| If you're looking to do something different with the | | | | For a real cowboy experience, there's nothing like a |
| kids when you next go on holiday, have you thought | | | | ride and ranch holiday - learning to ride, spending time |
| about horse riding in America? How about cycling | | | | with the animals and learning some basic cowboy |
| beside the Danube? Or dog sledding in Lapland? If | | | | skills are all things that appeal to kids and their |
| you want an experience that your children will really | | | | parents! Many tour operators accept absolute |
| remember on holiday, then a family activity holiday | | | | beginners, though it may be worth getting your |
| may be just the thing for you. | | | | children (and yourself!) a little experience in the saddle |
| Many parents may be put off by health and safety | | | | before you travel abroad. |
| concerns for these kinds of adventure holiday, but | | | | Make sure you choose the right kind of ranch |
| they shouldn't be. Almost all standard activity holidays | | | | experience for your family activity holiday. Working |
| will have some kind of child friendly option, and there | | | | ranch holidays (including cattle drives) aren't suitable |
| are plenty of niche operators that specifically offer | | | | for young children, as they require long hours in the |
| family activity holidays. If you are worried about | | | | saddle and a fair amount of riding experience. Centre |
| safety, it is always a good idea to check out any | | | | based riding holidays, where you stay in a single |
| adventure holiday company that you decide to go | | | | location with daily riding activities, can accommodate |
| with, to make sure it is reputable and provides a | | | | all ages, and some progressive riding holidays (where |
| good service. Read any online reviews that you can | | | | you move from ranch to ranch over a number of |
| find, and call them up and see how they respond to | | | | days) are suitable for slightly older children. |
| your concerns. | | | | Dog Sledding in Lapland |
| If you start to look around for a family activity | | | | If cutting through the snow with your kids on a |
| holiday, you'll be spoilt for choice: here are five ideas | | | | husky driven sledge sounds like your idea of heaven, |
| to get you started. | | | | this might be the activity holiday for you! For children, |
| Cycling in Europe | | | | the combination of snow, animals and adventure can |
| Cycling abroad can be a safe and fun family activity | | | | be irresistible. The scenery in Lapland is remarkable, |
| holiday, and it is very easy to organise. Make sure | | | | and there's even a chance that you'll catch a glimpse |
| you check the difficulty level of any cycling trip | | | | of the famous Northern Lights when you visit. |
| before you go, and be sure to let your travel | | | | Dog sledding can be done as a one day excursion or, |
| operator know that you'll be bringing children with | | | | if you and your children are feeling adventurous, can |
| you. Sweating your way up a steep mountain pass | | | | be part of a multi-day expedition, stopping off at |
| with an exhausted child in tow is no one's idea of a | | | | various lodges and cabins along the way. This is a |
| fun holiday! | | | | family activity holiday for slightly older children - check |
| But as long as you pick a route that all the family will | | | | with travel companies to find out the exact minimum |
| be comfortable with, you can have a brilliant time. | | | | age for their trips. |
| The Loire Valley and the route along the Danube are | | | | Sailing through the Greek Islands |
| two of Europe's most established cycling routes, and | | | | Sailing can make for a superb family activity holiday, |
| they are also suitable for children on a family activity | | | | and the Greek Islands are an ideal destination - not |
| holiday, being on flat and gently hilly terrain and taking | | | | only is the scenery beautiful, the steady waters |
| in astonishing views along the way. | | | | make it a very safe place to sail and swim. Children |
| Safari in Africa | | | | and adults can learn the basics of sailing, swim in the |
| There's little that gets kids more excited than wild | | | | Mediterranean, visit harbour towns and bask in the |
| animals, and an African safari makes for a great | | | | sun. No previous knowledge of sailing or yachting is |
| family activity holiday. Safaris can include hippo | | | | necessary in most cases, with full tuition and |
| spotting on boat trips, 4x4 drives through nature | | | | assistance available. |
| reserves, visits to farms, animal sanctuaries and | | | | Most family sailing holidays will be based on a flotilla, |
| orphanages, and many other activities. | | | | which are medium sized yachts with sails and engines. |
| The safari business is very well established, and you'll | | | | Flotillas are a very family friendly way to sail, and |
| find plenty of companies that can provide packages | | | | have become hugely popular in recent years. There |
| specifically for family activity holidays. Kenya is the | | | | are plenty of tour operators that offer flotilla holidays |
| most common destination, though safari holidays are | | | | in Greece, and if you have very young children they |
| run in many other African countries as well, such as | | | | can provide extra safety precautions, such as safety |
| South Africa and Tanzania. | | | | netting along the guardrails, to help keep your kids |
| Riding & Ranch Stay in America | | | | safe. |