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Survive the Family Adventure Vacation with Expert Travel Advice
In 1996, Cheryl Fleet guided jeep tours through the red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., and about every two hours she saw a new co-ed group of visitors. She noticed, though, a different dynamic a group was all women.
Strangers to each other just two hours early, women bonded easily and often met for lunch after a tour. She noticed that quiet women, who likely have said little in a co-ed group, had plenty to share. While, co-ed groups politely listened to information about Native Americans, the all-women groups showed a keen interest, asked questions, and really understood the native connection to the land.
Fleet opened Canyon Calling, an Arizona-based adventure travel company just for women. While leading trips around the world, Fleet offers unique perspective on not only Arizona travel but also how to travel with family or friends.
Q: For someone planning a group trip, including choosing who is going to
come along, are there two or three essential points they should consider
first?
A: Non-selfish or non self-focused people of generous hearts are ideal in a group situation in the outdoors. There are many times when traveling with a group that you need to suppress your individual desires for the success of the group. Interestingly 95% of our customers are Democrats. I often wonder if there is a correlation between these two facts.
The group should have a common goal – not just to see arizona but how to see it – hiking or driving thru the national parks for example.
Budget is a hugely important factor – is a sandwich on the run important so you can catch the hike to … Or is spending 2 hours eating at el tovar at the grand canyon more important than hiking the trail.
Q: What types of trips are better suited for large groups versus smaller
groups? What are some arizona examples?
A: I can’t imagine an adventure tour traveling on a 40 passenger bus! Site seeing trips work with buses. Adventure trips work with vans. How could you possibly enjoy kayaking down from the hoover dam and soaking in the hot springs with 40 others along – it would be miserable!
Q: What’s the most common question asked by a first-timer looking for
insight on what to expect with group adventure travel?
A: Will i be fit enough – i don’t want to hold anyone up! I was once even asked this by a marathon runner!
Q: Are people intimidated by fitness demands? How should a group leader
accommodate a range of fitness levels?
A: I think its almost impossible to
accommodate a wide range of fitness levels. Our trips are for moderately-fit women. If you can hike 5-8 miles in a day over undulating ground you’ll do fine. When women travel together they are extremely forgiving of a slower hiker as long as she’s trying. They are very inclusive and vested in the success of the group. If the person is a whiner or is excessivley inconveniencing people thru selfishness women can be as ruthless as men. As with many things in life its about what is in your heart.
Q: What are three essential, but not obvious, items everyone should carry
on a group trip?
A: Sense of humor is essential. Ear plugs (sorry i didn’t know i snored!) Patience.
Q: Is it more difficult when relatives travel together? If so, describe
techniques for diffusing potential tension. Or, do relatives traveling
together add a beneficial dynamic?
A: I’ve had mothers and daughters, mothers and daughters-in-law, and sisters. In 14 years i’ve never had a relative-related incident. On the contrary i find them to be incredibly supportive of one another – and their stories of their family dynamics are hilarious.
Q: Also, is it good to have a mix of adrenalin junkies and those who prefer
more sedate experiences? Or, should everyone have the same general
outlook and expectations for a trip?
A: The latter is important. Mixing the former is a recipe not only for a miserable experience but safety can become compromised.
Q: Describe the reasons you started trips designed for women, particularly
how the dynamic differs when compared to a male-female trip. This is from our website:
the idea for taking women on adventure trips was conceived on a jeep in sedona, arizona in 1996. Cheryl fleet guided tours over the red rocks and every two hours she greeted a new co-ed group. Occasionally the group was all women. The women, strangers to each other just two hours previously, bonded easily and often had lunch together afterwards. She noticed that quiet women, who would unlikely have said much in a co-ed group, had plenty to share. Co-ed groups politely listened to information about native americans but the all-women groups showed a keen interest, asked questions, and really understood the native connection to the land. She realized something extraordinary happened when women traveled together and she wanted to make this a more permanent option.
There is something very special that tales place when a group of women vacation together in the outdoors. We tend to bond very quickly, and rejoice in the differences in our background and experience. We are wonderfully forgiving of each other’s little quirks. We laugh a lot, especially at ourselves. Many have noticed a boost in their confidence and a greater sense of self-esteem as a result of spending a week adventuring with other women. A real sense of freedom envelopes us as we truly relax.
We compromise and play all sorts of roles in our everyday life. On vacation, at least, we deserve to just be ourselves. With men around we act differently, choose whether or not to speak and certainly what to say. You can forget all that pretence when travelling with women. Just being able to relax and be yourself is a vacation in itself!
Q: Compare how women approach more adventuresome opportunities such as
whitewater or parasailing, compared to men. The stereotype is that men
are more competitive and might goad one another while women are more
supportive.
A: The stereotype is true. I have women on my trips who often speak about the miserable experience of hiking with their husbands. They tell me he just charges ahead missing the bird on the trail or the waterfall splashing nearby. Middle aged women today are pre-title 9 so have often been told they can’t do things. As a result they need extra support and reassurance. I am extremely selective about rafting guides etc that work with my customers. Barking out orders does not work with women and they respond well to quiet instructions – unlike men, they listen – maybe because the situation is so foreign to them.
