The way to see Grand Teton National Park with kids: OARS Jackson Lake 2-Day Trip

When I knew my family and I would be spending time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park, I immediately looked for an OARS trip to take in the area. After our five-day Rogue River rafting trip with OARS, it was the easy choice. OARS is just that good at what they do. I’ve already talked about what sets OARS apart. In a nutshell, the guides are professionals but also become … [Read more...]

Multi-night river rafting on the Tuolumne River

The Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park is one of the most pristine and exciting rivers I've experienced. But is river rafting safe during COVID-19? My fifteen-year-old son and I rafted the Tuolumne River for three days with OARS, and not only did we have the usual amazing time on the river I've come to expect from an OARS trip, but we felt safe and responsible, too. All of our OARS … [Read more...]

Main Salmon River rafting trip with O.A.R.S.

The best—and nearly only—way to experience the 2.3 million acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness of Central Idaho is by whitewater raft down the Main Salmon River. The route along the Wild and Scenic section of the Salmon runs 80 miles and requires extensive whitewater experience and permits…or can be booked with an adventure outfitter like O.A.R.S. Why choose the Main Salmon with … [Read more...]

Outdoor adventure road trip: 30 days on an outdoor adventure itinerary

Our absolute favorite type of travel involves an outdoor adventure itinerary, the longer the better! However, even we don't cherish the idea of roughing it continuously for weeks on-end. While we will be spending a full week (or more) on the PCT with kids soon, we opted to plan the rest of our summer outdoor adventures with a little more comfort in mind. Here's how we'll be spending 30 days on an … [Read more...]

Five outdoor travel experiences any family can try

Good news parents: Most kids' favorite vacations involve sleeping bags and campfires instead of five-star luxury and turn-down service. Traditional camping trips are a crowd favorite, but if you're looking for something a bit further off the beaten path of family travel, check out one of the following outdoor travel experiences any family can enjoy, no prior wilderness knowledge necessary. 1. … [Read more...]

What to expect on an O.A.R.S. river rafting trip

Earlier this month, we enjoyed our fourth multi-night rafting trip with O.A.R.S. If you do something four times, it's because you love it, and there are very few vacations we've loved as much as O.A.R.S. trips. This unique family vacation combines some of our favorite things: outdoor exploration, adventure, isolation and off-the-grid family time, and conservation. And it packages all these … [Read more...]

Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences and destinations

In celebration of Earth Day, we've rounded up our favorite experiences, tours, and travel operations that promote a spirit of 'Earth Day every day'. These travel experiences, through their passion for their destinations, help create the next generation of environmentalists. Earth Day-friendly bucket list experiences: Uncruise in Panama and Costa Rica: We just returned from Uncruise's newest … [Read more...]

Best of 2014: Best destinations for families you can book now!

Every December, we take time to reflect upon the past year of travel, and select five experiences---yes, just five!---that we crown the best of the year. Last year, our top travel experiences of 2013 took us from Alaska to the Caribbean. This year, we're focusing on the American West and MidAtlantic, showcasing everything from five-star city hotels to cabins. We stand behind these picks as … [Read more...]