With solo female travel on the rise in recent years, there has never been a better time to embark on a mother-daughter bonding adventure. We searched the globe to find a handful of the best confidence-building, active trips that will take you from beaches and mountains to rivers and desert terrain while empowering you both and creating cherished memories.
Horse Whispering
Located near the Torrey Pines in northern San Diego, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar hotel offers a world-class Equestrian Center with professional riding lessons and trail horseback riding through the 400 acres of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. As a team, moms and daughters can get their hands dirty by grooming, tacking up and feeding the horses, and there are even pony rides to keep little ones entertained.
Coral Preservation
Want to bond against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean? Turks and Caicos Coral Reef Fund (TCRF) supports coral reef cleanup in half- or full-day eco-expeditions. From your perch at Grace Bay Club, learn how this organization treats and monitors coral reef health to help preserve this natural wonder for generations of snorkelers and divers to come. TCRF is also growing new coral, and you can adopt one of your very own and track the progress.
Central American Surf
Visit the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua, where you can surf Central America’s premier breaks, sandboard down coastal dunes, and hike or mountain bike across 21 miles of freshly carved trails. Rancho Santana is situated on a 2,700-acre ranch near five beaches known for some of the world’s best surfing, so grab your board and paddle out to Playa Santa. Prefer to take a lesson together? Your surf butler can arrange it all for you.
Rafting in Grand Teton
Tucked inside Wyoming’s famous Grand Teton National Park, historic Signal Mountain Lodge is the sustainable spot to embark on a scenic float trip along the Snake River. Your eco-minded bonding journey will include scenic snow-capped mountain views, towering forests, an array of seasonal wildflowers, and wildlife, including the bald eagle. The lodge also offers several camping facilities if you want to keep the entire experience closer to nature.
Giving Back in Egypt
From volunteering in Guatemala to sailing in Kenya, The Village has a full slate of options for an unforgettable mother-daughter adventure. Our pick? Exploring the ancient ruins in Egypt. Hit the bucket-list sites, from the Great Pyramids in Cairo to temples depicting images of Queen Nefertari. Fair Trade Egypt is where you can shop handmade goods that directly benefit the local women who make them, plus visit a traditional Nubian home in Aswan for a home-cooked meal, which generates income for the families.
Bonus: Mother-Daughter Movie Date
Want another way to bond with your mini-me? Check out Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, in theaters everywhere on June 30.
