Smugglers' Notch Resort Magazine

Where would your kids go if you gave them the keys to the car? What would they do if they were in charge for the day? My assignment seemed simple enough: Relinquish control, and let the kids plan a day of fun within a short drive of Smugglers’ Notch. I figured the simplest way to find out was to ask one of them. So, I put the question to my nine-year-old daughter while lying in bed one night. Rather than pondering the countless options her newly found power presented, she answered me in two seconds flat. “I don’t exactly know how to drive there, but I’d go to Essex Cinemas and watch movies all day.”

Honest, but not exactly the answer I was hoping for. It’s tough to build a Vermont vacation article around a day-long trip to the movie theater. I decided a little prompting was in order. “What about the recreation path in Stowe?”

“Yeah, yeah! I love that!” I thought I had her hooked, so I decided to dig a little deeper. “There’s that great farmer’s market right next to the path on Sundays...” She frowned and wrinkled her brow. “But, that’s adult fun — not kid fun.” I reminded her of the cool needle felting she did at one booth and of all the tasty samples she ate while walking around. “Yeah ... I guess,” she half-heartedly humored me. I realized that this could be more complicated than I had originally anticipated.

Turning the car keys over to the kids for a day would most definitely yield a day of youthful nirvana, but, honestly, do you want to spend a beautiful summer day at the movie theater or in an arcade? The trick is to find kid-friendly activities that have some parental appeal. Then, in theory, everyone will be happy.

Vermont is full of family-friendly attractions, designed to entertain young and old alike. You could spend hours visiting ECHO Lake Aquarium in Burlington, the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms or the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne. But what if you want to live like a local? If you have a few free hours or a full day to fill, here are some of our kid-approved (and parent friendly) favorites.

Starting close to home, head up through Smugglers’ Notch for a little spelunking in the kid-friendly caves at the top of Route 108. Bask in the sun on the large boulders. Enjoy a picnic lunch and gawk at the rock climbers high above. If you have an energetic bunch (or an adult need for a little more activity), cross the street to the Sterling Pond Trail, and enjoy an easy 1.2 mile hike to the summit where you’ll be greeted by mountain views and a sparkling pond. If you have reluctant hikers, try the mom-tested “I believe there’s a Skittles factory at the top” method (and be prepared to come through with the goods).

If you’re seeking other active alternatives, continue over the Notch to Stowe, where you’ll find the recreation path — great for running, biking, scootering and inline skating. Your best bet is to park behind the Community Church on Main Street and begin your adventure going up the ever-so-slightly inclined 5.5 mile path. This way when the whining begins (you know it’s inevitable), the descent will be speedy and effortless. On a hot day, take a dip in the crystal clear water of the West Branch River that meanders along the path. The Depot Street Malt Shop in the village of Stowe offers a perfect post-adventure ice cream treat, so everyone leaves with good vibes.

If eating sounds like a better option than exercising, leave Stowe on Route 100 headed toward Waterbury. Once you get to Waterbury Center, let the tasting begin. First stop at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill to sample fresh cider as you watch them press apples. Adults can sample Vermont Country Wine from the Grand View Winery here too. Work off a few calories with a quick dip in the Waterbury Reservoir, hidden just to the right off Route 100 after you leave the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Then continue south to the Cabot Cheese Annex Store and Lake Champlain Chocolates. Stuff yourselves with cheese and chocolate before waddling down the road to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory for a tour and sample of Vermont’s Finest. If you visit early in the evening, you’ll find shorter wait times for the tour and, if you’re lucky, you may even catch the Ben & Jerry’s Movie Festival — a free, outdoor movie playing at dusk on Saturdays.

If you are inclined to head for the lake instead of the mountains, drive west to Burlington where a few hours spent on Church Street can be both kid and parent friendly. While you window shop, the kids can splash in the fountain on the top block. The street is teeming with vendors offering tasty treats for every palate. Once you arrive at lower Church Street, you can scoot around behind City Hall for a quick romp in the park and splash in another fountain to keep everyone cool and happy.

