Bring On The Sunshine

Wequassett Resort and
Golf Club
Cape
Cod, Massachusetts
Why not spend your next family vacation in a charming
seaside town at Cape Cod? Nestled in historic Chatham
is the secluded Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, with breathtaking views of Pleasant
Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean. In addition to leisure sports for active parents, the
resort provides a multitude of activities to delight kids ages 2-12. The
Children’s Center features a nautical-themed playground with a “tot lot” for
little ones and “children’s area” for those over five. The outdoor facility is equipped with pirate
ships, treasure chests, run ramps and swinging ropes, as well as an interactive
aquatic playground. The high-tech indoor center boasts a 135″ HD screen, Wii,
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for rainy days. Daily activities include “dive-in” movies,
teen gaming nights and lessons in swimming, sailing and tennis.

Charleston, South
Carolina
Last year, a Travel and Leisure poll ranked this quaint southerly
town as their No. 3 travel destination. Charleston’s
unique blend of historical sites, assorted shopping (antiques, anyone?), and pristine
beaches makes it a worthy summer vacation destination. Upon arrival, families
are invited to join the Charleston Explorers Club, where they can pick up a
keepsake passport at the visitor’s center, collect souvenir stamps and win
prizes. History buffs and adventurers alike will have a blast discovering Charleston’s
historic forts, homes, plantations and gardens.

Mountain
View Grand
Resort and Spa
Whitefield, New Hampshire
Families can take an eco-conscious excursion to the Mountain
View Grand Resort and Spa, located in New Hampshire’s
bucolic White Mountains. City parents
will appreciate the resort’s green initiatives, which include installing a
wind-turbine, using energy-saving light bulbs, recycling cooking oil to make
diesel fuel, using its water tower to irrigate the golf course and grounds,
growing its own vegetables and flowers and more. Kids can enroll in the
complimentary Mountaineering Club where they can take part in activities like
cardboard boat races, frog hunts and horseback riding. An on-site greenhouse also gives little ones the chance to
plant maple tree seedlings and veggies.

Bristol Buenaventura
Panama
A slice of paradise can be found at Central
America’s Bristol Buenaventura, with its deep blue waters and lush
vegetation. Considered a playground for parents and their kids, the resort allows
children under the age of 17 to stay free and enjoy a daily complimentary
breakfast. Bristol’s own Kids Club
features a weekly schedule of events designed to educate children about Panama’s
culture and natural environment. Little adventurers can set out on supervised
explorations in search of local insects, reptiles and plants. The club also hosts
treasure hunts and sand castle building on the beachfront. Kid-friendly amenities
also include a children’s pool and a game room.

Hotel Crillon le
Brave
Provence, France
Spend your summer holiday overseas at the rustic yet
refined Hotel Crillon le Brave. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in
time at this refuge, made up of seven restored stone houses dating back to the
16^th and 17^th centuries. The hotel offers generous family
packages with large suite-style rooms and activities for young children. Kids (and
parents) can learn to speak French, make delectable signature French desserts,
and learn how croissants are made at a local bakery. What’s more, the resort
offers plenty of fresh air and outdoor recreation with horseback riding around
Mont Ventoux, golfing and kayaking on the Sorgue River.

Photo: The Aquatic Playground at Wequasset Resort and Golf Club.

Kimberly’s Pick Of The Month

Located on the Riviera Maya where the jungle meets the ocean, Rosewood Mayakobá is the heart of a 1,600-acre luxury resort enclave just south of Cancun, and is reachable via a non-stop flight from NYC. Rosewood Mayakobá’s children’s program, Rosebuds, features a wide range of activities. My children so enjoyed the eco-tour of the mangroves that they took it twice. The highlight of our stay, though, was Pirate’s Night: all the children dressed up as pirates and scoured the property during a scavenger hunt. Off-property, Riviera Maya offers water parks, boating excursions and an eco-archaeological park dedicated to Mayan and Mexican cultures, along with sophisticated shopping and fine dining.

Kimberly Wilson Wetty, co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel, regularly contributes her family travel tips to New York Family.

Polaris Productions Theater Camp

Kids will learn, rehearse, and perform the wonderful Maurice Sendak and Carole King musical, Really Rosie. For 10 weekdays, campers will take part in physical and vocal warm-ups and learn choreography, staging, and vocal parts. They&rsquo;ll develop skills in acting, singing, character development, and more. This camp will ignite your child&rsquo;s imagination and passion for performing, build their self-esteem, and help them form lasting friendships. They&rsquo;ll have fun! At camp&rsquo;s end, the kids will perform Really Rosie for family members and friends. Kids of all levels of experience, ages 8 through 13, are welcome to join.

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.

British Swim School - Long Island

The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!