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Home » Recreation And Sports Articles » 5 Rafting Trips For Families And Beginners

5 Rafting Trips For Families And Beginners

Whitewater rafting can be fun and exhilarating. It can also be scary and dangerous if you venture out by yourself in an area that's rated way above your experience level. But, are there rafting trips which offer fun and excitement, but still mild enough for beginners and children? Absolutely. Here are a few you might consider.

1. Little Gore Canyon – Near Denver, Colorado

With a rating of Class I to III, the Little Gore Canyon section of the Colorado River offers mild yet exciting whitewater suitable for beginners and families with children. You can enjoy Little Gore Canyon in a raft, kayak, inflatable kayak or a canoe.

Companies which offer rafting trips for families in Little Gore Canyon include:

Bill Dvorak's Kayak & Rafting Expeditions

Providing expeditions since 1969, Dvorak's was Colorado's first licensed outfitter. They offer 2-day family expeditions in Little Gore Canyon, with meals included. For more information, call them at 800-824-3795.

Rancho Del Rio

Offers half and full-day trips with lunch included, as well as an overnight and three-day trip with choice of three meal plans. Call them at 970-653-4431 for more information.

2. San Miguel River – Near Telluride, Colorado

A rafting trip along the San Miguel River near Telluride, Colorado will provide you with Class II and occasional Class III rapids, along with spectacular scenery of red rock cliffs and alpine terrain. This trip is great for beginners and families with children over 10 years of age.

Companies which offer rafting trips for families along the San Miguel River include:

Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours, Inc.

Trip leaders average 3,000 river miles (the state of Colorado requires 750), and they offer shuttles around rapids for kids and elders. Mild to Wild offers 1-day, 2-day or 3-day trips down the San Miguel River, including meals on the river and in camp.

Bill Dvorak's Kayak & Rafting Expeditions

They offer 1 to 5-day family rafting expeditions along the San Miguel River, with meals included. For more information, call them at 800-824-3795. If you wish longer trips of 6 to 12 days, you can combine a trip on the San Miguel River with a trip on the Dolores. are available by combining the San Miguel with the Dolores.

3. Upper New River – South Central West Virginia

Beginners will appreciate the "beginner-friendly" rapids of the Upper New River, rated I to III in difficulty. An added feature is the incredibly beautiful scenery and the belief by some that the New River is the world's 2nd oldest river.

Companies which offer family rafting trips on the Upper New River include:

Rivermen

Offers a 1-day family rafting trip package on the Upper New River which includes 2 nights lodging, 1 breakfast buffet, 1 lunch buffet and 1 dinner buffet. You have many different types of lodging to choose from, including cabin, RV, camping, cabin tent or the Quality Inn. If you want more adventure to go with your rafting, Rivermen also offers multi-sport, multi-day adventure packages, such as a rafting and climbing package, a rafting, climbing and jetboat package, or a rafting, climbing, jetboat and horseback riding package. Call them at 800-545-7238 for more information.

4. South Fork of the American River – near Sacramento, California

The South Fork of the American River is a favorite in California, rated a Class II and III and suitable for beginners and children ages 7 and above. The 3-mile, Class II "Coloma to Lotus" stretch of the South Fork is a perfect place for novices to try out rafting. You will also enjoy the scenery of oak and pine forests.

Companies which offer family rafting trips on the South Fork include:

O.A.R.S.

Has been in business for over 30 years and offers a 2-day rafting trip on the South Fork, which includes lunch and dinner and overnight camping at River's Bend Resort in Coloma, as well as breakfast the next morning. Call them at 800-346-6277 for more information.

American Whitewater Expeditions

Offers half, full and 2-day trips on the South Fork, as well as family midweek specials of 1 and 2-day trips. For those of you in Southern California, American Whitewater Expeditions has a special 2-day South Fork trip with round trip deluxe bus from Orange County, Los Angeles or San Fernando. And for those family members or friends who don't wish to raft but wish to camp at the company's campsite, they have a special of 2-nights camping and 4 meals for $69. Call 877-825-3206 for more information.

