Active Vacations

If fitness is important to your family, an active vacation might sound appealing. It's a chance to do things your family already enjoys and maybe try something new.

But before you pack the hiking boots, bike helmets, and swim goggles, here's how to plan a trip that will be fun without being exhausting, especially for young travelers.

What's an Active Vacation?

Lots of vacations are active, but specifically planning an active vacation means you're looking for an extra measure of physical activity. Instead of only going to the beach, for example, you might choose a hotel that offers tennis lessons, fishing excursions, and shuttles to a nearby water park.

For a trip to a big city, an active trip could include walking tours, visits to museums and zoos, ice skating or inline skating in a local park, then ending each day with a dip in the hotel pool. Then there are full-fledged adventure vacations that focus on whitewater rafting, downhill skiing, scuba diving, or mountain biking.

Camping is another popular choice and can be affordable or extravagant, depending on where you go and how much camping gear you already own. The nation's 388 national parks offer a wide range of activities, from nature walks to a program that awards your child the distinction of being a Junior Ranger.

Step 1: Choose Your Destination

After the adults decide on the vacation budget and a couple of trip ideas, it's a good time to get the kids involved. Older kids might want to vote on the list of possible trips, while younger kids will appreciate seeing photos of where you've decided to go and all the fun stuff to do there.

Because you're trying to incorporate activity, it's important to consider each family member's interests and needs. If mom is an expert skier but everyone else is a novice, will that work? Perhaps — if the resort offers ski lessons for the rookies as well as other options for when the slopes have grown tiresome, such as toboggan rides, ice skating, and arts and crafts at the lodge.

Travel websites and alumni associations often can provide low-cost deals on trips. Look into vacation packages for families because they will cater to kids of all ages as well as to parents. Finding a family-friendly outfitter is especially important when planning an adventure trip, like biking or rafting, because many of those packages are far better suited to adult travelers.

A family cruise can be a good choice because it's self-contained and there's plenty to do. But the round-the-clock eating so common on many cruise ships could interfere with your plans for a healthy vacation. And there are some challenges if you're looking for a lot of physical activity. While cruise lines do offer activity programs and on-shore excursions, there could be limits to the amount of physical activity you can engage in while onboard.

If you're considering a cruise:

• Ask about the pools, climbing walls, classes, and other offerings. Are they easily available, or are there waiting lists or long wait times?
• Find out if the cruise line offers active programs for kids of all ages, or just a childcare service.
• Sign up early for on-shore excursions and other activities that could fill up quickly.

With other types of trips, too much activity can be a problem. Some pre-packaged trips might schedule more than your family can handle, so be sure to review the itinerary before signing up. They also can be expensive. Traveling off-season is an option, but may become impossible once kids are in school.