According to travel industry watchdogs, all-inclusive family vacations are now more popular than ever. Why? Busy moms, who are most often the vacation decision-makers, and who juggle careers, kids, carpooling and meal planning, are increasingly drawn to vacations where every detail, every decision and every meal is planned and provided.
"Almost all of our trips are booked by the mom," says Kurt Selisch, owner/operator of Middle Fork River Tours, one of the top rafting outfitters on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon, a popular family vacation destination. "They are drawn to the adventurous and all-inclusive nature of our trips."
Compared to other all-inclusive vacations like cruises, tours, resort packages and amusement parks, notes Selisch, a rafting trip on the Middle Fork provides an exceptional value. Guests are treated to professional guides, top-of-the-line equipment, gourmet meals prepared and served riverside, world-class whitewater, breathtaking scenery and off-river activities like hiking, fishing, soaking in natural hot springs and exploring Native American history -- all for about $300 per day.
"When you consider the price of a gourmet meal in a restaurant, the cost of admission to an amusement park, or the price of a fishing guide for a day, a Middle Fork river trip provides all of these and more at a fraction of the cost," adds Les Bechdel, owner/operator of Canyons, Inc., another top Middle Fork outfitter. "Plus, families reconnect when life is slowed to "˜river pace;' they interact more and share experiences without the distractions of everyday life."
More good news: travel to Idaho, often referred to as the "backbone of the Northern Rockies," doesn't require a passport! The season on Idaho's Middle Fork runs from June through September, and trips typically run five or six days, depending on the departure date. For more information, trips dates and prices, visit or call:
Canyons, Inc., 1-888-634-2600, www.canyonsinc.com
Middle Fork River Tours, 1-800-445-9738, www.middlefork.com
Hughes River Expeditions, 1-800-262-1882, www.hughesriver.com
Rocky Mountain River Tours, 1-208-345-2400, www.rafttrips.com
Idaho River Journeys, 1-888-997-8399, www.idahoriverjourneys.com
Solitude River Trips, 1-800-396-1776, www.rivertrips.com
Note to Media: For photos, interviews or to arrange for a media trip on the Middle Fork, contact Sue Cawdrey, 1-415-789-9036, sue@cawdrey.com.