Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa

There’s nowhere better to visit in the summer than Vermont.  With gorgeous weather, beautiful scenery, and loads of things to do, it’s perfect for a family vacation.  Last month, my family visited Stowe, Vermont for the first time, and we had a great time.

Things to Do in Stowe

There are loads of things to do in the summer in Stowe, including an alpine slide, zip lining, miniature golf, and shopping.  You can also visit some of the factory tours in nearby Waterbury, Vermont (including Ben and Jerry’s).  The whole area is so relaxing and beautiful, and you could easily spend a long weekend there in the summer.

Places to Eat in Stowe

Just about every restaurant in the Stowe area is kid-friendly.  My favorites include the Dutch Pancake Cafe (for breakfast) in the Grey Fox Inn, Gracie’s, and Piecasso for gourmet pizzas.

Places to Stay in Stowe

There are so many hotels, resorts, and inns located right in Stowe.  We stayed at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, which offers a kid’s playground, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools, games, and the best spa I’ve ever visited!  It’s centrally located, and would be good for a ski vacation also.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: I received a complimentary two-night stay at Stoweflake, including a dinner, spa treatment, and breakfast.

With children home for the summer, I’ve been trying to find ways to get them out of house and having fun without spending too much money. There are lots of kid-friendly things to do, but finding the ones that work when you’re feeling broke can be more of a challenge. This translates into our spending a lot of time at parks and playgrounds, because you know what? The parks in the Dallas metro area are extremely varied, educational, beautiful and, best of all, free.

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I like parks to offer more than a play structure and a couple of swings.  These Seattle parks are located in cute neighborhoods for lunch or snacks and offer natural or unique man-made entertainment. You decide if you need to bring your swimsuit, your bike or both to take advantage of what these beautiful parks offer their visitors.

Alki Beach Park – Alki Beach Park is “a long beach strip that runs from Alki Point to Duwamish Head on Elliott Bay. It’s a great spot for a 2.5 mile walk any time of year, and in the summer draws joggers, rollerbladers, volleyball players, beachcombers, sunbathers, bicyclists and strollers out to enjoy the sun.”  I like this beach because of the views and the surrounding neighborhood.

Gasworks Park near Lake Union-I like this whimsical park.  Some visionary turned a gasworks plant that originally  turned coal into gas into a city park. The Seattle Park & Rec dept. says, “The boiler house has been converted to a picnic shelter with tables, fire grills and an open area. The former exhauster-compressor building, now a children’s play barn, features a maze of brightly painted machinery”  It also has a sun dial and is a great place to fly kites.  Nice winds, but not too gusty.

Madison Park near Lake Washington- Madison Park offer a play structure for the little ones, a bit of grass to play on, swimming or wading in the lake, views and lifeguards during the summer. 

Washington Park Arboretum (near the University of Washington)- pack a picnic and wander the grounds of this lush, verdant park. In the spring wander through the aptly named Azalea Way or walk the Shoreline trail through the freshwater marsh.  You can also rent canoes at the University of Washington and paddle along the shoreline.

Waterfall Garden Park–I happened upon this jewel of a park during my first job out of college when I was dreaming of the great outdoors and not the dull work in my in box.  The park features a 27′ waterfall with beautiful stonework and benches.  It is a surprising oasis in the midst of the concrete desert and high rise buildings. Leave that in-box way behind…

Green Lake–Walk, run, ride and skate around the lake at this park.  The lake is small enough for most elementary age kids to get around if you go their chosen pace.  You can also snag a treat at the Starbuck’s (actually local in Seattle) or grab dine al fresco at several restaurants near the lake.

These parks are fun for a romantic date, a family of four or anyone wanting to enjoy some solitude surrounded by the beauty of Seattle.

Ready to pack your bags? Here is a great resource for flights to Seattle.