When the long, hot days of summer descend upon the country, many children spend those days away from their families at summer camp. From month-long overnight odysseys to half-day sports workshops at the local YMCA, many kids experience summer camp away from their parents.
However, some resorts around the country are trying to give families another option, by turning a family vacation into summer camp.
Resorts around the country understand the need parents have to provide entertaining and maybe even educational activities for their kids during the summer. They also know that these same parents want to get away from it all themselves and get a break from the daily trials and tribulations at home.
So why not provide both these things in one place?
Here are three resorts in different states offering families a refined vacation experience, as well as special supervised camp-like programming for children.
Barnsley Resort is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in northern Georgia. This centuries-old estate has been turned into a luxury village with families being able to rent cottages big (or small) enough for any family.
Kids ages 5-12 can participate in Explorers Club during the day and have fun horseback riding, doing arts and crafts, slinging horse shoes, or maybe perfecting their bocce ball, tennis or golf games. Barnsley Resort even has archery, canoeing, and horse painting as options for kids!
For $40 per day (plus tax and service charge), parents can let their kids have a ball each day and then spend time bonding each night, perhaps over the nightly complimentary S'mores.
Tip: Look for room rate specials that include free Explorer Club access.
A Southern interpretation of the famous great camps of the Adirondacks, High Hampton Inn just opened for its 92nd season in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The Inn specializes in creating summertime memories with a focus on family and nature in a magnificent mountain setting at 3,600 feet-above-sea-level.
High Hampton Inn offers cottages and rustic mountain homes, and to make sure guests focus on the great outdoors, telephones or televisions are not provided in any cabin.
Rates at this resort start at $133/night/person (though children are included at a reduced rate) and include all meals.
The summer children’s programs at High Hampton Inn will keep the little ones entertained for hours on end from June 1 – September 1, 2014.
Daytime activities for ages 3-18 (split into age-appropriate groupings, of course) include hiking, kayaking, volleyball, arts and crafts, donkey cart rides, and tennis and golf clinics.
At night, costume parties, hayrides, pajama nights, twilight swims, dance parties, talent shows and movie nights will keep youngsters busy and let parents have some time for a quiet dinner for two.
The Inn also offers special themed events include the High Hampton Olympics, and off-site trips for teens. Children’s programming costs $7/child/hour.
Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf-Astoria Resort
While “summering” in the desert may not be on the top of many families’ to-do lists, the Arizona Biltmore is hoping to change that opinion. With amazingly low rates starting at $109/night at this renowned resort, known for hosting celebrities and even presidents, more families can afford to slide down the 92-foot water slide, see a movie at the “Splash Cinema”, or even participate in a kid’s cooking class.
The Arizona Biltmore also offers "Kids Korral" six days a week from 12-4 p.m. for kids 4-12 years old. The Arizona Biltmore's website offers supervised childcare in a fun and exciting atmosphere with an array of exciting activities. The hotel requests guests call their Recreation department for pricing and more information.
Sources:
Highhamptoninn.com. Web. 9 June 2014. “Rates.”
http://www.highhamptoninn.com/resource/rates/rates.pdf
Highhamptoninn.com. Web. 9 June 2014. “Children’s programs.”
http://www.highhamptoninn.com/childrensprograms.aspx
Arizonabiltmore.com. Web. 9 June 2014. “Kids Activities.”
http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/Activities/Kids.aspx
Arizonabiltmore.com. Web. 9 June 2014. “Summer holidays.
http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/Events/SummerHolidays.aspx
Barnsleyresort.com. Web. 9 June 2014. “Explorer’s Club.”
http://www.barnsleyresort.com/explorers-club.aspx
Reviewed June 10, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith