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Message |
    
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2954
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:14 pm: |     |
Where are great places you've gone for summer vacation. We usually do the beach but I am thinking -- a lake? Somewhere I could learn to waterski and maybe horseback riding? Somewhere that would be fun for two parents and a 6 year old?
Any suggestions -- beach or lake/mountains would be great. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2169
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:25 pm: | |
No firsthand info yet, but my entire family: parents, 4 adult kids and significant others and grandchildren aged 6 mos, 3, 7 & 9 will be going to Deep Creek MD for a week in August. We chose that over the Outerbanks because of the proximity to here and Bethesda MD where my brother lives, and precisely because it's a lake rather than on the ocean. My sister-in-law works for the gov. and supposedly it's very popular. We rented a really big house on the lake.
There's golfing, boating and some kids activities. I didn't want to deal with huge crowds at the beach...
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ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3351
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:37 pm: | |
I haven't been, but Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain in Vermont might fit the bill. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2956
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 3:56 pm: | |
Thanks, I just looked at Basin Harbor -- looks neat. Anyone ever been to a dude ranch? |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2171
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:03 pm: | |
Yup. This will be our second year going to a dude ranch. We're doing it as a winter vacation, but we enjoyed it so much we contemplated going over the summer too.
There are two popular ones upstate NY-- Rocking Horse and Pinegrove. All five of us had so much fun. It's totally down to earth, lots to do and because of all the activities, easy for your son to make friends with other kids there.
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eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 995
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:09 pm: | |
I haven't been but I've heard good things -
http://www.tylerplace.com/main.htm |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2957
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:16 pm: | |
eliz -- I was just about to ask about Tyler Place -- the website looks very cool! Just the sort of place we're looking for. Our family is sort of ... small (just one kid) -- I am a bit worried about the all-inclusive kind of thing -- would my hubby and I be able to make friends???
Shh -- I called Rocking Horse this morning but they said just pony rides until kids are 7 so I'm thinking we'll do it next summer (when he's 7). He's been doing pony "rides" at Essex Equestrian and is very comfortavle on a horse -- I think we're trying real riding "lessons" this weekend. I love seeing him up on a horse -- he looks so handsome! |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 336
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:28 pm: | |
Shh - We just spent New Year's Eve in Deep Creek Lake with 2 other families. It is a hike, but we had a blast. Chose there because it was us from Mpwd, a family from Potomac and a family from Tacoma Park.
No one skied, but we visited an Amish farm and did lots of hanging out in our cute bungalow. Enjoy! |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2172
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:35 pm: | |
Algebra,
We went to Pinegrove. Last year my youngest was 5 and after she took a little lesson they let her go on the trails with us. They have a Junior wrangler program (just an individual lesson) to see if the kids can handle the directions from the wranglers and aren't too afraid of the horses (like their mom). My two older girls LOVED riding on the trails and if your son has already been on a horse I'm sure he'd do fine.
I've heard good things about both places. When I looked into it last winter, Pinegrove seemed to offer more activities/food for the $ so that's why we chose it. Although the accommodations were a bit "rustic" we enjoyed it nonetheless. Food was fine. Plenty of choices and I can be picky. Also, Pinegrove has a kids' camp included which we really used a lot (for us this means about 2 hours a day.) With one kid you may not, but it allowed my husband and I to have fun alone—they had a free Bloody MAry party every morning ("Otto, I'll take six.") where we'd just sit, talk and laugh, we went ice skating, and other things we wouldn't have been able to do, esp. with our youngest who was only 1 1/2 at the time.
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kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 436
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:47 pm: | |
Try Santa Fe! It's the greatest "antidote" to New England beach overload.....I know there is at least one nice dude ranch/ resort.....Bishop's Lodge might be the name. |
Animalcrackers
Citizen
Username: Animalcrackers
Post Number: 18
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 4:48 pm: | |
The Tyler Place is heaven on earth for tired parents and their active kids. I would choose Tyler Place over many more exotic locales...and if you go, ask the staff how the many little kids there named Tyler got their names! They credit the no-kids-in-the-mornign time. |
soresident
Citizen
Username: Soresident
Post Number: 224
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 6:22 pm: | |
Went to Bishop's Lodge about 12 years ago when we had one child and wanted to go to Sante Fe. They had a kid's camp our kid went to while we did the city (its about 10 - 15 minute drive outside of main area of Sante Fe). Great resort, fabulous riding into the mountains, but I wouldn't call it a "dude ranch". It bills itself as a luxury resort and now includes a spa. www.bishopslodge.com |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1370
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 8:51 am: | |
This is a great thread!
