Whether you’re looking to ski the slopes or escape from the snow for a warm-weather getaway, winter is a wonderful time to travel with your family! For some destination inspiration, we asked a few of our favorite NYC-based travel bloggers for their favorite picks for families.
NY City Mama’s Picks
Woodloch Pines Resort, Hawley PA
Located two hours outside of New York City, near the Pocono Mountains in Hawley, PA, Woodloch Pines has been a family-owned business catering to family-travelers for 52 years. Guests have several choices in lodging and meal plans to fit any budget. This all-inclusive resort has an endless list of things to do ranging from activities in an arts and crafts room, bumper cars, the indoor Woodlock Forest soft play area, an indoor pool, and a game room, just to name a few. In the Winter months, outdoor activities include snow shoeing, tubing, snowmobilings, Winter Olympics, Winter hayrides, ice skating, ice fishing, and more. For parents wanting a date night, the resort also offers live, Broadway-style performances, dance at the night club, and of course, babysitting service available upon request.
Pico Mountain, Killington, VT
For those who love to ski, or want
to learn to ski, without the big crowds and over-sized resort environment, Pico
Mountain is the place to be. One of the most family-friendly ski resorts in the
area, it caters well to the entire family. The environment is perfect
for beginner skiers and children, though more advanced skiers will still feel
that the variation of slopes provided offer enough options for various levels.
There is a separately owned day care on-site called Kid’s Quest for children 6
months to 3 years old and a ski lessons program called Mini Stars Slide and
Play, set for kids ages 4 to 6. The
resort hosts a Sports Center which is equipped with a weight room and a pool,
and also serves as a membership gym for community residents. All equipment
rentals, from skies to snowboards and all necessary gear, can be rented on site
as well and the lodging ranges from hotel room stays to private townhouse
experiences.
Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, NY
Located in the heart of The
Adirondacks, about a five and a half hour drive outside of the city, Whiteface
Lodge offers family-travelers a serene, nature surrounded experience away from
it all. It is a favorite retreat for ski bunnies and snow loving families
during the Winter months. Nearby ski-lovers can enjoy Whiteface Mountain, best known by city dwellers as
being one of the best ski destinations in New York state, and the namesake for
this luxury resort. Kanu Lounge offers amazing dishes from local farmers
as well as views of Whiteface Mountain. Some indoor activities include a
56-seat movie theater which hosts family-friendly movies at no extra cost
throughout the day and a game room with a pool table, shuffleboard, air hockey,
as ell as a two-lane bowling alley. Aside from skiing, outdoor activities
include an on-site ice rink. Also worth a visit when in the area, The Natural
Museum of The Adirondacks.
Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and
Indoor Water Park
About a 2
hour drive from New York City, this resort is owned by Six Flags theme park and
caters to the adventurous family who would rather splash in the water then play
in the snow. The feel is that of a lodge in The Adirondacks, fire place and
all. Activities include access to White Water Bay, a 38,000 sq ft
indoor water park, character meet and greet throughout the day, arts &
crafts activities, games, contests and scavenger hunts. Adults can indulge in
their on-site spa as well as the fitness center. There are about 180 one-room
family suites which can comfortably sleep six, with two Queen-beds plus a pull
out sofa. Twenty more suites have two rooms and sleep between eight to twelve.
The Great Escape Lodge also has a restaurant, ballroom and an arcade for extra
fun.
Carol Cain is a freelance
travel and food blogger living in New York City. She is the founder of The
Adventures of a NY City Mama (www.nycitymama.com).
Meryl Pearlstein’s Picks
An easy beach
vacation is the perfect ticket for a multi-generational holiday. With direct flights from New York to Cancun, Riviera Maya has beautiful
beaches, massive resorts, and a dose of Mayan history within driving
distance. Ocean waters are warm and
invite with jet skis, snorkeling, and sailing. You can also do it the Mexican way and swim in a cenote, a dramatically
blue water hole often located in a cave. Chichen Itza and Tulum will
bring out the spiritual as you contemplate Mayan civilization and the wonders
of pyramid architecture. Stay at Grand
Velas, a brilliant all-inclusive resort close to Playa del Carmen, with eight restaurants,
an amazing spa with treatments for the entire family, non-stop supervised kids’
activities, eco-education and one-on-one butlers. If possible, opt for the beachside
accommodations to save the little ones from long walks from the jungle
rooms.
Turks & Caicos
If an island vacation is your idea of a Christmas
holiday, flying to the Turks & Caicos Islands keeps it easy and beautiful,
also with direct flights from NYC. Our
favorite resort Is Grace Bay Club on Providenciales. The resort’s Villas section is designed for
families with its own swimming pool, kids’ program and beach area. Dining is also separate for families so your
little ones won’t disturb any romantic encounters. Kids will love the gorgeous turquoise waters
and the chance to spot one of the island’s legendary treasures, JoJo the
dolphin. Older kids will enjoy the jet
skis, parasailing and deep-sea fishing. Book a nanny so you can escape to the
resort’s newly redone Anani Spa and seemingly endless Infiniti Bar.
Germany
Off-season Europe has many charms
for those who don’t mind a bit of cold weather. You can combine a city visit with a ski holiday, for example, choosing a
centrally located hotel like the Steigenberger, in Berlin to enjoy the many Christmas markets,
festive decorations, choral events and, of course, holiday shopping. For city-loving New Yorkers, fascinating Berlin is a city in
evolution, a living history lesson with a side of edginess. The Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz
will wow all ages with its fabulous light show and spectacular visual
effects. If you’re in the city on New Year’s, the
outdoor festivities around the Brandenburg Gate rival those in Times Square. You can also scoot around the country by
train — book a private compartment, a chance for all ages to experience what
luxury train travel is all about.
Boston
Looking for
something a bit more traditional and closer to home? Boston has it all. In winter, the city turns into a Christmas
village, especially after a snowfall. Time your visit around New Year’s to experience Boston’s magical First
Night events. Started nearly 35 years
ago, First Night is the ultimate holiday party with day-to-night events for all
ages scheduled on December 31. Evening fireworks
over the Boston Common and Boston Harbor are spectacular and if you stay at
either the Lenox Hotel, or the new Fairmont Battery Wharf, you can walk to each. In the midst of the shopping area and close
to many of the city’s historical sites and churches, the Lenox is near the ice skating
pond and snowman-building (pray for snow) on Boston Common and a short ride to
the Museum of Science and the Children’s
Museum. The waterfront location of the Fairmont puts you within
walking distance of the Aquarium, Faneuil Hall marketplace and the festively
decorated North End. For more ideas, check out BostonUSA.com, which offers a full
schedule of all holiday events. If the kids are missing Nate Robinson, you can
take them to see him play in his new uniform with the Celtics.
As a travel writer, travel publicist, and restaurant reviewer, Meryl Pearlstein
loves exploring and introducing the world to her two sons (and husband). Meryl
has written for New York Magazine, the Boston Herald, Fodor’s and Gayot, among
others, and pens two always-interesting blogs, www.travelandfoodnotes.com and
www.allny.com.
