As we sit in the office looking out on a grey drizzly day, many of us mums find ourselves wishfully daydreaming about sandy beaches and going to some far flung place.
And it's not just adults who do this, kids can also find themselves lost in thought at what travel experience they have had and where they would love to go next.
To celebrate the launch of the Planet Trekkers app, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts appealed to children from all over the world to tell them the Top 50 Travel experiences that should be experienced by the age of 12.
Based on their most interesting, exciting and memorable travel adventures. and from the reams of real-life experiences submitted by young adventurers across the globe, Daniel Raven-Ellison, a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and family adventurer, helped curate the Top 50 List.
Top 50 Children’s Travel Experiences (in no specific order)
1. Float in a lagoon
2. Walk over an inactive volcano
3. Discover ancient temples and ruins
4. Camp in the mountains
5. Catch a train between countries
6. Dig for fossils
7. Make new friends who speak a different language
8. Photograph a local bird of prey
9. Create beach art with seashells
10. Cross the Equator
11. Taste authentic Bush Tucker
12. Take a dip in a river
13. Discover a local animal sanctuary
14. Ride on the back of a local animal
15. Roast marshmallows on a fire
16. Go to the highest point of a city
17. Drape a snake around your shoulders
18. Feel the rhythm of a traditional dance
19. Take a stroll in a night market
20. Learn history in an ancient castle
21. Enjoy a local festival
22. Experience a theme park
23. Go on a canyoning adventure
24. Barter in a Grand Bazaar
25. Build a giant sandcastle
26. Feel the splash of a waterfall
27. Learn to cook a native dish with a local
28. Photograph the mesmerising Northern Lights
29. Sleep under a mosquito net
30. Spend a day underwater snorkelling
31. Stand in two countries at the same time
32. Go whale watching
33. Sleep under the stars
34. Take a walk in a National Park
35. Trek to the top of a mountain
36. Go on an authentic Husky sledge ride
37. Eat ice cream in Italy
38. Go on a safari drive
39. Explore a city by bike
40. Surf at sunrise
41. Explore a shipwreck
42. Learn about a local folklore
43. Sleep on a boat
44. Explore a lake by kayak
45. Learn how to play a foreign instrument
46. See the world from a birds-eye view in a plane
47. Taste a delicious local dish
48. Get lost inside a museum
49. Catch local transport in a foreign country
50. Witness a local ceremony, such as a wedding
2. Walk over an inactive volcano
3. Discover ancient temples and ruins
4. Camp in the mountains
5. Catch a train between countries
6. Dig for fossils
7. Make new friends who speak a different language
8. Photograph a local bird of prey
9. Create beach art with seashells
10. Cross the Equator
11. Taste authentic Bush Tucker
12. Take a dip in a river
13. Discover a local animal sanctuary
14. Ride on the back of a local animal
15. Roast marshmallows on a fire
16. Go to the highest point of a city
17. Drape a snake around your shoulders
18. Feel the rhythm of a traditional dance
19. Take a stroll in a night market
20. Learn history in an ancient castle
21. Enjoy a local festival
22. Experience a theme park
23. Go on a canyoning adventure
24. Barter in a Grand Bazaar
25. Build a giant sandcastle
26. Feel the splash of a waterfall
27. Learn to cook a native dish with a local
28. Photograph the mesmerising Northern Lights
29. Sleep under a mosquito net
30. Spend a day underwater snorkelling
31. Stand in two countries at the same time
32. Go whale watching
33. Sleep under the stars
34. Take a walk in a National Park
35. Trek to the top of a mountain
36. Go on an authentic Husky sledge ride
37. Eat ice cream in Italy
38. Go on a safari drive
39. Explore a city by bike
40. Surf at sunrise
41. Explore a shipwreck
42. Learn about a local folklore
43. Sleep on a boat
44. Explore a lake by kayak
45. Learn how to play a foreign instrument
46. See the world from a birds-eye view in a plane
47. Taste a delicious local dish
48. Get lost inside a museum
49. Catch local transport in a foreign country
50. Witness a local ceremony, such as a wedding
The app is based on a treasure hunt style game and challenges children to discover indigenous wildlife, take part in local adventures, and taste native dishes, to truly get them excited about their holiday. It allows children to learn more about exciting adventures to experience within four categories – Natural Discoveries; Active Pursuits; Local Culture and New Flavours. The Planet Trekkers app also allows children to upload photos and details from their adventures.
The Planet Trekkers app is available to download free of charge from the iTunes App Store.
