open meadows, on mountain trails or in the desert Southwest. Will your family members choose to participate in a real cattle drive? Are you up for a horseback pack trip into the backcountry? Or will you be happy to relax during daily trail rides? The options are yours at working dude ranches and guest ranches across the country.
Contact: www.duderanch. org; www.top50ranches. com
Snow lovers
For those who relish the white stuff, the gift of travel to Colorado Ski Country will be a highaltitude hit. At more than 21 resorts throughout the state, kids can ski for free. For example, kids under 5 always ski free at Arapahoe, Aspen Snowmass and Loveland. Steamboat's Kids Ski Free and Grandkids Ski Free programs enable children 12 and younger to ski free the same number of days as their parent or grandparent with the purchase of a five-or-more day adult lift ticket. Aspen Snowmass offers free lift tickets with an equipment rental from Four Mountain Sports for children between the ages of 7 and 12. Various other resorts offer lift-ticket deals as well as lodging, lesson and gear discounts.
Contact: www.colorado ski.com