11 Fantastic Family Travel Adventures

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

Dec. 10, 2009

When you hear about family vacations, the first thing that often comes to mind are kids screaming, "Are we there yet?" But with these incredible trips, don't expect to hear any complaints or moments of boredom. From jungles to mountains to the high seas, we have scoured the earth for 11 fantastic family adventures.

Winter might be just around the corner but, hey, it's never too early to be thinking of your summer getaway -- many of these specialty trips have limited numbers and fill up months in advance.

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We start off with plenty of wildlife on our first family adventure:

A Kenyan Safari. For the family that loves nature, this is a must-see destination. The trip includes visits with local Maasai and Samburu tribes and opportunities to swim, ride camels or go on a treasure hunt at your lodge. And, of course, it includes some of the finest wildlife viewing in Africa, with abundant lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe and species unique to the region.

Travelers on this Abercrombie & Kent trip also get to visit a sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees and black rhinos and see baby elephants at Daphne Sheldrick's Baby Elephant Orphanage. There is also a stop at a giraffe center.

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The trip includes a lesson in the art of Maasai beadwork and leatherwork at tribal workshops and walking tours with game scouts who help look for lions, elephants and the endangered African wild dog.

The 11-day trip starts at $5,825 a person with children under 12 sharing accommodations with two adults, $4,395 extra, per child.

Amazon Jungle Adventure: The most biologically diverse wildlife on earth is sure to spark children's innate curiosity about the wonders of the natural world. During International Expeditions' 10-day Amazon Voyage aboard a 28-guest riverboat, aspiring naturalists can view more than 100 kinds of birds, pink river dolphins, eight species of monkeys, sloths and endangered giant river otters.

The tour starts in Iquitos, Peru, the world's furthest inland seaport. Then the boat travels upstream along the Amazon's tributaries, going deep into the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, the largest wetland reserve in the world.

Families will have the rare chance to get acquainted with the native residents when they visit a local schoolhouse. They can bring along and give out school supplies to the village kids and join a game of soccer.

A rain forest canopy walk and an afternoon excursion through lush gardens to learn about medicinal plants are among many highlights.

Prices start at $3,148 per person.

Rafting Utah's Majestic Canyons: Once a refuge for outlaws, a trapper's hunting ground and home to ancient tribes, the canyons along Utah's Green River are now a family playground of roller coaster rapids. Raft through Class II and III rapids. At one point in the trip, the canyon walls tower more than 5,000 feet from river to canyon rim, deeper than the Grand Canyon.

When off the river, the guides on this Abercrombie & Kent trip will set up a lavish camp on the river's sandy beaches. The tents are big enough to stand in. Enjoy a cool beverage on the riverbank in comfortable camp chairs. At sunset, dine on a delicious dinner prepared by your river chefs and served on linen-clad tables.