Next head to Battery Park, overlooking Lake Champlain at the north end of Battery Street. Here, in addition to breathtaking views of the lake, you’ll find a great playground for the kids and Beansies — Burlington’s iconic hotdog and creemee bus. The fries are not to be missed, but pay attention to the sea gulls. They’re practiced food thieves and have been known to fly off with entire meals. Battery Park is also the site of Burlington’s “Music in the Park” summer concert series. Bring a blanket and enjoy free music in a beautiful setting while the kids play nearby.

Once you finally make your way down to the lake, your options are numerous. Just hang out on the rocks and feed the ducks. Sit on the dock at the boathouse and dangle your feet in the water. Rent a boat for a few hours or cruise the lake on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Follow the bike path to North Beach for sandy summer fun, or take the bike path south to Oakledge Park where you’ll find a rocky swimming cove and a grassy playground overlooking the lake. Both beaches are an easy and flat ride — less than two miles from Waterfront Park — long enough to qualify as an adventure, but short enough to keep the complaints from ruining the ride.

Finally, for an actual taste of local life, check out one of the area’s many farmers’ markets. In addition to fresh, local produce, they often feature live music and crafts in kid-friendly locations. Or, if you’d rather harvest your own local produce, try berry picking at one of the many “pick-your-own” sites. In late July and August, the Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm in Richmond offers music while you pick.

Outdoor evening concerts in and around Chittenden County also provide a great opportunity for some open-air, economical fun. Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket and some bug spray and settle in for a few hours (or minutes, depending on your crew) of local entertainment.

In general, we have found that water, playgrounds, snacks and music are a recipe for success on family outings. If we can squeeze in a little exercise, shopping and site-seeing, it’s a bonus. Keeping everyone happy is truly a balancing act. I’m not ready to toss the keys to the kids just yet, but I have realized that family harmony is directly related to how often we let them steer.

Jennifer Borch lives in Jericho, Vermont and writes a column chronicling the adventures of motherhood for the Burlington Free Press. She frequently explores the North Country with her three kids and husband in tow. You can visit her blog at: CLOSE

We were on a family vacation - cruising Route 1 in California — that breathtaking stretch of coastline between Big Sur and Monterey. My husband and I were in the front seat of our rented minivan. The kids (ages 10, 14 and 16) were in the back.

“Look out the window!” I hollered to the backseats. The kids were plugged into their IPods; they were tapping out text messages on their cell phones. They might as well have been in the Newark bus terminal. I launched stale French fries at them with the hope of rousing them from their electronic stupors. “Look out the window!” I shrieked. “This is some of the most beautiful scenery in the world!”

My 16-year old son briefly diverted his eyes from his cell phone and glanced at the rocky coastline, the sea lions sunning on the rocks and the winding ribbon of road we had just travelled.

“Uhhhh, cool,” he mumbled and returned to his tiny screen.

I’ve learned that scenery is largely wasted on teenagers. I’ve also learned that once your kids are teens, family vacations, while still possible, require a little more planning, a lot more compromise and much more imagination. Sure, some families opt to leave their teens at home, but most teenagers are happy to be included in the vacation plans and having them along brings its own rewards. Vacationing with teens lets parents see their soon-to-be adult children in a new light and time away with the folks, gives teens a rare glimpse of their parents having fun and relaxing. For teens and adults, vacations can be a unique opportunity to relate to each other as companions rather than as parents and children.

Teenagers feel like they aren’t kids anymore. So treat them like adults. Ask them for their input on vacation outings and activities. Show your almost-grown child that you have confidence in them and in their new abilities and let them take the lead. If your 16-year old is wild about hiking, let him select a mountain trail for the family to explore; if your 14-year old has studied French for three years, ask her to be the liaison with the shopkeepers in Montreal. Provide your teens with travel books and websites to explore and charge them with coming up with specific activities and restaurants. When your teenager is invested in the vacation itinerary, she will be more
enthusiastic and won’t be able to roll her eyes at the incredibly dorky choices you have made. Throughout your trip, solicit your teen’s help reading maps, deciphering transportation schedules or charting out that day’s outing.

My son, the one who wasn’t moved by the California scenery, perked up considerably when we let him take the wheel and my daughter, who had researched the Calistoga mud baths, was patient when the ride there took far longer than she had estimated. Then, while she and I luxuriated in warm mud, the boys and my husband checked out nearby geysers. We all met for supper and swapped stories about our separate adventures. Sometimes it’s better to accommodate individual interests than to insist that everyone remain together night and day.

