Tours where kids rule.
disney-style adventures
Who can possibly tire of “Frozen”? “Not I,” says your clients’ 9-year-old princess, and for just those folks, or really anyone who wants to see Norway complemented by exceptional service, recommend Adventures by Disney’s 8-day Norway voyage. (We’ve personally experienced an Adventures by Disney trip, and it’s truly top-of-the-line in every detail, from accommodations and dining, to sightseeing and activities; see September 2013 issue.) This particular Norway trip includes visits to picturesque Bergen, where families can take in the 14th century Bryggen district and its historic wharf area with its unique wooden architecture, as well as the country’s world-renowned fjords; a river rafting experience; twirling like Anna in “Frozen” while learning the particulars of Norwegian folk dancing; and trout fishing in the glacial blue waters of Lake Loen. Family departure dates run June through August with rates starting at $5,099 for adults and $4,849 for kids. adventuresbydisney.com or disneytravelagents.com
in the footsteps of legends
brite spokes by kuoni offers a 6-day Legends Continued Series centered around a fan looking to pay homage to sports and music legends. It’s part of the operator’s All in the Family experiences and includes visits to sports-focused Hall of Fames, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and iconic sports fields such as Wrigley Field; dinner at Crop Bistro in a private bank vault room (midwest departure); Q&As with professional athletes; and a visit to a brewery or comedy club. It’s a great father/son trip, although keep in mind children under 5 can’t tour the brewery. The last departure dates for 2014 are Oct. 25 (Midwest) and Oct. 27 (east coast), with rates starting at $3,450 for one person and adjusted for a larger group (with four, it’s $2,750 pp). britespokes.com
a sprinkle of the exotic
For families with an eye toward the exotic, recommend SITA World Tours’ Family Friendly Journeys, which hopscotch around the world to such destinations as Kenya, China, Thailand and Vietnam. In the 13-day Vietnam tour, for example, the family gets to hang with the locals in a village and learn their way of life, bike through the open countryside, discover the art of puppet-, lantern- and kite-making, paddle a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat and join in a basket boat race on the river, and take a Vespa tour through Saigon, among a myriad of other family-friendly activities. This tour truly offers a mixture of activities that every one in the family will enjoy—it’s jam-packed, but, hey, no chance your clients will hear that phrase, “I’m bored!” There’s an upcoming Dec. 22 departure with starting rates of $2,990 for adults, and $2,780 for kids 11 and under. sitatours.com
