What do you do when you have young kids, live in Central Pennsylvania, and want to take a vacation that will be both fun for the kids and relaxing for the parents?
You go to Camelback Mountain Resort.
And let me tell you why.
Let's be real for a second. We travel HEAVY right now. Our 1-year-old needs a pack and play, a car seat, and often times a hook-on high chair. She still takes a bottle with milk four times a day, meaning we have to stay somewhere with a fridge; but needs it warmed, so there also has to be a microwave. Our two year old needs a bit less in terms of 'stuff', but requires constant supervision and attention (only if we don't want the entire place completely destroyed in 2 minutes flat). The more we think about it, the easier it is to just talk ourselves into staying home.
Vacationing in this stage of life is not easy. Ironically- that's all the more reason that we need it. I know a LOT of you can relate.
Enter: Camelback Resort.
Small children are often overlooked when resorts plan for their guests, and can quickly make a family feel isolated. The goal is NOT for it to be more work to be on vacation than at home. But this resort is so incredibly family-friendly, it's unbelievable. We were there for about a day and a half, and I felt like every time I turned around, there was another VERY intentional activity available geared toward small children. When we arrived, they provided us with their daily activity schedule for kids- there was donut decorating and writing letters to Santa, to name just a few- things that my 2-year-old LOVED!
There are TONS of activities for older kids to enjoy as well- there is a HUGE arcade in the Resort (Arcadia), Mini-Golf, K2 Climb, Mini-Bowling, Rock Climbing, Paint-Your-Own-Pottery, and the waterpark- guys, THE WATERPARK. First of all, let's talk about how Camelback actually has Pennsylvania's LARGEST Outdoor Waterpark- and that's not even the Waterpark we went to. Aquatopia is a massive indoor waterpark (Voted #1 Indoor Waterpark by 2018 USA Today) complete with a wave pool, a swim-up bar, an AWESOME toddler play area, a lazy river, and 13 epic waterslides. My girls obviously had no fun at all.
Camelback is SO much more than skiing, but here's the thing- it also has AMAZING skiing! They offer 37 trails and 16 lifts, 100% snowmaking, and multiple ski-in/ski-out restaurants (HOW COOL IS THAT?), and the largest snow tubing park in the nation! As I write this, I'm actually making myself want to go back. Ski PA is an incredible partner of Camelback Resort, and has some incredible things to offer you and your family. January is national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and SkiPA is generously offering an amazing Learn to Ski/Snowboard Program! Not only that, but they are ALSO offering a program where Fourth and Fifth Graders Ski and Ride for Free with a Snowpass from SkiPA! If you have a desire to learn to ski or snowboard, this is the year. And what a fabulous place to learn.
Below is a photo of my daughter that is probably the SINGLE reason why my family will be returning to Camelback. It was lunchtime on the last day of our trip, and my 2-year-old was seriously struggling to sit long enough to eat. I could feel my frustration rising because neither my husband nor I had taken a single bite, and we had brought nothing to entertain her while we scarfed our food down. Just as I was about to get up and walk around with her to keep her busy while my family finished lunch, my husband looked over and saw this on the wall. Guys- it's a WHOLE WALL FOR DRAWING ON. My daughter hopped down (with permission), picked up some chalk, and proceeded to draw for 15 minutes while we enjoyed our lunch. I think I could have kissed whoever created that space. And I know it was created for us- for families with young kids who just need a minute.
With SO much to do there, and even restful opportunities for weary parents at Camelback's Serenity Spa- the question isn't ARE you going to visit, the question is WHEN are you going to visit? The only thing that could possibly make this experience any better would be to share it with friends or family.
Play hard, nap hard.
Here's a fun recap video from our trip, and why we think it could be a great fit for your family getaway, too-
I received complimentary compensation in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
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