Anonymous
02/28/2026 23:17
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
You could look into Paws Up in Montana. There are things to do that don’t involve horses. I also agree with the people here who mentioned Bar Harbor and Acadia. You can do some of the easier hikes/walls but you don’t have to camp.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 23:04
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Try Coata Rica. Ziplines, hot springs, monkeys and other wildlife, horseback riding, were all activities that made the views exciting.
Anonymous
02/28/2026 15:12
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
This is going to sound obnoxious, so I apologize in advance. Learning how to look, and slowing down to read a landscape might help. Even old fashion games like: what do you see in the clouds helps.
You can do the same game in different landscapes. Describe the rocks. Feel the textures. What do they tell you about how the places you are standing formed.
What do the kids hear? How many different animal sounds?
Download the Merlin bird app. Stop and see what they get better at recognizing.
The national parks are understaffed now, but they used to run regular ranger programs which helped families engage. Find out where there will be ranger programs operating.
Having kids do the junior Ranger badges is fun. Hire a guide if you have to.
Have kids help put together trail snacks. Buy them little compasses and learn how to read them. Note directions and location of sun at start, end and different times in hike.
Where is water relative to trail and elevation?
If you are driving and don’t know how to engage with the area, the Guide Along apps can be helpful.
It’s the walk, not the destination.
You can do the same game in different landscapes. Describe the rocks. Feel the textures. What do they tell you about how the places you are standing formed.
What do the kids hear? How many different animal sounds?
Download the Merlin bird app. Stop and see what they get better at recognizing.
The national parks are understaffed now, but they used to run regular ranger programs which helped families engage. Find out where there will be ranger programs operating.
Having kids do the junior Ranger badges is fun. Hire a guide if you have to.
Have kids help put together trail snacks. Buy them little compasses and learn how to read them. Note directions and location of sun at start, end and different times in hike.
Where is water relative to trail and elevation?
If you are driving and don’t know how to engage with the area, the Guide Along apps can be helpful.
It’s the walk, not the destination.
Anonymous
02/27/2026 10:04
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our family sounds similar to yours and we are not campers. We did a family tour through the Canadian Rockies and it is by far one of the our favorite trips. The kids talk about it and reference it all the time. It has become a vacation by which others are compared!
What was your itinerary? Any hotels you loved? thanks!!
This was a group tour with Tauck and was one of the best trips we have ever taken as a family. It was about $5000 per person about 2 years ago and the trip was 8 days. We had a guide who was with us the entire time and traveled by bus.
We started in Calgary and went to Lake Louise. We stayed in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise which was luxurious and absolutely gorgeous, right on the lake. We had a guided tour but then also time to take advantage of the things that the hotel had to offer. From there we drove up to Jasper with stops along the way. We saw a ton of wildlife including bears and caribou. In Jasper we stayed at the Jasper Lodge. This was honestly probably a favorite. Unfortunately, right after our trip were the wildfires. I know that the lodge is just fine but the city of Jasper sustained heavy damage. So sad. they literally were just remarking that it had been quite some time since they'd had wildfires. The lodge was incredible with so much to do. Lots of free time and family time. After Jasper, we headed to Banff with a stop at a glacier, ice field. Lots of fun and broke up the trip. We got to Banff and stayed in the Fairmont there. This was absolute bucket list for me and as beautiful and amazing as I had hoped. Every day had some touring and some free time to just explore.
I really can't recommend this trip enough. Just the scenery was breathtaking but there was also so much to do and see. Because we did the tour we didn't have to worry about park passes, entry lines etc.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 16:27
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Anonymous wrote:Our family sounds similar to yours and we are not campers. We did a family tour through the Canadian Rockies and it is by far one of the our favorite trips. The kids talk about it and reference it all the time. It has become a vacation by which others are compared!
What was your itinerary? Any hotels you loved? thanks!!
Anonymous
02/26/2026 13:33
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
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.
We've spent a lot of time on both sides of the Tetons. You could land in Jackson, drive north and spend a day or two in Yellowstone (Old Faithful worth it for kids that age). If arrive at dusk and get up early, you will see wildlife. Less reliably in daytime but you will see some. Do a few small hikes. Take books/laminated charts for kids to identify animals/birds/plants/flowers. That's an age when they can do it.