Help your teen research potential activities before you leave home. Make reservations if they are necessary and create a daily schedule — but be open to spontaneity. On the same trip to California, while the rest of the family stayed in a rented cabin and took day hikes through Yosemite, my oldest son joined an overnight rock climbing trip. It was a last minute decision, but it was the highlight of his vacation.

If you do decide to stick together, divide the day and plan at least one activity that caters to your teen. If you and your spouse are itching to check out a boutique winery, schedule that in the morning and end the day with a destination chosen by your teen. That way, everyone heads back to the hotel happy. Vacations that include new activities that none of you have ever tried before put parents and teens on equal footing and are a great way to make lasting memories and share some good natured laughs.

When vacationing with teenagers, it’simportant to give them some freedom
to pursue their own interests. Look for loads of optional activities and
opportunities to try something new in a safe environment. Also consider the
availability of video gaming equipment and computer stations with internet connectivity (something my teenage daughter considers essential).

On another of my family’s vacations, my daughter was happy to spend every day lounging by the pool reading magazines, while my sons took full advantage of the resort’s activities. They learned to scuba-dive, went snorkeling through underwater caves and played water polo in the pool and pick-up soccer on the beach. At night, all three kids went to karaoke contests, movies, and bonfires led by the resort staff. Best of all, they met other teens who were also on vacation and eager to spend time hanging out together, away from the watchful eyes of their parents. When you vacation with teens, having the option for after-dinner activities is important. Most teenagers do not want to spend their evenings in the hotel room watching television with their parents. Duh.

Consider bringing a friend for your teen. They’ll be more apt to try new activities and you’ll feel better about letting them loose if they’ve got a buddy. Ironically, more teenagers often mean less work and less worry. Having a guest along also helps to keep everyone in your family on slightly better behavior. Tempers are a little less likely to flare and eyes are a little less likely to roll. Some families find that traveling with another family, with kids of similar ages, provides more adult companionship for the parents and gives kids the ability to spend time with other teens in a no pressure situation. It’s also an economical way to split the vacation cost. Pick your vacation partners carefully though. You will want to be in sync with sleeping schedules, activity levels and meals. Many long-standing friendships have been strained by a rainy week in too-small cabin with kids. Teens also appreciate having their own territory. If possible, arrange for them to have a sleeping space that’s separate from yours. In return for that luxury, put them in charge of earning their own vacation spending money and give them responsibility for taking care of their own clothes — that means washing, packing, deciding what to wear and keeping track of everything during the entire vacation. They will rise to the challenge. Every parent who takes a teen on vacation does so knowing that soon, that child will be grown and out of the house. That’s what makes vacationing with teenagers so special. It’s a time to hold them close, a time to let them go and a great time to make memories together.

Carol Band is a freelance writer and award-winning humor columnist. You can read more of her work at
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There’s no doubt about it, Summer is family reunion season. For today’s often far flung families, the lazy days of Summer offer an opportunity to gather relatives to renew connections and meet new faces. At Smugglers’ Notch Resort, the varied menu of activities for all ages, comfortable lodging, and lovely mountain setting have combined to attract many family reunions to Smugglers’ over
the years.

The Resort hosts about 25 family reunions on average during the Summer. “The period beginning in late June and continuing through August is really peak time for family reunions, since the kids are out of school,” says Rob Aiken, who along with Andrew Goldman and John Kup comprise the Resort’s reunion planning team. The first point of contact for families interested in holding a Smugglers’ reunion is often the Resort’s website, which has a reunion planning tool that serves as a good starting point for reunion planners who need to consider a multitude of details when gathering their family together. Smugglers’ also welcomes planners to visit the Resort on a weekend site visit, notes Goldman, adding that once planners come for a visit to Smugglers’, “the Resort pretty much sells itself.”

The Resort’s reunion package features the inclusions of Smugglers’ popular FamilyFest Summer package: mountainside lodging, all-day children’s programs, a variety of family and adult activities, and use of Resort amenities such as the pools and waterslides, mini golf, the skate park and much more. According to Aiken, family reunion groups will typically enjoy up to a 15 percent discount on the package, so there is a financial advantage to booking a reunion package. Families can be conveniently grouped together in condominiums that are comfortable and spacious.

