| |
Summer Hotspots: 8 Cool Vacation Retreats
by Jan Gerner
Both children and adults will enjoy Moose Mountain Falls. This indoor/outdoor waterpark will have you tubing, sliding, and splashing, or sitting and soaking in one of the whirlpool tubs.
While Mom and Dad play a few rounds of golf or tennis, the kids will be entertained in the Kids Are Grand program. The resort's two championship golf courses have received Golf Magazine's Silver Medal award for nine consecutive years.
When it comes time to dine, choose from several dining venues—casual barbeque to sophisticated fine dining—all serving enticing creations with the freshest ingredients available. Italian cuisine connoisseurs will savor the menu selections at Brissago, where ingredients are imported directly from Italy.
If you're into antiques and crafts, shop the quaint towns surrounding the lake. After checking out the eclectic boutiques, be sure to leave time for an excursion to the lake. Stroll or bike the 20-mile shore path or get out on the clear lake waters. Hail a water taxi or hop aboard the Lake Geneva Cruise Line for a narrated tour of the opulent mansions lining the shore. You can even ride the U.S. mailboat and watch the "mail jumpers"hop on and off the moving vessel as they make their dockside deliveries. As you cruise past the magnificent estates, it's easy to see why this hot spot has been called the "Hamptons of the Midwest."
Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa
Santa Fe, New Mexico
 Situated at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is a destination unlike any other. Spanish, Native American, and Southwestern cultures come together to create a serene atmosphere in a pristine environment. This premier retreat is minutes from downtown Santa Fe and about 30 minutes from the Santa Fe Municipal Airport (KSAF). Rent a car or arrange transportation through the Lodge.
This historic resort was once the home of Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy. The chapel built by the Bishop more than 150 years ago is the site for resort weddings. Fifteen lodges offer 111 unique rooms and suites, some with fireplaces and private balconies. Families can opt for an oversized room, large suite, or connecting rooms.
Forests, mountains, and the high desert are yours to enjoy and explore. Hiking and horseback riding should be high on your list of things to do. Saddle up for a breakfast, dinner, sunset, full moon, or guided trail ride. Rides are tailored to your needs and expertise. Other activities include golf, tennis, skeet and trap shooting, and swimming in the resort's large outdoor heated pool. And when parents need a break from the kids or vice versa, there's Camp Appaloosa for ages 5 to 11.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
If horseback riding and hiking leave you with some aches and pains, head for the ShaNah Spa. ShaNah, which means vitality and energy in Navajo, is steeped in Native American healing traditions. Try an outdoor massage in a private garden.
|
|
|
