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USA: Northeast Secret Family Vacation Places.
 When
family schedules are hectic getting away means everything and we have outlined a
few secret spots to consider. Rock scramble in the Catskills of New York State;
board a cog railway at Mount Washington; visit Billings Farm & Museum in
Woodstock; enjoy music under the stars in the Berkshires or try a few days on a
farm in Pennsylvania.
New York: New Paltz, Rock
Scrambles Huguenots and Rip Van Winkle.
The Hudson Valley is
framed by gray-rock ridges and filled with lush forests, clear lakes, and
energizing rivers.
Remember Rip Van Winkle, this is his place? The tales of Washington
Irving reflect the
mid-Hudson Valley and
include localized German and Dutch lore as ell as uniquely American tales and
legends. In the same area, New Paltz has been the home of Huguenots for more
than 300 years. Today Huguenot Street is the place to time-travel among a
collection of stone houses with three centuries of stories to tell. Bonus
points: The small community is also the location of
The Samuel Dorsky Museum
of Art with works of art from diverse cultures as well as artists of the Hudson
Valley and Catskill regions. The museum website has a delightful art portal
created for kids.
Pillow spot:
Quietly luxurious and welcoming, the grand dame of the region is
Mohonk Mountain House, anchored along the shores of a delightful mountain lake.
Surrounded by 2,200 thousands of acres of woodlands and fields, the historic
Victorian castle transcends the centuries meeting the varied needs of
contemporary families. The sleeping arrangements, varied and elegant, also
include charming mountaintop cottages. The Resort offers organized activities
for kids of all ages and guests may enjoy more than 85 miles well-marked trails
that weave around the lake, through the woodlands encompassing a few rock
scrambles. (Mohonk Mountain House 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, 12561.
1(845) 255-1000, 1-800-772-6646 or
www.mohonk.com)
New Hampshire: Mt. Washington Valley,
Rock Climbing, Pony Rides and a Cog Railway. The White Mountains of New
Hampshire offer four seasons of family vacation experiences without effort. Ride
horse back along secret shaded pathways; relax in a Victorian carriage; swim in
Echo Lake; try mountain biking along well-marked trails. Fly fishing is very
popular from the end of May to the middle of October when both brown and rainbow
trout are abundant. For families with energetic teens, rock climbing begins in
April and continues until the snow falls. Once the snow season arrives White
Horse and Cathedral Ledges attract those wishing to attempt ice climbing.
Bonus points: This is the location of the Conway Scenic Railroad known for
terrific family rail adventures and even Mt. Washington has a cog railway. The
shopping is tax free. Pillow stop: Farm By the River Bed and Breakfast
rests amid 70 scenic acres along the Saco River. Enjoy horseback riding,
carriage, wagon or pony rides onsite. In the warmer seasons river swimming
and fly- fishing are available. Sleeping choices are classic New England in
style. Each room is uniquely decorated with family heirlooms from seven
generations. Two-room family suites are available. (Farm By the River Bed and
Breakfast with Stables 2555 West Side Rd, North Conway, NH 03860. Toll-free
1-888-414-8353, (603) 356-2694 or
www.farmbytheriver.com)
Vermont: Woodstock,
Cheese Making, Living History and a Squash Game.
 Like
a Currier & Ives picture, the village conveys a sense of New England worthy of
experiencing. Framed by history and surrounded by natural beauty, the sensibly
arranged shops, galleries, and antique stores, match with the landmark F.H.
Gillingham & Sons General Store. Vacation activities include hiking, biking,
birding, shopping, antiquing, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy living
history. Visit Billings Farm & Museum one of the only working dairy farms which
is also one of the premier farm life museums in the country. Enjoy oodles of
interactive programs and historical exhibits. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller
National Historical Park conducts walking tours of Woodstock's Civil War "home
front" the Underground Railroad, abolition meetings, the town's free
African-American community, and Woodstock's pivotal role in the Union war effort
in Vermont. Bonus points: The
Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in nearby Quechee is the home to one
of North America’s most impressive collection of live birds of prey including
owls, hawks and eagles. Through October 31st seven days a week the
institute offers live bird programs.
Pillow spot:
The
Woodstock
Inn & Resort is framed by the village setting. Perfect for active families,
this “Vermont chic” 4-Diamond property with 142 guest rooms and suites. They
offer world-class amenities such as golf, tennis, skiing (both downhill and
cross-country); and superb health and fitness options. Play tennis, squash or
racquetball. Enjoy the indoor lap pool and outdoor heated pool and access to spa
treatments. (Woodstock Inn & Resort, Fourteen The Green Woodstock, Vermont
05091-1298 or
www.woodstockinn.com)
Massachusetts:
The Berkshires.
