Let's face it—unless you're toting along toddlers or very small children, those endless days spent on a beach or with that bow-tied mouse and his pals can become pretty tedious. This year, the trend in family vacations is all about pushing the envelope, with adventure travel that runs from moderate to extreme. This could mean anything from heading west for a routh-and-ready week at a Montana dude ranch, to chartering an intimate crewed barge for a river cruise through Europe or traveling half-way around the world for an African safari. The important thing is to think outisde the box and come up with some ideas that fit your family's ages, interests, budget, and sense of adventure (here's where your Hideaways Travel Specialist comes in).

January 2011