Sample Family Adventures
EUROPE
Italy By Rail - A Family Adventure
10 Days
Explore Italy’s three greatest cities — Rome, Florence and Venice — on this fun family trip. You’ll understand why the Eternal City was a place that once ruled the western world as you visit its magnificent monuments, charming piazzas, and ancient sites. Florence is filled with art and history — this is the place for kids to begin - or deepen - their understanding of the Renaissance. Venice is everyone’s favorite - its palaces and art fill every square and street, line every canal. Throughout this Italian journey families also step into the lives of local people and experience Italian life up close. In Rome, we’ll don aprons and learn to make fresh pasta and sauces in a local cook’s kitchen. We’ll go behind-the-scenes in Florence and spend a day with talented artisans and learn about their time-honored crafts of marbleized paper and bookbinding. We discover the hidden Venice on a walking tour from San Marco Square to the Rialto Bridge, strolling along the narrow streets alongside canals and through residential neighborhoods. We’ll see some of Venice’s fine art that is not in the traditionally visited museums and churches and even visit a workshop to see the vibrantly painted masks being readied for Carnivale. Families will also experience the romance of the rails on this trip; travel between the cities is by the First Class “Eurostar Italia” train.
London Family Adventure
8 Days
London— where fiction and history have combined to make this charming city a legend in itself. The royal family, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, and Winston Churchill — all of these have earned London its place in our imaginations as well as on the map. But London is no dry and dusty page out of history, nor do you have to be an adult or Anglophile to love this place; London is an exciting and engaging destination for kids, too! The London Family Adventure is an ideal balance of exciting history, hands-on activities, active diversions and just plain fun.
You’ll ride the train or a river boat on the Thames, to Hampton Court Palace and explore the palace in the company of two guides in period costume, relax during a refreshing and traditional afternoon tea at a beautiful restaurant on the banks of the Thames and enjoy storytelling-on-the-go during two private, custom London walks. On a trip to Shakespeare’s Globe you’ll participate in a lively workshop with one of the company actors; at the London Brass Rubbing Centre travelers make a rubbing of an historic brass. Everyone will enjoy top-price seats at a performance in one of London’s famous West End theaters. And on the London Family Adventure you will stay in apartments, giving families plenty of “spreading out” space that’s just not possible in a hotel.
Paris Family Adventure
8 Days
Many cities in the world have tried to imitate Paris, but none have quite captured her unique spirit. Standing on a bridge above the Seine at sunset, or staring down a gargoyle atop Notre Dame Cathedral, your family will be able to sense the centuries of history, the passion for music and art, and the enthusiastic joie de vivre that seem to echo through the grand avenues and the little cobblestone streets. This family trip includes accommodations in spacious apartments, a private “kid friendly” sightseeing tour of Paris that includes the carousel at the Luxembourg Gardens, a visit to the Musée d’Orsay — even a climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower! Families will explore the oldest and largest flea market in Europe, tour the Louvre Museum, cruise the River Seine at sunset and head out of town on an excursion to Monet’s home in Giverny and the Palace of Versailles. One highlight is sure to be the private family-cooking workshop at the Cordon Bleu!
Swiss Chocolate
8 Days
This family trip stays in Montreaux, one of Switzerland’s prettiest resorts on the shore of Lake Geneva. The highlight of the Swiss Chocolate Family Trip is the full-day journey on the “Belle Epoque” Chocolate Train, a collection of 1915 vintage carriages and ultramodern panorama cars — both on the same train. The trip starts with morning croissants on board and visits Gruyères, famous for its cheese and its castle, and then continues to Broc, where you’ll visit the famous Callier-Nestlé factory and enjoy a tasting of the many types of chocolate produced here. The Swiss family trip includes hiking in the mountains, a visit to a local farm to observe cheesemaking, a ride on a cogwheel railway to Les Pléiades, an alpine region famous for its flora as well as for its numerous walking paths and star paracourse. Families will travel by boat on Lake Geneva - from the Castle of Chillon to the miniature railway park and again from the Olympic Museum in Lausanne to the Museum of Games. There’s an excursion and cable car ride to the top of the snowy glacier and time to shop in the jet-set resort of Gstaad. During the farewell dinner at a family-owned mountain restaurant, everyone has the chance to try out their skills on the Alpenhorn!
