Rediscovering Family Time Through Adventure
When was the last time a winter vacation got you this fired up? Backroads, the trailblazer in active getaways, is bucking the trend of typical holiday madness. Families are ditching the usual gift-giving grind for something way more memorable: experiences that blend action with bonding across generations.
Big Numbers, Big Memories
This ain't your average Christmas tab. Family bookings with Backroads have ballooned nearly 20% this year. It's all about grabbing the kids, parents, and even the spry grandparents for trips that are becoming hot ticket items. The early indicators for 2027? They only further confirm the growing itch for adventure-filled escapades. Particularly notable is the surge in Kids & Teens trips, signaling a shift in how families are making memories.
Customize the Challenge
Every family knows: one size doesn't fit all on the adventure spectrum. Backroads gets it. You might have gramps choosing the extended hike for a bit of solitude up the trail, while the teens lounge at the pool. It’s this flexibility in tailor-made challenges that has families coming back for more, sharing tales and laughter over what they saw, did, or hilariously slipped on.
"What I love about a family trip is that you get to see each other a little differently," mused Tom Hale, Backroads' top brass. These aren't just trips; they're lifelong memory-makers.
Not Your Average Destinations
- Costa Rica: From surfing to spotting sloths, families build memories that won’t fade faster than your tan.
- Patagonia: Imagine holiday tables with home-made empanadas and stunning lake views. Summertime in the southern hemisphere has its perks.
- Big Island, Hawaii: Lava tubes might just spark the curiosity in even the most screen-addicted teen.
- Vietnam: Bike rides and market strolls mean more stories to share long after leaving the lantern-lit streets.
- Iceland: Family togetherness goes beyond freezing in front of frozen waterfalls—it's about the awe of nature.
- Santa Barbara: Gathering around nature rather than screens with activities aplenty.
- Canadian Rockies: Glide across ice like pros or track down wildlife. Every excursion is an experience to bond over.
Gift an Experience, Not Stuff
Backroads is throwing in gift certificates as the cherry on the travel sundae. No expiration dates mean total freedom on when to hit 'go' on a new adventure. Families are wising up—realizing that shared moments trump material goods.
The Backroads Legacy
Since 1979, when Tom Hale kickstarted this enterprise, Backroads has been redefining what it means to travel with purpose. Operating in over 60 countries with hundreds of itineraries, they excel at making a vacation feel like a new lease on life. Service, planning, and local character immersion are the pillars keeping this house of adventure standing tall.
Pack up the spirit of adventure along with those basics, and hit the road with family in tow. These aren't just trips; they're stories you'll recount and laugh over for years. And if the market's any indication, this trend of choosing experiences over stuff is a surefire investment in forging family ties that last.
