Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.

[Anonymous]

We did Denver+ Rocky Mountain national park (Estes Park area). We stayed a few nights at an airbnb in Denver, then drove to RMNP. We stayed at athe YMCA family resort there in a hotel room. There were a TON of free and inexpensive activities at the YMCA property and we also did a private tour of RMNP where someone drove us around to see animals, went to the top, heard local stories, etc.

[Anonymous]

Wondering if OP has ever seen the movie The Guilt Trip with Barbara Streisand. There’s this great scene where they stop at the Grand canyon and they look at it for ten minutes and she turns to her son and is like “are you done?” And he’s like “yeah, I’m good.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here with more context. First, thanks for the input so far.

Kids are in 3rd and 5th grade. I'm the past, we did a hike in the Smokey Mountains as part of a trip to Dollywood, Pigeon Forge. They (and us) enjoyed the amusement park and even kitschy aspects of Pigeon Forge more than the hike that ended at a waterfall. The kids threw some rocks but the waterfall wasn't particularly impressive.

We've done a few hikes in the Shenandoah and after getting to the top, it's just kind of like "cool view, but now what."

DW and went to Iceland and, while I recognize the beauty of the country, it wasn't awe-inspiring. Just "cool... we've seen it." Also hiked a Piton in St. Lucia. It was challenging but I haven't thought of the view ever since

As an individual, I've been to Hawaii. Hiked Diamondhead and Kokohead by myself and just took some pictures and went back down. I also enjoy trail rides on bikes so maybe I'm looking more for outdoor activities that justify the trips.

The responses so far have helped me focus more on my questions: what do families do on "nature trips" beyond hiking or just being outside that may resonate with my family? The dude ranch idea may be interesting but I don't know much about dude ranches.

When people go to Grand Canyon, Sedona, and those places, what else is there to do besides hiking and just looking at the scenery. If we spend a week at Jackson Hole, how donwe feel the whole week? Someone mentioned whitewater rafting so maybe those are the types of things that could be interesting for us.

Thanks so far...I feel like I'm rambling but appreciate the input.

PP who recommended CO in summer.

Activities—your kids are the perfect age for rock climbing and rafting. Ziplines. ATV tour. Alpine coasters and alpine slides.

All very accessible (with guides).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they would like the Smoky Mountains. Stay in one of the touristy towns like Sevierville, go to Dollywood, do a little hiking, go to one of those dinner shows?
There's also white water rafting in West Virginia. Or stay in Asheville, NC, do a little hiking and go to the Biltmore Estate.
also, when you went to Shenandoah did you visit Luray Caverns? Most kids think caves are pretty cool.

You can also see an interesting breed of humans in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here with more context. First, thanks for the input so far.

Kids are in 3rd and 5th grade. I'm the past, we did a hike in the Smokey Mountains as part of a trip to Dollywood, Pigeon Forge. They (and us) enjoyed the amusement park and even kitschy aspects of Pigeon Forge more than the hike that ended at a waterfall. The kids threw some rocks but the waterfall wasn't particularly impressive.

We've done a few hikes in the Shenandoah and after getting to the top, it's just kind of like "cool view, but now what."

DW and went to Iceland and, while I recognize the beauty of the country, it wasn't awe-inspiring. Just "cool... we've seen it." Also hiked a Piton in St. Lucia. It was challenging but I haven't thought of the view ever since

As an individual, I've been to Hawaii. Hiked Diamondhead and Kokohead by myself and just took some pictures and went back down. I also enjoy trail rides on bikes so maybe I'm looking more for outdoor activities that justify the trips.

The responses so far have helped me focus more on my questions: what do families do on "nature trips" beyond hiking or just being outside that may resonate with my family? The dude ranch idea may be interesting but I don't know much about dude ranches.

When people go to Grand Canyon, Sedona, and those places, what else is there to do besides hiking and just looking at the scenery. If we spend a week at Jackson Hole, how donwe feel the whole week? Someone mentioned whitewater rafting so maybe those are the types of things that could be interesting for us.

Thanks so far...I feel like I'm rambling but appreciate the input.

PP who recommended CO in summer.

Activities—your kids are the perfect age for rock climbing and rafting. Ziplines. ATV tour. Alpine coasters and alpine slides.

All very accessible (with guides).

Thank you! This is what I was trying to figure out. I don't think one of my kids will do great at rock climbing, but the other things sound like something we could enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you just not like camping? Do you like things like white water rafting, horseback riding, animal watching, nice views, science like geology? If not those seems pointlesss. If you like any of those things let us lmow and we can pick a good spot.

We enjoy camping but it's the act of camping we enjoy the act of camping more than the scenery (which is incidental). I do think we would enjoy rafting, horseback riding, animal watching and even science. Nice views haven't been awe-inspiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if OP has ever seen the movie The Guilt Trip with Barbara Streisand. There’s this great scene where they stop at the Grand canyon and they look at it for ten minutes and she turns to her son and is like “are you done?” And he’s like “yeah, I’m good.”

