Family vacations and weekend getaways are perfect opportunities to reconnect and recharge. Make it fun for everyone by choosing a kid-friendly inn where adults and children can have a great time together, as well as apart. These bed and breakfasts, country inns and lakeside resorts feature age-specific activities and supervised babysitting that welcome stress-free participation from parents, children and grandchildren.
Whether you want one last hurrah this summer or you're looking for a location for the next multi-generational family reunion this winter, make it an adventure that will be fondly remembered forever.
Young'uns can learn to rodeo at the all-inclusive Flathead Lake Lodge and Dude Ranch in Bigfork, Montana. For the less adventuresome, rides on the old merry-go-round at Big Grove Country Inn Bed and Breakfast in Oakland, Iowa are among inviting activities available for all ages.
Relax and savor a quiet breakfast while the children are safely occupied feeding the fish at Arbor House in Madison, Wisconsin. Listen to an outdoor concert at Bishop-Brighton Bed and Breakfast in Wyandotte, Michigan, with the kids never out of sight, climbing the playscape.
Bring the whole family to Haus Rohrbach Pension in Leavenworth, Washington, for a rowdy reunion. Take advantage of the economical Family Value Vacation Package at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior in Lutsen, Minnesota.
A variety of recreational activities are enjoyed in scenic New York state. Fish from the dock and swim with the loons at Birchwood Cottages in Chestertown; or bike along the Hudson Valley River Trails at The Red Hook Country Inn in Red Hook.
Work, school, sports and other commitments often dictate when schedules can be arranged for a family vacation. Stay at an all-season resort to best fit the needs of everyone in your family. Enjoy scenic summers and a winter wonderland at Dawson House Lodge in Chemult, Oregon. You can even bring your pets to explore the camp-themed comfort at Strawberry Creek Bunkhouse in Idyllwild, California.
A quick getaway or relaxing vacation at any one of these fun family escapes will provide lasting memories that your kids will be telling their own children someday.
--Julie Dietzel-Glair, Shirley Anitra Swagerty