From WiFi to Wilderness : How I Discovered Adventure Travel with My Sons - Our California Road Trip
It was supposed to be the perfect family holiday—seven days at a luxurious all-inclusive resort on the sun-drenched Greek Island of Kos. I imagined lazy days by the pool, endless buffets, and a chance to finally unwind with my three teenage boys. What I didn’t anticipate was that the most popular spot for my sons would be the hotel foyer—not for its ambiance, but for its WiFi signal! When I booked our trip to Kos, I envisioned a week of togetherness, exploring the island, and enjoying all the facilities the resort had to offer. Instead, I found myself watching my boys glued to their screens in the hotel lobby, the only place with decent WiFi.
I tried to pull them away, suggesting beach activities or a visit to the local town, but nothing seemed to compete with the lure of social media and online games. By the end of the week, I felt frustrated and disconnected. While the setting was idyllic, the experience made me realize that something needed to change. I wanted more for my sons than just another week of screen time in a different location. I wanted us to experience something real—something that would bring us closer together and leave us with stories to tell long after the holiday ended.
Seeking Adventure... Back home, with the help of my own Travel Counsellor, I began researching different kinds of holidays, determined to find one that would engage my boys. That’s when I stumbled upon the idea of an adventure-packed road trip through California. It had everything I was looking for: the thrill of new experiences, the beauty of nature, and the opportunity to explore iconic destinations. Booking this trip wasn’t just about seeing new places; it was about creating a different kind of holiday—one that would pull my boys away from screens and into the world around them.
And so the Adventure Began: From San Francisco to San Diego
San Francisco: Biking the Golden Gate: Our journey began in San Francisco, a city full of character and history. We kicked off our adventure with a bike ride through gardens and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Followed by a trip to Alcatraz, whale watching and an evening at the stunning ground of San Francisco Giants baseball.
Yosemite: Nature’s Playground: Next, we ventured into the wild beauty of Yosemite National Park. Here, we left the screens behind and embraced the great outdoors. We trekked through streams on horseback, went zip-lining through the trees, and even went on a bear hunt! The sight and sheer scale of El Capitan was breathtaking.
Los Angeles: A Taste of Hollywood: In Los Angeles, we swapped nature for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. A tour of celebrity mansions and a visit to Warner Bros. Studios brought the magic of movies to life for my boys. We even dined at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, famously featured in "Pretty Woman." It was a different kind of adventure, but one that gave us plenty to talk about.
San Diego: Coastal Adventures: Our final stop was San Diego, where we traded city streets for the open ocean on a whale-watching excursion. Seeing these majestic creatures up close was an experience that no screen could replicate. It was the perfect end to a trip filled with new experiences and unforgettable memories.
Embracing the Adventure Lifestyle: Five years have passed since that transformative trip, and we still talk about our California adventure at the dinner table. It wasn’t just a holiday—it was a turning point. I realized that our time together was too precious to be spent in hotel lobbies or glued to screens. Adventure travel gave us the chance to connect, explore, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Looking back, I’m grateful for that week in Greece—not for the holiday itself, but for the realisation it brought. It pushed me to seek out adventures that would truly engage my sons and bring us closer together. Since then, adventure travel has become our new norm, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you’re a parent struggling to pull your teens away from their screens, consider something more adventurous. You might just discover a whole new world of possibilities—and create memories that will stay with you long after the holiday is over.
#FamilyTravel #AdventureAwaits #TravelWithTeens #CaliforniaDreaming #ExploreTheWorld
Need help planning your next family adventure? Whether you're looking for an epic road trip like ours or something completely unique, I’d love to help you design a holiday that will create lasting memories. Please contact me if I can assist in planning your perfect getaway. Please call 01527 970100 or email sarah.harvey@travelcounsellors.com
