New York is our favorite city and one we are lucky to call home, but travel inspires us in so many ways. I’m always looking for new locations and experiences to share that are both educational and entertaining. I asked Katrina Garnett, a mom of three, president and CEO of My Little Swans, a travel site for her top picks for hot, new winter travel.
1 – Sri Lanka is wonderful for families – the Sinhalese are famously welcoming and indulgent of children. The island offers gorgeous sandy beaches, tea plantations, elephant sanctuaries, fantastic wildlife, beautiful temples and palaces, and incredibly diverse scenery, all in a country the size of West Virginia. Kids can ride elephants, bike through villages, go white-water rafting, ride an historic train through the highlands, or visit a sea turtle hatchery.
2 – Iceland is another that’s high on her list. Most travelers will want to go in summer, when the sun barely sets and the natural attractions are more accessible. But winter offers much lower prices, and the locals celebrate Christmas in a big way. The landscapes are pristine and spectacular year-round, and offer a huge variety of activities like snowshoeing, kayaking, glacier hikes, snowmobiling, salmon fishing and whale watching – perfect for outdoor-loving kids.
3 – She recently traveled with her family to Peru. “You can actually do it in a week, and because it's so close to the equator, the weather is pretty temperate all year round”, she said. The wonderful food and the hospitable people make it a very easy trip, and it's very accessible - flying overnight to Lima, then going straight to Cusco (which is a culturally rich city – stay at the Hotel Monasterio), then taking the train up to Machu Picchu. She did not do the 4-day Inca trail, but they did stay at the Sanctuary Lodge, which is on the actual grounds of Machu Picchu. “It was a breathtaking experience. Kids of any age will be impressed.”
4 - Argentina is a relatively easy overnight direct flight from most US gateways to Buenos Aires. The food, the people, and the activities are hard to match. "One of the most exciting things we did was hike the glaciers and horse ride all over Patagonia. No experience required", she said Also staying at the family-run estancias is like being in a local's actual home. “It’s very special – and you meet other interesting families from all over the world.” Many Argentines are originally from Spain, France, and Italy, so the food and culture is an amazing mix. And polo season starts in November!
5 - If that still seems too far, head north. Nimmo Bay in British Columbia and Paws Up in Montana are great resorts, filled with children's activities. Or head to Alaska where little kids can enjoy rugged outdoors trips. They have ‘bear’ camp trips and King Salmon fishing on the Kenai peninsula. Katrina took a trip with just sea planes, which offer complete freedom for flying over volcanoes, Denali, glaciers, Beluga Whales, and landing on pristine glacial lakes for fishing and seeing bears. “We have also charted boats for sailing down the inside passage and around Admiralty Island for seeing bears and whales, and then doing lots of salmon fishing and lots of kayaking!” Once you have worked your way up from bears, Africa and Australia is a natural next step.
Here are some others for winter travel:
South Africa
Cox & Kings offers a trip through South Africa’s vast and malaria free safari realm, where kids will learn the value of giving back both to local townspeople and to wildlife. The adventure begins in the Madikwe Game Reserve in the north to Shamwari in the south – looking for the Big Five. That’s lions, elephants, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino. Young travelers meet local kids over a game of soccer and plant trees that they can track on Google Earth for years to come.
Myanmar
Now is the time to visit Myanmar while it is still authentic. Political changes over the past year have resulted in a new focus on this long-forgotten country as a tourist destination. As a result, demand for luxury hotels in this charming destination has never been higher. It’s beautiful, peaceful and unspoilt. The locals are genuinely friendly and families welcomed. There’s a strong textile and handicraft tradition and many Buddhist festivals.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica a great destination for active families since it’s so rich in wildlife and rainforests. Ziplining in the jungle, floating down the rivers of Tortuguero National Park, visiting the Arenal volcano and a local school is part of this trip from December 27 to January 2.
Julie Earle-Levine is Stroller Traffic's Hamptons editor. She also writes for New York Magazine and New York Times among other publications. Julie lives in New York, with husband Jeff and her son Jack, who is 5.