If you’ve been putting off making vacation plans, it’s not too late to book a flight. As consumers gain confidence in traveling again, the tourism industry is waiting patiently with packages that are easy on the wallet. Doris Mundy, owner of The Travel Society in Niwot, says that two of the most affordable destinations include Alaskan cruises and Mexican beaches. 

 “Many of the cruise lines that operate in Europe have moved their ships to Alaska,” Mundy says. “That means there are more cabins to fill.” A balcony room for a seven-day Alaskan cruise is less than half the price it was last year. “Colorado is always ranked among the top 10 states for having adventurous citizens,” she says, “which is why Alaskan vacations appeal to many Coloradoans.” Your days will be filled with whale watching, glacier touring or an exploration program for the kids – and that’s before stepping off the ship. Many of the programs include wilderness excursions for kayaking, hiking, fly fishing, ice climbing or river rafting.

If you prefer to dig your toes into the warm sand, try our neighbors to the south. “Mexico is the closest beach to landlocked Colorado,” Mundy says. A short flight to Cancun, Mexico puts you within driving distance to Playa Del Carmen, famous for its sparkling beaches, turquoise waters and tours of Mayan ruins. For about $1200 per adult, you can fly and stay in a 5-star resort with meals, sports and fitness facilities included. Most resorts offer free meals, accommodations and day programs for kids under 12. While you’re there, ask about “BOB,” or the Breathing Observation Bubble. It’s a newfangled cross between scuba diving and an underwater Moped – certification isn’t needed to ride one. 

Mundy says to be sure to have your travel documents and identification in order when traveling. If you are taking a child to Mexico with only one parent, you will need notarized consent from the other parent. Grandparents traveling with grandchildren need notarized consent from both parents. 

Don’t forget our own state for a memorable family vacation. Travel experts say some families are not yet ready to travel out of the state because of security or because money is limited because of unstable jobs.

This makes Colorado the perfect place to get away without going too far. “It’s easy to get into a rut,” says Brook Underbrink, marketing director for Peaceful Valley Guest Ranch in Lyons, “but there is always something really awesome to do in Colorado within a very short distance.” Almost 30 percent of their guests are from the Front Range. The ranch offers a 3-day package for locals, which includes lodging and your own horse, along with a barn dance, hikes to the Continental Divide, and day trips to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

DiAnn Butler, owner of Kids Go Too, a Winter Park based travel group, says that with the influx of new people into the state many families do not know where to vacation. “We are the friends and connections you might not have in Colorado,” she says. Many young families are not quite ready to start exploring independently and are looking for “soft adventures,” she says. Favorite activities among her younger clients include sleeping overnight in a tipi, the Alpine slide at Winter Park and swimming in the warm pools at Glenwood Springs. 

Butler says one of the biggest problems with family vacations is one parent usually does all the work and spends the first two days of the holiday organizing and trying to pack too much into the schedule. “I try to set the pace [when planning vacations] because many families over schedule when they finally get some time off.” 

Colorado is not shy when it comes to vacations that will send a hefty dose of adrenaline through your veins. Check out these heart-thumping excursions that are all within an easy drive:
With nothing more than spurs and lariat, and a little dust in your teeth, you can help real-life cowboys on a cattle drive. The Sylvan Dale Ranch in Loveland plans a cattle-drive week each summer for adults yearning to discover their inner cowboy. Call the Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association, 970-887-9248. 

If horsepower is more to your liking, check out the Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs. Saddle up to a 600-horsepower Winston Cup-style stock car and after an hour of instruction, follow a lead car for eight laps in the fast lane. Call the Richard Petty Driving Experience, 800-BE-PETTY.

See a world few have seen by crawling through narrow  limestone fissures and witness how nature has carved its mark under Colorado’s iron mountains. Thanks to the recent opening of Colorado’s underground caverns and caves, spelunking is gaining popularity. Call Glenwood Caverns, 970-945-4228.

To receive your own Colorado 2002, Official State Vacation Guide to learn more about these and other vacations, call 1-800-COLORADO, log on <www.colorado.com> or visit the Longmont or Boulder chamber of commerce. 

Kim Stewart is a freelance writer and media consultant based in Longmont, CO.