Exit north of the park. Book a night at one of the hot springs lodges. We like Chico. Do a hike, maybe with a scat and track book. Enjoy the hot springs and a nice dinner.
Leave next morning. Enjoy lunch in Livingston and spend the night in Bozeman. Book one of their great restaurants. Check out a couple museums.
Get up the next morning and make your way back to Jackson via Driggs, ID. If there is a music festival at Grand Targhee, check it out.
Spend a few nights in Jackson. Do the ropes course at the top of Snow King. Take a rafting trip. See the elk. Eat at the great restaurants.
Fly home.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 12:01
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
If you want to go further afield, my trip to Norway decades ago is still a favorite.
I went at 18 with my mom. We started with Oslo as our base and the did a day (hopping on and off the train) of towns to the southeast. Tonsberg had a Viking ship museum and some ruins we climbed up to - so some time outdoors in nature without it being the focus per se. The Lillehammer folk museum similarly is a beautiful walk from the train station.
We then took the “Norway in a nutshell” trip across to Bergen via train and boat which takes you across a glacier and into a fjord. There’s a tram up the mountain in Bergen but we didn’t do that.
We then took a mail boat that stops at villages along the fjords to get from Bergen to Stavanger. It was stunning.
We couldn’t stay in Stavanger because we planned late and there was a festival going on so we went to Kristansand (I think?) where the next day we did a hiking trail before catching a train back to Oslo. It was a great mix of museums and culture and exploration, we were in nice hotels very night (ie no camping) but we found plenty of nature and hiking and time on the water enjoying the breath taking scenery. We are nature people but I think this could work well for others too.
I went at 18 with my mom. We started with Oslo as our base and the did a day (hopping on and off the train) of towns to the southeast. Tonsberg had a Viking ship museum and some ruins we climbed up to - so some time outdoors in nature without it being the focus per se. The Lillehammer folk museum similarly is a beautiful walk from the train station.
We then took the “Norway in a nutshell” trip across to Bergen via train and boat which takes you across a glacier and into a fjord. There’s a tram up the mountain in Bergen but we didn’t do that.
We then took a mail boat that stops at villages along the fjords to get from Bergen to Stavanger. It was stunning.
We couldn’t stay in Stavanger because we planned late and there was a festival going on so we went to Kristansand (I think?) where the next day we did a hiking trail before catching a train back to Oslo. It was a great mix of museums and culture and exploration, we were in nice hotels very night (ie no camping) but we found plenty of nature and hiking and time on the water enjoying the breath taking scenery. We are nature people but I think this could work well for others too.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 09:36
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Anonymous wrote:Our family sounds similar to yours and we are not campers. We did a family tour through the Canadian Rockies and it is by far one of the our favorite trips. The kids talk about it and reference it all the time. It has become a vacation by which others are compared!
What was your itinerary?
Anonymous
02/26/2026 09:34
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
As a non-nature loving person, I loved driving around the big island of Hawaii.
Anonymous
02/26/2026 09:31
Subject: Re:Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Anonymous wrote:DP. I know others have suggested some of this, but it sounds to me like you should make a city that is surrounded by nature your base, instead of planning a "nature focused trip." That way, there is plenty to do if you tire of the natural world (I personally cannot relate to this, but I'm trying to help).
Some suggestions:
Portland, Ore./Oregon Coast/Astoria: this combines Portland, which has Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, a wonderful zoo, rose gardens, and quirkiness with the gorgeous Oregon coast. Lots of short, easy hikes, can visit the Tillamook creamery, and spend time on the beach (although the water is cold). Astoria is a fun town on the Columbia River where Goonies was filmed with some interesting history. Some good Lewis and Clark sites if you are interested.
Seattle/San Juan Islands/Vancouver: Seattle has lots to do, and is close to several national parks. You can drive to the Cascades without having to do much hiking. The San Juan Islands are lovely and Maine-like, and you can see Killer whales there. Add Vancouver if you have time.
San Diego/La Jolla/Anza Borrego State Park/Joshua Tree National Park
San Francisco/Sausalito/Muir Woods/Yosemite
Las Vegas/Hoover Dam/Bryce/Zion: Beyond these, if you have time, there are the other Utah national parks and lots to see in Moab, but this involves a lot of driving and is very nature-based.
