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Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1906
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 6:21 pm: | 
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I'm looking for somewhere I can drive to in less than 3 hours, with activities for kids (5 and 11), really nice accommodations (for me), relaxing and fun whatever the weather. Thoughts? |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4850
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 6:35 pm: |
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Mohonk, but you'll pay.
There was a post not too long ago that rec'd a place upstate, near New Paltz I recall. Looked like a lot of fun.
How about a short cruise?
Hershey has a luxury spa/resort, looks like a lot of fun.
Nevele Grande, or one of the more upscale Catskills or Poconos places? They have lots of activities which makes it much more fun for the kids. |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 477
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 7:25 pm: |
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Oh the Nevele. We went with my ILs for 4 days th 4th of July weekend and I would highly reccommend against going. The pools are only open 10-6. It is VERY worn and in need of repair(tiles/grout peeling in the bathroom, torn carpet in the stairwell)and updating. The horses were thin and tired. Meals are served at set times and the service was very sporatic. The menu is rather limited and even my carb-fiend kids didn't like the spaghetti. They do have minigolf/table tennis and an arcade in the basement. It is VERY geared toward seniors and I think my 2 kids (6 & 3) dropped the median age by half. OTOH, the walk to the water fall is lovely and my kids thought the fact the name is merely eleven backwards was funny.
Hershey was much more fun, but I am a chocoholic.
I would also suggest Lancaster County. We stayed at a working farm turned B&B which was fun. Friends have also been to Willow Creek Resort (Nevele but nicer with an indoor water park!) there and loved it. |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 310
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 7:43 pm: |
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As of a year ago, Nevele was the best of the borscht belt resorts.
Raleigh was looking tired, but their food is actually quite good.
Kutsher's did a renovation about 5 years ago; when we were last there 2 years ago, parts of it looked fine, parts looked tired.
Until and unless the casinos come in, going to the most recently renovated resort will get you a decent value-for-money room, but not what you would expect to get at a Mohonk or a Hotel Hershey.
=================================
Within 3 hours, consider the Mystic area. Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, boats by submarine in Groton (is that still there?), Foxwoods for you if you can find a babysitter.
Wildwood is fun but you are at the mercy of the weather.
Philadelphia: Franklin Institute, Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, the new ballpark. |
Suzanne Ng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 881
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 8:21 pm: |
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One of Caesars' Pocono resorts is kid-friendly. Brookdale-on-the-lake (aka Brookdale)
http://www.caesarspoconoresorts.com/resorts/brookdale_on_the_lake.aspx
is in Scotrun, PA, about 90 minutes from Maplewood, pretty much straight out Route 80 into PA, and head North on 611 for a few miles.
It is also close to the Tannersville Outlets, in case you want to do some bargain shopping. I think the Pocono Raceway/Speedway is nearby too. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 368
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 8:23 pm: |
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There's a really nice old fashioned place I've spoken about called The Eldred Preserve in Eldred NY. It's in the SW Catskills. It is known for it's trout fishing. They have neat rooms, a place to eat, not far from the Delaware River for kayaking and tubing. I think their site is www.eldredpreserve.com.
If you can't find info PL me and I'll check further. It is exactly 90 miles from here and you go through NJ, then PA, then NY not on Rt 17 or the thruway. Even the ride up is pleasant. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1907
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 9:31 pm: |
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I've done Hershey resort -- fun, but I actually got sick of chocolate. Wouldn't do that again. I can't find Willow Creek -- could it be Willow something else? |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1908
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 9:47 pm: |
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related question: Lancaster County looks great. Best places to stay? |
Smoochie
Citizen
Username: Smoochie
Post Number: 115
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:19 pm: |
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www.greatwolflodge.com/Locations/Poconos
Just heard about this place; can't wait to find some kids to take!!! |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 479
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 6:31 am: |
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Oops, my brain failed me (my kids would say that happens often!). It's Willow Valley www.willowvalley.com.
The place we stayed when we were in Lancaster Co was Eby Farms B&B which was very kid friendly and nice but not luxurious. The main focus of our trip was the trains since my son was then obsessed with trains and the Strasburg Railroad is a must. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1910
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 6:56 am: |
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My sonis also a trainiac, that's what sounds so appealing!Is any hotel especially convenient to Strasberg? |
hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 480
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 7:54 am: |
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Willow Valley is very close to Strasburg. I think there is a Marriott nearby, too, but I don't know much about the hotels, though. In Strasburg, there is also the "Choo Choo Barn" and The Pennsylvania RR Museum. My husband's favorite was the all you could eat Amish meals - I think the restaurant was Good and Plenty.
Check out www.padutchcountry.com. That's where we found the B&B where we stayed. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 4268
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 8:35 am: |
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O.K. if your son is a trainiac and your final destination is Strasberg, I have the place for you--well actually, it would be for your son, as I don't think it's that glamerous. Took our boys to Lancaster County in April, stayed at a working farm B&B, and visiteded Strasberg (of course).
http://www.redcaboosemotel.com/
While in Strasberg, we were told we MUST visit here (unfortunately, we visited Easter Sunday and they were closed).
http://www.choochoobarn.com/
Saw this while we were out there and would love to go myself--that is of course, if you're looking to go in the complete opposite direction, spend a lot of money and stay someplace glamerous. Spa services and all. I think I even rememeber reading they have organized kid activities.
http://www.netherlandsinn.com/
We stayed at a "working farm" B&B that we really liked, but it was a bit far from most of the Lancaster County "attractions." We had to drive about 20 minutes/half hour to the "heart" of "Amish Country." We didn't really mind.
http://www.thecountrygardensfarm.com/
Our "innkeeper" (who also has three sons) highly recommended this amusement park as much, much better overall, but particularly for smaller kids, than Hershey. (We were there before the park opened for the season, though)
http://www.dutchwonderland.com/index.asp
All this being said, I, personally wouldn't go anywhere near Lancaster County smack in the middle of summer. It's gotta be hot as hell. But that's just me.
