There's no event that most families look forward to more than their annual summer escapes together. Maybe it's downtime at a wonderful oceanside paradise. Or perhaps a visit to a big city, taking in the exciting sites. Even some adventure travel, with plenty of wonderful activities in the great outdoors to savor.
However , for my other half Sue and I, summer vacations were not experiences that brought about warm Kodachrome memories. Our kids may have had a blast , but for the 2 adults on the team, the vibe that summed it all up was more Bananarama ("Cruel Summer") than Sly Stone ("Hot Fun In The Summertime").
Perhaps it's due to the fact our two youngsters were such ghastly sleepers when they were young that Sue and I were too obliterated to enjoy any journeys aside from brief visits to slumberland. It could also be the destinations that we chose: jaunts to the shore were tiring; theme park expeditions turned out to be ruthless attacks on our senses; and all other expeditions were just yecchh. With that sort of an inauspicious track record, it's understandable that we regarded summer getaways with the same level of gusto that one might have for a colonoscopy prep.
As summer 2012 neared, Sue and I felt confident, rested, and possibly insane enough to take another shot at the family vacation thing - except we had a new challenge: the age difference of our youngsters. With a 14 year-old son (Eddie) and a 10 year-old daughter (Lee), it was impossible for us to work out a getaway choice that offered an experience which both kids would really enjoy.
In addition to finding a destination that appealed to them, we insisted that it also had to appeal to us grown-ups: we totally refused to put the time and effort into planning a summer escape that we weren't able to enjoy as well. While in the past we put up with going on trips that were exclusively for the kids' benefit, that degree of masochism had run its course: it was either going to be fun for all or fun for none!
The Brochures - Sue had saved pamphlets that were mailed to her from Smugglers Notch in Vermont. She was familiar with "Smuggs": she had skied there while she was a student at the University of Vermont in the mid-80s, and she had a warm spot in her heart for the Green Mountain state. Now that we were on a hunt for a summer spot that would meet all of our needs, she opened them up and took a look.
Sue didn't realize that Smuggs offered such all-encompassing summer options. She performed a little research online and found many positive reviews from satisfied warm weather travelers with similar family structures to ours. There were numerous other all-inclusive family resorts and summer vacation ideas that Sue discovered - including Jay Peak Resort in Jay, VT; Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA; Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, FL; and Mohonk Mountain House and Rocking Horse Ranch (both in NY state) - but none of them had offerings that came close to the variety and uniqueness of what Smuggs had available.
The reconnaissance was done. The decision was made. And hopefully, Smuggs would be the summer vacation answer that our family was desperately looking for.
The Car Ride - The voyage from New Jersey to Smuggs was a bit long, but the route was direct and there was no traffic. Eddie was first to spot the very different landscape as we entered Vermont. The long open views revealed a wide panorama of emerald trees, fields, and mountains. The sky was full of curiously shaped, sharply detailed snow white clouds, almost vertical tubular formations that were unlike the horizontal fuzz puffs we were used to. "OK already, enough with all of this beauty!", he protested facetiously.
First Impressions - Pulling into the Smuggs parking lot, we spotted swarms of movement in all directions: families checking in/out, youngsters shooting hoops on multiple basketball courts, young bros whizzing by on skateboards, stroller-pushing and toddler-carrying moms/fathers, campers and counselors about to embark on adventurous treks, children in swimsuits, and Frisbee dudes.
We arrived at the registration area within The Village Center, which is the conveniently located hub of all Smuggs commerce (restaurants, stores, ATM, etc.). The line to check-in was long but it moved swiftly, and within a few minutes, we were unloading our gear at our spacious apartment in the Slopeside neighborhood.
The well-equipped kitchen was big and clean, the view from our deck of the surrounding mountains was impressive, and there was more than enough of organized living space to keep us from crashing into one another. The decor was rustic and comfy, and the construction was solid.
To round out our first day, Lee and I checked out the 3 pool complexes on the Smuggs campus. Bonus features at the pools included intricate waterslides; an in-pool obstacle course, basketball hoop, and water cannons; pool volleyball; and a climbing wall. Eddie and Sue hit a bucket of balls at the driving range, rallied a bit on the tennis court, and went for a short hike up one of the ski slopes. After all this activity, we met at the Morse Mountain Grille and had a relaxing dinner, which was tasty, reasonably priced, and located about 100 yards from our condo.