The Canadian Rockies are spectacular, but that is a very nature-based trip with a fair amount of driving. Calgary doesn't have much to do unless you go during rodeo season. Both Banff and Canmore are close to the national parks and are good places to stay.
OP back again. This is solid advice. Thanks
Anonymous
02/25/2026 12:03
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Our family sounds similar to yours and we are not campers. We did a family tour through the Canadian Rockies and it is by far one of the our favorite trips. The kids talk about it and reference it all the time. It has become a vacation by which others are compared!
Tell us more about this trip! I want to visit the Canadian Rockies.
This was an amazing trip! It was with Tauck and was for my parents for their 50th anniversary. But I'm certain there are other companies to look into. We started in Calgary and went to Lake Louise, Jasper, a glacier and then Banff. It was a bucket list trip for me for sure. There were so many activities to do but the mountains and surroundings were absolutely breathtaking. Our family was really able to just relax, have fun and enjoy everything around us. I personally really liked the tour aspect of it because I felt like we learned so much about where we were. There was also free time to explore. It was the perfect balance.
Can you share how much it was per person? Thanks!
Anonymous
02/22/2026 11:44
Subject: Re:Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Costa Rica
Anonymous
02/21/2026 22:26
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Maybe think about activities—snorkeling, horseback riding,… —something that feels more “doing” focused within nature.Kudos for exploring/expanding!
Anonymous
02/21/2026 20:13
Subject: Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
Olympic national park, take the ferry to Victoria, and spend a few days in Seattle
Anonymous
02/21/2026 15:50
Subject: Re:Recommend a nature focused trip for family that doesn't care for nature.
DP. I know others have suggested some of this, but it sounds to me like you should make a city that is surrounded by nature your base, instead of planning a "nature focused trip." That way, there is plenty to do if you tire of the natural world (I personally cannot relate to this, but I'm trying to help).
Some suggestions:
Portland, Ore./Oregon Coast/Astoria: this combines Portland, which has Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, a wonderful zoo, rose gardens, and quirkiness with the gorgeous Oregon coast. Lots of short, easy hikes, can visit the Tillamook creamery, and spend time on the beach (although the water is cold). Astoria is a fun town on the Columbia River where Goonies was filmed with some interesting history. Some good Lewis and Clark sites if you are interested.
Seattle/San Juan Islands/Vancouver: Seattle has lots to do, and is close to several national parks. You can drive to the Cascades without having to do much hiking. The San Juan Islands are lovely and Maine-like, and you can see Killer whales there. Add Vancouver if you have time.
San Diego/La Jolla/Anza Borrego State Park/Joshua Tree National Park
San Francisco/Sausalito/Muir Woods/Yosemite
Las Vegas/Hoover Dam/Bryce/Zion: Beyond these, if you have time, there are the other Utah national parks and lots to see in Moab, but this involves a lot of driving and is very nature-based.
The Canadian Rockies are spectacular, but that is a very nature-based trip with a fair amount of driving. Calgary doesn't have much to do unless you go during rodeo season. Both Banff and Canmore are close to the national parks and are good places to stay.
Some suggestions:
Portland, Ore./Oregon Coast/Astoria: this combines Portland, which has Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, a wonderful zoo, rose gardens, and quirkiness with the gorgeous Oregon coast. Lots of short, easy hikes, can visit the Tillamook creamery, and spend time on the beach (although the water is cold). Astoria is a fun town on the Columbia River where Goonies was filmed with some interesting history. Some good Lewis and Clark sites if you are interested.
Seattle/San Juan Islands/Vancouver: Seattle has lots to do, and is close to several national parks. You can drive to the Cascades without having to do much hiking. The San Juan Islands are lovely and Maine-like, and you can see Killer whales there. Add Vancouver if you have time.
San Diego/La Jolla/Anza Borrego State Park/Joshua Tree National Park
San Francisco/Sausalito/Muir Woods/Yosemite
Las Vegas/Hoover Dam/Bryce/Zion: Beyond these, if you have time, there are the other Utah national parks and lots to see in Moab, but this involves a lot of driving and is very nature-based.
The Canadian Rockies are spectacular, but that is a very nature-based trip with a fair amount of driving. Calgary doesn't have much to do unless you go during rodeo season. Both Banff and Canmore are close to the national parks and are good places to stay.