No matter where you live, 2020 has been a rough year. But for families, it's been especially trying.
With parents being forced to work from home, kids trying to deal with online schooling, and just a general feeling of being trapped indoors, families everywhere have been stretched to the breaking point.
And it's safe to say that there's no better remedy to all that than a fun-filled, outdoor-centric family vacation. But traveling as a family is a challenge even under normal circumstances.
And doing it while factoring in health and safety concerns amid a pandemic with an uncertain future is even harder. But it isn't impossible.
Top 4 Post-COVID Family-Friendly Outdoor Travel Destinations
And to help you and your family find the much-needed outdoor adventure you crave, here are four amazing family vacation destinations you should consider.
1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The best destinations for family vacations right now are all places featuring unforgettable outdoor experiences and that have very few humans around. And without a doubt, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania checks all the right boxes.
Since October, all international flights into and out of the country have resumed, with the only major requirement that all travelers have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of boarding their flight.
And with travelers yet to return in large numbers to the area, there's never going to be a better time to take your family there on the vacation of a lifetime.
Even now, you can book lodgings for your whole family and take a COVID-safe safari tour through the majestic park's stunning landscapes.
While you're there, you and your family will have a chance to see everything from over 500 individual bird species to a natural pool filled with over 200 hippos splashing about.
2. Patagonia, Argentina and Chile
The next family vacation destination you should consider is a trip to see the sprawling unspoiled landscape of Patagonia.
Now, if you have small children, you'll want to approach this trip beginning in Argentina, because it's easier to reach by air and will prevent you from arriving with kids too grumpy to enjoy themselves.
If you have teenagers in tow, they should be able to handle a trip beginning in Chile, which requires some lengthy bus travel (but pays off in some one-of-a-kind views).
It's important to note that Argentina has allowed international travelers to enter the country as of November, while Chile still has some restrictions in place.
No matter how you get there, a family trip to Patagonia will take your family on a trip through an environment that features amazing sights, enjoyable hikes, and mountain views that you won't believe.
While you're there, you'll get to check out the Perito Moreno Glacier, which spans 121 miles and is one of the few remaining advancing glaciers left in the world.
3. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
If you're looking for a trip where your family can get into the outdoors and be about as far away from civilization as possible, look no further than the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.
According to the Voyagers Travel Company, getting into Ecuador to begin your trip is as simple as having a negative COVID-19 test within ten days of your departure, and right now you can visit without the throngs of visitors who are normally there.
And once you get there, you'll get to see one of the last undeveloped natural environments of its kind in the world.
There are at least 27 species of animals native to the island that you won't find anywhere else. And if your kids fancy a picture with a sea lion or a swim with some penguins, the Galapagos Islands are the perfect place to do both.
4. The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Our last family adventure idea is one that's provided with no shortage of magical family memories for generations - The Amazon Rainforest.
It's hands-down the most biodiverse place on Earth and is home to countless endemic plant species and endangered animal species as well. It's also a great family spot because you can opt to stay in a family-friendly jungle lodge or go for a multi-day cruise down the Amazon River - either way your kids will love it.
And right now, you can enter Brazil with no real arrival restrictions, which is rare these days. That means it's one of the simplest places to book an outdoor adventure vacation in the world at the moment.
That means bigger families will benefit from simplified planning without having to sacrifice with a lesser destination. And perhaps best of all, you'll get to teach your kids all about the real Amazon - not the one where all their stuff comes from!
Out of Quarantine and Into the Wild
Any of these four outdoor adventure destinations would make the perfect antidote to the quarantine blues.
They're all quite family-friendly, offer great health and safety protocols for visitors, and are the kinds of trips that families tend to remember for years to come.
So, if you and your family are looking for an outdoor-centric trip to take in the coming months, take a good hard look at these four, you won't regret it!