Q: What’s your favorite moment of any trip?
I really enjoy the inter-generational sharing that takes place. Its good to watch the 35 year old listen to the experience of the 65 year old who divorced with 3 kids in the 60’s and the struggle to raise them when society did not approve of divorced women. Then I hear the 35-year-old talk about the struggles of managing an office of 25 mostly men and watch the reaction of the 65-year-old who marvels at the opportunities she never had.
Rainbow Bridge Near Lake Powell
In 1996, Cheryl Fleet guided jeep tours through the red rocks of Sedona, Ariz., and about every two hours she saw a new co-ed group of visitors. She noticed, though, a different dynamic when a group was all women.
Strangers to each other just two hours early, women bonded easily and often met for lunch after a tour. She noticed that quiet women, who likely have said little in a co-ed group, had plenty to share. While, co-ed groups politely listened to information about Native Americans, the all-women groups showed a keen interest, asked questions, and really understood the native connection to the land.
Fleet opened Canyon Calling, an Arizona-based adventure travel company just for women. While leading trips around the world, Fleet offers unique perspective on not only Arizona travel but also how to travel with family or friends.
Q: For someone planning a group trip, including choosing who is going to come along, are there two or three essential points they should consider first?
A: Non-selfish or non self-focused people of generous hearts are ideal in a group situation in the outdoors. There are many times when traveling with a group that you need to suppress your individual desires for the success of the group. Interestingly 95 percent of our customers are Democrats. I often wonder if there is a correlation between these two facts.
The group should have a common goal – not just to see Arizona but how to see it – hiking or driving through the national parks for example.
Budget is a hugely important factor – is a sandwich on the run important so you can catch the hike to … Or is spending two hours eating at El Tovar at the Grand Canyon more important than hiking the trail.
Antelope Slot Canyon near Page, Ariz.
Q: What types of trips are better suited for large groups versus smaller groups? What are some Arizona examples?
A: I can’t imagine an adventure tour traveling on a 40-passenger bus! Site seeing trips work with buses. Adventure trips work with vans. How could you possibly enjoy kayaking down from the Hoover Dam and soaking in the hot springs with 40 others along – it would be miserable!
Q: What’s the most common question asked by a first-timer looking for insight on what to expect with group adventure travel?
A: Will I be fit enough – I don’t want to hold anyone up! I was once even asked this by a marathon runner!
Q: Are people intimidated by fitness demands? How should a group leader accommodate a range of fitness levels?
A: I think it’s almost impossible to accommodate a wide range of fitness levels. Our trips are for moderately fit women. If you can hike 5 to 8 miles in a day over undulating ground, you’ll do fine. When women travel together, they are extremely forgiving of a slower hiker as long as she’s trying. They are very inclusive and vested in the success of the group. If the person is a whiner or is excessively inconveniencing people thru selfishness, women can be as ruthless as men. As with many things in life, its about what is in your heart.
Q: What are three essential, but not obvious, items everyone should carry on a group trip?
A: Sense of humor is essential. Ear plugs (sorry i didn’t know i snored!) Patience.
Q: Is it more difficult when relatives travel together? If so, describe techniques for diffusing potential tension. Or, do relatives traveling together add a beneficial dynamic?
A: I’ve had mothers and daughters, mothers and daughters-in-law, and sisters. In 14 years I’ve never had a relative-related incident. On the contrary I find them to be incredibly supportive of one another – and their stories of their family dynamics are hilarious.
Q: Also, is it good to have a mix of adrenalin junkies and those who prefer more sedate experiences? Or, should everyone have the same general outlook and expectations for a trip?
Devil's Bridge in Sedona, Ariz.
A: The latter is important. Mixing the former is a recipe not only for a miserable experience but safety can become compromised.
Q: Compare how women approach more adventuresome opportunities such as whitewater or parasailing, compared to men. The stereotype is that men are more competitive and might goad one another while women are more supportive.
A: The stereotype is true. I have women on my trips who often speak about the miserable experience of hiking with their husbands. They tell me he just charges ahead missing the bird on the trail or the waterfall splashing nearby. Middle-aged women today are pre-title 9, so they have often been told they can’t do things. As a result, they need extra support and reassurance. I am extremely selective about rafting guides etc. who work with my customers. Barking out orders does not work with women, and they respond well to quiet instructions – unlike men, they listen – maybe because the situation is so foreign to them.
Q: What’s your favorite moment of any trip?
A: I really enjoy the inter-generational sharing that takes place. Its good to watch the 35-year-old listen to the experience of the 65-year-old who divorced with 3 kids in the 60’s and the struggle to raise them when society did not approve of divorced women. Then, I hear the 35-year-old talk about the struggles of managing an office of 25 mostly men and watch the reaction of the 65-year-old who marvels at the opportunities she never had.
