With fall upon us there are a number of trips families can take to enjoy all that the season has to offer, from scenic vacations, to beach escapes and adventures find options for everyone in the family.
To see the leaves
Vermont
Vermont is a site to be seen in the fall as it is a state that is known for its fall foliage. Yellow, orange and red sweep the state and provide tourists with a reason to come see the natural beauty of the state for themselves. We suggest families check out Stowe, Vermont. While there they can go hiking one of Stowe’s many trails, bike on the town’s rec path, take a zip tour on Mount Mansfield, or visit the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury, VT. The Stowe Mountain Lodge is conveniently located at Spruce Peak, one of Stowe’s two ski hills. The five-star hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites as well as luxury four-bedroom Mountain Cabins with ample space for the whole family. The Stowe Mountain Lodge includes a spa and wellness center, an 18-hole Bob Cupp championship golf course, access to the Stowe Country Club golf course in the Stowe village, two restaurants, an outdoor pool with indoor access and children and family programming.
Head further south and discover Blackberry Farm, located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Halloween weekend is a family-friendly time to visit the 4,200-acre farm with many fun family activities being offered such as, pumpkin carving, guided nature hikes, storytelling around the bonfire and spooky holiday cinema. Guests have several options when it comes to accommodations with the option of staying a suite, a Hill Cottage, an Estate Room, or one of the one- to five-bedroom houses spread across the property. Blackberry Farm includes three restaurants and a collection of artisans, including a chef, a master gardener, a baker, a cheese maker, a forager, a butcher, a jam lady, a chocolatier, a restaurant manager and a sommelier. The hotel also includes a pool, tennis courts and a golf course for guest to enjoy.Tennessee
To go to the beach
In Aruba, known for its beaches and desert-like landscape, families can relax at the Ritz Carleton Aruba situated on Palm Beach. As one of the newest five star hotels in Aruba, the Ritz Carleton offers 320 rooms, two beachfront pools, beach access, four dining options, a casino and an exclusive club level lounge. The Ritz Carleton Suite is a well-suited option for families as it offers 2390 square feet of space, which includes one-and- half-baths, a large living space, a master bedroom and the option to connect to a double Queen-bedded Ocean Front Room. While at the hotel let the kids enjoy Ritz Kids, while the adults enjoy countless water sports, the casino or the Ritz Carlton Spa.Aruba
If you’re feeling adventurous, the concierge will help create a memorable day with excursions to locales such as the Butterfly Farm or the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. Another great place to stay is the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino. This beach front hotel offers 357 rooms, live nightly entertainment, a casino, a three-level pool with slides and a waterfall and 12 dining and beverage options. Kids can spend their days at Camp Hyatt while the adults enjoy the ZoiA spa, beach tennis and other water sports. Activities can be arranged as well with Atlantis Adventures offering fully –submerged submarine tours or partial and above water excursions.
Bonaire
Bonaire is known as a diver’s paradise and is the least populated of the three ABC islands. It has been designated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration as having the most immaculate coral reef environment and most species of fish in the Caribbean. While you explore all the natural beauty the island has to offer, consider staying at the Harbour Village Bonaire. The beachfront hotel offers a wide variety of accommodations including beachfront suites, premier suites, club exclusive suits and beach houses. Guests can lounge at one of the resorts two pools while not on the hotel’s private beach. There is also a spa, fitness center and shop. Finally, an onsite beachfront PADI five-star Instructor Development dive center is located at the resort, which offers instructions courses for all levels to ensure guests are able to enjoy Bonaire.
Curacao
Curacao is the final ABC island and is home to over 35 beaches. Its capital, Willemstad, is a UNESCO world Heritage site offering visitors a vacation in the sun with a bit of history as well. While visiting the island, Baose Luxury Resort is a great place to stay. The five-star hotel includes 23 rooms, suites, villas and a private island. At the resort 12 of the rooms include their own plunge pool and the resort also has a main pool and beach area. The resort has a restaurant located on the beach, a spa, and a gym, with yoga classes offered on the beach. A unique excursion that can be booked through the hotel is their Fly and Dine package, which is a helicopter tour of the island combined with lunch or dinner.
For Adventure
Scotland
Costa RicaFor a trip off the beaten path this fall, families can travel to the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland where adventure awaits on 23,000 acres of land. The Reserve vast land includes mountains, forests, rivers and lochs. Once there, guests can mountain bike, take walking tours, go brown trout fishing or deer stalking on the property. At the Alldale Wilderness Reserve there are two fully catered lodges with separate guests rooms and two stand-alone houses for families to rent out, Ghillie’s Rest and Eagles Crag.
Explore a tropical rain forest this fall in Costa Rica with a trip to La Paz Waterfall gardens located near San José. The privately owned ecological attraction includes five waterfalls, a cloud and rain forest, hiking trails. An aviary with many birds, Toucan feeding, insect exhibit, butterfly observatory, capuchin monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, hummingbird hand feedings , a serpentarium , jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, tica house with petting zoo and ox cart, a frog exhibit, orchid exhibit and a heliconia exhibit.