“I think the attraction to Smugglers’ is that in Summer there is really something for everyone, and family members can pick and choose from a variety of activities. We have families where the kids go to all-day camp, and the adults choose to golf or hike,” says Aiken. Or, the reunion group might decide to enjoy activities together. The reunion planning staff pulls together brochures and makes suggestions for other Vermont attractions if guests want to do day trips. “We’ve had families enjoy the Ethan Allen tour boat cruise on Lake Champlain, and we’ve also arranged for golf outings,” notes Aiken.

Another attractive inclusion to the reunions package at Smugglers’ is a family dinner. The Resort’s Mountain Grille restaurant sets up a barbecue on the Village Green or up at the outdoor pavilion near the Notchville Park pool and waterslide complex.

The reunions planning staff is happy to work with individual needs and interests. For instance, reunion guest Amy Stang of Ohio notes that when her mom experienced decreased mobility after surgery a few years ago, Aiken was able to arrange for a ground floor unit to minimize the amount of climbing her mom needed to do. She adds that with her large family of about 21, the Resort’s Mountain Grille restaurant has always had tables ready upon arrival and an attentive wait staff that provided a good experience to the extended family. Often families have special requests that the Resort staff is happy to fulfill, such as one family reunion group that needed technical support for a genealogical presentation during their stay.

The Resort’s reunion business is primarily from the United States, with a small percentage of Canadian reunions. “We see family members flying in from all over, pretty much nationwide,” notes Aiken, who says that on average family groups number about 20 at a Smugglers’ reunion, although the Resort has hosted groups as large as 150.

The Shufro/Stang/Doherty family reunion is a good example of a typical reunion group at Smugglers’. There are usually up to 21 adults and children visiting the Resort during the family’s summertime reunion, and they travel to Vermont from California, Ohio and Massachusetts. Amy Stang says that the family planned to get together to celebrate her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. They shopped around for a site, and according to Stang, “We ended up choosing Smugglers’ for many reasons: it was rated as the #1 family resort by FamilyFun magazine; a neighbor in Ohio had just returned and had nothing but good things to say about the resort; this same neighbor loaned us the Resort video; Smugglers’ was within driving distance for two of the four families involved; and it had a lot of programs that interested the age range of children in the families.” Stang’s sister Carolyn Doherty adds, “We originally gathered at Smuggs in 2000. My parents asked that we all get together so that all their grandchildren could play and get to know each other better. Some years ago we played around with the idea of trying out another resort, but no one ever came up with a better place than Smuggs.” The family has enjoyed use of the children’s camps, hiking, trips to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, shopping in Stowe, massages at Smugglers’ Mountain Massage Center, the pools, and even an impromptu wedding.

Looking at the niche of family reunions in the travel industry, Edith Wagner of Reunions Magazine observes that, “Not only have reunions increased, but existing reunions have matured and become a force in the travel industry. What were once picnics in the back yards grew to picnics in parks and are now groups traveling to their reunions. I think more and more reunions are looking for all-inclusive or very convenient venues where they can relax, with location, price and value, as well as facilities probably making up the basis for selection.”

Even with many families facing increased economic pressures this year, Wagner says that the ongoing popularity of family reunions is encouraging. Data from convention and visitors’ bureaus indicates they see more reunion business each year, and that inquiries this year are up. Wagner comments, “The primary purpose for family reunions is to stay connected, and this intensifies in hard times. For most, the idea of canceling or postponing doesn’t even arise. It is understood that not everyone may be able to come but the tradition will be kept and the reunion will be held.”

Amy Stang echoes the importance of the family reunion for renewing family connections: “This reunion is my only opportunity to see my sister, brother and their families. It’s a far cry from when we grew up with three sets of aunts and uncles, plus cousins, along with my grandmother, within walking distance of our house! If not for the reunion, the grandchildren would never get to know each other. For our family, it’s been the only opportunity for our family to all get together and the reunion at Smugglers’ has been such a blessing.” What better way to build lasting family memories?

If you are interested in holding your family’s reunion at Smugglers’, please contact the Resort’s reunion planning team at reunions@smuggs.com or by calling 1-800-521-0536.

Karen Boushie is the assistant director of public relations at the Resort.
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