Stress-Free, Worry-Free Family Vacations

by Krista Marshall (2005)
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Anyone blessed with energetic, half-crazed children knows that family vacations can be exhausting and stressful. The typical vacation to Wally World or a forest campground can be overwhelming. The planning, the endless visits to the ATM machine, and the pressure to keep coming up with fun things to do adds to the list of stressful details a simple family vacation can entail. Vacations should be worthwhile, restful, and natural bonding experiences. However, left to chance, most family outings are typically confined to commonplace tourist activities where you are more of an observer than a participant. For kids today, the virtual reality of sitting in front of computer or video games for hours and hours, may seem the only natural way of experiencing something new. Have we gotten to the point where observing passively is much easier and comfortable than the alternative?

So what is the alternative? Consider for a moment a family vacation filled with action packed hours of biking the back country, hiking to high mountain vistas, and rafting down white water rapids. Throw in wildlife observation with a local naturalist, a gourmet picnic by an alpine lake, a quiet horseback ride, and at the end of the day, an herbal massage for mom and dad, a delightful meal and luxurious accommodations at a five-star lodge. Sounds enticing, doesn't it? This is what vacations should really be about. Taking yourself out of your everyday element and giving yourself over to an adventure – active, achievable, and pampering.

There is a small company in Montana that has been doing just this for over 20 years – Austin Lehman Adventures. They take the stress and worry out of family vacations with what director Dan Austin calls "seamless execution." "When you are out riding your bike, rafting, or hiking, someone's putting your luggage in your room, turning down your bed, making dinner reservations, and putting a mint on your pillow."

Family vacations need not be taxing and worrisome. What better way to experience your children and your spouse than to get out and play, be a kid and enjoy the beauty of the natural world around us- while letting professionals take care of all the details and arrangements. Educating our children on an active lifestyle and the magic of nature is a key tool to ensuring national parks, rivers, and public lands are protected and enjoyed for future generations. What better way to introduce your children to these wonderful geographies than to go there, experience it, and play in it

For those who love all the aspects of an action vacation and want nothing more than the very best in relaxation and enjoyment, Austin Lehman Adventures can offer you a trip of a lifetime. For them, the details are part of their style. They offer over nine expressly designed family vacations for you and yours. What's more, the lodging, transportation, food, personalized attention, and equipment are all included, so you and your family can just play. This is what a real, carefree vacation should be... without any worry and stress!

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