Feel free to P/L me with any questions and have fun. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 4269
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 8:47 am: |
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More thoughts:
Good and Plenty is a big "tourist attraction" out there, but isn't so great for little kids. I think it's something like $16 per person (no lower prices for kids, if I remember correctly) for all you can eat, which is a great deal for a couple of adults, but just downright insane for small kids. We tried to go there for lunch one day and decided it absolutely was not worth it and left
Most of the "restaurants" out there seemed to have an "all you can eat" option. But, take it from me, be ready to be completely underwhelmed and bored out of your mind when it comes to food in PA Dutch Country. If you're a foodie, you'll definately want to hang yourself by the time your long weekend is over. Also, it ain't none to find a place where you can come by a glass of wine or a beer with dinner.
If you're looking for your basic hotel/motel (as in Marriot, Holiday Inn, all the usual), the main drag out there is Route 30 (which is also where Dutch Wonderland is located, and is convenient to Strasberg). Anything there would put you centrally located to everything, including lots of out let shopping. But it would be more like staying on, say, Route 22, than farm country. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 4270
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 8:49 am: |
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One more thing. DO NOT attempt to take Route 78 to Lancaster County unless you can confirm they are no longer doing construction out west in PA. We got stuck in traffic for at least an hour, and it was a nightmare. |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 496
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 9:59 am: |
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Just came back from Lancaster 2 weeks ago. Strasburg was great fun as was the RR museum which is right across the road. The Trains run every half hour but the deluxe trains that have dining/parlor cars are on the hour. There are places along the way you can get off and have a picnic, and then come back on a later train. The other activities at Strasburg start operating at 12 noon and are dependent on weather. We actually had our best time at the RR museum. There was enough stuff to keep the little one and my 14 year old busy. Also, almost everywhere offers AAA discounts, So ask.
We have stayed at Willow Valley on past trips and it was fine. Have not stayed but we saw the Netherlands Inn and it looked nice. This time we stayed at the Eden Resort. I cannot reccommend this hotel even though the facilities were nice because our room (courtyard queen/queen) was on one side of a glass wall from the courtyard which they use for Weddings on Weekends. We were practically in the Wedding with DJ and music blaring until 10:30pm. I was livid and the response of the hotel was very ho-hum and lame. There are a good percentage of rooms that face the courtyard and those that face the indoor pool are adjacent to the courtyard so we were not the only ones affected.
We did eat at one of the Amish Buffet restaurants called Hershey Farms and it was pretty good in an all you can eat sort of way. They had a special kids menu so my 4 year old could get his chicken fingers and we didn't have to spend a fortune. Also check online for coupons. We had a 2 dollars off for each person's meal.
It is worthwile to get a hotel that has an indoor pool that stays open late because there really is nothing going on a night in the area. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1911
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 7:11 am: |
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OK, we booked Willow Valley for two nights later this month, not overlooking the atrium and not on the pool level! I'll let you know how it goes. My son is ecstatic about the trains. Thanks everyone! |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1912
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 7:12 am: |
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PS: MeAnd, I totally pushed for Netherlands, but was overruled by the philistines. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 4283
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 8:18 am: |
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Damn kids, always ruining our fun, eh Amateur Night!
Enjoy Lancaster. We love it so much we've decided to make it a yearly spring pilgrimage!
Enjoy the trains. My guys particularly enjoyed riding the little scale version train. We also got a peek at Thomas, who seems to be stored in a shed there when he's not "touring!"
Be sure to take a buggy ride. My boys still talk about theirs. |
Noo2wood
Citizen
Username: Noo2wood
Post Number: 43
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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We went to the Sagamore in the dead of winter and it was great. It's beautiful, peaceful and the food ain't bad. I'm sure it's even better in the summer, but probably very expensive.
I've heard good things about Mohonk. I've heard terrible things about the Nevele (including lice-ridden sheets).
A friend has a cabin in the Berkshires (3 bedroom) in an enclosed community with a private beach on the lake, tennis courts and such. It's gorgeous and not resort-y. My family have a mini-reunion there every summer. And I've gone there a couple of times for skiing vacations with friends in the winter. Let me know if you want her contact info. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1913
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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Yes I would love this info, please send to debgaines at optonline dot net. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 2178
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 1:15 am: |
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Philadelphia is an hour by train: Independence Hall, numerous historical monuments and areas, kids' activities all around downtown, the City Ducks, nice hotels.
It's not the countryside, but it's convenient. Your 11 year old might get some food for thought for school as well.
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mwoodwalk
Citizen
Username: Mwoodwalk
Post Number: 565
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 9:26 pm: |
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Mohonk, Mohonk, Mohonk. You get what you pay for, and the memories last forever. Cheers, and good luck wherever you go. www.mohonk.com
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Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1916
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006 - 10:19 pm: |
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Thanks, I have done Mohonk and it is fun -- going for something different this time! |
Noo2wood
Citizen
Username: Noo2wood
Post Number: 47
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 7:55 pm: |
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Amateur,
Talked to the friend about the Berkshire's cabin. I guess it's really her mom/family's place, and they're now only renting out to family friends. Sorry. |
Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 376
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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I'll second MATB reco of the Red Caboose motel. Not particularly luxurious (though they may have upgraded it) but for a train-obsessed 3 or 4 year old, sleeping in an actual caboose is a dream come true. If I remember, it books up almost immediately the day they announce the dates of the "Day Out With Thomas" events, so keep an eye out for that.
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