So what’s your family situation? Do the kids’ overloaded after-school schedules force you to spend all your free time juggling work and family activities? Or maybe you have a handle on the scheduling, but your teens are busy untying apron strings? Or the kids are off to college or already out of the nest, in homes of their own? Life itself, to say nothing of the barrage of contemporary distractions, tends to fracture family togetherness. What are families to do?
VACATION.
Wasn’t it Tolstoy who wrote that every fractured family is fractured in its own way and that all families cement their ties on a family vacation? A family trip can bring the clan together, tighten bonds and create joyful memories that inspire closeness for years to come.
floating home
In the film Houseboat, Cary Grant lives—natch—on a houseboat with his motherless kids, and Sophia Loren, a symphony conductor’s runaway daughter, masquerades as a housekeeper. So romantic, so charming, the movie made every woman and man in America want to trade their lives (and spouses) for the house-on-water experience. Although Cary and Sophia won’t be there to complete the fantasy, houseboats can be rented at lakes all over the United States, and houseboat vacations are even more fun than the movie hinted.
One of the best family trips I’ve taken was a houseboat vacation on Lake Powell, a million-acre playground of water, desert, cliffs, canyons and buttes stretching from northern Arizona into southern Utah. Our extended-family group ranged in age from 8 to 89. We chose Lake Powell because it offered spectacular scenery, hiking and privacy (the lake is large and twisty enough that we found plenty of isolated areas for docking).
Houseboats come in several sizes and range from simple to, in the words of one brochure, “luxurious and equipped with all of the amenities of home and more.” There were 11 of us, so we rented a 59-foot houseboat that slept 12 and came with a fully equipped kitchen, gas grill, air conditioning, sundeck and water slide. We also rented an 18-foot powerboat that we used for exploring.
Well in advance of our trip, we were sent instructions for operating the houseboat, which we ignored. But before the marina staff would hand over the keys, they required designated “captains” and “co-captains” to take a personalized on-site course in operating procedures.
It took a bit of work at the get-go, but the entire family pitched in—which not only enabled us to maneuver the boat but also gave us a greater appreciation of, and renewed respect for, each other. After a day of literally learning the ropes, we were slipping our water home in and out of secluded coves with the greatest of ease. We spent the remaining days swimming, barbecuing, reading, sunbathing, hiking and just hanging out together under bright-burning stars.
best approach: Houseboats may be rented at marinas on various U.S. lakes, including Lake Cumberland, in Kentucky; Lake Mead, in Nevada; Lake Amistad, in Texas; and Missouri’s own Lake of the Ozarks. The boats’ sizes, amenities, costs and regulations differ; Google “houseboats” and then contact individual tourist bureaus and marinas. For more information about Lake Powell, contact Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas (www.lakepowell.com, 800-528-6154).
before the nuclear family explodes
Only one place in America offers a young family so many distractions in a single destination: Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Locals like to say that this compact area, located in a southeastern finger of Virginia, is about “history, ham and hospitality.” Tourists know that it’s also about family fun, recreation and Southern culture sweet as chess pie.
Let’s talk history first.
Step into the Historic Triangle, and you step into the birthplace of American democracy. In a 23-mile stretch you can follow our nation’s path from Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement, to Colonial Williamsburg, where ideas of democracy incubated and hatched, to Yorktown, the site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. The region is brimming with “living history” sites where restorations, reproductions and replicas encourage visitors to plunge into the colonial experience. You can rent period clothing, explore boats that brought the first settlers, scrape a hide at a Powhatan Indian village, ride through colonial streets in horse-drawn carriages and chat with the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. This is the trip that explains the roles of Europeans, Native Americans and Africans in forming our country, and it gives new meaning to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
If the kids balk at an educationally significant, historically important adventure, jump ahead four centuries and tempt them with water slides and scary rides at Water Country USA, Go-Karts Plus or the award-winning Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
As for that famous Southern hospitality, it shows up in restaurants (don’t miss dinner at the Fat Canary or the towering Death by Chocolate dessert at The Trellis) and a wide choice of accommodations: more than 10,000 rooms in bed & breakfasts, historic inns and hotels and motels. Kingsmill Resort & Spa, seven miles from historic Williamsburg, is particularly family-friendly, offering suites with kitchens, complimentary shuttle service to both Williamsburg and Busch Gardens, and theme-park/hotel packages.
Think of how the kids’ history grades will soar. Think of the shared fun. And think of the timing: 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, and the region is already celebrating.
best approach: Easy to reach by car, the Historic Triangle is about 860 miles from St. Louis. Most major airlines offer flights into both Norfolk International and Richmond International airports, each about 45 miles away. For more information, visit www.historictriangle.com, the Virginia Tourism Corporation (www.virginia.org) and the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance (www.visitwilliamsburg.com, 800-368-6511).
mother-and-child reunion
Now and then, every woman craves a makeover. It doesn’t take much to ignite the desire—a few extra pounds, a special event, a flirtation. All those mother-and-daughter combos whose makeover impulses coincide should embark upon this seriously fun two-part trip. First head to The Oaks at Ojai spa in Ojai, Calif., to shed some pounds and get in shape, then spend a day or two decorating that new shape in star-studded Los Angeles.
The Oaks bills itself as America’s best spa “value,” a term the ultrapicky might translate as “bare-bones.” No free products line the shelves in the changing room, the cheapest rooms are minuscule, and although the property is coed, there’s just one dressing/sauna and steam-room area, necessitating certain hours for women only. On the other hand, The Oaks’ bones are like those of an aging beauty: They still have great structure.
Just a 90-minute drive from L.A. in the sun-soaked Ojai Valley, the spa fills one city block of tiny, tony Ojai. Guests use the town’s public library for Internet connections, the shops for diversion and the surroundings for nature hikes.