We made it to Smuggs in one piece (OK, make that four pieces). We all were stoked. All of the facts indicated that this excursion would be the first one that maybe/hopefully/possibly/finally could be embraced and enjoyed by each of us.
Lee's Camps - Lee is super social. She loves physical activity, making new pals, and is open for exciting challenges and explorations. Of the many summer choices that Smuggs offered for her age group, Lee selected a water activity camp. For three days, from 9AM to 4PM, Lee was kayaking, swimming in brooks with gentle falls, canoeing, "ex-streaming" (walking through a moving stream and mini-waterfall), catching crawfish, and chasing waterbugs. She was fond of her counselors, met new friends, and by the end of each day, she was totally and happily exhausted.
Lee was excited by the beautiful settings of nearby lakes, brooks, and streams and the chance to do something new each day. Among her favorite experiences (aside from the daily fun at her camp) were tasting fresh kettlecorn for the 1st time at a Smuggs country fair, winning a three-legged race with a friend who she met in camp, watching a giant-size screening of "The Lorax" with lots of other youngsters on a massive lawn behind our condo, and discovering a new fave dessert: a Mountain Cupcake at the Morse Mountain Grill.
She was disappointed when we told her that we wouldn't be able to move to Smuggs, but we guaranteed that we would work out a way to get her back again so she could do the activities and camps that she didn't have an opportunity to try in this visit. Lee's rating of her week at Smuggs: "AWESOME!"
Eddie's Explorations - In new environments, Eddie is quiet and guarded. He is not into crowds, unless they're at concerts of his favorite indie bands (like Animal Collective, Wild Flag, Grizzly Bear, and The Black Keys). An ideal day for Eddie would be scouring through the bins of hole-in-the-wall CD stores in Greenwich Village, eating at a vegetarian falafel restaurant, shopping at a vintage clothing shop, and standing in the front row at a Celebrate Brooklyn show in Prospect Park.
Apart from catching a few concerts in Manhattan, Eddie's summer had been uneventful: two members of his band were away, so there was not much to fill his days till our Smuggs trip. Sue and I were surprised that he was looking forward to testing out some of Smuggs' many activities, and we hoped that he'd find something that he enjoyed doing.
He did. And not just something, a bunch of stuff - including tennis, golfing, ziplining (which he described as a "badass rush"), a Segway tour, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. All were completely new experiences for him that were easy and convenient to try.
Eddie tried hanging out in the Smuggs Teen Center at night, but it wasn't really his scene. The majority of the kids knew one another from doing activities together throughout the day, and Eddie's not one to roll up and jump into an unfamiliar mix. Their lifestyle tastes also didn't quite mesh with his: they were into Nicki Minaj and Abercrombie & Fitch - while Eddie is more Kurt Vile and Ben Sherman. Overall though, Eddie gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to his Smuggs getaway. Sue and I were elated (and relieved) he had such a great time.
Sue's Nirvana - This was Sue's first trip back to Vermont in 20 years. When we were unpacked and unwound, she immediately noticed that she needed to make the pilgrimage back on a more frequent basis. The colors of the country, the views of the mountains, the low-key pace, and the crisp air were all things that she really missed.
An element of the Smuggs culture that Sue truly appreciated was the attire, which for most female guests consisted mainly of cargo shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers or hiking sandals. Make-up was rarely worn during the day when the potential for sweat-inducing outside activity was high. This relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious vibe was a big plus for her. Sue also had the rare opportunity to bond with Eddie in activities that both enjoyed. Along with teaching him some tennis basics (she had played on UVM's women's tennis team) and driving golf balls together, they also went on an early morning lake adventure that included canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
Other things which Sue enjoyed doing at Smuggs were long, uninterrupted sessions of Qigong (she only has small pockets of time to do it at home), naps, playing basketball, and going on long walks around the Smuggs campus. One of her most enjoyable times of the day was waking up before the rest of us, drinking her coffee while looking out our balcony window, and gazing at the grassy green mountains. Sue's summation of her Smuggs trip: "I got precisely what I wanted!"
