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With free time in short supply, we all want to make the most of our family vacations, especially with short spring breaks. This makes it frustrating when what sounds like a good vacation idea to parents falls flat with your crew. Knowing your family’s adventure style can help. Take our quiz to identify what defines “adventure” for your family. Then tally your results and check the answer key for a can’t-miss adventure suggestion to suit your family’s bent.
1. A local bookstore is bringing in several celebrity authors this summer. Which one would your family like to meet?
A. Food Network’s Rachel Ray
B. Bear Grylls of Man vs. Wild
C. European traveler Rick Steves
D. Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit and Unbroken
E. Julie Andrews, who starred in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music
2. Several national conferences are coming to your area. The one you can’t wait to get tickets for is:
A. The Everything Food Conference
B. The Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo
C. The Family Travel For Real Life Conference
D. Military History Fest Reenacting and Trade Faire
E. The International Music Conference
3. You’ve found a vacation option that allows your family to spend a day walking in the footsteps of a professional. You’d prefer to shadow:
A. A chef
B. A hike master
C. A flight attendant
D. An archaeologist
E. A film director
4. Pick a week-long camp or class to sign your family up for:
A. Sur La Table Summer Cooking Series
B. Outward Bound
C. Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh
D. Pioneer Family Camp
E. Improv & Comedy Writing Camp
5. Time to travel. Which of the following destinations would your family gravitate toward?
A. A big city with five-star restaurants
B. An International Dark Sky Park
C. Anywhere new
D. Boston and the Freedom Trail
E. Broadway in New York
6. A relative wants to know what to give your family for Christmas. You suggest:
A. A pasta maker
B. A hammock
C. A scratchable World Map and luggage locks
D. Tickets to see the musical Hamilton
E. A local theatre subscription
7. Museum day! You’ll be lining up to get into which one?
A. The Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, NY
B. Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame
C. The biggest one at our next destination
D. National Museum of American History
E. The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN
8. To prepare for vacation, your family:
A. Checks out the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives website for restaurant ideas
B. Packs up the tent, sleeping bags, and backpacks
C. Reads the travel guide from front to back
D. Studies up on the culture and history of the places you’ll visit
E. Updates their playlists and movie downloads
9. Which of these would we be most likely to find on your family’s bucket list?
A. Taking a cooking class together
B. White water rafting trip
C. Visiting all the continents
D. Participating in the Gettysburg Battle Civil War reenactment
E. Front row seats and backstage passes to a concert
10. The reality TV show your family would most want to appear or compete on is:
A. Chopped
B. Duck Dynasty
C. The Amazing Race
D. American Pickers
E. American Idol
11. Groupon is offering deals on tickets and excursions. Which of these would you be most happy to save on for your family?
A. Japanese steakhouse dinner
B. Stand-up paddleboard rentals
C. All-inclusive resort booking
D. Admission to a renaissance faire
E. Cirque du Soleil tickets
12. Like many families, a trip to Disney World is on your bucket list. What you’re most looking forward to there is:
A. Eating your way around Epcot
B. The Animal Kingdom
C. Epcot’s World Showcase
D. The Hall of Presidents
E. The parade
13. It’s time to take a tour. Your family’s top pick would be:
A. Pike Place Market in Seattle
B. The Grand Canyon
C. Multiple sites in a day (preferably far away)
D. Colonial Williamsburg
E. Wicked’s Behind the Emerald Curtain
Answer Key
If you answered mostly:
A. You’re a Food Fam! You enjoy all things culinary — from meal planning to food prep to fine dining.
Your next adventure: Embark on a tour of the most popular food trucks in the closest city to your home. Use Eat Street’s food truck finder at mobile-cuisine.com/find-food-trucks to plan your tour.
B. You’re an Outdoorsy Family! You love the sun on your face, the wind at your back and a pair of hiking boots on your feet.
Your next adventure: Book a stay in a treehouse! Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California, Edisto River Treehouses in St. George, South Carolina, and Missouri Treehouse Cabins in Dora, Missouri, all take lodging to new heights.
C. You’ve got a World Traveling Clan! You are always on the go and have passport stamps to prove it.
Your next adventure: Hit up one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S., such as Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, or Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.
D. You’re a bunch of History Buffs! You know the difference between the French and Indian War and the War of 1812 and could spend all day watching History Channel features.
Your next adventure: Time travel with your family through a living history overnight experience. Go on a covered wagon trek with Historic Trails West or become pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation’s Night at the Museum. Check with a living history museum in your area for other opportunities.
E. You’re a family of Arts Fans! Music, dance, crew — all the world’s a stage to your family. If you’re not in the midst of performances, you’re in rehearsal or auditions.
Your next adventure: A trip to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. With multiple plays taking place each day and tours of costume warehouses, plus behind-the-scenes set changeovers, you can immerse yourselves in theatrical life.
Lara Krupicka is parenting journalist and author of Family Bucket Lists: Bring More Fun, Adventure & Camaraderie Into Every Day.