Head for the Green Mountains of Vermont this summer for a chance to combine the best of the camaraderie of summer camp — time shared with your kids and other families, and the comfort levels we grown-ups like for our vacation accommodations and amenities.
At Mount Snow Family Camp, only a four-hour drive from New York City, families can do as little or as much as they want of the offered group activities, with simply spending time together as the most important part of the trip. Electronic devices take a back seat to the traditional joys of outdoor activities and games, eating meals family-style at long tables and making s’mores around a camp fire each night. Plus, mom and dad can lock their wallets away in the hotel safe at the beginning of their stay and simply focus on the fun because the all-inclusive rate includes everything.
My family and I were lucky enough to have a preview of the new program last summer before it officially rolls-out this year with three-, four- or seven-night all-inclusive packages available from July 12 to Aug. 9. One single rate includes accommodations, three meals, wine, beer, snacks, and all activities (except spa treatments), offering exceptional value. The age range for kids during our week started at 18 months and went up until 19, with the 10 to 12 range being the most dominant.
Our home for the week was a three-bedroom/three-bathroom duplex in Seasons Condominiums with full kitchen, dining room, balcony and living room with a fireplace; not that we spent a lot of time besides sleeping there. All family condos were located walking distance to the large Sundance Base Lodge, which served as Family Camp’s home base/dining hall/game central. It housed the family camp office, long tables for dining that turned into craft centers in between meals, ping pong tables and a pool table. A separate lounge area was set up for watching videos and the kid’s talent show at the end of the week.
We started each day at Sundance Lodge with a delicious breakfast buffet, before heading out for an action-packed day of adventures on and off the mountain. A boxed lunch was provided, and anytime snacks and drinks were also available at the lodge. Each morning was divided into kids programs and adult programs, which differed each day but included mountain biking (everyone is fitted for their own bike to use for the week), craft time, guided hiking, chairlift rides, shopping excursions and yoga or aqua aerobics classes. Most days had at least two choices each for kids and adults, and the incredible staff was always available to tweak any options or come up with new ones on the spot for anyone not interested in the offered activities. Shuttle service to the nearby golf course was also available each morning, and my husband was able to join other dads to either hit balls at the driving range or play a round — also included in the rate.
Most afternoons were dedicated to family together time activities, often off-property. We would climb into vans and away we’d go to the nearby Lake Whitingham for an afternoon of kayaking and paddleboarding one day, a boat ride another day that included tubing, and an afternoon of swimming, games and t-shirt tie-dying another day. The kids loved the short drives where they would pile into their own vans and sing top 40 tunes as loud as they could. Some afternoons, we just hung out at the condominium’s outdoor pool, relaxing, or popping into the condo clubhouse for our own family epic foosball games. The condos also had tennis courts, a basketball court, a full exercise room and an indoor pool and hot tub for our use.
The highlight of the week for most of the families was the full-day included excursion to Ramblewild, an aerial adventure course featuring ziplines and rope climbing in Massachusetts. Alternate activities were arranged for families with children too young to participate.
At night, the families would meet up again before dinner for a cocktail or two for parents and volleyball or backyard games for the kids. One night, the head chef at Mount Snow gave a wine and cheese “party” for parents in the bar on the second floor of the Sundance Lodge, while our children played gleefully with the counselors below and outdoors. Dinners were served family style, with two or three entrée and side dish options, including kid-friendly favorites, plus salad and desserts. After dinner, we had our choice of games and movies, or just enjoyed the time to relax by the outdoor fire pit toasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
As with most camp experiences, it is the energy and spirit of the counselors that can make a fun time exceptional. The Mount Snow Family Camp staff went above and beyond to keep the fun on high and to mold the group into one big happy family. We can’t wait to return for more adventures this summer.
For additional information or to book your Family Camp stay, visit www.mountsnow.com/the-mountain/family-camp or call 800-290-1823 or 800-245-7669.
Stacey Zable is an award-winning veteran travel writer and family travel expert who has written about destinations, resorts, and cruise lines around the world. Her favorite trips are those that she shares with her husband and two daughters. Send travel questions and comments to Stacey at info@staceyzable.com.
