In the spring and summer of 2007, the Hyatt Hotel and Resorts company decided to challenge their family clientele to the "ultimate adventure challenge" -- a two week once-in-a-lifetime competition for five lucky families, set against the backdrop of three Hyatt Resorts properties in Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii.

Each of the families completed their two-week vacation challenge at three great family resorts:  The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa (1300 Tuyuna Trail Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico 87004); the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa (1571 Poipu Road Koloa, Hawaii  96756) and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino (111 Country Club Drive Incline Village, Nevada, USA  89451).

Once there, the contest allowed for each family's adventures in local culture, new cuisine and a variety of outdoor activities to be recorded with video cameras.  Hyatt took this "documentary" footage, assembled it, and posted it online as episodic Webisodes. FTF was interested in learning a little bit about each family, where they're from and how they felt about tackling such an active family vacation in a new environment.  Through Hyatt representatives, FTF interviewed the Sonnad Family of Washington; the O'Neill Family of Idaho; the Li Family of Miami, Florida; and the Moore family of Tampa, Florida.

In these interviews, each family shares their experiences, concerns and challenges, with an eye to helping other family travelers learn more about active adventure vacations with kids. In addition to these interviews, FTF readers can view the five finalist videos on www.hyattadventurechallenge.com.

Rhonda Moore Shares her Family's Adventures 

The Moore Family of Tampa, Florida has traveled to 42 states within the US.  While their goal is to visit the remaining eight states within the next two years, they are also dedicated to the karate training of their 12- year-old daughter, Sarah, a first-degree black belt holder who holds the title of recurring winner in the North American Sport Karate Association. 

Parents Rhonda and Richard Moore accompanied Sarah on the Hyatt Challenge and found that they enjoyed all the athletic activity as much as she did.

Q. Having an athlete like Sarah in the family must be its own challenge. Were you the most prepared for this sports-oriented competition among five very active families?

A. Individually, we each felt we would have liked to be in better physical conditioning. The elevation in Lake Tahoe made us gasp for air, imagine being at 6,300 feet in elevation level after running and kayaking. If given the opportunity, we would thoroughly love to participate in another ultimate adventure challenge, but we would make sure and be in better physical shape.
 
Q.  Did these family resorts inspire you to consider returning for another active family vacation?
 
A.  In Lake Tahoe, Nevada, the view of the snow-capped mountains is an amazing sight to behold while you're laying in the sun or on a jet ski in the middle of the lake. As a family, we appreciated doing all the challenge activities in a group, since we usually plan our vacations with just the three in our family. We look forward to doing more group vacations with other families.

Q. What were some of the favorite things your family experienced?
 
A.  We enjoyed the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in New Mexico. This resort was very spacious in the rooms and lobby, creating a peaceful, serene feeling. As you walked in the lobby door, a cedar aroma filled the air.  Our family was greeted warmly with corn leis, and the fresh cookies and milk in the room made for a pleasant visit.

We also enjoyed the biking hiking trails with views of the Grande River and the fresh hot bread from the bread oven in the back courtyard.

Q.  At such a restful place, what were the highlights for a busy mom?

A.  I enjoyed receiving a salon treatment at the Tamaya Spa, and enjoyed each resort's hot tub and steam rooms.

We found the elegance of the suites at the Kauai Hyatt a refreshing treat. The view was breath-taking from the three balconies.  We enjoyed the calming of the ocean's waves as we awoke in the morning and pulled back the curtains.

The Hawaiian leis upon our arrival were a wonderful touch and we had a lot of fun at the Luau that was on the grounds of the Kauai Hyatt; what a way to spend my 44th birthday. We would love to revisit the island of Kauai and come back to the Hyatt. We loved the salt lake lagoon and the water slide. We found we work too much and need more time to vacation resort-style more often.

Q.  This competition is called a Challenge.  What were any particular challenges or obstacles for the family?
 
A.  We were challenged to get out of bed a few early mornings.

We were so excited about what was coming next; we stayed up and positive the whole way through.  Sarah and her dad love to win and compete, so it was a challenge when they had new experiences and didn't do as well as they would have liked on a few of the Family challenges.

Q.  What were some of the new activities available at these resorts, and would you recommend that other families try to experience them?

The challenge provided many new experiences. We, as a family, have never been up in a hot air balloon and doing it in New Mexico, the balloon capital of the world, was a fabulous experience. Our hot air balloon pilot from Rainbow Rider was the president of the company, and that had its benefits during the competition.  When he said, "Throw the bean bag now to hit the target below!," we threw it, and we enjoyed winning the Hot air balloon challenge.

We also have not been pulled behind a boat on jumping inner tubes before. My husband got so excited thinking how well he had done -- jumping and grabbing the flags at 50 seconds.  And when he heard the smallest challenge member had grabbed all the flags in 20 seconds, he had to remind himself he is 43-years-old.

Zip lining across a lagoon in beautiful Kauai, how fun is that? Sarah, our daughter, said, "If my mom can do it I can do it, but you will have to push me out of the tree house." And they did, and she had a blast soaring through the air.

Surfing in the deep blue Pacific Ocean and cliff jumping in the falls were also a first for Sarah; we were so proud of her because she had no fear and braved it like a pro. Hawaii's hiking and lush landscaping was a awesome experience for all of us, seeing where they filmed movies like "Jurassic Park."

Q. What was your favorite moment during the two-week Ultimate Adventure Challenge?

A.  For me it was watching Sarah's expressions as she enjoyed trying so many fun and new things.

Q. What advice would you give to other families who want to involve everyone in an active, outdoors vacation?

A.  Drink in every moment.  We needed a few extra minutes every morning and night to take in our beautiful surroundings at each resort.  

Pray God to give us more minutes in the day to enjoy his creations, such beautiful resorts to stay in, and to experience the tranquil peace and crisp, three-sheeted, cool Hyatt resort beds.