Win a family expedition to the Galapagos Islands

Families dream big about how to spend their precious vacation time...
Now's your chance to win a family expedition to the legendary Galapagos Islands, South America.

TakingtheKids.com, TravelingMom.com and Family Travel Forum have teamed up to make your Big Dream vacation come true aboard the National Geographic Endeavour!

All it takes to win this Dream Big Galapagos Expedition Adventure is some imagination, participation in our online scavenger hunt, and a spirit of adventure.
(luck helps, but participation counts the most)

Experience Galapagos with the Experts: Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Family vacations are more than R&R. They’re about building memories to last a lifetime. Guarantee more of those indelible memories by sharing an amazing cruise adventure to the Galapagos Islands with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, pioneers in exploring Galapagos.

Leave your luxury expedition ship by Zodiac to go ashore and get up close to giant tortoises, marine iguanas, curious sea lions and blue-footed boobies during daily hikes. Kayak, swim and snorkel together as you explore a new island each day of the 9-night/10-day expedition, encountering wildlife that has never developed a fear of humans.

The Lindblad-National Geographic expeditions team knows how to make a family vacation magical. Activities geared specifically to children and teens include a unique expedition photography program with a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified Photo Instructor, a Crossing the Equator ceremony (yes, you cross the equator on this adventure), scavenger hunts; plus craft programs in which kids can make postcards and memory necklaces from recycled paper, learn knot-tying and enjoy a special pizza & movie night.

The A+ Expedition Leaders and Naturalists’ in-depth understanding of the islands guarantees days steeped in joy, wonder and engaging activities, whether you are 8 or 80.

Galapagos Family Adventure Cruise Specifics

The Families Dream Big Galapagos Expedition aboard the National Geographic Endeavour is a $20,000+ offer valid for two Category 1 cabins, each sleeping two. The giveaway is good for travel between February 1 and April 30, 2012, or September 1 and November 15, 2012, only. Airfare not included. Subject to availability by Lindblad Expeditions and excluding holiday blackouts. Confirmation is given 45 days prior to sailing. May not be combined with other offers; limitations and conditions apply. There is no age restriction, though such a trip may be better suited to children aged 8 and older.

How to Enter the Families Dream Big Contest

There are many ways to enter, by participating in our online scavenger hunt or on social media pages. Remember that no matter where or how you participate, you'll have to verify it by leaving a comment here so it will be considered an entry.


1. The scavenger hunt

Take the scavenger hunt challenge in which you'll visit all three sites, Taking the Kids, TravelingMom and Family Travel Forum, to learn about the Galapagos Islands, interacting with animals, taking great photos, getting a passport in a hurry, saving money when you fly, South American cultures and more!
Click on the questions below, each linked to a story on one of our sites. Read the post for each question, then go to our contest entry page to post your comment or answer. Remember, your comments will only count as an entry if you leave a link to them on TravelingMom.com.
One comment = one entry.
Entries are limited to one comment or answer per question, but write as much as you'd like!
Scavenger hunt questions from Taking the Kids:

Which of these tips will you use or have you used to get better family vacation photos?
Which of these suggestions for getting kids out in nature have you tried or would you like to try?
Which of the animals on this Lindblad North Pole expedition would you most like to see and why?:
Scavenger hunt questions from Family Travel Forum:

Which of the things in this diary would you like to experience and why?
Which of the animals seen on this African safari would you most like to see and why?
Which of these places would you most like to have a sleep over and why?
Scavenger hunt questions from TravelingMom:

What would you say to your spouse in this situation?
Which of the free US city zoos would you most like to visit and why?
Which of these tips for saving money when flying have you used? Do you have other great tips?

2. Join the Conversation on Facebook

Participate on Facebook pages (optional) for more chances to win. Visit Facebook pages and leave a comment there, then post the link to your comment here Limited to four Facebook entries (one per FB page) per day. (To get a link to your post, right click on the date stamp.)

Leave a comment on TravelingMom on Facebook, then come back here to tell us you did.
Leave a comment on Taking the Kids on Facebook, then come back here to tell us you did.
Leave a comment on Family Travel Forum on Facebook, then come back here to tell us you did.
Leave a comment on Lindblad Expeditions on Facebook, then come back here to tell us you did.

3. Help promote the contest

Share the news with friends and family and earn more chances to win.

Post a link to the contest on your Facebook page. Suggested post: Have you dreamed of going to the Galapagos? Enter this contest to win a family dream vacation from Lindblad. http://bit.ly/pbf5lK
Tweet about the contest. Suggested tweet: Win a family vacation to the Galapagos! http://bit.ly/pbf5lK #TMOM #DREAMBIG
After tweeting, right click on the date stamp to get a link to your FB post or tweet, then come back here and record your link in the comment section.
Please note, this is limited to one FB post and one tweet entry per day so we don't spam any of our friends.

4. Join a #TMOM #DREAMBIG Twitter party

During the #TMOM #DREAMBIG party from 9-10pm ET on October 17, 2011, we will talk about travel that allows you to Dream Big. If you tweet at least once on the party, come back here and post a link to that tweet for one additional entry. (Please note: Limited to one Twitter party entry no matter how many times you tweet during the party.)

Families Dream Big Contest Details

By entering the contest, you give permission to share your email address with sponsor, Lindblad Expeditions.

Contest closes at 12:01 am ET November 8, 2011.
Winner will be chosen by random.org on Nov. 9 and notified via email
Winner will have 48 hours to accept the prize. If the prize has not been accepted by the deadline, a new winner will be chosen.
By accepting the prize, winner agrees to allow TravelingMom, Taking the Kids and Family Travel Forum to post publicly his or her name and agrees to supply photos taken during the trip to be posted on all three sites.