Tyler Place:
A retreat designed with young children in mind
by Christine Loomis

If a resort that caters specifically to families with kids of all ages sounds too good to be true, think again. Although some resort programs take only children who are three or older, a handful of others are designed with infants and toddlers in mind. The Tyler Place Family Resort in Highgate Springs, Vermont, is just that kind of place. Since the family-owned resort opened in 1933, it has been welcoming families with kids of all ages. Many come back year after year, and generation after generation.
Who can blame them? The Tyler Place Family Resort offers countless age-appropriate activities, games, sports, and learning programs. Supervised morning and evening activities for kids let parents spend their free time biking, canoeing, sailing, playing tennis, windsurfing, or swimming in the indoor and outdoor heated pools. Afternoons are family time: you can ride bikes (training wheels and baby seats are available), play in the wading pool or sandbox, explore the four playgrounds, visit the petting zoo, or simply relax together. The resort is committed to providing high-quality childcare for newborns, infants, and toddlers alike. You can hire a parent's helper ($3.50 to $6.50/hour) for one-on-one childcare, too.

Rates vary based on the time of year, your child's age, and your choice of accommodation (cottage, suite, family studio, or the Tyler Place Inn). In general, families stay from Saturday to Saturday. Here's a sample cost for a family of four (with a o ne-year-old and a two-and-a-half-year-old) staying in a cottage for a week in July.
• Adult rate: $170 per adult per night
• Two-and-a-half-year-old: $73 per night
• One-year-old: $19 per night, plus the cost of a parent's helper. (On average, helpers work eight hours a day. Parent's helpers are required for babies under two and a half during evening dining hours, because little ones aren't allowed in the dining room at that time.)

A multitude of shipboard activities to keep everyone occupied
by Candyce H. Stapen

Cruises have the right ingredients for hassle-free family vacations: all-inclusive prices, safe environments, plentiful activities for kids and adults, and stops at a variety of colorful destinations. Cruise fees usually include all food, onboard entertainment, evening shows, lodging, and children's programs, but you do pay extra for drinks, shore tours, and tips. Our kids like the creative children's programs and the freedom to roam about on board these floating entertainment centers.

We took a Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbean International that was a hit with the whole family. The counselors clearly enjoyed being with young kids, and the children's program combined a variety of activities: arts and crafts, circle games, visiting the bridge, and story-telling about the Caribbean. My son liked the freedom of staying out on deck until 2 a.m. and dancing in the onboard disco. Since the children's program had evening hours, my daughter could be happily engaged while the rest of us enjoyed the musical shows.
The kid's program -- Adventure Ocean -- is free. Babysitting services at night and while in port are $4 per hour. Cruise prices vary depending on destination, time of travel, and type of accommodations

Learn about the great outdoors as you play
by Dorothy Jordon

Nature camps are wonderful places for families. They blend learning and fun, teaching adults and kids about the natural world through a variety of age-appropriate activities. The National Wildlife Federation, for instance, has run weeklong Family Conservation Summits for almost 30 years. The NWF offers two programs each summer in locations chosen for their natural history and beauty. Up to 400 people go to each summit, exploring places like Estes Park in Colorado or Puget Sound in Washington. Highlights include nature hikes, bird-watching expeditions, wildflower walks, cultural and historical field trips, and other activities, all customized for three-year-olds, 80-year-olds, and everyone in between. Plus there's one-on-one childcare available for infants and babies at $5 per hour. Three-year-olds can attend half-day activity programs designed to help them understand and enjoy nature. The program leaders believe in hands-on learning, taking their young students on short nature hikes and teaching them about the birds, plants, and trees around them. All the activities for parents and kids are optional, so families can explore their surroundings at their own pace if they want to.

Program/activity fees:
• Infants: No charge (except individual childcare)
• Preschoolers (3-4 years old): $250 non-NWF member; $200 NWF member
• Adults: $500 nonmember; $450 NWF member

Room and board fees are based on the location of each summit. Here's a sample of prices from the Estes Park, Colorado, site:
• Children under 3: No charge (crib rental fees may apply)
• Adults: $367-$500 per adult (price based on double occupancy per room)