Friends of mine go to the Finger Lakes every year and enjoy it. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 113
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 9:12 am: | |
Tyler Place is absolutely fantastic. We went last year and are going back again this year. Everyone is very friendly, and it is easy to make friends there. I can't say enough good things about it. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2958
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 9:28 am: | |
I think I really want to go to Tyler Place -- we've never stayed a whole week away anywhere though. Are there different price levels for different rooms? |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2959
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 9:56 am: | |
Any more suggestions ... a place like Tyler Place but not as far and maybe somewhere we woldn't have to stay a week? Any places in the Finger Lakes? I got freaked out when I figured out what a week at Tyler would cost. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1371
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:13 am: | |
Looks like Tyler Place also has shorter packages for specific time periods (like Memorial Day weekend and other non-holidays). |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1372
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:14 am: | |
I think my friends rent a cabin at the Finger Lakes as opposed to a resort. |
jet
Citizen
Username: Jet
Post Number: 744
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 11:44 am: | |
Saranac Lake , rent a cabin & boat , water ski ,fish , go camping on islands . Also put on your preppy best , bring a lot of money & have dinner @ The Point. |
Eric Wertheim
Citizen
Username: Bub
Post Number: 12
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 12:31 pm: | |
We rented a house on 1 of the finger lakes a few years back and it was not crazy money. Can't argue with Saranac or any other Adirondack lake either. If you're willing to be on the land side of the lake road, you can get a lot nicer house for less money too. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2961
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 12:38 pm: | |
I'm thinking of doing the Adirondacks and going to Fort Ticonderoga and Ausable Chasm, maybe Lake George for a day. |
Eric Wertheim
Citizen
Username: Bub
Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 12:44 pm: | |
Ausable Chasm is very cool. Skip the town of Lake George. It's number 1 on my list of horrible tourist traps. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2962
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 1:08 pm: | |
My sisters say we went to Ausable as kids -- I don't remember but the website looks cool. I do remember loving Fort Ticonderoga. |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 997
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 1:30 pm: | |
I went to Ausable as a kid and remember it was really cool - it was easy to impress us then. Not sure how it holds up now.
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shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2182
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 2:11 pm: | |
Hey Algebra,
Have you considered a cruise? Royal Caribbean leaves from Bayonne and NYC and Carnival leaves from NY. We've done 2 cruises with the kids and at your son's age he would have a blast. They have kids activities so he can make lots of friends, and plenty of things for everyone to do. Prices for the lower range cabins are very inexpensive. It's a nice combo of sightseeing in your ports of call and relaxing (if you wish) on board. Food is very good and plentiful (as the fat asses in the buffet lines will prove) but the dining rooms are nice. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 2963
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 2:17 pm: | |
we went to Disney recently -- a cruise may put us into fat ••• overload. It would be good cause he'd have kid's activities but I don't know .... the hubby on a cruise may be too much for the other guests to handle. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 410
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 4:22 pm: | |
Try the Canadian side of the border, the Eastern Townships of Quebec province--- some lakes, prices reasonable, and a different perspective. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 114
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 4:49 pm: | |
Tyler Place does have shorter packages early in the season and late in the season. Also, the cost varies depending on the type of room you get. We get a small cabin, which costs more than getting one of their suites. The cheapest is to get a room at their inn (which I think, don't quote me, doesn't have a kitchen or kitchenette). Also, the week that you go makes a big difference in price. We are going in early June before the price kicks up to the full season. Either way, if you include the fact that it is all inclusive, its really not a bad value compared with other vacations that we have priced. |
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