Today my family visited TreeUmph in Bradenton, Florida for the first time. It is an ingenious collection of ropes courses set among the trees in rural inland Florida. There are three different courses for different age and skill levels. The more challenging ones take about 3 hours. Kids have to be able to reach to a certain height to participate in the main course.
My oldest son had been once before a few years ago for a birthday party. For the rest of us it was our first experience.
I had signed up ahead and chose the main course for the three boys (ages 13, 14 and 16) and the junior for myself and girls aged 9 & 11. Once we arrived it turned out the youngest was too short to do the junior one. The junior course is actually the first three sections of the main course (5 total) so she was able to go with the boys & they actually graduated her to the main course after she completed the first three. The youngest and I had a lot of fun on the little kids course. She was a natural! I have to admit even on this lower course I was a little intimidated. But it is a great way to overcome any fear of heights! Funny how even though you Know you are strapped in and cannot fall your mind still Feels trepidation about crossing wobbly boards suspended in the air and jumping off to zip across thin air.
One thing I would recommend if you visit is to grab breakfast before right when you get off the highway! There is really nothing else! And you’ll want to fuel your crew first!
Also know that the main course is going to take a lot longer than the little kids one. My daughter was super speedy, unafraid & agile as she is! So we waited a while for the others even after I bought her another round.
We went in the morning which was great because it really started to get crowded after.
I purchased the unlimited water which was good (especially if you don’t want your kids bugging you about how thirsty they are!). Also purchased the gloves which I wore but some boys would not. And one phone strap for each of our groups so we could safely take pictures. Probably didn’t need the gloves or phone strap for the little kids course.
Unique and fun for the whole family! Closest thing I’ve done was in the rainforest of Costa Rica. Enjoy!
Notes From Real Life 