Great Fall Foliage Vacations
by Candyce H. Stapen
 This
year, don't miss out on the dazzling display of fall colors. Plan
ahead to make sure that your family enjoys the foliage by horseback
riding, hiking or simply strolling at these favorite family resorts
where the leaf peeping and the children's and family activities
are first-rate.
Ride Horses at a Dude Ranch:
Pinegrove Dude Ranch, NY
At Pinegrove Dude Ranch, Kerhonkson, NY, situated on 600 acres
in the Shawangunk Mountains in upstate New York, you and your wannabe
cowpokes can ride along trails where the forests billow in shades
of red and yellow. At this family-oriented, dude ranch experience,
the all-inclusive rates cover lodging, food, playtime at the indoor
and outdoor pools, plus one guided ride daily for ages eight and
older. Additional horseback outings are available on a sign-up basis.
The lodging is basic, the food is average, but kids really have
fun. Pinegrove is a great place for grade-schoolers new to horseback
riding to gain some experience as well as to enjoy other outdoor
and indoor activities. The L'il Mavericks Day Camp keeps ages four
to eight busy with pony rides, wagon rides, petting farm visits,
and arts and crafts. Kids five to seven years old also have instructional
riding sessions in a corral. Ages eight and older go out on trail
rides. Little ones, age three and younger, are cared for at the
Belle Star nursery.
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Great Places, Great Deals
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Loews Hotels: According to Northwestern
Memorial Hospital, more than 60 percent of people
who began a diet and exercise program with their
pets stuck to the program for a year. You and
your pooch can stay in shape on the road at 19
Loews hotels. Simply book the Pumped-Up Pets package.
Along with your room, you get workout tips, a
water bottle for you and a collapsible water bowl
for Fido. The deserving dog gets a healthy room
service meal while you and a human pal have dinner
in the hotel restaurant. Room rates from $212;
the package is available through October 31 (800-23-LOEWS;
www.loewshotels.com).
Lake
Placid, New York: One of Lake Placid's
newest properties, the Whiteface Lodge, opened
in May. The Adirondack-style lodge, complete with
Great Room, offers 85 suites, from studio to three
bedroom units. Each family-style accommodation
comes with a fully equipped kitchen. Hike the
region's trails, or ride the gondola to the summit
of Whiteface Mountain for a spectacular view of
the fall foliage. At Whiteface Lodge you can ice
skate on the year-round rink and swim laps in
the heated indoor pools. One-bedroom suites from
$255 low season to $375 peak season (800-523-3387;
www.thewhitefacelodge.com).
Grand
Cayman and Aruba: With Hyatt's Sunshine
on Sale program, book five nights at either the
Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Beach Suites or the
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino and receive
the fifth night for free. In Aruba, rates begin
at $265 per night. In Grand Cayman, rates begin
at $575 per night through July and $505 per night
August through October (800-233-1234; www.hyatt.com).
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In the evening, families play bingo, square dance, sing along
with karaoke, and watch a magic or country music show (800-926-6520;
www.pinegrove-ranch.com).
Hike the Blue Ridge:
Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, VA
In fall, the Blue Ridge Mountains are spectacular. Wintergreen,
a ski resort sprawled on nearly 11,000 acres, features miles of
nature trails as well as boating at Lake Monocan, golf, tennis,
swimming, horseback riding, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
The adventuresome can practice their moves at the 6,450-square-foot
skate park. On weekends from September 10 to October 30, Wintergreen
offers supervised kids' programs. At Kids in Action I ages two-and-a-half
to five go on nature walks, romp in the playground and create fall
themed crafts. With Kids in Action II ages six through 12 play field
games, go on scavenger hunts and can sign-up for rock climbing or
other activities When your children aren't in the program, take
them on hikes or horseback rides through the mountains. Just being
in the Blue Ridge when the leaves create ribbons of rust, red and
yellow in the hillsides is magical (800-266-2444; www.wintergreenresort.com).
Relax on a Lakeside:
Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island,
MI
Mission Point Resort, located on Mackinac Island in Lake Huron,
offers a relaxed lakeside vacation. Collect stones on the beach,
admire the tree-crested cliffs, fly kites in the autumn breezes,
and hop on a hayride. In the fall kids' programs operate for ages
two to four, four to ten and 11 to 15. The resort closes for the
season near the end of October. A favorite family island pastime:
bicycling. Since the island prohibits cars, cycling is safe as long
as you watch out for the horse-drawn carriages. For coastal views
pedal the eight-mile M-185 road that loops around the island's perimeter.
Mackinac Island State Park, an 1,800-acre woodland oasis, features
61 miles of roads and trails, many of which wind you through forested
groves. At Fort Mackinac, open through October 9, 2005, kids can
interact with costumed interpreters portraying nineteenth-century
soldiers, watch cannon firings, and sometimes observe a court martial
trial. Mission Point Resort (906-847-3312; 800-833-7711; www.missionpoint.com)
is quintessentially American.
– Candyce H. Stapen’s latest book
is National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations.
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