Best Tours in North America 2015
From Traveler Magazine's 2015 Tours of a Lifetime
Alaska: Conquering Kenai
This condensed grand tour of the “last frontier” has you circumnavigating Fox Island by kayak, scouting for puffins and sea lions on a fjord cruise along the rugged coastline, trekking Exit Glacier, and learning how to mush with the help of an Iditarod champ before setting off on a dogsled ride. Alaska Heritage Tours: “Best of Kenai Fjords National Park,” 5 days; $1,933; www.alaska heritagetours.com
Colorado: Rockies High Route
Llamas do the heavy lifting by carrying your gear (if desired) as you hike the Vail to Aspen High Route in the Rockies, overnighting at three of 34 backcountry huts managed by the 10th Mountain Division Hut system. Paragon Guides: “Vail to Aspen Interconnect—Summer/Fall,” 5 days; $2,125; www.paragonguides.com
Canada: Channeling Quebec
Settle onto the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavor for a trip along the St. Lawrence Seaway and Gulf, taking in history-filled Quebec. See whales in Saguenay Fjord National Park and tour lost-in-time islands St. Pierre and Miquelon. Adventure Canada: “Mighty Saint Lawrence,” 10 days; $2,595-$11,995; www.adventurecanada.com
Mexico: Grave Doings
Oaxaca gets buzz for its Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations; less well-known are rituals in villages around Lake Pátzcuaro, in the state of Michoacán, where families hold all-night graveside vigils to honor loved ones, the centerpiece of this dive into colorful area culture. Tia Stephanie Tours: “Day of the Dead, Michoachán,” 8 days; $2,185; www.tiastephanietours.com
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana: North by Northwest
Pedal from Portland, Oregon, to Missoula, Montana, on this 10-day cycling tour carved from the outfitter’s popular 45-day journey to Portland, Maine. Dramatic scenery en route includes the Columbia River Gorge and Bridal Veil Falls. Trek Travel: “Portland to Missoula,” 10 days; $4,199; trektravel.com
Illinois, Louisiana: Making Tracks
Nostalgic for old-time train travel? Ensconce yourself in vintage railcars and ride the City of New Orleans route from Chicago to the Big Easy. Passengers spend two nights in each city (in historic hotels). Entertainment includes live music; artists with Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music join some trips. Pullman Rail Journeys: “Chicago and New Orleans Roundtrip,” 7 days; from $839 (includes meals on train); www.travelpullman.com
Florida: Putting Manatees First
Biologist Samantha Whitcraft studies the Crystal River, a critical habitat for a group of manatees that compose about a fourth of the U.S. population. Join her to canoe and snorkel with the marine mammals. Home is a 1,100-acre tree farm roamed by such rare species as gopher tortoises. Oceanic Society: “Manatees’ Ecosystem and Conservation,” 5 days; $1,395; www.oceanicsociety.org
Cuba: Kids Welcome
Cuba may not spring to mind when planning a family vacation, but this itinerary packs in activities designed to engage all ages, from acting with local theater students to searching for alligators, hummingbirds, and hawks in Las Terrazas, a sustainable community in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve. Classic Journeys: “Cuba Family Vacation: Cultural Exchange,” 8 days; $5,195 (includes airfare from Miami); www.classicjourneys.com
Contributing editor Margaret Loftus has reported and written “Tours of a Lifetime” for the past nine years.
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