The Kids are All Right
Children play a significant role in vacation planning, and destinations that appeal to the younger traveler are perennially popular.
According to MMGY Global’s 2015 Portrait of American Travelers®, 75 percent of travelers with children have kids ages 12 and under, while nearly half have teenagers. And out of those who vacation with their kids, around 60 percent say that their children have a role in planning their vacations’ daily activities.
Exciting area activities for children and teens can be a major selling point for resorts—here are four standouts from across the United States, which are prime for promotion to families at the sales table, on social media channels and resort websites and beyond.
Photo credit: Alamy
Wyoming Dinosaur Center Thermopolis, WY
At the Wyoming Dinosaur Center kids can make their own exciting contributions to science by digging up ancient fossils belonging to long-necked herbivores and frightening carnivores alike. After a fossil is found at the excavation site during the “Dig for a Day” program, the fossil, along with the name of the lucky “paleontologist,” will be recorded in the bone registry for all to see. wyodino.org
Photo credit: MASS MoCa PR
Massachusetts MOCA North Adams, MA
This Berkshires museum provides many opportunities for kids of all ages to enjoy and create art. The younger ones in particular can check out Kidspace, a hands-on studio that features exhibitions and other educational experiences in collaboration with leading artists. massmoca.org
Photo credit: Alamy
Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach, SC
Families could spend a night camping out under the stars, but at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, they can spend the night under the sharks. At “Sleep With the Sharks,” attendees watch a dive show, participate in a scavenger hunt and slumber in the Reef Tunnel under the watchful eyes of the big fish above. ripleyaquariums.com (Photo credit: Alamy)
Photo credit: Alamy
Moaning Cavern Adventure Park Vallecito, CA
Thrill-seeking teens can get their adrenaline fix during a three-hour Cave Adventure Trip at Moaning Cavern Adventure Park. After an optional 165-foot rope rappel, cavers follow highly trained guides through a series of caverns traversable by climbing and belly crawling. Walking tours are also available for the entire family. caverntours.com
For more on the rise of family travel, read “Mapping Multigenerational Travel,” published in the Q2 2016 issue of RCI Ventures® magazine.
