As always, the New Year brings a flood of exciting travel plans for our CB team! There are so many spectacular destinations and experiences we’re looking forward to this year: skiing in Switzerland, orangutans in Borneo, wine and wilderness in Argentina, and much, much more. Here’s just a taster of the places we are headed — let our list inspire your own ideas for where to travel in 2019 with your family.
We’re heading to Argentina and can’t wait! After spending a few days at the historic Alvear Palace in Buenos Aires, we’ll head to the coast for a few days of beach relaxation and then end our trip at Iguazu Falls … a longtime bucket list line item for my family. From tango lessons to Malbec tasting to hiking through the jungle as we experience Argentina’s incredible natural beauty, we’ll packing a ton into our nine-day trip. But we’ll return soon as there is much more to explore, including Patagonia and Mendoza. — Amie O’Shaughnessy
This winter we are heading to Big Sky, Montana, for a family ski trip. We’re looking forward to exploring the resort and sampling the family-friendly activities both on and off the slopes. There is nothing like a family ski vacation to enjoy nature and time together creating lifelong memories! — Melissa Rosdahl
My Harry Potter-loving children are counting down the days until we visit London and Paris. They are excited to visit Warner Bros. Studios but also see the London sites from the movies. With the new Fantastic Beasts movie taking place in Paris and the ease of the Eurostar, we are heading there for a few days afterward. Of course we won’t be missing the must-sees in both locations, like the Tower of London tour with CB’s favorite guide and a chocolate and pastry tour in Paris.
We are also taking an extended trip to the Middle East this summer, based out of Bahrain. While it’s the hottest season, sometimes school schedules do not allow for a long visit at other times of the year. — Melissa Smith
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If friends described my family, they would probably say we’re adventurous with a huge passion for wildlife and nature. It’s to nobody’s surprise that we are planning a trip to Hong Kong and Borneo this spring. In Borneo, we hope to marvel at the unmatched biodiversity, including orangutans, sun bears, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, thousands of orchid species and rare birds found nowhere else on the planet. I am excited about staying at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge (a National Geographic Unique Lodge) and hopefully witnessing millions of bats as they leave the Deer Cave in twirling clouds. Did I mention my 7-year-old daughter, who cannot wait for thrilling hikes and finding some leeches? Kids will often marvel at a distinctly different biodiversity than their parents. — Nicole Schick
While my husband and I have both skied in Europe numerous times, this is the first time we are taking our son, and we’ve decided on Zermatt. We can’t wait to see the Matterhorn, have wonderful food in mountain huts and explore the ski terrain of this vast resort. Of course, a visit would not be complete without a day trip over to Cervinia on the Italian side of the border. — Barbara Weindling
I travel a lot internationally, but I am excited about doing something a little closer to home this year. A friend of mine recently visited Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and she couldn’t stop raving about it. It sounds like the food and service are impeccable and there are lots of great activities onsite. Sometimes I just crave a vacation where I don’t have to worry about the logistics of getting from one place to another and there are plenty of things to keep me and my family busy. — Cary Walker
My annual travels to Italy, leading groups through the Tuscany region, are always a highlight of my summer. I intend to combine a week at a villa in Lucca with visits to some of the other local properties we love to use for families. I’m also looking at extending this trip with some time in southern France or back to Croatia to explore with family. Also, one of my daughters will be studying at the University of Valladolid this spring, and the rest of the Annis clan will connect in London for family sightseeing paired with time in Madrid and northern Spain. — Amy Annis
We try to avoid traveling during the summer, but a week in Provence in June sounds too dreamy to pass up. We are excited to explore the small towns and see the lavender fields. In an area that houses Cezanne’s studio, you can imagine the fun art workshops available for kids. We hope to explore farmers’ markets in an attempt to get our picky eater to try new things while we enjoy olives, goat cheese and fresh fruit. With plenty of country home rentals that include playgrounds, and hotels with great kids’ clubs, our only tricky decision is where to stay!
This fall, an ancestry hunt will take us through Scandinavia. We cannot wait to explore the fjords and Viking villages, and hopefully get to see the Northern Lights. Plenty of green space to run around will make this multigenerational trip toddler-friendly. We may get the opportunity to visit the region twice this year — we are also hoping to take our daughter to Santa’s Village in Finland for an extra-special Christmas. — Katie Brown
We are taking a road trip through the West to Glacier National Park. It has been on my son’s wish list for a while, and we want to see some glaciers before they are gone, so we are hitting the road! We plan to search out lots of roadside attractions, go whitewater rafting in the Grand Tetons, take a wildlife safari in Yellowstone and fly fish in Glacier. — Megan Norris
My husband has told my daughters and me wonderful stories of long and lazy, hazy summers on Italy’s Costa Smeralda on the island of Sardinia. This summer we are determined to go and see this beautiful area as a family, and create a new generation of happy summer memories. — Jen Donati
Portugal is one of the hottest destinations, and I can’t wait to explore it! In June, we will be heading to this magnificent country with my toddler and baby in tow for a multigenerational family vacation. Our trip will begin in the capital, Lisbon, then we’ll head to the Algarve for breathtaking scenery, sun and relaxation on the wonderful beaches. — Mandy Cecchetto
We are heading to our second home on Singer Island (just north of Palm Beach) in March. We love getting away from the Minnesota cold and embracing the beach, water sports, shopping and amazing food venues in and around the Palm Beaches. — Susan Robinson
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