Alaska

February 26, 2012

Top Five Destinations for your Graduate. And You.

Who's bold enough to try grasshopper?

Many popular destinations are just plain fun for a young child, but can be revisited – or seen for the first time – with very different eyes once your child is out of high school. Here are our picks for the most sophisticated and exciting places to visit, or visit again, with your graduate.

5) Alaska. It’s pristine, and so different from the rest of the continental USA. And it’s changing so fast, there may well be species, habitats and glaciers that will be disappearing in the future. Take your graduate to explore up close, with plenty of physical activities to challenge you both while you all learn about how climate change is affecting this part of the country.

4) Galapagos. On select dates we offer families with older kids the opportunity  to explore the islands from a 16 passenger catamaran. Or, if you prefer, you can join our MultiSport Adventure with real beach camping and up close experiences with those frigate birds, seal ions, and blue footed boobies. In both options you’ll also have the chance to learn something about rock climbing, early Incan ruins, and the delightful culture of mainland Ecuador.

3) Peru. Whether you like to camp in remote mountains with no one but your camp crew nearby, or you prefer, thank you very much, to sleep in a comfortable hotel…Peru offers mystery and culture you can dive into, and breathtaking scenery to explore. Both versions, the Trek and the Land of the Ancient Inca offer great hiking and plenty of time to contemplate the wonders of Machu Picchu.

2) Turkey. Whether you choose a photographic journey, our Secrets of Turkey, or the special Smithsonian Adventure, Turkey is full of  inviting people, scenery, and culture. Oh, and the food! Turkey is an adventure of history and art, Roman ruins, miraculous landscape, and the smooth Mediterranean. So much more than just a vacation!

1) Thailand With a fascinating culture, gorgeous temples, and a philosophy that invites conversation…. plus verdant forest to hike, retired elephants to care for, and rivers to raft…. here is an adventure to change your life forever.

0) It’s hard to stop when I’m on a roll.. how about Morocco? Wander the souks, watch a snake charmer, trek in the High Atlas Mountains, and ride a camel on the beach… Practice your Arabic as well as your French, and tantalize your taste buds in this exotic land of couscous and fragrant tagines.

The truth is, any one of our destinations can be sophisticated and enriching for your older kids, and for you too! Our expert guides are ready to talk up to your level, and challenge you to take home in your heart a piece of their country. Come join the like minded and similar aged families traveling with us in 2012 and beyond.

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Posted in Alaska, Galapagos, Graduates, Morocco, Peru, Teens, Thailand, Turkey | 1 Comment »


March 3, 2011

Glorious Alaska

Glacial ice floating by...

Weary of winter? Me too. So I find it odd that I have been dreaming about Alaska, which brings up memories of glaciers and icy water. But in fact Alaska may be a milder winter than mine this year – and it has a delightful climate in its high tourist season of June through August.  Since that is such a small window, let me tell you – it fills up fast.

Now I know, everyone has gotten used to holding out until the last minute. Maybe you can’t make up your mind. Maybe you are hoping for a ‘sale’. Maybe you are waiting to hear about Aunt Julie’s schedule. But while we were all sitting back figuring we can do it manana, others are scooping the best space. Truth is, the airlines are not offering last minute sales, and neither are the special and unique destinations. So do yourself a favor and plan now.

Why choose Alaska?  It is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and so much of it still rugged and remote. So untouched. So pristine. With forest and coastline, glaciers and mountains think of all you can do. Dogsled. Kayak. Raft. Fish. Hike. Bike.

But those glaciers are melting, and look different every year. Plan now.

How do you want to see Alaska? There are big ships that cruise off the coast…don’t forget your binoculars so you can see to land! Beware the seemingly low price – each excursion to get in closer to shore can cost a bundle.

Our preferred method is a small ship, and our choice this year carries just 49 passengers. Large enough to be comfortable – and in fact it is newly refurbished and downright fabulous – it is also small enough to slip into the remote corners of the Inside Passage. Go where few can wander. What will you see? Glaciers.  Moose. Bear. Bald eagles. Sea otters. Whales galore! Wolverine? Maybe even wolverine.

What will you do every day? Not just watch from the deck, but you’ll jump into the action. You’ll kayak. Hike. Paddle board. Swing Tarzan style from the boat into the frigid water, if you dare. Try fishing. Or relax on deck and enjoy the scenery, even late at night – there is almost 24 hours of daylight!

Our Thomson group will have the guidance of the on-board naturalists, and the exclusive attentions of our energetic and creative mentor too. Oh, and trip insurance is always included at no additional charge when you book with us.

