While we’re sitting at home plotting our future travels and choosing our next destinations for the entire family, we thought we’d share with you our top choices:
1. Adventures by Disney Iceland
Adventures by Disney leads tours on six continents featuring more than 50 unique itineraries, with it’s new Iceland destination rapidly becoming one of their most popular. The eight-day Iceland tour includes Reykjavik, Vik, Akureyri, Húsavík, and Lake Mývatn; hiking destinations leading to blue lagoons, geysers, and waterfalls. An hour drive from Reykjavik, Grindavík, is home to thermal waters of The Blue Lagoon where you can dive into a lava mud mask experience unlike any other.
Activities available include riding Icelandic horses, hiking down into Kerio Crater, white water rafting, visits to the lava labyrinths in Dimmuborgir, and exploring bubbling hot springs and geysers in several breath taking locations. Other highlights include hiking on the Skaftafell glacier, seeing the back side of exquisite waterfalls at Seljalandsfoss, and whale watching in Iceland’s longest fjord.
2. G Adventures Japan Family Journey
G Adventures recently teamed up with National Geographic to launch family oriented itineraries specifically for you and your family. G Adventures’ Japan destination has been increasingly popular as of recent and for good reason; Its 11-day Japan Family Journey starts in Tokyo, where families explore bustling cities before heading to Kyoto, then Nagano. Activities available include practicing and learning about sumo wrestling, samurai swordplay, sampling a variety of wasabi-infused culinary delights, and more. This intimate experience hosts no more than 20 a group, and activity levels are appropriate for all ages, making this an experience you won’t want to miss.
3. Norway
Norway has drawn some recent attention for the picturesque towns that have inspired the location of the animated film Frozen, which most of you with kids already know. Family friendly attractions include the town of Hallingdal, between Oslo and Bergen in the East, that includes The Bjørneparken, “bear park” where families can get up close and personal with bears, elk, lynx, crocodiles and more. Nearby nature parks provide families the chance to see other native creatures including wolves, lynx and moose, and you can even feed some reindeer. Other nearby attractions include playgrounds, activities, a zipline, and a brand-new water park.
For an educational experience take the family to Gardnos meteorite park where geologists show off a meteorite crater and talk about the history and significance relative to the area. If you’re looking to occupy some time with young children, visit Lillehammer – two hours by train from Oslo Airport. At the Lilleputthammer miniature town in Hafjell, activities are designed for children aged 1-8. Hunt down the Northern Lights for a traditional, inspiring view of one of the world’s greatest wonders, or take a sled ride pulled by reindeer. For a thrilling experience, take the family ages 4+ on the Midnight Sun Rib Boat Safari three hour tour where you’re likely to see some wildlife as you speed through Norway’s fjords.
Let us help you get there. As always, we at All Business Class are here to answer all of your international travel questions, online or over the phone.
(Sources: Disney, Visit Norway, G Adventures)