10 great outdoor adventures for families

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Give the kids their first taste of America's epic outdoor adventures. These 10 getaways, including hiking the Appalachian Trail and canyoneering in Utah's red sandstone, are pint-sized versions of legendary experiences you'll talk about for years to come. Best of all, they're trips a family on a budget can actually afford.

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Boating through Arizona's Antelope Canyon

To fully appreciate the grandeur of Antelope Canyon, the Southwest's most photographed canyon, you and the kids have to see both sides — and at different times of the day. During a Navajo-led hike ($35 to $46) of the upper canyon on Navajo land, you see shafts of light stream in around noon. Later, the canyon's hues become vibrant reds, blues, and purples.

After your hike, drive to the canyon's other side at Lake Powell Resort for an afternoon boat tour ($41 to $65). See the massive 710-foot Glen Canyon Dam from the seat of a boat before cruising up Antelope Canyon until it narrows so much you can almost touch the sides.