My Chilltime and Me-time - The only to-do that I had locked in stone at Smuggs was a zipline tour with Eddie at the nearby Arbortrek Canopy Tour facility. Neither one of us had ziplined before, and it was a fun and beautiful experience.
The adrenalin rush came from being 80 feet off the ground on an awesome course that had been created by Arbortrek's co-founder Michael Smith, a passionate outdoorsman and entrepreneur. Traveling up to 40 MPH in tree-to-tree course segments from 200 feet to 1,000 feet long, the zipline was as fast as a roller-coaster and actually seemed much safer (although the snugness of the harness took a little bit of getting used to).
The beauty was all around and well below us: we brushed along the tops of trees and even saw a hawk's nest. It would be impossible to gain such a staggering P.O.V. of a forest habitat via hiking alone. The way-up-there perspective of ziplining truly offered a whole new way of experiencing at nature.
Along with my taste of zipline "badass"-ness, I also enjoyed going on a long run up the Smuggs' slopes and around the whole property; getting quiet time to myself in our condo to read and relax; and seeing the happy smiles on my family's faces at the end of the day.
The Big Takeaway - Aside from the endless activities that are offered, the lush locale, and the superb accommodations, the number one benefit of being at Smuggs is that it's a solution.
It's a solution for families that have kids of different ages and interests; are looking for a large selection of well-run on-premises activity options that offer high levels of action as well as quiet relaxation; need personal space from one another; want a creative and exciting break from their at-home routine; demand vacation facilities with excellent customer service that eliminates stress; wish to save money by preparing meals in their condo's well-equipped kitchen; want to pack light and do their own laundry using their condo's washer/dryer; have a wealth of local sightseeing, tourist destinations, and restaurant options to choose from if they'd like to venture off the Smuggs campus; and want to take advantage of the natural beauty and vast outdoor activities the green mountains have to offer
We were not sure if we might ever find such a comprehensive solution to address our family's difficult summer escape challenges, but Smuggs completely exceeded our expectations. While each of our previous attempts at warm weather fun ended up being a painful "Wipe Out", we were overjoyed to discover that Smuggs is a superb remedy to prevent a case of the "Summertime Blues".
However , for my other half Sue and I, summer vacations were not experiences that brought about warm Kodachrome memories. Our kids may have had a blast , but for the 2 adults on the team, the vibe that summed it all up was more Bananarama ("Cruel Summer") than Sly Stone ("Hot Fun In The Summertime").
Perhaps it's due to the fact our two youngsters were such ghastly sleepers when they were young that Sue and I were too obliterated to enjoy any journeys aside from brief visits to slumberland. It could also be the destinations that we chose: jaunts to the shore were tiring; theme park expeditions turned out to be ruthless attacks on our senses; and all other expeditions were just yecchh. With that sort of an inauspicious track record, it's understandable that we regarded summer getaways with the same level of gusto that one might have for a colonoscopy prep.
As summer 2012 neared, Sue and I felt confident, rested, and possibly insane enough to take another shot at the family vacation thing - except we had a new challenge: the age difference of our youngsters. With a 14 year-old son (Eddie) and a 10 year-old daughter (Lee), it was impossible for us to work out a getaway choice that offered an experience which both kids would really enjoy.
In addition to finding a destination that appealed to them, we insisted that it also had to appeal to us grown-ups: we totally refused to put the time and effort into planning a summer escape that we weren't able to enjoy as well. While in the past we put up with going on trips that were exclusively for the kids' benefit, that degree of masochism had run its course: it was either going to be fun for all or fun for none!
The Brochures - Sue had saved pamphlets that were mailed to her from Smugglers Notch in Vermont. She was familiar with "Smuggs": she had skied there while she was a student at the University of Vermont in the mid-80s, and she had a warm spot in her heart for the Green Mountain state. Now that we were on a hunt for a summer spot that would meet all of our needs, she opened them up and took a look.
Sue didn't realize that Smuggs offered such all-encompassing summer options. She performed a little research online and found many positive reviews from satisfied warm weather travelers with similar family structures to ours. There were numerous other all-inclusive family resorts and summer vacation ideas that Sue discovered - including Jay Peak Resort in Jay, VT; Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA; Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, FL; and Mohonk Mountain House and Rocking Horse Ranch (both in NY state) - but none of them had offerings that came close to the variety and uniqueness of what Smuggs had available.
