GOT KIDS, MUST TRAVEL

Got Kids, Must Travel: Mohonk Mountain House

If you’re like me, you’re probably on the hunt for the best vacations spots to take the kids-- that don’t require a plane ticket. I ask everyone I know for real recommendations. Is it very kid-friendly? Great. Are there learning activities that the kids will love? Excellent. Will the adults love it, too? Beautiful. Can I get there on a tank or two of gas? BONUS!

So for my first summer get-away suggestion, I went right to the source— a travel writer who has been everywhere from here to Timbuktu (no really). She’s also a great friend and a mom. When I asked her where I should take the kids this summer, she didn’t flinch: "Go to Mohonk Mountain House." She has visited the property multiple times and didn’t exactly have to twist my arm to book our July get-away.

About Mohonk Mountain House

Mohonk Mountain House is a National Historic Landmark and Historic Hotel of America located in the Hudson Valley region of New York State, just 90 miles north of New York City. The resort is celebrating its 140th Anniversary in 2009, marking the milestone of having provided recreation and renewal of body, mind, and spirit in a beautiful natural setting since 1869.

Image courtesy of Jim Smith Photography

It stands at the heart of a magnificent 26,000-acre natural area in the Shawangunk Mountains, which is comprised of the resort property, private preserves, and a state park preserve. Tucked away near the top of the Shawangunk Ridge is Lake Mohonk, a half-mile long, 60-foot deep, freshwater lake where a sprawling Victorian castle stands guard. This is one of the last great 19th-century mountain resorts.

A full resort facility, Mohonk Mountain House has 265 guest rooms, three spacious dining rooms,138 working fireplaces, 238 balconies, and a new Spa, a comprehensive fitness center, and an indoor heated swimming pool. The grounds feature golf, tennis, stables, gardens, a greenhouse, 125 “summerhouses” (rustic gazebos), a museum, and an observation point known as Sky Top Tower.

July: SUMMER OF DISCOVERY

Now’s the perfect time to start planning (and saving for!) your summer vacation. I got the scoop on their summer promotion—children stay half price. Here’s the deal:

“Bring your family to Mohonk Mountain House this July and discover the fun you can have on our very special mountaintop. It’s an experience you can relive every summer and remember for a lifetime! Our children’s programs are designed to provide kids with a fun, enriching experience tailored to the interests and abilities of each age group.”

JUNIOR NATURALIST PROGRAM: Experience nature first-hand, through hikes, walks, and tracking. Participants receive a Junior Naturalist certificate and hand-held lens! A fully-supervised program that encourages children to have fun and make new friends while exploring Mohonk’s unique environment, our Kids’ Club meets daily during Summer of Discovery from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening events, geared for ages 4–12, take place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Children love our talented performers—from storytellers to naturalists—and our wide variety of group activities, including pool parties, treasure hunts, and after-dark volleyball and hikes.

AGES 2-3 Little ones delight in digging for dinosaurs at the playground, taking pony rides, and hunting for butterflies. For quiet time, the Kids’ Club playroom is a wonderful place for playdough, sand art, and finger painting.

AGES 4-6 Kids’ Club counselors lead the children in lake swimming, boating, scavenger hunts, nature programs, arts and crafts workshops, relay races, parachute games, and other exciting adventures.

AGES 7-12 Children head out for rock scrambling, tennis, fishing, fossil hunts, orienteering, team building, and sports tournaments. Children’s suggestions are incorporated into the schedule, so they have a chance to do the things they love most.

TEEN PROGRAM (Ages 13-17) Possibilities for teens include rock scrambles, golf and tennis clinics, day-long hikes, mountain biking (at an extra charge), and supervised evening activities such as laser tag, and Guitar Hero® and other PlayStation® 2 games in the Teen Lounge.The teen program will be available Children ages 12 and under are half-price when staying in a room with two adults (limited to two children per room). No charge for children under age four. Some restrictions apply. A limited number of single parent rooms are available. Offer available midweek only (Sunday-Thursday). Taxes and service charge additional.

Now really, how can you NOT be captivated? There's 85 miles of trails for seasonal hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Overnight guests can enjoy rock climbing on one of the most acclaimed cliffs in the world. The grounds feature exquisite gardens, a challenging nine-hole golf course, red clay tennis courts, and stables with horseback riding and horse-drawn carriage rides.

The half-mile-long, glacial-formed Lake Mohonk is ideal for boating, fishing, and swimming. Extensive composting, recycling, and nature interpretation programs are hallmarks of the ongoing stewardship efforts undertaken at Mohonk Mountain House. Over 40 theme programs are presented annually, including culinary classes, gardening workshops, music festivals, nature programs, and more. Overnight rates at Mohonk Mountain House include charming accommodations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Afternoon Tea and Cookies, and most resort activities.

For additional information, call 800.772.6646 or visit www.mohonk.com

Janene Mascarella

May 15, 2009 10:32 PM Eastern

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