5. Upper Main Salmon River – near Sun Valley, Idaho

This section of the Salmon River in the Sawtooth Wilderness Area provides mild Class II rapids with some thrilling Class III rapids to provide the beginner and veteran alike with a very enjoyable rafting adventure.

Companies which offer beginner and family trips on the Salmon River include:

White Cloud Rafting Adventures

Offering half and full-day Class II and III trips suitable for beginners and children. Half-day trips include a snack, full-day trips include lunch. They also offer half-day scenic float trips for those who want an even milder trip down the Salmon River. This trip is a smooth and easy float with Class II rapids. Call them at 800-571-RAFT for more information.

Whichever river and outfitter you choose, do remember to apply sunscreen and wear water shoes or tennis shoes (no flip-flops), and bring a change of clothes. And do be careful, whitewater rafting can be addictive.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Are You a Trendsetter or Someone Who Will be Left Behind?

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend in the San Francisco Bay Area who has owned her business for nearly 30 years. After catching up on the family and all our pets, we ended up talking about business. Makes sense since years ago we collaborated on many successful major entertainment events in the Bay Area.

Our conversation was about everyday trends that are changing the face of business. We also talked about the countless number of business owners, sales people, managers and entrepreneurs who choose to live in the place of "business as usual" without fully understanding how important the impact of trends are on our economy.

Think about some of the trends that have impacted virtually everyone you know. Years ago, with the introduction of ATMs many people were either hesitant to use them or immediately understood the power and benefit that came with the ease of use. No doubt, they changed the face of banking forever.

Actually, I hold the designation as the very first user of the ATM in front of the Bank of America branch in a small town along the Russian River I lived in until 1991. To this day I remember what an exciting moment that was for me and bank personnel. You can tell, sometimes I am easily amused and entertained. And yet, for the town this was a really big deal. It was a turning point.

Since first being introduced, ATMs became as common as VCRs, cassette players, and heated curlers. As with all of the items mentioned, including ATMs, each has been phased out by more progressive items and ways of doing business. VCRs to DVD players, cassette players to CD players, heated curlers to curling irons or hair styles that don't require curling. ATM machines are making way to debit cards and Internet banking.

Have you given thought to trends that are impacting the way you do business? It never ceases to amaze me how many home based and small business owners don't give this much thought. Or, even if they know something is looming overhead, they pretend it doesn't exist.

Fact is, there is one HUGE trend you cannot ignore. If you do, I can promise it is only a matter of time before you are so far behind it may be too late to catch up. It is the use of the Internet in your overall marketing strategy.

Unfortunately, many people who are running a home based or small business act like the Ostrich with their head in the sand. Hopefully, you are not one of those people.

Many people think if they pretend something doesn't exist it will just go away. Not so with E-marketing. It is becoming more and more prevalent all the time.

I began using the Internet in my marketing years ago. I had my first Ezine before there was such a name for it. As I reflect on the growth of my business in the last few years, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that had it not been for many of the E-strategies I implemented, I wouldn't be in business.

I also know that I cannot rest on my laurels and neither can you. It is essential to always stay on top of the information that is available. Granted, it is difficult to know what you need to learn, from whom and when enough is enough. Here are a few recommendations on what you can do.

1. Look at what your competitors are doing on the Internet. What does their site look like, do they have systems in place to consistently market to their customers, and do they appear to be leading the way.
2. Sign up for online Ezines that keep you abreast of trends. Some excellent resources are http://emailuniverse.com and http://sbinformation.about.com
3. Learn all you can about how to market using the Internet. Regardless of what your product or service is you need to know how to use the Internet to gain greater market share.

Fact is, very few people can avoid using the Internet in their overall marketing strategy. This doesn't mean you have to go from A to Z in one leap. It does mean that each day you need to do something to increase your knowledge base. Perhaps you need to bring someone on board who has the knowledge that you need. Whatever you decide, make the decision based on being proactive rather than reactive.

As you think about 2005, the question you must ask is, "Will 2005 be the Year I am Known as a Trendsetter or Someone Who Got Left Behind?" I know what my answer will be.