ARAMARK Parks and Destinations has all you need for your multi-generation trip
Multi-generational travel is one of the biggest travel trends today. According to a survey conducted by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) in 2011, 21 percent of family trips included grandparents. Several years later that number has increased to 37 percent and continues to grow.
Why multi-generational travel is growing
Today’s baby boomer grandparents are healthier and enjoy much more active lifestyles than ever before. Vacationing as a family unit can help reduce costs in tough economic times. Additionally, multi-generation vacations give grandparents the opportunity to spend more time with family members outside of the typical holiday dinners, while in many instances giving parents access to ‘guilt-free’ babysitting.
Planning your multi-generational trip
With so many viable reasons for multi-generational travel, it is no wonder that many destinations offer great family-friends options. The first step to planning your multi-generational vacation is to ask what is important for those attending, what time works for them, what their budget is, and taking into consideration any special requirements including accessibility.
Once you have a rough idea of what your family is envisioning, it’s time to find the destination that matches your wants. If your family is looking for a trip that includes the great outdoors, natural treasures and opportunities for everyone to learn, then look no further than here. ARAMARK Parks and Destinations, purveyors of hotels and activities in National Parks and Forests and State Parks have outlined a few options:
Visit America’s Oldest Surviving Structures in Mesa Verde National Park
Instill a true appreciation of history in your family by exploring villages built by the Ancestral Puebloans within alcoves on sheer cliffs. Now protected as part of Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park and recognized as a World Heritage Site, these dwellings include the expansive 150-room Cliff Palace and the death-defying Balcony House. Morning and evening tours leave daily from the park’s only hotel, Far View Lodge.
Get Hooked on Houseboating
Multiple staterooms, full kitchens, fireplaces, TVs, hot tubs and even waterslides, houseboating at Lake Powell is like captaining your own floating cabin. Houseboat rentals at Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas come in many sizes to accommodate any family size and are the ideal way to explore the picturesque lake. More than exploration, families will relish all the fun activities that come with the water including fishing, swimming and the use of personal watercrafts.
Sleep in a Rainforest
Families don’t need to travel to South America to experience a real, live rainforest. Lake Quinault Lodge located within Quinault Rainforest on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula allows guests to explore the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest via its daily, guided tours. One of only three rainforests in North America, a visit to Lake Quinalt gives a first-hand look at the world’s largest Sitka Spruce trees, carpets of ferns and furniture-sized mushrooms. In addition to guided tours, there are opportunities for hiking, biking, boating and fishing.
Togwotee Traditions
Whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and fishing are the necessary components to create a classic summer vacation full of memories. One destination that offers it all is Togwotee Mountain Lodge. The lodge is nestled in the mountains above Jackson Hole, Wyo. inside Bridger-Teaton National Forest. In addition to the properties vast amenities, the property is a mere 16 miles away from Grand Teton National Park and only 49 miles from the south gate of Yellowstone National Park for families in search of even more adventure.
Life’s a Beach
Getting every family member to agree on a vacation destination can sometime be a challenge. But, one destination on which nearly everyone can agree is a beach vacation. Surfing, sunbathing and beach volleyball are among the beach-based activities at Asilomar Conference Grounds. More than a beach destination, however, families visiting the grounds on California’s Monterey Peninsula also can explore its many hiking and walking trails. They also can bird watch or take one of the four self-guided walking tours, including the historic Julia Morgan Architecture Tour.
Cruising and Camping on Lake Tahoe
Families looking for relaxation and a true reprieve from the daily grind will find it in Lake Tahoe. Daytime scenic cruises offered by Lake Tahoe Cruises are complemented by a tranquil evening at Zephyr Cove Lodge or at one of the 28 Cabins at Zephyr Cove Resort. A Campground and an RV park are also available for those families looking to truly experience the outdoors. Cruises on the lake to Emerald Bay are given on two spacious paddlewheelers, the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen, an authentic Mississippi paddlewheeler. Before and after the cruises, families can enjoy fishing and horseback riding. Regardless of your taste, there is something for everyone at Lake Tahoe.
Tags:
