Heading to mountains in the states can be a beautiful and enriching experience and there’s no reason children shouldn’t be able to come along for the ride. However, finding activities and locations that are suitable for the whole family can be quite difficult sometimes. Read on to learn more about the best places to go and what to do once you’ve arrived.
New York’s Adirondack Mountains
While most New York visitors are preoccupied with the Catskills, the Adirondack Mountains provide a much more modernized experience, one that is bound to appeal to the whole family. Those who are looking to be pampered can book a stay at the Sagamore resort and older kids are bound to enjoy Adirondack Extreme, which allows them to take in the sights of the region from 70 feet in the air, as they dangle from a zip line!
Stowe, Vermont
Remaining on the East Coast, Stowe, Vermont and the Trapp Family Lodge have been offering great family vacations for over 60 years. The resort provides well over 2,000 acres of room for families to spread out and become one with nature. There are private mountain biking trails that cater to all levels of expertise and the little ones can enjoy the Mountain Kids Club, where they can sing songs, paint rocks and play Wiffel ball.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Families who are looking to rough it while maintaining a semblance of comfort flock to the Sun Valley resort in droves each year. Parents can enjoy the fact that Hollywood luminaries, such as Bing Crosby, vacationed at the same resort back in the day. Hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts are able to head to the Baldy and Dollar Mountains, while white water rafters typically for a Main Salmon River adventure.
Yosemite, California
Often considered to be the granddaddy of them all when it comes to mountain vacations, Yosemite, California and Yosemite National Park provide opportunities for children and parents to enjoy themselves while learning more about nature. Kids can take guided tours, where they are told of the park’s rich history and parents are able to take a load off and relax at the Great Lounge’s roaring fireplace.
Maine’s Arcadia National Park
The coast of Maine is ripe for exploration and children can sift through the low tides for treasure at Maine’s Arcadia National Park. Those who prefer dry land can explore the surrounding area by riding in a horse drawn carriage or by taking a bike ride. Kids who want to rough it can pitch a tent at one of Arcadia’s two campgrounds or parents can head to Bar Harbor, where cabin rentals are available.
Rachel Denning is an unassuming mother of five who never really did any international traveling until she had four children. After a second honeymoon to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, she and her husband decided to sell most of their belongings and move their family abroad.
Driving from the United States to Panama, they settled in Costa Rica for a year, until the U.S. financial market crash in 2008, when they lost their location independent income. Returning to the United States to look for work, they knew they’d be back ‘out’ again, having been officially bitten by the travel bug!
Despite adjustments to living a simpler life (or perhaps because of it), they were able to save enough money to move to the Dominican Republic in 2009. After six months they came back to the States once more, where they were offered employment working with a non-profit organization in India.
They spent five months living in Tamil Nadu, then returned to the States once more (to Alaska) so they could have baby number five – Atlas.
From there, they set out in April of 2011 to drive, in a veggie powered truck, from Alaska to Argentina, visiting every continental country in North and South America.
Travel is a part of their life now, and they can’t imagine doing anything else. Rachel photographs and writes about their incredible family travel adventures on their website, and they also have resources that encourage others to live a deliberate life.
