25 Jun 2008
I grew up with animals all around me, and not just dogs and cats. (No, I wasn’t raised by a pack of wolves!) My grandparents happen to have a backyard unlike any backyard you’ve ever seen -- a seven-acre oasis of lush pecan trees, a slow-rushing creek, and wild animals that have roamed the yard for more than 50 years.
As a child, summer was my favorite time of the year at Gram and Granddad’s place. We’d spend hours on their creek-side patio, spotting fireflies as their lights flickered on and off; listening to the distant croak of bullfrogs harmonize with the coo of the owl; and, my most memorable pastime, watching mama raccoons lead their babies down the tree trunks, teaching them the dos and don’ts of life as a raccoon.
Engaging with nature is the norm in my family, but today’s generation of young families aren’t experiencing nature as freely as I did as a child. Inspired by Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, Travelocity recently conducted a poll and discovered that families with children today are visiting national parks and other nature sites much less frequently than previous generations. Twenty-five percent of the Silent Generation (born between 1925 and 1945) report that all of their childhood family vacations included some interaction with nature -- compared to only 15 percent of families traveling with kids today.
What are families doing instead? Big city retreats and amusement parks top the list. To get kids back into nature and help build a deeper appreciation for the environment, Travelocity and Road Trip Wizard developed 15 family road trips that journey through some of America’s most scenic landscapes, giving them a chance to stop and enjoy nature along the way.
Explore the canyons of San Juan National Forest in Southwest Colorado then soak in the hot springs at Box Canyon Lodge; drive through Florida swamps, including Okefenokee and the Everglades, as you head to Miami; or travel along what Charles Kurault called “America’s Most Beautiful Highway” as you relish spectacular scenic vistas of Montana’s National Forests.
Growing up in the Lone Star State, my family would often road trip through Texas Hill Country or head up to Oklahoma, a drastically underrated destination, to camp in its beautiful parks. For me, early interaction with all-things-wild solidified a deep appreciation for the natural world. Families today need to make the same concerted effort to bond with nature, whether it’s exploring a national park, partaking in an urban bird watching expedition, or volunteering outside with your kids.
For more ideas on getting outside with your kids, visit www.travelocity.com/nature.
| Jennifer Gaines, Travelocity’s Contributing Editor, writes for The Window Seat blog and talks travel while on the job, providing tips and advice for local and national media outlets across the U.S. and Canada. |
