California Family Vacation Packages
California is such a beautiful place to explore with your family and there is no better place to really enjoy what it has to offer than by camping by and rafting on the American rivers in Northern California. Rivers offer a unique opportunity to experience the natural world, often cutting canyons and gorges through the landscape that can not be accessed any other way than by boat. On the American Rivers you will raft through fun and exciting white water rapids in what feels like the wilderness and be back in a modern and comfortable campground in the evening eating an amazing meal in our pleasant outdoor dining area. It really is the best of both worlds!
River Runners gets that planning a family vacation is already difficult enough and we go out of our way to make it easier for you. We always offer all inclusive packages so that you know exactly what you are getting. We also believe in providing a consistent high quality of service. Most of our guests return year after year for their California family vacation because they know that they are guaranteed to have an amazing time.
Our all inclusive family vacation packages start out at 2 days and 2 nights on the South Fork of the American River and can be built on from there. Contact us to discuss your needs, we are happy to tailor make your family vacation for you so that you get the most out of your time together!
California Family Vacation Package with River Runners
Two Day/Two Night- Gorge/Chili Bar (Class 3) Rafting Vacation
Raft California's most popular river!
Take off your shoes. Shed your worries. Have some cold drinks. Gaze at the stars. Enjoy a camp fire. Make your kids a smore. Make yourself a smore. Go swimming. Go berry picking. Sit in the front of the raft and forget everything. Sit in the back of the raft and watch everyone else forget everything. Skip a rock. Skip a phone call, or five of them.
The South Fork 2-Day is our specialty. It's much more than river rafting. We are excited to show you all of the special places on the river. The places where you can drift in the currents. The places where the turtles rest. The places where a bird nests and a beaver gnaws. The places you can jump off of rocks. The places where you can stick your face out the front of the raft like a giant human hood ornament.
This is where river time takes over and all you have to worry about is whether you can fit in seconds at dinner and still have room for dessert.
Arrive the night before and set up your camp (one tent per 2 people will be provided and set up for you prior to your arrival).
Wake up in the morning to a coffee call and stumble out of bed in the beautiful Camp Lotus. Watch your guides whip up a storm in the kitchen to serve you a fresh hot breakfast.
Take some time to chill out and get river ready while the guides take care of cleaning up. Once they are done the river will begin to call.
The first day begins with a fun class 2 stretch before lunch giving you time to relax, play, swim or experience adventurous antics depending on your tastes. Your guides will prepare a fresh deli style lunch that will leave you satisfied and ready for the adventure ahead. After lunch you will have time to digest before hitting the class 3 gorge. The gorge is an exciting and beautiful place where the river has carved through rock deep below the chaparral covered hill sides forming incredibly fun rapids. If you are lucky on a quiet day you may see a great blue heron, a bald eagle, deer and sometimes even mink, beaver and river otter.
After a long day on the river a 20 minute bus ride will take you back to camp where you can grab a cold beer or soda and your tireless guides will prepare an epic dinner to follow up an epic day.
The next morning your guides will re-enact their breakfast performance mixing it up for variety and you will hop in a bus to take you 9 miles upstream.
After you slide your boat into the water at Chili Bar it is not long before you drop down into what feels like wilderness. Steep canyon walls loom high above as you crash through the class 3 rapids that begin almost immediately. With great scenery, rapids and fascinating gold rush history this section has something for everyone. The rapids mellow out in the Coloma valley before you reach Camp Lotus where your guides will have their last hurrah and prepare a delicious and well deserved lunch.
Minimum age: 6 years old (children should be comfortable in water)
Check in anytime after 4pm on the evening prior to your first day on the river at the River Runners site in Camp Lotus 5461 Bassi Road, Lotus California, 95651.
Check out is approximately 4pm on your second river day.
Meals are included
2 nights camping at Camp Lotus
Tents (1 tent per 2 people) included
Parking and use fees at Camp Lotus are included
All government fees included
Tax is included
Price is per person. Guide gratuity not included.