The reconnaissance was done. The decision was made. And hopefully, Smuggs would be the summer vacation answer that our family was desperately looking for.
The Car Ride - The voyage from New Jersey to Smuggs was a bit long, but the route was direct and there was no traffic. Eddie was first to spot the very different landscape as we entered Vermont. The long open views revealed a wide panorama of emerald trees, fields, and mountains. The sky was full of curiously shaped, sharply detailed snow white clouds, almost vertical tubular formations that were unlike the horizontal fuzz puffs we were used to. "OK already, enough with all of this beauty!", he protested facetiously.
First Impressions - Pulling into the Smuggs parking lot, we spotted swarms of movement in all directions: families checking in/out, youngsters shooting hoops on multiple basketball courts, young bros whizzing by on skateboards, stroller-pushing and toddler-carrying moms/fathers, campers and counselors about to embark on adventurous treks, children in swimsuits, and Frisbee dudes.
We arrived at the registration area within The Village Center, which is the conveniently located hub of all Smuggs commerce (restaurants, stores, ATM, etc.). The line to check-in was long but it moved swiftly, and within a few minutes, we were unloading our gear at our spacious apartment in the Slopeside neighborhood.
The well-equipped kitchen was big and clean, the view from our deck of the surrounding mountains was impressive, and there was more than enough of organized living space to keep us from crashing into one another. The decor was rustic and comfy, and the construction was solid.
To round out our first day, Lee and I checked out the 3 pool complexes on the Smuggs campus. Bonus features at the pools included intricate waterslides; an in-pool obstacle course, basketball hoop, and water cannons; pool volleyball; and a climbing wall. Eddie and Sue hit a bucket of balls at the driving range, rallied a bit on the tennis court, and went for a short hike up one of the ski slopes. After all this activity, we met at the Morse Mountain Grille and had a relaxing dinner, which was tasty, reasonably priced, and located about 100 yards from our condo.
We made it to Smuggs in one piece (OK, make that four pieces). We all were stoked. All of the facts indicated that this excursion would be the first one that maybe/hopefully/possibly/finally could be embraced and enjoyed by each of us.
Lee's Camps - Lee is super social. She loves physical activity, making new pals, and is open for exciting challenges and explorations. Of the many summer choices that Smuggs offered for her age group, Lee selected a water activity camp. For three days, from 9AM to 4PM, Lee was kayaking, swimming in brooks with gentle falls, canoeing, "ex-streaming" (walking through a moving stream and mini-waterfall), catching crawfish, and chasing waterbugs. She was fond of her counselors, met new friends, and by the end of each day, she was totally and happily exhausted.
Lee was excited by the beautiful settings of nearby lakes, brooks, and streams and the chance to do something new each day. Among her favorite experiences (aside from the daily fun at her camp) were tasting fresh kettlecorn for the 1st time at a Smuggs country fair, winning a three-legged race with a friend who she met in camp, watching a giant-size screening of "The Lorax" with lots of other youngsters on a massive lawn behind our condo, and discovering a new fave dessert: a Mountain Cupcake at the Morse Mountain Grill.
She was disappointed when we told her that we wouldn't be able to move to Smuggs, but we guaranteed that we would work out a way to get her back again so she could do the activities and camps that she didn't have an opportunity to try in this visit. Lee's rating of her week at Smuggs: "AWESOME!"
Eddie's Explorations - In new environments, Eddie is quiet and guarded. He is not into crowds, unless they're at concerts of his favorite indie bands (like Animal Collective, Wild Flag, Grizzly Bear, and The Black Keys). An ideal day for Eddie would be scouring through the bins of hole-in-the-wall CD stores in Greenwich Village, eating at a vegetarian falafel restaurant, shopping at a vintage clothing shop, and standing in the front row at a Celebrate Brooklyn show in Prospect Park.
Apart from catching a few concerts in Manhattan, Eddie's summer had been uneventful: two members of his band were away, so there was not much to fill his days till our Smuggs trip. Sue and I were surprised that he was looking forward to testing out some of Smuggs' many activities, and we hoped that he'd find something that he enjoyed doing.
