20-05-2025
Family travel 5: Adventures for dad
Do you know a dad who loves to travel? Whether you go as a group or give as a gift, these ideas may inspire a new adventure.
Go coastal
Plan a visit to Terranea, a seaside resort offering stunning views from its 102-acre perch above the Pacific on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Check in to the California retreat and enjoy sea kayaking, strolling along the Discovery Trail, or a round of golf. If the whole gang is along for the ride check out the Tide Pool Kids Club and a kid-friendly resort pool. Access plenty of open-air dining venues, including the extraordinary Mar'sel, best reserved for a grown-up night out. A seaside spa and fitness facility provide a wealth of coastal-inspired wellness options.
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Take a dive
Learning to scuba dive is a great way to explore and appreciate our underwater world. You'll spend time learning about eels, sharks and other creatures of the deep blue sea. Beginners are encouraged to get started in destinations where the water is warm, clear and there is no current. Recommendations include Bonaire, Grand Cayman and St. Lucia for early diving practice. The folks at Family Divers provide group and custom dive trips during which children and their parents learn about whales, manta rays and the latest in global marine conservation.
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Cast a line near Casper
With plenty of wide-open space at the ready, this central Wyoming town is a vibrant hub for outdoor adventure. Home to the North Platte River, which provides year-round fly-fishing opportunities, Casper has become a bucket-list destination for avid and aspiring anglers. The river sits below five reservoirs, enabling consistent water flows and temperature, thus manifesting a stable fishing habitat. You'll hear enthusiastic talk and big fish stories that originate on specific stretches of the river, including the Miracle Mile and Grey Reef. It's also good to know there is Blue Ribbon water flowing right through the heart of town, with plenty of public access points available. Appreciate the legendary waterway in a different way via the Platte River Trail system, which threads through the community for eleven miles. The paved paths provide access to wildlife watching, mountain views and public art.
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Visit a mountain town
Lavish and historic, the Fairmont Banff Springs Resort, in Banff, Alberta, stands as a luminous landmark in a picturesque alpine town inside Banff National Park. Tucked within a verdant forest, yet offering stunning mountain, valley and winding-river views, the 745- room castle-like resort is a destination in itself. Hiking, rafting, fly-fishing, championship golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor pool-time and horseback riding are all available within minutes. The Willow Stream Spa offers a full range of soothing options within 27 treatment rooms for those seeking a relaxing stay. Choose from 14 on-site dining options, or wander into town for additional possibilities. If young kids are in tow, ask about the Kids in the Castle program and other adventure options for the younger set.
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Steep in history on a scenic trail
Explore wetlands, swamps, hardwood forest, and steep yourselves in history as you hike a section of Natchez Trace, which runs from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, a National Scenic Trail. The foot trails, totaling more than 60 miles, are divided into five sections, making it easy to choose a comfortable distance. The trail runs roughly parallel to the Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road, designated one of America's National Scenic Byways and one of only 31 All-American Roads. The historic trail dates back to the early 1700s when sections were Indian footpaths and animal trails. In the late 1700s through the early 1820s traders from the Middle Tennessee and Kentucky areas floated their goods down the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Natchez and then walked or rode horses up the Trace to return home. Today, travelers explore the National Park in their personal vehicles, take time to hike, ride horses and camp along the way. During the fall, visitors enjoy the changing colors of maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees, milder temperatures and overnight accommodations in small towns along the historic travel corridor.
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