Remember what vacations were like before you had kids? You'd sleep in if you wanted, spend the day hiking or biking, then relax with a massage or yoga class before dinner. Post-kids, we've all experienced a few not-so-relaxing outings: You wake up before the sun rises, eat vagrant Cheerios for breakfast, try to hold onto your child long enough to slather on sunscreen, then attempt to keep said child from straying into the deep end of the pool. You grab a quick dinner then collapse into bed before 9.
While family vacations may never be the stress-free, action-packed trips you used to take, you don't have to resign yourself to doing leg lifts in the kiddie pool just to get in some exercise. Here, five child-friendly trips that include plenty of options for adventure, bonding and even alone time.
IF YOU ENJOY THE BEACH
Winnetu Inn & Resort
EDGARTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
This large, ocean-side resort on Martha's Vineyard was designed with active families in mind and has enough diversions--in the water and out--for all ages.
Get active with the kids Bodysurf or kayak (you can borrow a boat for free) in the calm Atlantic waters or play Marco Polo in one of the resort's two heated pools. Once you're waterlogged you can challenge the kids to a game on the life-size outdoor chess set or head over to the putting green. The center of Edgartown is just a flat, three-mile pedal away (don't worry, bikes with kid seats are available).
Head out on your own While your kids (3 and older) are building monstrous sandcastles, perfecting their backhands or enjoying a hayride to a nearby farm as part of the morning kids program, take a cardio, strength or yoga class at Winnetu's brand-new Island Adventure & Wellness Center. You can sign up for a sport-specific consultation with a staff trainer who will analyze your form and even put together a post-vacation workout plan to keep you on track at home.
The fine print Open from April 14-Oct. 29. Nightly rates for a suite, which sleeps four to five people, with kitchenette, begin at $475. Kids programs for ages 3-12 are included.
Contact winnetu.com, 978-443-1733
IF YOU LOVE HORSES
Paradise Guest Ranch
BUFFALO, WYOMING
Surrounded by mountains, rivers, pastures and a zoo's worth of wildlife, this dude ranch is the ideal spot to introduce your family (best for 3-year-olds and up) to serious nature, in the form of moose, elk, bobcats and coyotes.
Get active with the kids When you're not playing Uno on the porch of your log cabin or roaming the 15-acre grounds of this rustic yet modern ranch, you'll be exploring it on horseback. Wrangler-led rides (for all levels) into the majestic Bighorn Mountains range from two-hour jaunts to overnight excursions that include a fly-fishing side trip. Evening entertainment includes a low-pressure family talent show, singing, square dancing and roasting marshmallows.
Head out on your own Guarantee yourself some solo time by reserving a spot for your kids (all ages; only children 2 and up are allowed after noon, though) in the Young Bucks program, which features rides, as well as tie-dyeing sessions and swimming. Choose a quiet hike through wildflowers to see the red rocks at Crazy Woman Canyon, sign up for a fly-fishing lesson along the Powder River or just grab a lounge chair and read.
The fine print A one-week stay (May 28-Aug. 27) starts at $1,200 per adult, $350 and up for kids 2 and older, including all meals, kids programs, lodging and activities.
Contact paradiseranch.com, 307-684-7876
IF YOU LIKE TO BE ON THE WATER
Holiday Expeditions' Destination Canyon Rafting
GREEN RIVER, UTAH
Adults (and school-age kids) will love the chance to escape everything--crowds, traffic, even indoor plumbing!--on this rafting trip through some of Utah's most breathtaking wilderness.
Get active with the kids The white water doesn't get too big on this 84-mile float through mile-deep canyons, but a handful of the 60-plus rapids will get your adrenaline pumping. Stretch your legs on daily hikes to abandoned homesteads from the late 1800s and centuries-old petroglyphs. Before the sun sets, you'll pitch camp on a white-sand beach and still have time to play in the river while the guides prepare fresh salmon for dinner.
Head out on your own To experience the white water up close, you can jump "ship" and paddle solo in an inflatable kayak for a while (children 8 and older can do the same, entirely supervised, on certain stretches). Off the water, take a hike while the guides help the kids make candles or plan an act for the weekly talent show.
The fine print Five- to six-day trips run from May-August; $908-$975 per adult, $708-$775 for kids (the minimum age is 5), including all meals, tents and activities.
Contact bikeraft.com, 800-624-6323
IF YOU CRAVE URBAN ADVENTURE
Omni Shoreham Hotel
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Gear up with comfy sneakers, a city map and an umbrella stroller for a walking vacation with a side of history, culture and "wildlife" in the Capital.
Get active with the kids Set up home base at the centrally located Omni Shoreham Hotel, which is ideal both for kids (at check-in, they receive an activity bag, with a deck of cards, crayons and a coloring book) and adults (spacious rooms feature WiFi). Then, head four blocks over to the endless pathways in the National Zoo. Tai Shan, a 1-year-old panda cub, is a must-see, but go early--many animals nap in the afternoon. Walk the monuments or the galleries at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which reopens after a six-year renovation on July 1. Sick of pounding the pavement? Rent a paddle boat at Tidal Basin Paddle Boats or rent some wheels at Bike the Sites and cycle around the Mall.
Head out on your own Arrange for a babysitter--the Omni's concierge can provide contact numbers--then hit the fitness center, go running on the paved path in Rock Creek Park (which also has a golf course) next to the hotel, or browse the art galleries in Dupont Circle. If escaping the kids isn't an option, check out a free Get Fit Kit, which includes dumbbells, a resistance band and a mat, from the front desk. Work up a sweat in your room while the kids watch movies on-demand.
The fine print Room rates for the Omni start at $199 per night.
Contact omnihotels.com, 800-843-6664
IF YOU LIKE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES
Club Med
SANDPIPER, FLORIDA
From water polo and in-line skating to building sandcastles, your entire family can stay occupied at this all-inclusive resort that's open year-round.
Get active with the kids Located one hour north of West Palm Beach on the St. Lucie Waterway, Sandpiper offers typical Florida fare--golf, tennis, water-skiing--mixed with the unexpected, such as archery lessons, flying trapeze and circus school. Of course, you can also spend the day in any of five pools (one just for kids) at the resort. If you crave even more action, grab a shuttle to Sea World, Universal Studios or the Kennedy Space Center, all about a two-hour drive away.
Head out on your own The kids program separates children by age group for puppet shows, face painting, arts and crafts, juggling and hip-hop dance lessons. After dropping off your kids, you can hit the gym or swim laps in the adult pool. Choose from half a dozen classes, offered in partnership with Crunch gyms, including Kardio Katami Kickbox, a martial-arts workout that uses a weighted bar (it looks like a lat-pull-down attachment). Follow up with a stress-busting massage, or claim a shady chair poolside.
The fine print Seven nights start from $875 per adult, $483 for kids 4-15 and $263 for kids 2-3; includes food and drink, lodging and most activities. Kids programs for ages 4-17 are included with the price; admission for kids 3 and under is $40 per day.
Contact clubmed.com, 888-932-2582
DIMITY MCDOWELL is a contributing editor in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Shape, by Dimity McDowell
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