From the Kremlin to Cosmonauts — A Family Adventure in Russia
9 Days
Two powerful cities — majestic Moscow and refined St. Petersburg — have shared the distinction ‘capital’ through Russia’s fascinating history. Explore them both on this unique 9-day trip that offers families a special combination of not-to-miss highlights and rarely-seen places. In Moscow families visit the Kremlin and see its Armory — a national treasure chest housing the Czarist crown jewels, an exquisite collection of Faberge eggs and one of the most complete collections of Imperial family memorabilia. In St. Petersburg, the spectacular city of Peter the Great, travelers visit the Hermitage Museum, explore the palaces of Peterhof and Yousoupof and tour the city by canal boat. In addition to these cities’ monumental highlights families will take an excursion by train to Tolstoi’s home and enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds, observe the Russian Duma in session and meet with one of the foreign affairs politicians and visit — as guests of the government — the once-secret and highly secured Russian cosmonaut center at the “Star City”. Travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg is by overnight train in First Class sleeper compartments — a thrilling ride! The group will also meet with a Russian professor to discuss political, economic and social affairs in Russia today and enjoy afternoon tea and cookies with local families.
NORTH AMERICA
National Parks of the West - Canyonlands
8 Days
Each is a national treasure — the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion — the great national parks of the American West. They are the lands of the great Native Americans - the Navajo and Hopi — ancient, timeless and spiritual. This trip visits the Heard Museum in Phoenix as a beginning examination of the Southwest Indian tribes, visit the Montezuma Castle National Monument’s Sinagua cliff dwellings, float along the Colorado River and drive through memorable Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona, one of Arizona’s prettiest towns. There’s no question that highlight of the trip is the day spent exploring rim of the Grand Canyon – one of the most amazing places on earth. Other places visited include a Navajo Reservation, Lake Powell and Bryce and Zion Canyons. The trip ends in Las Vegas, an entertaiment capital in the desert. You can extend your stay here — the two-night option includes hike and picnic in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area and a “Behind The Scenes” Hard Hat Tour of Hoover Dam, a National Historic Landmark.
Colonial Williamsburg & Washington D.C.
7 Days
There’s no better way to travel down the path of American Revolutionary history than this trip that follows in the footsteps of our early American heroes. Join us on this historical journey into the past, beginning with our colonial roots in Williamsburg and ending in the present day Washington, D.C. A trip to Williamsburg and Washington, D. C can be daunting. There is so much there — how do you decide where to go, what to see? All those problems have been solved for you on this terrific trip that is a great combination of history, action, activity and free time to explore on your own. You’ll walk the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, dine at one of the historic taverns, explore Mt. Vernon, George Washington’s graceful home overlooking the Potomac River and enjoy a private tour of Washington, D.C.’s monuments and historical sites. You’ll even travel through Washington, D.C. by land and water on board an authentic, fully-restored 1942 amphibious “Duck”.
Québec & Mont Tremblant Family Adventure
8 Days
This wonderful close-to-home trip starts in the only walled city in North America — Québec City — located along the banks of the famous St. Lawrence Seaway. We’ll explore Québec City’s very French flavor and visit a host of historic sites and attractions. And who knew there were whales in the St. Lawrence? A day-long whale-watching excursion to Saquenay Fjord reveals the summer playground of the Fin-back, Minke and Beluga whales. In the island-city of Montreal, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city, we’ll take in a performance of the magical Cirque du Soleil. And finally there are three days to spend in Mont Tremblant in the spectacular Laurentian Mountains. Stargazing, rafting, lake and fly fishing, biking, hiking, panoramic gondola rides, horseback riding, rock-climbing — choose your activities and enjoy!
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Costa Rica Family Adventure
8 Days
This family trip to Costa Rica is a great combination of learning and leisure that’s full of activities for budding environmentalists and nature lovers. This adventure captures the magical nature of Costa Rica’s incredible ecological diversity and rich culture. The itinerary includes hiking in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest with its superb nature trails, easy hiking and abundant wildlife; a two-night stay near the Arenal Volcano that includes time at the Tabaçon Hot Springs (this remarkable spot has ten naturally heated pools), a hike on the Toucan Trail surrounding the volcano and a gentle float trip on the Corobici River where you’re sure to see monkeys and iguanas in the trees along the riverbanks. For the next three days you’ll enjoy the comfort of an all-inclusive resort located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Belize Family Adventure
7 Days
On this Belize family adventure you’ll travel along the ancient paths of the Maya, hike through the unspoiled Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to see howler monkeys, iguanas and exotic birds and explore the colorful sea life in the Caribbean’s Great Mayan Reef — the second longest barrier reef in the world! Special adventures include a daylong exploration of the famous Mayan city of Xunantunich and a walk along the Panti Trails to learn about traditional Maya plants, their healing properties and religious uses. Your family will float down the Rio Hon River on a wildlife journey, sail to Swallow Caye — a protected habitat for the West Indian Manatee — and spot dolphins along the way to a relaxing three-day stay on tropical Ambergis Caye in the Barrier Reef. Belize is an amazingly easy country for families to travel through, too. The official language is English and Belize is just a short flight from the United States — no jet lag!
