Bypass the dull highway motels and impersonal chain hotels and take the family somewhere unique this year. Kid-friendly bed and breakfasts can be found throughout the country, offering the best of location and amenities. Here are some family-friendly favorites.
Billed as «New England’s Best Family Resort» by Yankee magazine, The Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, VT combines a wonderful country B&B setting with all kinds of kids activities. The Wildflower Inn offers supervised activities for kids, allowing parents to truly take a break while their children are entertained.
For instance, «Butterflies, Tots and Forget-Me-Nots is perfect for the parent traveling alone with young children,» says the Wildflower Inn’s website. «Our program combines time together with the kids with opportunities for relaxing while the children are enjoying their activities.» There’s even Daisy’s Diner, which prepares special themed meals for kids.
A stay at Villa Park House, just four block from the Jersey Shore in the town of Spring Lake, is sure to please the whole family. The kids will enjoy the close access to the beach, boardwalk and nearby Six Flags amusement park. Parents will appreciate the historic charm and romance of a restored Victorian. The innkeepers provide many thoughtful amenities, as well as serving a delectable full breakfast each morning. Beachgoers will appreciate use of beach tags, towels, umbrellas and chairs. Guests also can borrow the innkeepers bicycles. There is badminton and croquet available at the inn, and several parks nearby. The Historic Village at Allaire is special treat, and allows families to go back in time and experience life in the early 19th century.
If you’ve ever dreamed of life at a home on the range, the Vee Bar Guest Ranch will be a perfect spot for your next family vacation. Located in Laramie, Wyoming and set on 800 acres, the ranch offers guests a myriad of outdoor activities. Go tubing in the river, enjoy a horseback ride through the untamed Wyoming countryside, or even take part in cattle work. The kids also will love the expansive ground where they can run and play for hours. Hayrides and cookouts are among the other fun activities. Guests stay either in the main lodge or in country cabins or suites that rest along the river’s edge.
Parents will have no doubt that their children are welcome at Las Palomas Bed and Breakfast in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The innkeepers have included a play area for children on their beautiful grounds, and the inn is stocked with plenty of games, books and toys. They even have safety gates, high chairs, cribs and nightlights. Parents will enjoy the richly decorated casitas, designed in a romantic New Mexico style with kiva fireplaces and rich leather and wood furnishings. In the mornings, the innkeepers serve freshly baked breads, cereals, fresh fruit and yogurts to get the day off to a healthy start.
Relax and enjoy your vacation, country style, at the Sunrise Farm Bed and Breakfast in Salem, South Carolina. The 10-acre grounds are fun for kids to explore, and there are plenty of farm animals to meet. Say hello to Lady and Sunshine, the miniature horses, or spend some time with Muffin, the pot-bellied pig. A goat, sheep, llamas and barn cats are other charming four-legged friends. Kids and parents alike will enjoy the hearty, country breakfasts as well as the comfortable, country dcor that makes everyone feel at home. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sunrise Farm is near to plenty of fun activities, from whitewater rafting to fishing and boating.
Finally, on the west coast in California, the Capay Valley Bed & Breakfast in Capay has its own zoo! That’s right: Your children can get up close and personal with llamas, zebras, a miniature donkey, a pygmy goat, sheep, ostrich, and, of course, a dog and cat. To get the kids excited, log onto this B&B’s website and let them take a 360 degree virtual tour of the animals! Add an outdoor pool, horseback riding, comfortable accommodations (there are even two cottages), and the Capay Valley B&B’s beautiful wide open space, and the whole family will want to stay. And yes, pets are even welcome.
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About the Author:
Jane Leisteiner loves her children and traveling with them. For more information on New Jersey bed and breakfasts or to enjoy a California bed and breakfasts, go to the iLoveInns website.
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