The votes have been tallied and it is good news once again for award-winning Austin Adventures. Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations and trip leader extraordinaire, has been named one of the planet’s best guides for 2014.
Austin was singled out by the editors of OUTSIDE Magazine as the world’s top Family Guide for 2014.
“Many of my favorite experiences have to do with kids who are my favorite guests! Most of my most memorable experiences involve watching kids spot their first wolf, bear, or bison. They get so excited and it’s contagious for the entire group,” explained Austin.
This year, OUTSIDE tapped its global network of correspondents who traveled across America, to Belize, Switzerland, Italy, and beyond identifying the best new adventures, most stunning lakes, gorgeous new lodges and hotels, family vacations, secret getaways, high-tech airports, and foodie hot spots. The result is more than 50 spectacular trips, plus the best travel apps, tour guides, gear, tips for traveling green, and advice for traveling solo.
The entire list of honorees appear in OUTSIDE’s April issue (on newsstands March 18), and online.
“I’m thrilled and humbled by this honor,” said Kasey, “but honestly, guiding is what I love most in this world and any opportunity to share what I know and cherish with others is my ultimate reward!”
Austin is no stranger to being recognized for her exceptional guiding credentials. For the past two years (2012 and 2013) Kasey has been honored as one of the Top Travel Professionals Under 35 by Travalliance Media (publishers of Vacation Agent and Agent@Home magazines).
More than a decade of guiding Austin Adventures family vacations has taught Austin the one essential secret to a successful family trip. “If you can keep the kids happy then the parents will quickly follow!”
Kasey began in the business at an early age. She was six when her father Dan Austin first got into the adventure travel business. She graduated in 2011 as a Presidential Leadership Scholar at the University of Montana in Missoula with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She is an accomplished writer and photographer and competes in biking, skiing, running and mountain events while not guiding families on trips throughout the West. She is a member of the Billings Bike Committee engaged in making Billings a top bicycle-friendly community.