He did. And not just something, a bunch of stuff - including tennis, golfing, ziplining (which he described as a "badass rush"), a Segway tour, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. All were completely new experiences for him that were easy and convenient to try.
Eddie tried hanging out in the Smuggs Teen Center at night, but it wasn't really his scene. The majority of the kids knew one another from doing activities together throughout the day, and Eddie's not one to roll up and jump into an unfamiliar mix. Their lifestyle tastes also didn't quite mesh with his: they were into Nicki Minaj and Abercrombie & Fitch - while Eddie is more Kurt Vile and Ben Sherman. Overall though, Eddie gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to his Smuggs getaway. Sue and I were elated (and relieved) he had such a great time.
Sue's Nirvana - This was Sue's first trip back to Vermont in 20 years. When we were unpacked and unwound, she immediately noticed that she needed to make the pilgrimage back on a more frequent basis. The colors of the country, the views of the mountains, the low-key pace, and the crisp air were all things that she really missed.
An element of the Smuggs culture that Sue truly appreciated was the attire, which for most female guests consisted mainly of cargo shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers or hiking sandals. Make-up was rarely worn during the day when the potential for sweat-inducing outside activity was high. This relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious vibe was a big plus for her. Sue also had the rare opportunity to bond with Eddie in activities that both enjoyed. Along with teaching him some tennis basics (she had played on UVM's women's tennis team) and driving golf balls together, they also went on an early morning lake adventure that included canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
Other things which Sue enjoyed doing at Smuggs were long, uninterrupted sessions of Qigong (she only has small pockets of time to do it at home), naps, playing basketball, and going on long walks around the Smuggs campus. One of her most enjoyable times of the day was waking up before the rest of us, drinking her coffee while looking out our balcony window, and gazing at the grassy green mountains. Sue's summation of her Smuggs trip: "I got precisely what I wanted!"
My Chilltime and Me-time - The only to-do that I had locked in stone at Smuggs was a zipline tour with Eddie at the nearby Arbortrek Canopy Tour facility. Neither one of us had ziplined before, and it was a fun and beautiful experience.
The adrenalin rush came from being 80 feet off the ground on an awesome course that had been created by Arbortrek's co-founder Michael Smith, a passionate outdoorsman and entrepreneur. Traveling up to 40 MPH in tree-to-tree course segments from 200 feet to 1,000 feet long, the zipline was as fast as a roller-coaster and actually seemed much safer (although the snugness of the harness took a little bit of getting used to).
The beauty was all around and well below us: we brushed along the tops of trees and even saw a hawk's nest. It would be impossible to gain such a staggering P.O.V. of a forest habitat via hiking alone. The way-up-there perspective of ziplining truly offered a whole new way of experiencing at nature.
Along with my taste of zipline "badass"-ness, I also enjoyed going on a long run up the Smuggs' slopes and around the whole property; getting quiet time to myself in our condo to read and relax; and seeing the happy smiles on my family's faces at the end of the day.
The Big Takeaway - Aside from the endless activities that are offered, the lush locale, and the superb accommodations, the number one benefit of being at Smuggs is that it's a solution.
It's a solution for families that have kids of different ages and interests; are looking for a large selection of well-run on-premises activity options that offer high levels of action as well as quiet relaxation; need personal space from one another; want a creative and exciting break from their at-home routine; demand vacation facilities with excellent customer service that eliminates stress; wish to save money by preparing meals in their condo's well-equipped kitchen; want to pack light and do their own laundry using their condo's washer/dryer; have a wealth of local sightseeing, tourist destinations, and restaurant options to choose from if they'd like to venture off the Smuggs campus; and want to take advantage of the natural beauty and vast outdoor activities the green mountains have to offer
We were not sure if we might ever find such a comprehensive solution to address our family's difficult summer escape challenges, but Smuggs completely exceeded our expectations. While each of our previous attempts at warm weather fun ended up being a painful "Wipe Out", we were overjoyed to discover that Smuggs is a superb remedy to prevent a case of the "Summertime Blues".
About the Author:
Barry Zeger is a travel writer who, along with his family, spent a week at Smugglers Notch.
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