Archive for the ‘Winter Vacation’ Category

A Warm Winter Outdoor Vacation

For many who live in areas that see a lot of snow in the wintertime, it is a time of year that they try to stay inside as much as possible and avoid the elements. However, what if the elements were not so cold? Just because it is winter in one region does not mean it is winter everywhere else! While your home may be frozen, there are plenty of places that are warm enough for a relaxing outdoor vacation.

One of the best vacations to take to escape the cold north is a cruising tour further south. Imagine – instead of shivering in your home, you could be seeing the wonders of Egypt in beautiful weather.

You could take advantage of a cruise that takes you all through this history-rich land, seeing Luxor and other cities along the Nile River. Some of the nearly weeklong cruises to this region offer tours to wonders such as the Temple of Luxor.

One of the more fun ways to see a region such as this would be on a smaller cruise vessel. Ships such as the Oberoi Shehrazad offer a quaint and personal experience. This ship only sleeps 80 travelers on vacation. Even though it is smaller than the mega cruise ships it does have some great features including a pool, a sun deck and a library.

Another nice outdoor vacation destination to escape the cold is in the Virgin Islands. With a dozen islands to experience along this cruising tour, you will never be at a loss for new things to see and new beaches to experience. While some cruises to this area are a little more expensive, many of them also offer some extras such as snorkeling or scuba dives at the reefs.

Again, if you want a special experience that is much more personal, you should consider a smaller ship. Those like the 66-passenger SV Flying Cloud can take you closer and into more secluded places than a larger cruise ship, and imagine sitting on the deck of that smaller, private ship while sipping a cocktail and watching the sun set on the water.

Had enough of the tropics? How about trying one of many vacations to the Orient? Available are week or longer trips through Ko Khai Nok, Phi Phi, and other islands of Thailand and Malaysia.

One of the smaller ships that travels this itinerary is the 170 passenger Star Flyer. It’s fancier than you would expect with two swimming pools, an Edwardian library, and decks made of teak

When it comes to being warm, it doesn’t get much warmer than the equator. If this is your cup of tea, you may want to take a trip to Ecuador. Here you can cruise the Amazon River, experiencing the kind of wildlife you see in a National Geographic magazine and getting up close and personal to the rainforest.

The important thing to remember is there is no reason to spend the winter shivering. Your escape from the ice, snow and cold is as easy as booking a cruise somewhere in warmer waters or traveling to the more moderate climate of Murcia and Javea in Spain.

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Family Ski Vacations – The Friendliest (And Most Affordable) Canadian Ski Resorts For Families

Family vacations are a great way to bond over the winter holiday season, and most ski resorts say that they welcome families. However, not all ski resorts are created equal when it comes to family ski vacations. With these tips comparing our picks for resorts in Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, you’ll know just where to go, making this winter vacation the best one yet.

Mont Tremblant is an East Coast family favourite, 45 minutes outside of Montreal. The charming village is pedestrian-only, making it a great and safe place for families to wander.

Kids are welcome in the daycare from the age of eighteen months, while the ski school offers a fun and educational day or week-long programs. Youth (aged 5-12) and children (aged 3-4) can enjoy full day ski (youth can also snowboard) lessons including lunch for around $100 or four full days of lessons, lunch, and photos for $300 (please call for exact rates). There is also a ski or snowboard terrain park for older kids with 20 rails, 15 jumps, and a 15-foot high half-pipe.

There are also a staggering number of family-friendly activities off the slopes, like child-friendly snowmobiling and snow trains, skating, sleigh-riding, and more. The La Source aquatic center is a family-friendly ski with an indoor pool, whirlpool, and Tarzan rope.

Tremblant hotels also impress with their family-friendly rates in almost all properties kids can stay in the room for free! Tremblant hotels also remain significantly cheaper than many other Canadian resorts, family-prices or not. Dining options range from old-fashioned pizzerias to more adult properties, so all ages and palates are well-accommodated.

The stats: 94 trails over 625 acres, with a rise of 2871 feet and an annual snowfall of 150″.

Sunshine Village wins points with young kids from the second they arrive at the resort. Cars are prohibited in the village, so skiers travel up the mountain in a six-passenger gondola.

Once on the slopes its parents of young kids who are won over, as children 5 and under ski free. Sunshine Village also offers a lesson guarantee – if you’re not satisfied with your child’s lesson, receive another lesson for free! During Tiny Tigers daycare, children, aged 19 months to 6 years, enjoy playtime inside and out as well as lunch and snacks. If young children (aged 3-6) are eager to learn to ski, the Tiny Tigers Ski & Play program is the way to go. Groups are a maximum size of 3 and the Tiny Tiger pros are experts teaching kids. Participants will enjoy one hour of ski & play with their instructors in the morning and another in the afternoon, as well as all the fun of the Tiny Tiger daycare. Kids Kampus offers the same fun learning for children 6 to 12.

Sunshine Village provides the only ski-in/ski-out lodging in Banff National Park, as well as access skiing in Mount Norquay and Lake Louise – giving parents of fickle kids the opportunity to make every day’s adventure a little different. The town of Banff is close-by and offers a greater variety of family-friendly lodging, most hotels let kids 16 and under stay free.

The stats: 107 runs over 3358 acres, with a rise of 3,514 feet and an annual snowfall of 396.

Whistler-Blackcomb is the biggest and, some say, the best. This beautiful mega-resort definitely goes above and beyond when it comes to facilities for families. Children as young as 3 months are welcome in the daycare (parents get pagers), while lessons can start at age 3 (for skiing) or 6 (for snowboarding.) If kids are apprehensive about skiing, Whistler’s Family Mountain Zone is a great place to start. This specially designated area has a slower pace better for families who wish to stick together. Whistler has all the usual ski schools one day lessons run around $115 and five day lessons approximately $550 and also features the popular alternative of a two or five-day Ride Tribe camp, where 12-to-18-year-olds can learn tricks and new terrain with a hip instructor and other teenagers. They can then show off their new skills in one of the resort’s five terrain parks. Children aged 6 and under ski free.

Non-skiing snowy fun can include exploring the kid’s adventure park (there’s one on each mountain!) where kids can put their skis aside and climb around a castle or tree-house, or going tubing at a family snow tubing park.

A popular accommodation choice for families in Whistler is the rental of ski-side condominiums, offering a little taste of home while away. Most resorts and hotels also allow kids under the age of 18 to stay in their parents’ room for free.

With time off the slopes the village is especially exciting for older children and teenagers to explore, with movie theatres, rock climbing walls, a youth center, and pool – all easily explored independently by foot.

The stats: 200 runs over 8,171 acres, with a rise of 5,280 feet and an annual snowfall of 360”.

Learn more about these great resorts, including snow conditions, restaurant guides and more, with online ski Canada resort guides.

Ready to take the plunge? Fresh Tracks Ski offers exclusive packages of the best hotels, activities, and extras for families to Tremblant, Whistler, and Banff.