If you are also interested in traveling deep into Denali National Park – it is almost a full day’s drive from the entrance to the lodge! – we can make arrangements for this extension, and more. Maybe you’d like a helicopter tour to the glaciers for dog sledding, or a trip to watch  bear feast on salmon. All is based on availability, so don’t delay – call us now at 800-262-6255

Alaska is a glorious adventure!

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January 30, 2011

Exotic Family Adventure Means…?

Kayaking in Alaska

Exotic family adventure does not always mean foreign languages, unusual customs, and strange food.

Right here in the USA is a unique kind of magic just waiting for you, no matter what your age. Grandparents, parents, children as young as 6 can all fully appreciate and enjoy the views and activities Cruising the Inside Passage.

The hidden corners of the Inside Passage is a coastal route unlike any other.  While the Inside Passage is widely traveled by a number of large passenger ships, rarely are many of the hidden, secret passages discovered. Seeing this up close, opening your senses to the wilderness is pure magic.

What else can you do in this magnificent state? You can travel deep inside Denali National Park for a few days of remote wilderness. Or continue to explore coastal regions with a visit to the Kenai Peninsula. Maybe a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier for dogsledding. Or how about a flight-see to visit the bears feeding on salmon in the rivers? Parents, grandparents, children will all be in awe of the great beauty here.

Join Thomson Family Adventures on one of just two departures this summer (it’s a short season!), on a boat small enough to get you up close like few families ever experience. Kayak, paddle board, fish, hike, even swim if you dare. Sea otters abound, whales breech, bald eagles soar over head. You may spot bear snoozing on the beach, or moose tromping through the forest – hey, I even saw a wolverine!

Thomson families join a newly refurbished and supremely comfortable boat that carries just 49 guests along this route. To the boat’s amenities and crew we add an expert mentor to enchant children and adults alike with his enthusiasm and love of adventure. Complete pre-departure information is provided by our personal in-house service team. And of course our trip cancellation insurance is included at no additional cost. You’re assured of traveling with like minded Thomson families, and have our promise that this is indeed a family adventure of a lifetime.

What will you do on your trip to Alaska?

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December 28, 2010

The Thrill of Alaska!

Just remembering Aimee’s amazing kayak adventure in Alaska a couple of years ago. You can do this too!

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April 12, 2010

Alaska and a Small World

Arctic swim - just before the jump

Saturday evening I went to the High School Gospel Fest concert at Tufts University. Eight or nine different area schools had come together for the day to meet and inspire each other with music; their sessions were capped off by an evening concert of wonderful music, which is the part I went to.  Through an evening of foot tapping and singing I kept looking over my shoulder wondering why everyone looked so familiar. Well maybe not everyone, but SOME of them.

End of the evening, the lights came up and it clicked. Mike, Anne, Conor and Molly – new friends made years ago on my first Thomson Family Adventure, in Alaska. We all live in the Boston area, but I guess we had to travel to Glacier Bay National Park to meet.

This is one of the amazing things I’ve discovered about a Thomson trip, that like minds find like adventures. And on these adventures families who might never have found each other do meet, and children make friends they’ll remember through their lives. Most importantly the memories formed on these great discovery trips are imbedded in a way so that you are bonded forever, whether you maintain a close relationship through the years or simply bump into each other every so often. The stories remain part of all of us, and visit our dinner table on a regular basis.

So this night at Tufts, true to form, we instantly burst into excited chatter about our memories from Alaska, and we all exclaimed it was still the best we’d ever done (I guess I say that a lot – but it really was fantastic!). Immediately we all remembered my favorite story that I’ve told many times. How my daughter Mira – then 15 – took little Molly – then 7 – under her wing and protectively said “Molly, if you want to jump into the water for the Arctic swim, I’ll go with you” Mind you, that water was about 40 degrees, and Mira had no interest at all in going in – and of course she thought Molly wouldn’t either. But Molly had proven herself that week, and was committed to keeping up with everyone on board, and so she said: SURE LET’S GO!  Well they did jump holding hands, but while Molly paddled around, Mira shot straight back up out of the water and on deck almost before she submerged. She wrapped herself in blankets and hibernated in her cabin until her body temperature rose again – poor thing!

My Mira, hearing I saw Molly this weekend, immediately said “OH MOLLY!” and asked a hundred questions about the family and how they are and what they’re doing, with all the excitement and enthusiasm of speaking of any of her favorite things.  And this is exactly what I love about a Thomson trip. It makes my heart swell that I have such a lovely, caring daughter and that I’ve been able to give her this gift of discovering the world and the many people in it, all of whom have helped shaped who she is today and who she’ll become in all the years of her life.

Mira and Molly

Thank you Molly, and to all the great friends we’ve made in our travels.

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