The area is known worldwide for its culture, theater, music, and museums. It is
an exceptional family destination because of the quality and variety of vacation
activity choices including arts and natural adventures. This is the location of
Jacob's Pillow Dance Centre, rich with history and alive with art. Jacob’s
Pillow was once a family farm and a stop on the Underground Railroad of 1800s.
Also in the area Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony,
providing magical evenings with picnicking on the lawn. Bonus points:
Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield is exceptional living history museum
showcasing Shaker life amid a 1200-acre complex. The highlight for most kids is
the chance to try on Shaker clothing and practice chores. Pillow spot:
The 1000-acre Eastover Resort complex is an all-inclusive, family friendly place
where the seasoned staff pays attention to the details making it easy for guests
to relax. Sleeping choices include 130 rooms, with 20 of them on the upper
floors of the mansion, the balance located in surrounding motel-like cottages.
The accommodations have a home spun comfortable feeling that enhances the stress
free atmosphere. There are no televisions or air conditioners in rooms and only
a limited number of rooms have telephones. In addition to daily supervised
children’s programs families may also enjoy bingo, volleyball, wiffle ball,
tennis, archery, golf, shuffleboard, skeet, softball, hayrides, horseshoes, and
group dancing or rent mountain bikes, arrange for a massage or go horseback
riding. (Eastover Resort 430 East Street P.O. Box 2160 Lenox, 01240.
1-800-VACAFUN (1-800-822-2386) or
www.eastover.com)
Pennsylvania:
Farm Stays, Bison, Berries and Curious Goats. Rural PA is loaded with family farms and many of them welcome
visitors. Some locations offer guestrooms within the main house while others
have cabins, cottages or separate house for guests. Unique and family-friendly,
they are tucked away along winding country roads making them almost a family
secret. Some still actively pursue farming by raising milk cows, beef cattle,
sheep or bison while others have poultry, nurture bees or raise herbs. Farm
stays often include morning chores like collecting eggs, feeding goats, or
picking berries. Pillow spots: Almost to Ohio, kid-friendly farm
Weatherbury Farm is a quiet place where everyone may participate in farm life if
they choose. Stay in a guest house at Darrow Bison Range a 1460-acre working
bison ranch enjoy bison watching, hiking and bass fishing. At the heart of the
state Mountain Dale Farm a 175-acre secret place is surrounded by state forest
and game land which makes the cabins delightful. Farm animals include sheep,
goats, cattle, horses, geese, ducks, chickens, and a dog. Blue Moon Farm and
Forge near Raystown Lake has a working blacksmith shop which provides
guests with a sense of history. Guest may help with chores, hike, fish or swim
in the pond and roast marshmallows at night. Just minutes from Lancaster or
Hershey, Rocky Acre Farm, a 130-acre dairy farm invites guests to milk a cow,
feed a calf, gather eggs and ride a train or tractor. The goats, kittens and a
miniature horse await each new set of friends and for young children there is a
playhouse. (To review the complete list of farms with pillows for guests go to
www.pafarmstay.com)
More family
Vacation Ideas
USA: Southeast, Secret Family Vacation Places.
Enjoy the beach along
North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast; tap your feet to Cajun tunes in Louisiana;
navigate secret caverns in Alabama; sing-a-long at a cowboy bonfire in
Tennessee; walk across a swinging at Grand Father Mountain in North Carolina.
Make the fun happen with your kids.
More
USA: Heartland, Secret Family Vacation Places.
Looking for a new spot or a new family vacation idea?
Imagine riding a magic train in Ohio; singing with the peacocks in Wisconsin;
celebrating with a fish boil in Door County; hunting for agates along Lake
Superior or petting a bearded lizard in Missouri. This is the fun stuff.
More
USA: Mountains West, Secret Family Vacation Places.
The geographic vastness of the American West makes
pinpointing excellent family vacation spots slightly challenging. The horizons
are broad and the adventure authentic. Follow the
Trail of the Coeur
d'Alenes; visit the ghost town of Bannock in Montana; try fly-fishing with your
kids; dig for dinosaurs in Wyoming. Variety is at you finger tips.
More
Garden
Gate at Woodstock Inn, Vermont.
Content researched
and complied by Travel Communications. Images by Mohonk Resort and Billings Farm
& Museum and Woodstock Inn, VT. Copyright 2007.
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