Vermont: Smugglers’ Notch, Smugg's Resort, Summertime Family Fun - Mountain Boarding, Via Ferrata, and Segways. Try an all-terrain Segway; climb a rock wall, run a rope bridge, follow the Via Ferrata; canoe the lake, try diggerling, or go dog-carting. Being edgy is what makes Smugglers' unique within the family vacation niche. They take pride in offering a total summer vacation experience which includes everything you would normally expect pools, hikes, bikes, music, and dancing plus the latest in fun, like Segways, diggerling, disc golf and geocaching.

Just balance a go. This year's Segway program includes all-terrain outings and rentals. What's a Segway, you ask? It's a self-balancing personal two-wheeled transportation device, unlike any other you've ever experienced. Segways are being used across the nation for commuting and recreational purposes. For summer Smugglers' will offer three opportunities for guests to enjoy the Segways: a training session and tour, an all-terrain outing in the wooded areas surrounding the Resort Village, and rentals from the Treasure Chest and Rental Shop. Need to know: There are two family segeway tours offered by Smuggler's Notch - a SegRide Tour ($45 per person) and an Off-Road Segeway Adventure ($65 per person). On the SegRide Tour, after a brief introduction and training session about Segways, families will embark on an exploration of the wildlife and natural beauty that surrounds Smugg's. On the Off-Road Segeway Adventure famileis can experience the next level of SegRides on a Segway XT, off the beaten path on this guided ride through the rugged forested terrain surrounding Smugglers'.

Run with the dogs. During the summer months dog sledding is replaced by dog carting – same idea but on wheels. Energetic teams of Alaskan Huskies pull participants along mountain trails and across grassy fields. The trip includes a stop at the pond where you can watch their playful antics — swimming in the water, jumping for cookies and racing laps around the pond. Participants are invited to jump in and swim with the dogs.

Go down the mountain. When the snow is gone the mountain slopes provide a new way to get an adrenaline rush. Guests at Smuggs can try mountain boarding - a blend of skateboarding and snowboarding on wheels, go bike boarding - a blend of mountain biking and skateboarding on a three- wheeled scooter or practice digglering - a blend of mountain biking and skateboarding on a big scooter.

Play disc golf. Imagine playing on a golf course with a Frisbee. Disc golf is similar and is played with a set of discs meant to be thrown along a set course. At Smuggs the Woods Course provides offers a way to enjoy nature and a little completion along the way. The 10-acre wooded disc course follows the cross-country and snowshoe trails and connects a string of "tee boxes", "fairways", and "greens". The target on the green is a metal basket on a pole. Like the game of golf, each hole has a par ranging from three to five throws.

Hiking with a harness and a pulley. Via Ferrata or "Iron Way" is a perfect summer adventure. Today Via climbing has become a popular sport in Europe with dozens of the old routes being used and more being built. Via climbing routes have with permanently fixed cables, steel rungs, bridges and ladders. Smugglers' version of the Via Ferrata combines hiking along the Brewster River Gorge area with challenging encounters into steeper, narrower and more closed-in terrain. Groups are guided over four or five challenges such as a Burma Bridge and Tyrolean Traverse along the chosen path. Handrails with a foot rope and harness create the secure pathway over the bridge, and a harness and pulley system assist climbers with the Traverse. Most of the Smugglers' Via challenges will employ a cable and rope combination. Need to know: The challenges are not high above the water or riverbed; adept youngsters as young as ten may participate.

Go geocaching round the mountain. This a cool new sport is organized by the Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School in Burlington. Using new (GPS) and old (compass) technology, participants will prowl around Smugglers' Notch and the base of Morse Mountain looking for hidden treasures called geocaches. This is a great family adventure for ages 8 and older.

Only for the kids. Visiting Smugglers' in the summertime means you'll find the same great quality of programming that you enjoy in the winter. Snow Sport University morphs into Summer Fun University and offers camp programs for 3-17 year olds. These involve outdoor programs like swimming and hiking, arts and crafts, interactive games, and making new friends. The older kids may enjoy some real adventures like the ropes course, hiking to a swimming hole, scaling the climbing wall, and kayaking. Bonus points: Teens have their own special hang outs - Teen Alley for those 13-15 and the Outer Limits for those 16 and older.

Go out and about. There are daily guided walks and hikes, mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, use of our pools, water slides, and hot tubs, and evening entertainment. Get in shape with our aqua aerobics or aqua volleyball programs. Explore the byways and stop at local antique shops and farmers markets. Head into Burlington for a visit to the ECHO science museum. There's even a cahnce to walk with llamas. Bonus points: For the whole scoop there's a Ben & Jerry's shop.

Vacation in a green spot. Smugglers’ Notch Resort was recognized in the category of Environmental Excellence in Resource Conservation for its energy and water conservation. For the past seven years Smugglers’ has designed ways to conserve water resources within the resort by limiting usage and thereby reducing impact on the environment and watershed it shares with the surrounding community. These initiatives are mentioned above. In addition, Smugglers’ snowmaking infrastructure has also been improved by replacing older snow guns with ones, which are more water and energy efficient. The resort also uses recently constructed water reservoirs for snowmaking to decrease the impact on stream flows during the winter months.

About Smuggler's Notch Resort. Smuggs is a top-rated year-round family resort near Burlington Vermont, with many special features and facilities. There's a $1,000,000 state-of-the-art child-care center called “Treasures” and “Teen Alley” for children ages 13-15 while “Outer Limits” is for 16 and older. All year long they offer family vacation packages. In the summer months the packages include: lodging; unlimited Grand Rapid River riding; unlimited water sliding; pools, hot tubs; evening entertainment; FamilyFest full-day kids' programs.

Make it happen. Smugglers' Notch Resort 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Smugglers' Notch, 05464. Toll-free 1-800-451-8752 in USA/Canada, UK 0 800-89 7159 or www.smuggs.com