Veteran family adventure vacations outfitter, O.A.R.S., announces the release of its new family catalog and a 2013 line-up of 22 life-changing adventures, many suitable for families with children as young as four.
“Our 2013 Family Catalog showcases easy-to-epic adventures for families looking to unplug from technology and reconnect as a family,” says Steve Markle, O.A.R.S. marketing director. “Introducing kids to the fun of splashing around in rivers can help foster a new generation of adventurers and a deeper appreciation for the environment.”
The adventure line up embraces the iconic rivers of America’s West, including the Grand Canyon plus lake, mountain and sea journeys in British Columbia, Alaska, Costa Rica, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos.
“While families are unplugging and reconnecting, our guides take care of the meals, all the activities and camp set-up is a breeze. Our trips are all-inclusive and virtually every night features riverside, beachfront accommodations with a view,” says Markle.
The 22 family adventure vacations featured in the 2013 Catalog include classic family rafting trips as well as a selection of thoughtfully designed multi-sport family adventures. The trips are presented as those appropriate for ages four years and up and then for ages seven and up. Another section, Epic Excursions, outlines rafting and multi-sport programs for families with teens.
Of special note is a guest article by a single mother, Tricia Slavic, who was bemoaning the fact that taking her youngsters camping—by herself—was more than she could handle.
“Then, last summer, a friend who had just returned from an O.A.R.S. trip suggested that it might be just the thing I was looking for—an outdoor vacation in which all I had to do, essentially, was just show up,” she writes. “After years of keeping our family afloat by myself, it was an amazing gift to just sit back and let someone else do the work.”
Multi-generational families factor often into the O.A.R.S. mix. Last summer, a family separated by several states and three generations met up on the Gorges of the Lower Salmon River inIdaho. The group numbered 17, with ages from eight to 71.
“The kids have never done anything like that before … they said that it was one of the best things that ever happened to them,” reminisced Eunice Albright, the grandmother.
On each trip a “Fun Director” leads nature walks and activities. Some of the guides like to get the whole gang involved in fingernail and toenail painting! In general, just four to six hours per day are spent rafting, after which rafts can be turned upside down to become water slides before moving onto land to play glow-in-the-dark bocci ball horseshoes or tug-of-war.
Trips range from two days / one night to 11 days / 10 nights. Adventures recommended for families with young children are on waters with lower class rapids, which are rated “easy.”
The 2013 O.A.R.S. Family Adventures Catalog is available free of charge at oars.com/catalog or by calling (800) 346-6277 or emailing [email protected].
O.A.R.S. video library features an array of informative segments, including a brand-new family adventures video: http://www.oars.com/videos/oars-family-rafting
About O.A.R.S.
Some 500,000 guests later, O.A.R.S. has been providing whitewater rafting vacations since 1969. Over the decades the company has set the standard in first-class rafting, sea kayaking and multi-sport adventure, with destinations and unparalleled experiences on over 35 rivers and coastlines around the world. O.A.R.S. caters to active travelers of all ages and abilities with more than 75 unique itineraries, including one-day and weekend escapes. In 2012, for the sixth consecutive year, Condé Nast Traveler recognized Mindy Gleason, O.A.R.S. Reservation Manager and International Adventure Travel Consultant, as Condé Nast Traveler’s standalone Top Travel Specialist in the River Rafting category. In 2013 Outside, America’s leading multimedia active-lifestyle brand, named O.A.R.S. one of the top two outfitters in the world in its annual Active Travel Awards recognition program.