South Africa

I already mentioned that we are going on vacation shortly, but I wanted to share with you a suggestion that my Mother-in-Law made when we first mentioned that we were thinking about going on vacation. The conversation went something like this...

Me: We are going to take a holiday in a few weeks.

MIL : Oh really? Where to?

ME: Not sure yet,but somewhere the flight isn't too long.

MIL: What about South Africa?

Seriously? South Africa is about as far away from the United States as you can get-a nonstop flight from New York to Johannesburg is 15 hours 20 minutes. Not to mention it's not so suitable for a young baby. He won't even be a year old when we fly out! The temperatures would be way too much for him. South Africa is generally considered an arid region; two-thirds of the country receives less than 500mm (20 in.) of rain a year. South Africa has a great variety of climate zones, from the extreme desert of the Kalahari near Namibia to lush subtropical climate along the border with Mozambique. Then there is the transport aspect. South Africa had few paved roads, and the intense heat would knock out cars with less well engineered cooling and oiling systems. South Africa actually tightened its local content rules, requiring vehicles to have domestic-production engines to be considered locally made.

Of course, I would love to visit. There is a lot of interesting things to see and do in South Africa. For example, in South Africa there is no snow, but it has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers being in their full pride. While South Africa has a great wealth of flowering plants, only 1% of South Africa is forest, almost exclusively in the humid coastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal, where there are also areas of Southern Africa mangroves in river mouths. South Africa is also a haven of spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, diverse cultures and first world norms, topped with a healthy and invigorating climate.   

3 Places You Should Consider Visiting with Your Kids

Planning where to go for a vacation can be stressful. But planning where to go that the whole family would have a nice time, especially when you have kids of varying ages, that is a whole different dimension. There are many fancy resorts and vacation destinations in the U.S but only a handful cater to children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Treesort

This is a ‘treesort’ that has achieved international fame. Located in Takilma, Oregon, it is a group of lovely, resort quality accommodation. What is particularly unique about this place is that the lodges are tree houses. It is a child’s dream come true and adults get to enjoy the scenic and picturesque view from lofty heights.

Each lodge is unique and a work of art. The Treezebo is very high up and is in fact, one of the treehouses that is farthest from the ground. The advantage of that is that you get really spectacular views. But if you are not comfortable with such heights however, you could try the Elementree which is a cozy lodge that can take a family with two kids.

This Treesort also operates as a family summer camp with the Treehouse Institute which teaches how to construct a great treehouse so that you can have yours up in your backyard when you go back home. It is safe for children even though basic safety precautions need to be employed.

Arizona

You could decide to make a trip of it to Arizona; don’t forget that this is the home of the Grand Canyon. There are a number of things a family can do in this state and staying at one of the various dude ranches is a great option.

Dude ranches are generally ranches that accept paying guests. You can expect the style to be ranch like but most have modern amenities and some even have luxury spas. The whole family would enjoy the horseback riding. Some have kids’ camps where kids can have fun with games and adventures.

The Grand Canyon Railway with its Dome observation car would certainly fascinate most kids. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you could get to witness an exciting chase by train robbers and watch the Sheriff protect the train.

Disneyland Resort

There is so much to see and do at the Disneyland resort and although there are activities which might be favorites with specific age groups, there is also a ton of stuff that the whole family can enjoy. There are lovely rides for little ones like the Alice in Wonderland ride which is for preschoolers. Your kids would have fun as they follow the Rabbit down the rabbit hole to a whole new world.

The Animation Academy also draws a lot of attention as children of all ages are taken through the basics of creating animation including lessons from Disney artists on how to draw the Disney characters they already love.

Big Thunder Ranch is a petting zoo filled with adorable farm animals like goats, cows, sheep and many more. Your preschoolers would absolutely adore this and so would the older kids as a matter of fact.

The U.S. is filled with so many lovely places where a family can vacationand have fun. These three are worth trying out, if you haven’t already after which, you can explore some other places.