Summer vacation: Off the beaten path
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Looking to hit the road with the family? Why not consider the road less traveled? Off the beaten path adventures can be exciting, educational and can help you create rich memories for your family. Where can you go? Family lifestyle and travel expert Donna Bozzo, known as The Lady With The Alligator Purse, has some ideas.
"You don't have to travel far," she said, "you just have to, what I call, travel wide to find unusual, enriching adventures."
Consider A Learning Vacation
Shedd Adventures
If your family is inspired by the wildlife you've discovered at the Shedd Aquarium, trace the animals' footsteps back to their natural habitats. Custom-designed Shedd Adventures take you to see the animals you've met at the Shedd in their natural habitats, while traveling with Shedd experts. Trips are available to Alaska in July and to Canada in August, where you can come face to face with Beluga whales. Scheduled trips for spring and summer 2015 include a dive trip to Fiji, travel to Costa Rica, a journey to South Africa and an iguana expedition.
Sleep Atop A Mountain
Le Conte Lodge in the Smokey Mountains
Situated atop Mount LeConte at 6400 feet, Le Conte Lodge in the Smokey Mountains is the highest lodge in the Eastern United States, and there is no road leading there. The only way to get to LeConte Lodge is to hike 5 1/2 miles up the mountain. On the way you may even pass the pack of llamas carrying supplies to the lodge, the only way to get supplies up and down the mountain. You stay in log cabins with kerosene lanterns and propane heaters. One-room cabins are available, or you can book a larger one or two bedroom lodge. There is no electricity in the cabins and big meals are served in the dining hall. It can be tricky to get reservations as guests reserve up to a year in advance, but it's worth the work and advance planning. There are waitings lists to which you can add your name and they will call you if the requested date opens up. To find out about last minute cancelations and openings, follow them on Twitte: @LeConte.
Add A Twist To An Overnight Stay:
Stay with an Amish Family
Remember that travel off the beaten path does not need to last your whole vacation. Look for adventures along the way, or consider adding a twist to an overnight stay to make it interesting and educational. Instead of checking into a regular hotel, venture off the road most traveled where the road is mostly traveled by horse and buggy and spend the night with an Amish family. It is a delightful way to learn more about a very different way of life, where there are no cars or electricity, and life is dominated by simple foods and simple dress. Milk cows, take a buggy ride, go to an animal swap meet where you can trade two ducks for a pig. It is neat to learn how the Amish lives are different and many ways the same as ours.
