I just learned of a great trip for families with kids eight-years and older for the winter school holidays that sounds ideal for mom, dad, grandma and grandpa as well as the kiddies. Butterfield & Robinson of Toronto, Canada have organized a trip where kids can track tapirs, whitewater raft, mountain bike through rainforests and pretend they're Survivors. They claim the trip is so cool that teens will actually enjoy hanging out with the old folks. Having spent many happy days visiting Panama by land, sea and air, I agree that this is a destination aptly suited for family holiday travel. It is fairly close to home, undiscovered and tourist-friendly. (I also found great buys in 18-karat gold jewelry on each of my visits.) This Central American country is impressive for its unforgettable combination of rainforest, highlands and sandy white beaches. They also have lots of active adventures for kids and adults during the seven-day itinerary which also takes in all the sights, including the Panama Canal, but unfortunately not the San Blas Island which the Radisson Seven Seas arranged for its passengers to see as well as a show of native dancers at the Yacht Club, another stop on that delightful cruise.However, this program uses three internal flights to whisk the participants from the Chiriqui Highlands to the awesome Pearl Islands to Soberania Rainforest Bio Reserve and the country's grandest new resort hotel. Active days in Panama are planned with relaxing nights. During the daylight hours, your options can include anything from whitewater rafting and horseback riding to nature walks, snorkeling and plenty of my favorite time at the spa. While kids swing like monkeys in the rainforest canopy, parents and active grandparents can hike the legendary Pipeline Road to observe some of the country's 934 bird species. B&R has two trips over the 2004 Christmas school holiday that they claim is the perfect antidote for restless teens and mid-winter blues. They start off with a stop in Panama City, where I found nickel slot machines in the heart of the city a few years ago. But these travelers then fly west to the Chiriqui province for two days in the country's magnificent highlands. Nights in Panama's highest village are spent at the four-star Hotel Bambito, a favorite of the Panamanian elite.From the Highlands, another private charter flight awaits and a land transfer is made to the exotic Pearl Islands, made famous by their stunning pearls. The kids will be more impressed learning that the Survivor television series was filmed on these islands for two seasons. They may also find the island traffic of iguanas, parrots, dwarf ant eaters, white brocket deer and too many birds to count quite different from their native Long Island locale.Of course, no visit to Panama is complete without seeing one of the world's most impressive feats of engineering up close. After stopping to watch boat traffic and how the locks open and close on the Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks, it is on to the Gamboa Rainforest. This rainforest is considered the finest eco-resort in the Americas. It was recently completed in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute, and is a five-star, 30-acre resort, located within a protected rainforest in the banks of the Chagres River - one of the Panama Canal's main water sources. Activities here include a night-time river journey to spot crocodile eyes and listen for monkey calls; a visit to the native Embera village; and a kids-only visit to the Summit Botanical Gardens and Zoo. There is also an all-family canopy adventure, with an aerial tram offering up a bird's eye view of monkeys, toucans, butterflies and orchids. This will be a family affair hard to forget with something for everybody. You can get more information by contacting www.butterfield.com or contacting your local travel professional for information on family travel.Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
