Few things create the level of bonding and healing for a family as a Grand Canyon hike down to the Colorado River and back out. There are three reasons why it is so powerful, and it’s OK if you don’t have the physical fitness to do it, or if you have small kids – I have some solutions for you!

Grand canyon treks

First, the reasons why a hiking trip into the Grand Canyon is so beneficial for families. The number one reason is that the Grand Canyon is an incredibly special place: a canyon eroded by hundreds of millions of years of running water and blowing wind. It’s literally a 4000 foot deep chasm sliced down the middle of a huge plateau with a wild and incredibly scenic river thundering through the bottom of it. Desert flowers, wildlife, waterfalls, springs, rapids, and views that astound even the most cynical of people saturate a Canyon experience completely. It’s very difficult to not look out at the Canyon from the rim after spending 3 or 4 days at the river and not feel total gratitude for being alive in that moment. And that gratitude is the life blood of family relationships.

Grand canyon trekking

Second, small groups of people spending time in the wilderness is the basic context that human beings evolved for the vast majority of the past 70,000 years. It feels correct, and it creates the space for emotions and more difficult feelings to be worked with openly. In other words, it opens up communication channels.

Third, a Grand Canyon trek is an achievement. Families, like any other teams, are happier when they are winning and are less happy when they are not winning. A hike into the Canyon is an achievement for the family. It isn’t easy, it is challenging, and that’s one of the reasons it’s so effective.

Grand canyon hiking adventures

If you aren’t physically fit enough to do a Grand Canyon hike, then I’ve got some solutions. First, you may be fit enough to hike without a pack, and if you are, then there are mule services to carry your gear down and back up, so you don’t have to do it. The mules are also a great solution for families with young children. Another solution is to book the trip several months out and start training – if you aren’t in shape for it, then get into shape and make it a mechanism for being healthier. If neither of those solutions will work, then another option is to do a Grand Canyon rafting tour with day hikes from the bottom.

Malaysia Vacations for Everyone

I am a Malaysian and I invite you to make Malaysia your destination of choice for your next vacation. If you want to relax by the beach, trek the jungle, shoot the rapids, climb mountains, parasail, windsurf, scuba dive, snorkel or do any other such things, think Malaysia. If you like to enjoy the buzz of the city, shop at classy malls, find bargains, be entertained, have fun with your kids or experience any other such things, think Malaysia. If you wish to vacation where East meets West, think Malaysia. Malaysia has it all. Skycrapers such as the Petronas Twin Towers, state-of-the-art facilities, world class accommodation, international and local entertainment, global and regional brands are all found in Malaysia. At the same time, lush rainforests among the oldest in the world, exotic plants and intriguing animals, majestic mountain ranges and iridescent and pristine seas that hug miles of unspoiled beaches all find their home in Malaysia.

Is it expensive? Not at all! A vacation in Malaysia is very affordable compared to many other countries in the same region. $1 is approximately RM3.30 and one can vacation in Malaysia for literally a few dollars a day. Backpacker lodges and motels are aplenty all offering the thrifty traveler very reasonable accommodation at affordable prices. Other countries in the region may be cheaper but offer so much less in terms of places of interest, things to do, entertainment spots and recreational facilities.

If you are seeking a quality vacation with a difference, I will share with you what is in store for you in Malaysia.

If you are the adventurous type, try climbing to the peak of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia. At 4096 m (about 13, 350 ft) high, it stands head and shoulders above all other peaks in the Crocker Range. It is the highest mountain in South-East Asia. But the unique thing is that its summit is just below the snow-belt and that means anyone even without specialist training or equipment can climb to its peak as long as you are fit enough.

Did you know that the very first series of ‘Survivor’ was shot entirely at Pulau Tiga, a tiny island part of Sabah? Then there are the Mulu Caves in Sarawak, the largest cave chamber in the world. Walking into its interior is an experience like no other. In Malaysia, you can find the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia. Catch a glimpse of the Proboscis monkey, the species of monkey with the largest and most prominent nose of all or scuba dive into some of nature’s most beautiful coral-laden waters swarming with colorful sea creatures you have never seen in Redang, Perhentian or Sipadan Islands. Try eating the durian, a thorny fruit with a distinct taste and smell. The durian is called the King of Fruits by the locals.

If you are the city-loving type, enjoy the sights and sounds of metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. Mega shopping malls that sell international brands of goods and services, street bazaars that promote local products and souvenirs and roadside vendors that sell trinkets are all found here. Be entertained at Malaysia’s world-class entertainment spots such as Genting the City of Entertainment. Genting Highlands also houses Malaysia’s premier casino where you can try your hand at all sorts of games of chance.

