5 ideas for first trip of new year

Whether you seek sun, snow or the sea, now is the time to plan your next family getaway.

Fairy tales come true

Visit Scotland’s extraordinary castles to stoke the creativity of young travelers. Inside the centuries-old walls, it will be easy to imagine living in the pages of a storybook. At Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important historical sites, and once a favored residence of the Stewart kings and queens, costumed characters bring history to life. Beneath the palace are vaults with fun, interactive exhibitions that appeal to young visitors. Once the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Glamis Castle is renowned for its rich history and famous visitors, from Mary, Queen of Scots to James V. For breathtaking coastal ruins, plan a family itinerary that includes Tantallon Castle in East Lothian or Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.

For more: www.VisitScotland.com

Basecamp hotels

Clever and cool, kids will love the cozy options available at boutique hotels, where exploring the mountain community is strongly encouraged. In South Lake Tahoe, Calif., the Great Indoor Family Room sports two queens and two twin-sized loft bunkbeds overhead, each with luxurious bedding with triple sheeting and 300 thread count linens. Also, expect high-speed internet, and large flat screen TVs, plus, a microwave, mini-fridge and a gear rack for storing or drying your gear. Designed as an alternative to a cookie cutter hotel, owners have repurposed “underappreciated” buildings and infused them with “soul.” Happy hour includes homemade soups and stews. No surprise: s’mores are served nightly.

For more: BasecampHotels.com

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Just 50 miles south of San Francisco, enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as you and your family learn how mariners once navigated the central California coast with the help of the 116-foot lighthouse. Be on the lookout for whales, wade into tide pools and catch the star show overhead. An affordable seaside option, the unique hostel offers vacation-rental-style accommodations spread out over several buildings, and ideal for groups of family and friends. Cook your own meals in the fully equipped kitchen. Free history talks are offered on weekends.

For more: www.NorcalHostels.org

Learn to dive

From this small, family-friendly Caribbean island, your clan can enjoy a dive vacation that includes exploring the 70 named dive sites in the waters around Cayman Brac as well as the Russian Frigate and the Bloody Bay Wall near Little Cayman Island.

At Brac Reef, the on-site dive shop provides personalized attention to the soon-to-be certified as well as the seasoned diver.

The all-inclusive, beachfront resort also offers free bike rentals to explore the island, spa services and volleyball. While exploring, note that the lush green forests throughout Cayman Brac are home to endangered parrots, brown boobies and peregrine falcons.

For more: www.BracReef.com; www.PADI.com

Lone Mountain Ranch

Just a stone’s throw from Yellowstone National Park’s northwest border, in the shadow of Lone Peak, you’ll find a cluster of hand-built cabins. Authentic and luxurious, the historic accommodations, tucked creekside, in the pine trees or in meadows, help visitors conjure the days when the property was a working cattle ranch, operating in untamed country. Then, like now, the region is home to stunning vistas, and abundant wildlife. In the company of guides or on your own, adventurers have the chance to explore the last best place via Nordic and downhill skis, snowshoes or snuggled up aboard a horse-drawn sleigh.

For more: www.LoneMountainRanch.com