Family Vacation Dilemma?
…Try a little Combo Magic

By Bill Dvorak

This is the question: "What do we want to do for our vacation this year? We have kids from ages five to eighteen and we want to bring grandma and grandpa, too. We all like to do different things and no one wants to cook. Any suggestions?

Here is the answer: Try a little combo magic.

Travel agents are reporting, that, in many cases, families want to experience as many activities as possible during their valuable and short-lived vacation time. Rather than going to a single destination and focusing on one activity, these family travelers now want to try out several adventures in one week. For this reason, a number of outfitters are offering combination packages that cater to this trend. Trips can be arranged that last from two to seven days, and give families a different activity each day. Combination trips give people an introduction to a number of adventure based activities, and, at the same time, lead to a realization about what kinds of activities are the most enjoyable for the family as a whole.

A popular combination trip is the wilderness camping trip, which allows some of the "campers" to return at the end of each day to a lodge, motel, or bed & breakfast for overnight accommodations, while others on the trip remain in the wilderness to sleep under the stars. Another wonderful combination trip includes rafting, with some of the party totally involved in paddling and maneuvering to the guide’s shouted commands, while others, in a different raft, enjoy the scenery and allow the guide to do the oaring. Another option is for different party members to do different activities during the day but to reunite, at the end of the day, to share stories of their day’s adventures. The beauty of this is that various party members can experience the same "adventure," but at their own level of comfort. A wonderful example of this is a mountain biking trip where some of the party members bike from 10,000 feet and ride on off-road trails, while others are in a four-wheel drive vehicle exploring mountains and ghost towns. Some may choose to rock climb, while others may simply hike to the top of a mountain and explore the flora and fauna in a beautiful mountaintop setting.

Savvy outfitters know how to accommodate people of all ages and how to help a family make smart choices so that everyone on the trip will be as challenged as they choose and share in the "adventure." They provide guides who are well-trained and experienced, who can help set up a camp, prepare delicious and hearty meals over an open fire using Dutch ovens and camp stoves, and offer information on the flora and fauna and natural history of the region. A good outfitter will provide state-of- the-art equipment that is specifically suited to the environment being explored and the activities being undertaken. This takes the guesswork out of what to bring, and, perhaps, more importantly, what not to bring. Some family members can show up at the rendezvous point each day with as little as a fresh bathing suit and a toothbrush! Experienced reservation staff (with the outfitter you choose), should answer questions and help arrange your trip to meet your specific requirements.

The options that combination trips offer families will ensure a successful and rewarding vacation. Guides often hear from rafters of all ages and abilities, "This is the best time we’ve ever had!" Many times outfitters get calls from teenagers, after a combination vacation, wanting to know when they can return for the guide-training course to become a guide.

The real beauty of these family adventure combinations is the time to be together, talk about the experiences of the day, and interact with one another, as a family. This is the true meaning of quality time--where no one has to be somewhere else, prepare a meal, or answer a ringing phone.

Now, you have some answers to the ever-pressing question, "What shall we do for a vacation this year?" Try a little combo magic.

Bill Dvorak, an outfitter, has been guiding and teaching outdoor adventures all over the world, since 1969.