The Great Family Escape:
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Junior Explorers Club:
Ages 9 Years and Up
Vernal, Utah
Cruising Yampa White Water
For three months in spring and summer, the Yampa River's waters run high with Rocky Mountain snowmelt then surge through Class III and IV rapids. If navigating the last undammed tributary of the Colorado sounds challenging, it is. But on an O.A.R.S. trip, you raft the river and then some. Day one is spent on a gentle stretch after the put-in at Deerlodge Park, getting a feel for the river. On day two, groups graduate to paddling riffles. By day three, rafters are ready for Warm Springs Rapid—the Yampa's big water. Aside from the froth, the trip's also got sandy beaches, unrivaled yellow- and red-rock canyons, and patient guides: "Most of our guides are in their 20s and 30s, so they still remember what it's like to be kids on the river," says O.A.R.S. founder George Wendt.
Where to Play: The 72-mile (116-kilometer) float goes through Dinosaur National Monument, which contains one of the world's largest concentrations of fossilized remains encased in river rock. At mile 5 (kilometer 8), pull off the river to climb to the top of the Anderson Canyon for otherworldly park views.
Post-Curfew: After soaking up a long full day of the monument's jaw-dropping geology and Fremont Indian artifacts, chill out at Stubs Cabin, an old cattle-rustler's hangout dating to the early 1900s, before setting up camp.
Details: A four-day trip costs $654, with an extra charge for sleep kits ($40) and tents ($30); www.oars.com. (When the Yampa's water levels are extremely high, only those over 12 can raft.)
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cutting Loose in the Foothills
Families love 450-acre (182-hectare) Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa. Nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos, it's got the vibe of a soothing, secluded retreat but also includes a sports program guaranteed to wear out the most active offspring. "One day we teach kids about camping—setting up a tent, taking a hike. Another day we focus on sports—making pinewood derby cars and racing each other down a handmade track," says recreation manager Josh Belcher.
Where to Play: The kids program is top-notch, but skip it one day for a family horseback ride (ages eight and up) past a stocked trout pond and into the Sangre de Cristos, or for a two-mile (three-kilometer) hike along the Red Ridge Trail, where on a clear day you can see panoramic vistas of the Colorado Rockies.
Post-Curfew: Check out Santa Fe's art scene (most galleries are on Canyon Road), then visit the lodge's 14,200-square-foot (1,319-square-meter) spa for an ayurvedic oil massage or hatha yoga.
Details: Doubles start at $179; www.bishopslodge.com.
Grand Staircase–Escalante, Utah
Scrambling Secret Slots
Escalante Canyon Outfitters co-owners Grant Johnson and Sue Fearon have a stat to be proud of in the tour-guide world: a one-to-three guide-to-guest ratio. Good thinking in the maze of secret slot canyons and freshwater pools in Utah's Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Johnson and Fearon have been leading small rock scrambles in the rarely visited middle section of the Escalante River since 1991. "We love it when we have kids on trips," says Fearon. "It's all about play and discovery." Four-day itineraries include a four-mile (six-kilometer) trek to base camp and several guided day hikes up cool stretches of river and through wind-carved slickrock. Guides pack in gear on horses ahead of time, set up camp, and cook three gourmet meals a day.
Where to Play: Take a morning group dip in a pool set in folds of sandstone, before clambering up petrified dunes, and—everyone's favorite—wading up the refreshing Escalante River. In the afternoon kids explore swimming holes, while adults tackle more challenging scrambles to the lip of the Throne, a sandstone pinnacle with spectacular views.
Post-Curfew: For dinner enjoy fresh pan-grilled local trout, roasted spuds, and a salad made with tomatoes and cucumbers picked from Sue's organic garden, while guides educate you on the night sky.
Details: Four-day trips cost $1,070 per person (discounts apply for groups of four or more); www.ecohike.com.
The Great Family Escape:
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