Great Adventures: Thrill-Filled Family Vacations

We rounded up some unforgettable family vacations that offer families real-life thrills: swim with dolphins, ride the rapids, or go where the buffalo roam free.

Peg Rosen

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Montecito Lake Resort, Kings Canyon National Park, California

Magical Moment: Travel back in time at a year-round camp (great for all ages) in Sequoia National Forest.

Nonstop Action: Summer activities include favorites like jewelry making, fencing, waterskiing, campfires, open-mike coffee houses, and starlight hikes. November through April it becomes Snow Central, with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, tubing, and sledding right outside your simple-but-cozy cabin or the lodge.

Bonus Attraction: Kids (with counselors) go on overnights, where they sleep in authentic tepees.

Admission: Six-night all-inclusive packages start at $925 per adult; teens 13-17, $885; children 2-12, $835 (800-227-9900).