Plan ahead for trip of lifetime

There are family vacations. And then there are epic adventures that may qualify as the experience of a lifetime. Here are three to consider now.

• Join an expedition

Plan ahead for a winter holiday voyage to introduce the budding scientists in your clan to a one-of-a-kind wilderness. In addition to seeing penguins waddle or whales breach amid blue-tinged icebergs, kids (and adults) will learn how climate change is affecting the ice and wildlife as part of an Antarctic expedition. During an Abercrombie & Kent journey to this wild southernmost destination, zip to remote islands via Zodiac boats where seals loll on the ice, view ever-changing ice formations, observe penguin colonies and embrace the opportunity to step where few have ventured before. Your family will also learn nautical knot-tying with a former British Royal Marine commando, join kids-only scavenger hunts, and learn from deep-sea presentations by a marine biologist as well as a photo-coaching workshop for teens and kids-only Zodiac lessons with a naturalist guide.

For more: www.AbercrombieKent.com

• Plan a family safari

Visit northern Tanzania’s Serengeti for a wildlife viewing and cultural extravaganza. Home to more than 3,000 lions and leopards as well as zebras, wildebeests, warthogs and waterbuck, it’s a magical sanctuary best known for the great migration.

With the Four Seasons Serengeti as your basecamp, choose to explore via half and full day jeep tours, walking safaris, or from the basket of a high-flying, hot air balloon. The excitement doesn’t end when you return to the lodge, where a watering hole serves up hydrating sustenance to elephant families daily.

Dine on the veranda, with views of the plains, where giraffe and topi graze in the distance. Kids can visit the discovery center to learn about Maasai history and culture, the significance of the Serengeti Cheetah Project and life in the bush. Relax at the spa, take a family cooking class and be amazed by a live performance of tribal dance and song.

For more: https://www.fourseasons.com/serengeti; https://www.tanzaniatourism.go.tz/destination/PARK/49

• Revel in a river cruise

Unpack. Settle in and let the adventure begin.

Explore the Rhine, Danube or Seine river valleys with your family or multigenerational group from aboard a luxury AmaWaterways ship. With itineraries crafted to your family’s preferences, each day you’ll take part in active adventures or culturally immersive experiences in compelling destinations.

Knowledgeable Disney adventure guides, paired with local storytellers, combine talents to ensure each member of the family gets maximum enjoyment from the trip. Wander through medieval castles, sample local cuisine, pedal along the river bank and enjoy private tours and insider access to popular attractions. Adventure guides are at the ready to engage youngsters in evening activities so the adults may opt for dining experience.

Expect an all-inclusive, backstage pass-style adventure through the heart of Europe.

For more: https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/trip-selector/river-cruise/; https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2023