In Darwin’s Footsteps
A Family Adventure through the Galapagos Islands
9 Days
Journey to Ecuador and its unique archipelago, the Galapagos Islands. You’ll be enchanted by rare ecosystems of unusual flora and fauna on these islands that are situated astride the Equator, just six hundred miles off the western coast of South America. The unique combination of natural history, beautiful sights and wildlife observation makes a vacation in the Galapagos the perfect choice for families with kids of any age. Where else can you snorkel from pristine white beaches, swim with sea lions in a sunken crater, laugh at blue footed boobies, watch marine iguanas feed at the bottom of the ocean and learn so much about natural selection? Dolphins follow your ship, sea turtles swim alongside — you may even come upon a pod of orcas jumping and splashing in the middle of the ocean and circle them until everyone on board the boat is dizzy from both the magnificence of the animals and the sheer joy of seeing them in the wild. This trip also spends nights ashore at a charming, comfortable small hotel. Here, you’ll tour the Charles Darwin Research Station and enjoy two free days to relax on the hotel’s beach, take a sea-kayaking expedition or explore the island’s natural lava caves.
Rio, Iguassu & The Amazon Adventure
11 Days
Join with other families on this summer trip that starts in Rio de Janeiro — the major cultural capital of Brazil that’s famous for its year-round attitude of celebration. In Rio you’ll stay in a hotel near one of the city’s famous beaches, ride a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain and travel to the top of Corcovado Mountain to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. There’s also a Brazilian barbecue party and drumming workshop. After visiting Rio you’ll fly to majestic Iguassu Falls — twice as large as Niagara Falls —where the falling water creates thousands of rainbows hanging in mid-air. We reach the rain forest by flying to Manaus and then heading out to the astonishing Amazon and traveling deep into the heart of the largest rain forest on the planet to explore and observe wildlife and flora and meet indigenous peoples. From your “headquarters” of the Amazon Ariaú Towers you’ll enjoy a nighttime alligator-spotting adventure, piranha fishing, guided rainforest walks a visit to a local family and go night canoeing to see caimans, frogs, sloths and other amazing species.
Peru, Machu Picchu & the Amazon Family Adventure
10 Days
Take a journey to the majestic land of the ancient Inca — from charming Cuzco, to Sacred Valley of the Incas, to mysterious Machu Picchu, the cultural wonder of South America. This trip even overnight at Machu Picchu and gives you the luxury of a second, unplanned day to explore the ruins on your own when most of the tourists are gone. Travelers who crave an active trip filled with the “best of” as well as the unusual will find this the perfect Peru program. Included are rafting, hiking to Machu Picchu, observing Peruvian condors in the wild and historical and cultural wonders. You’ll also travel to the heart of the Amazon rainforest and hike through the jungle with a local shaman to discover the spiritual traditions of this remote area.
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
China Family Adventure 
8 Days
Historic China & the Yangtze River begins in Beijing with the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace all included. The trip also takes travelers into the heart of old Beijing on a rickshaw tour of the Hutong area - an old Chinese settlement within Beijing city. In Xian, the tour spends the day at the excavations of the ancient Terra Cotta Warriors — a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour next visits Guilin, home to stunning rock towers and mist enshrouded hills that have inspired poets and musicians for centuries. At the Baoding Shan Grottoes travelers view the Dazu rock carvings where 10,000 sculptures are carved into a natural cliffside amphitheater. While cruising China’s Yangtze for five nights aboard a deluxe ship along the Yangtze River travelers visit Fengdu, China’s “Ghost City,” and then wind through the Three Gorges deep zigzagging valley and forested mountains. At Badong the group travels up the Shennong Stream to the Three Small Gorges and see their towering rock walls, golden-haired monkeys and sites of ancient hanging coffins. The cruise stops for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam site, a controversial, immense construction that will submerge most of the Yangtze Gorges by 2009. The trip ends in Shanghai where travelers explore Shanghai’s historic Bund district lined with stately buildings from the 1930s and visit the 16th century Yuan Gardens.