From marshmallow cookouts on the mountains of Lake Tahoe to water rafting in West Virginia, there’s an abundance of family oriented offerings available throughout North America over the coming months.
A Rafting Adventure in West Virginia
ACE Adventure Resort in West Virginia is offering a rafting adventure on the Upper New River, which is perfect for families with children of 6 or over. The season runs through October 2016 and is an all-day trip across 10.5 miles of river with lunch included. The easy waves and mild rapids are ideal for beginners, and boat options include a 16-inch raft for eight or more people, or a 1-2 person inflatable kayak.
Rafting can be combined with other activities available at the resort, including ziplining across the treetops of West Virginia by day or night, with spectacular views over the New River Gorge. Mountain biking, paint balling, climbing, mud obstacles, hiking and horseback riding are also on offer at the resort. A variety of accommodations are available, ranging from camping to rustic shelters and deluxe cabins with hot tubs or multi-occupancy homes for larger groups.
Package rates start at $13 per adult; $11 for guests 18 and under Sunday through Thursday; $15 per adult; $12 for guests 18 and under Friday through Saturday. Rates include the half-day rafting, a pass to the resort’s water park, guides, equipment and three meals. A 2-night minimum stay is required Friday and Saturday nights. Room rates start at $179 per night for a cabin or log home. For more information, visit aceraft.com.
Family Fun for the Entire Pack
Great Wolf Lodge, the indoor water park resort with 13 locations throughout North America, has a range of activities aimed at families with children of all ages. The resorts feature enormous 84-degree indoor water parks with areas specifically designed for toddlers, tweens and adults. Attractions include a meet and greet with Wiley the Wolf and Violet the Wolf, nightly fireside story time, and the interactive live-action role playing game Magiquest.
Also at the resorts is Slideboard, an interactive waterslide that doubles as a competitive video game, complimentary kids programming with morning yoga, arts and crafts and more, plus the Scooops Kid Spa, where children can have edible spa treatments such as ice cream manicures. Resort locations include Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Colorado Springs and more. Rates start at $199 per night in September. First-time visitors can receive 25 percent off room rates and a $100 resort credit when using the promo code WELCOME. For more information, visit greatwolf.com.
Family-Friendly Amenities in California
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel has introduced a new family concierge who can create customized, memorable experiences such as entry into some of Los Angeles’ hard-to-get-into attractions. Experiences include audience tickets to shows such as “The Voice”; reservations to Au Fudge, the new restaurant and kid-zone owned by actress Jessica Biel; a personal guide to the National History Museum; and VIP access to studio tours and theme parks. The service is available to families booking premium rooms at the property. Room rates start at $360 in September. For more information, visit loewshotels.com/santa-monica.
Ritzy Camping in Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe—a mid-mountain resort on the Northstar California Ski Resort—is combining camping-style activities with the five-star service and amenities that the brand is known for. Experiences include Marshmology, a daily 5 p.m. activity around the resort’s outdoor slope-side fire pit where the property’s Marshmologist explains the history of the marshmallow and helps guests assemble their own artisanal s’mores with flavors such as apple, orange and pumpkin spice.
Also available is the Indoor Campout Program that lets kids bring a camping experience into their own room with an indoor 4-inch by 4-inch tent with Ritz-Carlton linens and feather beds, a special camp light, a Ritz-Carlton Teddy bear, activity book and crayons, and a s’mores kit to be used at the outside fire pit. The program is priced at $100 per child for children aged 4-8. Room rates start at $293 per night. For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/lake-tahoe.