Whether you perceive the facilities as intimate or austere, The Oaks incorporates everything needed in an all-inclusive destination spa, and it wins accolades for low-cost treatments, extensive exercise programs (yoga to inline skating) and food. Not that the food tastes terrific (how good can it get without salt, sugar or much fat?), but meals fully satisfy and truly educate with regard to portion control and calorie count. Although The Oaks will sign you up for one day only, we suggest a four-day stay to lose weight and take full advantage of the spa’s quirky charms.
Trimmer, toned and tanned, you’re now ready for the fantasyland of makeover magic: Los Angeles. Our personal black book of beauty magicians includes Kristin Confer, at the Bungalow on Melrose Place (323-655-4040), for great haircuts at reasonable rates; Anastasia Soare, at Anastasia Beverly Hills (888-409-2769), for the best-ever eyebrow shaping; and Bobbe Joy Makeup Studio, in Beverly Hills (www.bobbejoycosmetics.com, 877-226-2538), for makeup lessons. (Book appointments well in advance; beauty-industry superstars keep diva hours.) Don’t forget the mandatory stop to shop at Fred Segal, a world-class department store frequented by the stars.
best approach: Fly round-trip to either LAX or Burbank Airport and head immediately to The Oaks. Shuttle and limo service runs from both airports to the spa, but rental cars are also relatively inexpensive, and the drive is nice and easy. Accommodations at The Oaks range from large suites to tiny rooms with two single beds. The latter is the most cost-effective for mother-daughter sharing, and The Oaks runs a mother-daughter special several times a year. For more information, contact The Oaks at Ojai (www.oaksspa.com, 800-753-6257).
the father-son lure
Fishing has long been a metaphor for male bonding, and father-son fishing is an almost mandatory rite of male family life. If you’re looking for the perfect place for this trip, the Florida Keys hook more fishermen than any other destination in the United States.
The Keys consist of more than 800 coral-and-limestone islands situated between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, with the Gulf of Mexico due west. There is water, water everywhere, and in that water swims the world’s greatest variety of game fish. Take a charter out to sea, and you could land tuna, dolphin or billfish. Head to the shallow flats and backcountry region of mangrove islands for bonefish, snook and sea trout. Check out the reefs for yellowtail, mutton and vermilion snapper. Or just stand on a pier, cast your line and reel in dinner (which you can take to any number of restaurants in the Keys to have cooked).
The 126-mile Overseas Highway swings southwesterly in a slender smile, linking 51 islands and their marinas, bait-and-tackle shops, restaurants and resorts (five-star to beach bungalows). Fishing rules, but it doesn’t crowd out the other attractions: unparalleled diving, Key lime pie, spectacular sunsets, pirate museums, manatees, miniature deer and—at the southern-most point in the United States—the slightly tacky, charmingly wacky town of Key West.
Five areas make up the touristy portion of the Keys: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon Key, Big Pine Key and Key West. Although Islamorada has grabbed the “sportfishing capital” title, you can arrange fishing charters from most areas. Captains have all the fishing tackle and licenses visitors will need, and they know where the catch of the day is hiding. Just show up with lunch and a credit card.
The Keys are subtropical, with swaying palm trees and glorious sunshine, but each area is slightly different. Some say that in the upper Keys, where nature reigns, you make your own vacation. But Key West, with its free-range chickens, six-toed cats and wild bunnies, has such a strong personality that the city defines the vacation experience.
best approach: We suggest flying into Fort Lauderdale or Miami, then renting a car. Shuttle service is available from both airports, but once you arrive at your accommodations, taxis are unregulated and can be expensive. For more information, contact the Florida Keys & Key West (www.fla-keys.com, 800-352-5397).
a grand adventure
Sixty is the new 40, and the travel industry is courting generation-skipping grandparent-grandchild trips. Today’s grandparents have the time, money, interest and energy to devote to the grandkids. Where should they spend it? You can’t do better than to take the kiddies on a nature-focused, all-ages soft-adventure cruise to the Galápagos.
Consisting of 13 large (five inhabited) and 100 or more small, eerily stark volcanic islands and islets clustered in the South Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, the Galápagos Archipelago is one of world’s unique places. The islands startle not only because of their rich biodiversity and unusually plentiful collection of endemic species, but also because the wildlife is virtually unafraid of human beings. You can sunbathe with fur seals, stroll among strange-looking lizards and snorkel with sea turtles—all of which are blithely indifferent to your presence.
These are the islands where Darwin developed his theory of evolution, and here scientists and tourists come face to face with an amazing number of nature’s most interesting creatures, from a flightless seabird to a swimming iguana. Each island offers its own collection of odd inhabitants, and the marine life is no less enchanting.
Because the islands are part of the Ecuadorian National Park and Marine Reserve, sightseeing is fully controlled. Only 70,000 visitors are permitted each year, and all must be accompanied by a nationally licensed naturalist. Cruise ships employ naturalists to lead shore excursions and educate vacationers.
Grandparents and grandkids who love nature, have a sturdy sense of adventure, and are active enough to walk along island paths and climb into rubber rafts will rank a Galápagos cruise as the trip of a lifetime.
best approach: Call a trusted travel agent; compare cruise programs, prices and pre- and postcruise excursions and book only with a well-known company. When picking a vessel, make sure that its comfort level matches your own. Most cruises visit the major islands, but you can’t count on a specific preprinted itinerary; wind and weather may necessitate alterations in routing. Also, because waters can be choppy, we suggest choosing a larger vessel (none is massive) over a small boat. Some cruises cater to kids, and some reserve special weeks for family travel. Also, to make the most of the long trip, pick a cruise company that offers some touring on Ecuador’s mainland.
