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Family Vacations That Will Get Your Kids Into Nature

Check out these age-by-age vacation ideas that will get your whole family into nature (13 Photos)

Abbie Kozolchyk on May 16, 2012 at 11:12AM

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Family Vacations That Will Get Your Kids Into Nature

playaviva.com

Team Up for Turtles

With The Lorax fever turning ever more kids into tree-huggers, now’s the time to plan a back-to-nature family vacation -- and we’ve pulled together 10 of the best. While we can’t guarantee Bar-ba-loot or Humming Fish sightings -- nor acres of Technicolor Truffala trees -- the flora and fauna you’ll encounter on these getaways are kid-pleasers of the highest order. Think skyscraping sequoias, voice-throwing monkeys and birds of every imaginable size, shape and color (just for starters). So whether you’re hikers, boaters, swimmers, bikers, surfers, snorkelers -- or totally chill turtle trackers -- read on. Then take off.

Team Up for Turtles
When you stay in a Pacific Coast nature reserve that comes with its own turtle sanctuary, you can’t help but want to protect your four-legged, shelled neighbors. And the Playa Viva eco-hotel -- about half an hour’s drive from Zihuatanejo, Mexico -- lets kids do just that on routine beach patrols that involve turtle track-hunting, egg-collecting and hatchling-counting. Also on offer: surf lessons, snorkeling, kayaking, horseback riding -- and babysitting, should mom and dad feel like a massage or a free morning yoga class. From $295 for suites that sleep 4. Best for kids 1+