Every summer as a kid I dreamed of going to sleepaway camp. Whether it was the idea of roasting marshmallows over a campfire each night or falling asleep to the sound of loons on a lake, there was something innately appealing about a week of old-fashioned outdoor fun. So last year for our family vacation, we indulged my Parent Trap-style fantasies and headed to Migis Lodge, a lakefront resort in Maine. For a week, our family stayed in a cabin and bonded over canoeing, fishing, and delicious family-style meals that reminded us why there’s nothing better than a vacation focused on the outdoors.
Just because you may be too old for sleepaway camp doesn’t mean you can’t take a vacation that includes wholesome pleasures like scavenger hunts, archery, and lakeside picnics. These five vacation spots offer everything needed to experience the nostalgia of summer camp in the best way possible–as a family.
Migis Lodge, Sebago Lake, Maine
migis.com
207-655-4524
Set on Sebago Lake an hour north of Portland, Migis Lodge is the perfect combination of rustic luxury combined with lakefront pastimes. Migis is an old Abenaki word meaning, ‘A place to steal away and rest’ and indeed, you will feel rejuvenated after a few days at this lakeside retreat.
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The resort features a range of accommodations from historic lodge rooms to luxe two, three, and four-bedroom cabins with fireplaces and screened-in porches. Migis has an extensive kids’ program that includes activities like waterskiing, fishing, hiking, and island excursions. At night, Migis continues the decades-old tradition of dressing for dinner, though kids are welcome to dine casually through the kids’ program as well. Guests may attend a nightly cocktail hour with cheese and crackers overlooking the lake, followed by a sit-down meal in the main lodge. An all-inclusive resort, Migis Lodge offers guests a range of outdoor activities, three meals a day, island cookouts, and a weekly lobster bake.
Capon Springs, West Virginia
caponsprings.net
304-874-3695
A week spent at Capon Springs Resort and Farm in High View, West Virginia is like stepping back in time. With no phones or televisions in the accommodations, families can completely unplug and enjoy all the resort has to offer.
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Set on more than 4700 scenic acres, Capon Springs resort includes six hiking trails, a stocked fishing pond, babbling brooks and creeks, golf and tennis courts, and an outdoor pool fed by a natural spring. Spend your visit playing croquet or pickleball, basketball, soccer, and lawn games. Evenings are spent enjoying live music, outdoor movies, weekly bingo, or participating in campfire singalongs. An all-inclusive resort, Capon Springs is known for their abundant comfort food and fresh baked goods. The all-you-can-eat menus include three meals, evening appetizers, and late-night snacks.
BIG BOOK OF EDUCATION ISSUE 2023
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Tyler Place, Vermont
tylerplace.com
802-868-4000
Located on Lake Champlain in Highgate Springs, Vermont, this 165-acre resort has been welcoming families for five generations. Set on a mile of lakefront, Tyler Place features a variety of historic cottages and cabins, in addition to the main inn.
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An all-inclusive experience, Tyler Place only accepts bookings from Saturday to Saturday, which enables families and kids to bond and create lasting friendships. The resort cultivates a true summer camp feel with a robust schedule of programming designed for infants, toddlers, children, and teens. Activities include everything from archery to biking, and waterskiing to scavenger hunts. Daily planned activities for the whole family are also on the schedule–barbecues, bingo, and old-fashioned tug-of-wars are always a part of the weekly itinerary. The award-winning resort consistently attracts repeat guests, so be sure to book far in advance.
Medomak Family Camp, Maine
medomakcamp.com
207-845-6001
Blueberry picking, sailing, painting, and archery are just a few of the activities for families at Medomak Family Camp in Washington, Maine.
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Set on a lake in mid-coast Maine, Medomak is a small resort where ‘campers’ are limited to just twelve families at a time. Cabins are rustic and simple in the New England tradition, and the focus is on spending time outdoors. The 250 acres include an arts and crafts loft, extensive gardens, an archery range, hiking trails, and basketball and tennis courts. Spend the day on the lake swimming to the floating dock or sailing, kayaking, and canoeing the calm waters. Nights are spent enjoying the farm-to-table cuisine, including a weekly lobster bake, and may be followed by a barn dance, bingo, or fireside storytelling. The all-inclusive rates include a family cabin and all meals and activities.
Rocking Horse Ranch, New York
Founded in 1958 by the Turk family, Rocking Horse Ranch is located just 90 minutes from New York City in Highland, New York, but it feels worlds away.
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This all-inclusive resort is focused on horses and riding but also has an endless array of activities like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, tennis, basketball, and arts and crafts. There are even challenging outdoor sports like rock climbing and waterskiing. With 120 horses on the ranch, guests of all riding levels can choose anything from short field rides to longer trail rides. Carriage rides and pony rides are also available for younger children or those who wish to take it easy. The ranch boasts two indoor pools with waterslides and an outdoor pool and lake. Open year-round, there’s also a full menu of winter activities such as skiing, ice skating, and tubing. There is a dedicated children’s program for kids up to age 12 and a babysitting program for little ones under the age of 5. Rustic-style lodging can accommodate from two to six people either in the Main Lodge or the adjacent Oklahoma building. Dining is family-style, and the plentiful comfort food is served in the lodge’s main dining room three times a day, though summertime features regular outdoor barbecues.
rockinghorseranch.com
845-691-2927
By Katie Riley