Top : Family friends enjoy a meal on vacation ; right : The sun sets at Wrangell-St Elias National Park , Alaska .
FAMILY TRAVEL TRENDS
It appears the meaning of the term “ family ” is evolving , and all are welcome these days . Travelers are inviting anyone and everyone close to them along for the ride .
“ Clients are being more inclusive about what ‘ family ’ means to them ,” said Jessica Riediger , travel advisor at Vincent Vacations . “ They ’ re inviting in-laws , childhood friends and more for big trips that they can all enjoy and spend time together . These are people that they spend time with at the holidays , raise their children together , grew up with one another or are close enough friends that they ’ re considered family .”
In addition to expanding the members of the group , Kathy Barkauskas , concierge vacation planner at Teddy Bear Travel , is seeing families checking off their bucket list trips .
“ We are seeing the ‘ once in a lifetime ’ types of trips that many people are taking rolling over into multigenerational travel as well ,” she said . “ So trips to Alaska , Europe or Australia , places that many consider adventurous or exotic , are at the top of people ’ s list in addition to the more traditional group cruises or theme park vacations .”
RIGHT : TROUTNUT / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM ; ABOVE LEFT : CANDY RETRIVER / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
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