Traveling with family can be challenging at the best of times. Factor in an eighty-year age gap and differing interests, and your travel plans can quickly become derailed. While traveling with everyone from Grandma to toddler may seem daunting, it’s not as hard as you’d think. In fact, it’s our specialty. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Assess Needs:
Do you have a fifteen-year old who’s dying to river raft? A Nana who has low mobility? A gluten-free, sugar-free, lactose-intolerant Vegan Cousin? Need a spa or exercise facilities? It’s possible to check off most (or all!) of the boxes on your list, but you need to know what to look for. Think about each traveler in your family, and find out what their absolute ‘must-haves’ are.
Decide on Your Destination:
Want to admire calving glaciers or mush a team of sled dogs through the Last Frontier? Would you rather spot bears or ride a train through the Canadian Rocky Mountains? Once you decide where to spend your holiday (and in what season) it becomes easier for us to craft the perfect journey for everyone involved.
The ‘B’ Word:
While not always the easiest conversation, establishing a budget (and who’s covering the cost) is helpful. Is it being divided up by couple or is the patriarch (or matriarch) covering the entire trip? Align your budgets to ensure the financial comfort for all travelers involved.
Go Wild:
Canada and Alaska each have luxurious and unique wilderness lodges that are truly fit for the entire family. From fishing and boating to horseback riding and massage treatments, the options are endless. Low mobility? Sit on the deck and take in stunning views with a glass of wine. Want an adrenaline-fueled adventure? Enjoy flight-seeing, whale-watching or heli-hiking.
Make Memories:
Life is busy, and it’s easy to fall out of touch with family on a day-to-day basis. Slow down and reconnect without the stresses of home (bonus points if phones are turned off). Do you have young children? You’ve got eighteen summers to really make it count (maybe a few more if you’re lucky!) so go for it. Strap yourself to that zip-line, hit the slopes or fight the rushing rapids. They won’t forget it, and neither will you.
