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In Mark Twain’s travelogue ”The Innocents Abroad,” he writes that “broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” If only he could see us now…because vegetate we do, in front of soul-dulling screens. It seems self-evident that we are, increasingly, less broadminded, wholesome, and charitable as a result.
Kids get it worst of all, since nothing sucks the wonder out of this big weird world quite like an iPad loaded with addictive apps.
In an age of “brainrot” social media, mean-spirited politics, and 10-year-olds who have never been properly pegged in the face by a dodgeball, globetrotting isn’t just a privilege, it’s an antidote.
The “travel remedy” has positive side effects to boot: it fixes families (results may vary).
Disconnecting from our devices allows us to reconnect with each other. Finally, a wellness-obsessed travel industry is slowly getting that message. A growing subculture of resorts is encouraging their guests to log off when they check in. Meanwhile, travel advisors tell The Post that more and more, their clients are planning family trips designed to break their devices upon arrival.
Want to get your family to spit their digital dummies? We surveyed Virtuoso’s top travel advisors for destinations, activities, and resorts guaranteed to snap your domestic unit back into the very real and wonderful world. Here’s where to take your travel medicine.
A ranch dressing
Go West, young man — that goes for you, too, little lady. Out in the vast outdoors, romance and American splendor rule, while cellar service is piddling at best. So boot up and ranch out.
Thanks to shows like “Yellowstone” and the pandemic boom in domestic travel, there are plenty of ranch-style resorts to choose from. Most of them are family-friendly.
“We love dude ranches for family travel as they offer a huge variety of outdoor activities for all ages and stages,” says Kiki Humes, a senior travel advisor at Ciao Bambino! “These properties offer kids the opportunity to connect and play with other kids their age, learn something new, and be adventurous without even thinking about their phones or iPads. Service is spotty at best, so it’s a great place to unplug and enjoy the outdoors.”
What will your family be doing instead of scrolling? How about skill-honing fun like fishing, horseback riding, archery, rafting, and mountain biking in the summer? And because many of the accommodations are open year-round, wintertime gives you access to fresh fun like skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, ice-fishing or just sitting around a roaring fire.
Humes recommends Paws Up Montana, a two-Michelin-key escape set on 37,000 acres of wilderness in Big Sky country, just 40 minutes from Missoula. With a variety of accommodations — from timber homes to safari-style tents — they have a deep menu of 70 thrilling adventures for the fam to experience.
Their Kids Adventure Club is open year-round with age-appropriate itineraries for toddlers to teens. They promise that no two days will be alike.
From $3,075 with tax.
Erudition by expedition
A digital detox is a perfect opportunity to learn a thing or two. One of the best, most family-friendly ways to soak up a few facts is to board an expedition yacht.
Smaller and smarter, nimble expedition cruises go where mega-vessels daren’t. That means you and your screen-addled adolescents can explore niche environments with the hands-on guidance of a university-credentialed know-it-all. Best of all, you’ll be going places Wi-Fi can scarcely reach (despite Musk’s best efforts to spoil the fun with Starlink).
“It’s an early wake-up,” says Jessica Griscavage, founder of Runway Travel, of a typical expedition to the Galapagos or Arctic. “You get in your zodiac, and explore one of the islands. You go looking for animals and birds. You come back for lunch, and then you’re out on another expedition. Every night you gather with your naturalist to talk about your day. There’s a huge education factor to it. It’s about nature and connecting.”
Griscavage recommends National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions for families. It partners with the National Geographic Society, which supplies their ships with explorers and scientists. (A 10-day Galapagos sailing starts at $6,370 per person; or head to Greenland on an 8 day adventure starting at $7,400 per person).
With no kids clubs, no onboard entertainment, and (hopefully) a few service outages, you’ll have plenty of time to study the wildlife, and each other.
“I’m taking my family on a digital detox sailing to Greenland that goes round trip from Iceland,” says Griscavage, noting that while age minimums vary by ship, many are happy to accommodate youngsters. “Have no fear about bringing kids and teens on these ships.”
The Nuclear option
The unfortunate fact is that there is no getting away from it. We live in the year 2026, and there are roughly 14,500 active satellites in Earth’s orbit. If your kid wants to log on, they’ll find a way.
“Everywhere in the world, I promise you, we can get you Wi-Fi,” says Eli Wagner, founder of Wagner Bespoke Travel.
For that reason, Wagner suggests that families worry less about the availability of connectivity and more about targeting destinations that will engage their kids. That means intimate villa rentals along the fish-rich waters of Fiji, resort stays in the jungles of Central America, and ski trips to the Dolomites.
“You have to ask, even though Wi-Fi is accessible, what really gets them off their screens?” she says. “You have to be somewhere where there is stuff they actually want to do.”
Still, extreme cases call for extreme solutions. This isn’t for the faint of heart, but we promise results.
First, fly to Perth (the most geographically isolated city in the world). There’s no pretty way to do that. You’re going to have to fly to Australia via Dallas, or the West Coast. Next, you’ll face a not insubstantial domestic flight. Once you’ve arrived in the “City of Light” (the nickname John Glenn gave the city in 1962 when he saw it from space), you’ll have to board yet another air shuttle north to remote Learmonth Airport.
Now, it’s a drive into the rural and rugged Outback where wild emus poke their heads through pub doors. Eventually, you’ll arrive at renowned Ningaloo Reef and its only 5-star stay, Sal Salis, a Luxury Lodges of Australia member. (Rates from roughly $2,000 per night).
This all-inclusive tented camp (for ages 10 and up), just steps from the Indian Ocean and a luscious reef, offers no Wi-Fi to guests. And if you think there’s cell service out here you’re dreamin’. Those lucky enough to make it this far are here to dive in and swim with mega-fauna like whale sharks and migrating humpbacks.
Conditions are comfortable, intentionally primitive and utterly enchanting. If you’ve ever wanted to bask in the hugeness of our planet, this is the place to do it. What better rehab for red-eyed indolence?
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