For the culturally inclined, you can catch fascinating cultural dances, traditional occupations such as basket weaving, kite flying, top spinning competitions, batik (a local style of cloth and design) printing, traditional music and plenty more. Buy locally made handicraft of all kinds as a remembrance of your visit. Muzium Negara is the national museum of Malaysia.

If you want to learn about the history of Malaysia, there is no better place to visit than Malacca. The state of Malacca is where the earliest settlers to Malaysia first arrived. In Malacca you can still see remnants of previous colonial powers that ruled Malaysia centuries ago. The remains of the famous fort A Formosa built by the Portugese in the 16th Century still stands, as do the Stadhuys, unique brick-red buildings built by the Dutch about a hundred years later.

All these wonderful experiences await you in Malaysia. Whatever you would like to experience or enjoy, come to Malaysia and discover it for yourself.

For the useful packing checklist for vacation – read here.

Many people would go on a vacation one time every year. This is when people can relax and recover from the stress present in their normal daily life.

When you plan a vacation, some of the factors to consider are: location, things to do, dining, and shopping. Most people research the area carefully before making a decision.

Where you are going to stay is perhaps the most important part of the whole decision making process. More and more, people are researching and purchasing timeshare rentals.

There are many benefits to timeshare rentals, the biggest being that you will never have to worry about getting a hotel room when you take your vacation. There are many timeshares choices available, with a variety of facilities and upgrades available,

When buying a timeshare rental, the season in which you’ll be occupying it is a major consideration. To avoid crowds you should consider choosing a timeshare during off seasons. Be aware of the weather at the time of year you are considering. Your preference will depend on your personality, if you love skiing you will most likely want to select a timeshare in the mountains during the winter season, however if you love sunny beaches you may want to find an exotic tropical beachfront location.

You can find selling timeshares available across the globe. If it’s an exotic trip you’re after, you can take one with the knowledge that when you get there you will have a rental ready. The money saved with a timeshare rental can be used for shopping and entertainment.

Most timeshare rentals offer all the benefits and comforts of home, if not more. They have fully stocked kitchens, dining room, however one thing that you may not have at home is a Jacuzzi or hot tub.

For some vacationers, cooking is not an option. For those people, renting a timeshare at a resort hotel might be the best option. Most people will find that they are affordable, and will appreciate that they have fabulous restaurants with a wide selection of delicious meals.

Thoroughly researching your options is something that is very important to do. Even though the ameneties offered in timeshares are usually the same, what will differ is what do you get and how are they priced. If you are planning a vacation during the tourist season, the prices will most likely be higher than purchasing in the off season.

No Disneyland Vacation is complete without a Disneyland tour – especially if it is your first trip to Disneyland. There are currently four different tours to select from, and Disneyland park admission is required for all tours. It is highly advised that you make a reservation for the tours that you want to go on.

Disneyland’s Discover the Magic Tour may be the most popular of the four. This tour will have you and your family working with Disneyland characters to find clues and hunt for treasure. You can literally live out a Disneyland fantasy with your family and loveable characters, outsmarting the Disney bad guys! This tour includes lunch and an exclusive gift that can only be obtained on this tour.

The Discover the Magic Tour lasts for about three hours. There is a two ticket minimum, and the cost is approx $49 each of the first two tickets, with additional tickets costing about $39. The tour is appropriate for the 5 – 9 year old age group, and adults. The tour is not really suitable for kids under the age of five, or for kids who need strollers.

The VIP Tour lasts for about four hours, and costs about $75 per hour for a party of up to ten people. You must book this tour well in advance, or there will be an additional twenty dollar fee. The tour is not recommended for kids, but is designed more for people who have a true love and interest in Disney and Disneyland history.

The Welcome to Disneyland Tour is absolutely perfect for first timers. There are many benefits to this tour, including priority seating at one of the stage shows, tips and suggestions for getting the most out of your Disneyland vacation, a brief history of the park, priority seating at one of the many restaurants, instruction in using FastPass, two bonus FastPass tickets, and much more. This tour lasts about two and a half hours, and costs around $25 per person.

A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps focuses on the vision of Walt Whitman, and is not really suitable for small kids. Filled with history and trivia about the park, this tour lasts for more than three hours, and costs around $49 per person. The main feature of this tour is your peek at the exclusive Club 33.

Again, you should definitely consider making one of these tours part of your Disneyland experience – especially if this will be your first trip to Disneyland.
You may see things and learn things that you would not see or learn without the benefit of the tour!

And when you get back home why not keep the fun going by learning how to face paint. Your kids will soom be amazed at you skill at creating great face painting designs.
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