I don’t know about you, but the slap and the sting from the page on my calendar turning to May nearly made my eyes water. I just didn’t see it coming. One moment it’s late-spring and the next it’s pre-summer! I figured I had plenty of time to book our annual summer vacation, but once my calendar hit May I realized I needed to pull the trigger soon before the best places filled up.
In a panic, I quickly started to reference places in my head where I had either been before or always wanted to try with my family. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota? Nah, my vacations need water. What about Hawaii? Yeah it has water, but I think that trip would make more sense as a getaway with my wife instead of with the kids. We could always do Disney World, right? Well, not on my pay check. It’s almost cheaper to buy your own island than to pay those magical Disney ticket prices.
Maybe I was over thinking this and putting too much pressure on myself to deliver the ultimate family vacation. When you break it down, all I really need for my vacation is boating, family and food. If I can’t take my own boat, then I at least need to be able to rent one. Based on my criteria, I came up with my top four places to take my family on a vacation this summer: they range all over the U.S. and are listed in alphabetical order.
Big Cedar Lodge
Big Cedar Lodge (www.bigcedar.com) is a remote haven of natural beauty and contemporary luxury in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Missouri. I’ve stayed in the regular rooms as well as the individual cabins and you really can’t go wrong. Plus the entire property is something out of a novel, unlike any place you’ve ever seen before. There is a great restaurant on site and at the Bent Hook Marina you can rent fully-equipped pontoon boats by the hour or by the day.
Fourwinds Resort
Located on the shores of picturesque Lake Monroe in southern Indiana, Fourwinds Resort and Marina (www.fourwindsresort.com) is the perfect destination for a fun-filled vacation. A year ago I didn’t realize this place even existed and today I’m including it in my top four. It’s just one of those great all-around resorts that is off the beaten path and offers a little bit of everything, including a nice restaurant and plenty of pontoons to rent.
Lake Raystown Resort
Lake Raystown is Pennsylvania’s largest man-made lake, and the best place to enjoy fishing, boating, water sports and everything Mother Nature has to offer. The Lake Raystown Resort (www.raystownresort.com) is a family-owned and operated resort that continues to provide affordable family vacations. Besides great lodging and pontoon rentals, there are a couple of choices when it comes time to eat.
Pirate Cove Resort
The secluded California oasis is located at the Moabi Regional Park, on the banks of the Colorado River. The Pirate Cove Resort (www.piratecoveresort.com) is nestled among the palm trees and is surrounded by pristine white sandy beaches. This first-class family destination offers pontoon rentals, cabins, as well as the Pirate Beach Bar & Restaurant that is still in my top five for great places to eat when coming by boat. To see this place during peak season is nothing shy of amazing (and a lot of fun).
Any one of these four resorts will offer you and your family a unique family experience that won’t soon be forgotten. With vacation season right around the corner, now is the time to get your plans finalized.
