Brush off the winter blues with these sunny escapes for families

As winter’s chill continues on, isn’t it time to take advantage of low airfare deals and head somewhere warm for a family escape?

Whether your ideal leisure getaway includes outdoor adventure or cultural immersion, or even a road trip through the desert, it’s a great time to embrace the sun and low seasonal rates on airfare and hotels.

Keep reading for three travel ideas for a sunny escape with the family.

Road trip Arizona’s latest attractions

Craving open space for a scenic family getaway? A road trip through Arizona’s scenic desert and mountain landscape offers an opportunity to experience old and new while on a leisurely drive.

Driving historic Route 66 has always been a bucket list travel to-do and now the town of Kingman has another reason for hitting the road. A new sculpture, Guardian of Route 66, has been created by Route 66 artists Gregg Arnold. The sculpture stands 13 feet tall, lights up at night and is located just 20 miles east of Kingman at the Antares Point Visitor Center — already home to another of Arnold’s pieces.

Guardian of Route 66 is comprised of scrap metal, shields, peace signs and more. Of the new sculpture, Arnold suggests, “…everyone deserves a second chance. Reshape the pieces of your past into a bright shiny future.”

Another open-air experience may be found just 60 miles south, in the town of Lake Havasu City. The annual Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair is taking place Jan. 20-23, with free admission for children 10 years old or younger. During this event, families can witness a mass ascension of colorful balloons over the desert skyline, take in a night glow of balloons and experience kid-focused events and live music.

Further inland, Camp Verde has welcomed the new Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum. To celebrate the new attraction, admission is free throughout January. The center promotes conservation, preservation and education for the Native American heritage and archaeology of the Verde Valley. This new facility features 12 public gallery spaces and an interactive children’s adventure room.

Then experience the Sonoran Desert in a new light with Tacoma-born Dale Chihuly’s new exhibitions at two iconic Arizona venues, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Chihuly in the Desert runs through June 18, combining art, architecture and nature.

Immersive culture in Panama City

When you’re seeking not just a sunny vacation but also an immersive cultural experience, plan a getaway to Panama City, Panama this winter.

Panama City offers rich heritage experiences for culturally curious travelers in search of hands-on engagement beyond museum exploration. Panama’s iconic pintao hat, for example, may be a treasured holiday souvenir, but the hat is actually recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage item due to its lengthy history and starring role in traditional dance and heritage celebrations.

Visitors to Panama City can bypass the souvenir shops and instead partake in the local artistry of hand-weaving plant fibers to produce this recognizable wardrobe staple during a visit to the Pintao Hat Museum.

Another handmade local treasure is Panama’s national dress, the pollera, featuring layered frills and taking up to one year to create. Visitors to Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood will learn about the dress history and design techniques.

Adding to the cultural wardrobe, guests can learn about the cutarra sandal and be custom fit for this ancient, traditional style of footwear dating back centuries. In the Los Santos region, artisans continue to utilize the traditional crafting process, measuring a guest’s foot and weaving strips onto their feet to customize the fit.  

Beyond fashion heritage, Panama is also home to seven indigenous communities known for their crafting of wood carvings, woven baskets and bags. A few Emberá villages are within proximity of Panama City and a boat ride along the Chagres River leads visitors to an indigenous village along the water’s edge where eco-tours and immersive experiences are on offer.

While in Panama City, be sure to explore the capital city’s three distinct areas: the city’s historic district of Casco Antiguo, a rebuilt district and a modern and cosmopolitan area. The city is a UNESCO creative city for gastronomy, so be sure to sample ceviche and grilled seafood, the traditional Panamanian soup Sancocho, Yuca Frita and Hojaldras, a fried bread dusted with powdered sugar.

Outdoor adventure in Ventura

Visit Ventura recently launched its new 2022 Ventura Inspiration Guide, making it easier than ever for visitors to plot out day trips, neighborhood exploration and outdoor adventure.

Ventura has a little bit of everything for outdoors enthusiasts with mountains, rivers, the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands all offering fun in the sun. Whether you enjoy cycling, hiking and rock climbing or prefer kayaking, scuba and SUP, you’ll find it here.

Start your getaway in Ventura Harbor for sport fishing, sailing lessons or kayaking in the morning. Then take a breathtaking excursion to Channel Islands National Park, all the while enjoying marine life spotted from the deck, then exploring indigenous plants and stunning scenery on a nature walk or hike.

The island of Santa Cruz is the most popular for day hikes, and a roundtrip ferry ticket makes it easy to explore the trails for a few hours. Trailheads start right at the boat drop-off at Scorpion Beach.

Prefer an inland adventure? Explore the Coastal Range with trails and gorges aplenty. Cycle the Ventura River Trail, dotted with art installations created by area sculpture and assemblage artists. The Ventura River is also an excellent locale for birdwatching, thanks to being situated between two estuaries.

Or visit Harmon Canyon Preserve, just 10 minutes from downtown Ventura but with 2,100 acres of hiking and mountain cycling opportunities. Prefer a more leisurely stroll? Visit the Ventura Botanical Gardens for a picturesque walk with gardens rising along the hillside, and more than 160 plant species to explore.

For a leisurely cycle under the sun, take the kids for a peddle along the Rincon Bike Trail. This coastal cycle path is suitable for every age and skill level. The trail is accessible from downtown and follows 12 miles to the town of Carpinteria, with smooth and mostly flat terrain all the way as it follows the ocean.