Yosemite lodging pick: Yosemite Lodge at the Falls

If your family vacation will center around the valley floor area of Yosemite National Park, you can't beat the location and convenience of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. Located steps from Yosemite Village in the heart of the park, Yosemite Lodge is directly adjacent to Yosemite Falls (yes, you can see them out your door) and a shuttle stop away from everything else on the valley floor. Read … [Read more...]

Kings Canyon lodging pick: John Muir Lodge review

Kings Canyon National Park's John Muir Lodge is located in the heart of the park's Grant Grove Village. Bustling in summer with campgrounds and tent cabin units, the village is nearly empty in the off-season (any time between September and May). The lodge registration is located at the main complex with convenience store, gift shop, and the Grant Grove Restaurant (more on that soon) but the lodge … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Death Valley: Furnace Creek Ranch California

In stunning and desolate Death Valley, CA, The Furnace Creek Ranch is THE place to stay with kids. This place has everything, from lawn games to a spring-fed outdoor pool and dining options, and is in the best location for exploring this vast park. Read on for a full review of Furnace Creek Ranch. Much more than just your average motel, The Furnace Creek Ranch is a desert oasis centrally located … [Read more...]

Black Butte Ranch: home base for Central Oregon outdoor recreation

Every time we visit Central Oregon, we discover yet another family-friendly resort. While some resorts are best for golf vacations, and others ski or luxury vacations, Black Butte Ranch just may come out on top for all-around outdoor recreation amid family-friendly conveniences. Located just outside Sisters, Oregon (approximately 40 minutes from Bend), Black Butte Ranch is comprised primary of … [Read more...]

Deer Lodge Lake Louise: Where to stay near the lake

When arriving at Lake Louise, it's impossible to overlook massive Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise planted directly at the lake shore. However, en route to the lake, you'll drive directly past the much more modest, historic, and beautiful Deer Lodge, operated by Canadian Rockies Mountain Resorts. This is where you want to be. Why? Deer Lodge is fits its surroundings perfectly: its log-hewn … [Read more...]

Autumn in Lake Placid: The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

When you think of Lake Placid, the first thing you probably think of is the 1980 winter Olympics (Miracle on Ice, anyone?). While the wintertime recreation opportunities are spectacular, Lake Placid is also a wonderful place to visit during the summer and fall. So leave your skis (or bobsled) at home, and pack up your swimsuits, canoe, and hiking boots! We recently took to the family to Lake … [Read more...]

Buffalo Bill Village Resort, Cody Wyoming

For families wanting a slice of Americana, Cody Wyoming is the place. Where to stay to carry out the theme of bygone days and Western charm? The Buffalo Bill Village Resort. Located in the heart of town on Sheridan Avenue, the Buffalo Bill Village is just that: a combination of motel rooms and cabins complete with a restaurant, saloon, and a Western boardwalk housing a friendly gift shop and the … [Read more...]

Where to stay at Canyons Resort: Hyatt Escala review

Canyons Resort in Park City has several top-tier lodging options for families to choose from (we'll be reviewing several this week!), but our new favorite just might be the Hyatt Escala Lodge. Why is this property where to stay at Canyons? The Escala's proximity to the slopes is just as good if not better than neighboring Summit Lodge, and there is more room for families to spread out in this … [Read more...]

The Lodge at Running Y Ranch: a Holiday Inn Resort in Southern Oregon

In remote Southern Oregon at the edge of the Cascades, just outside the small town of Klamath River, The Running Y Ranch offers relaxation and fun for families. This golf community of private homes, condos, and guest rooms is small enough to feel cozy, yet large enough to have everything families want: high-end dining, recreation, pampering, and outdoor adventure. The property is within easy … [Read more...]

A stay at Central Oregon’s Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and Spa

Located on the Warm Springs reservation (home of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) in the high desert of Central Oregon, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and Spa offers a blend of tribal culture and family fun. This is not a luxury resort, but rather a family-friendly getaway that delivers on the simple pleasures of sunny skies, hot springs-fed swimming, outdoor recreation, and camping. There's lodging … [Read more...]