OP here and this is hilarious. I haven't seen the movie, but that's the exact reaction. I actually don't have much interest in seeing the Grand Canyon. Maybe once I got there it'd be incredible, but I don't want to plan an entire trip around seeing something that's going to be underwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if OP has ever seen the movie The Guilt Trip with Barbara Streisand. There’s this great scene where they stop at the Grand canyon and they look at it for ten minutes and she turns to her son and is like “are you done?” And he’s like “yeah, I’m good.”

This is our family lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You already know you're going to be disappointed, not sure why you want to waste your time and money.

If you're going to do it, pick a place that has an established town with amenities that you will like. Jackson WY is right next to Grand Teton NP, you might like Bar Harbor and Acadia in Maine, Everglades are an easy trip from Miami, etc. Many of the major parks are very remote, I wouldn't recommend that for you.

I was going to say Jackson Hole/Yellowstone. You could stay in the lodge at Yellowstone, so no camping. Yellowstone has a lot of diversity -waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, travertine terraces, wildlife… I love hiking in the woods, but I get it that it isn’t for everyone. You can hike in the woods in Yellowstone if you want, but also through the prairie, or around geothermal formations that are pretty unique. There are more things to see than just trees and a pretty view (though there is that too). Jackson Hole also has a lot of nature tourism - horseback riding or fly fishing - but it’s a big tourist town so there’s dining and shopping and other things to do there as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here with more context. First, thanks for the input so far.

Kids are in 3rd and 5th grade. I'm the past, we did a hike in the Smokey Mountains as part of a trip to Dollywood, Pigeon Forge. They (and us) enjoyed the amusement park and even kitschy aspects of Pigeon Forge more than the hike that ended at a waterfall. The kids threw some rocks but the waterfall wasn't particularly impressive.

We've done a few hikes in the Shenandoah and after getting to the top, it's just kind of like "cool view, but now what."

DW and went to Iceland and, while I recognize the beauty of the country, it wasn't awe-inspiring. Just "cool... we've seen it." Also hiked a Piton in St. Lucia. It was challenging but I haven't thought of the view ever since

As an individual, I've been to Hawaii. Hiked Diamondhead and Kokohead by myself and just took some pictures and went back down. I also enjoy trail rides on bikes so maybe I'm looking more for outdoor activities that justify the trips.

The responses so far have helped me focus more on my questions: what do families do on "nature trips" beyond hiking or just being outside that may resonate with my family? The dude ranch idea may be interesting but I don't know much about dude ranches.

When people go to Grand Canyon, Sedona, and those places, what else is there to do besides hiking and just looking at the scenery. If we spend a week at Jackson Hole, how donwe feel the whole week? Someone mentioned whitewater rafting so maybe those are the types of things that could be interesting for us.

Thanks so far...I feel like I'm rambling but appreciate the input.

PP who recommended CO in summer.

Activities—your kids are the perfect age for rock climbing and rafting. Ziplines. ATV tour. Alpine coasters and alpine slides.

All very accessible (with guides).

You can also do Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are outdoorsy but not remote. Add Cave of the winds and Manitou Springs (they used to be a huge old arcade, I assume it is still there) I grew up in Colorado but and not outdoorsy now but have done all this with my kid. Flying W ranch is a fun chuck wagon dinner.

[Anonymous]

What is your budget? There are plenty of luxurious resort that are in beautiful natural settings but still have all the amenities and activities you might be looking for.

[Anonymous]

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP. We stayed a 4 nights in Jackson Hole and 4 nights in West Yellowstone at Under Canvas. I am NOT a camper, but Under Canvas was fun! In JH, we also went to the rodeo, did a rafting trip, animal photo safari, and in Yellowstone, saw Old Faithful, other geysers/pots, a long day drive and saw a TON of wildlife (bears, bison, eagles, etc), etc. We did one hike in GTNP over the 10 day trip. You do not have to be outdoorsy people to enjoy the NPs. Trust me!

[Anonymous]

Calgary/Banff (and Drumheller if your kids like dinosaurs!). We like to combine a city/town with natural beauty on trips. This one was great!

[Anonymous]

Would you consider skiing? Years ago we were a beach destination only family. Took up skiing and it's really broadened our vacation trips. We've been to many beautiful destinations all over the world. When we ski internationally, I try to work in a couple nights in the nearest city - Milan, Venice, Geneva, for example.

[Anonymous]

I was going to suggest Yellowstone, but if you were unimpressed by Iceland, you probably won’t love that either.
What kinds of things do you guys enjoy about the trips you take to cities, etc? Knowing that might help.