Family Resorts

[UPDATED: JANUARY 8, 2013]

This is the first in a series of posts about All-Inclusive Winter Resorts for Family Vacations from New York.

Many people think of the perfect winter vacation as an escape to somewhere warm and sandy, but why not take a different tack and enjoy a family vacation where you can revel in all the winter fun our region offers? Winter resorts provide loads of activities like tubing, ice skating, skiing, snow shoeing and even horseback riding, plus entertainment and many other amenities to keep everyone in your family busy and happy. And the best part? There's no need to hop on a plane as many resorts are located within a few hours' drive of NYC.

Woodloch Resort, in the Pocono Mountains, is one of the best all-inclusive winter resorts near New York City. Not only do they have tons of activities to get you out of doors, but there's non-stop fun going on indoors too. Every day guests are provided with an activity schedule offering an array of special events in addition to all the regularly-scheduled daily activities. There are so many different options—the hardest part is squeezing it all into your stay!

In one weekend we ice skated on a lake, drove bumper cars, went tubing, tried out the shooting range, pet baby animals, took pony rides, played a live game of Family Feud, watched a magic show, played bingo, enjoyed the indoor pool, popped into the arcade and ate a ton of delicious food. Plus I snuck off for a little pampering at their classy sister spa, The Lodge at Woodloch, indulging in a massage and a few hours of luxuriating in their steam and water spas. If our trip was a day longer, we definitely would have packed in even more.

Nothing puts a damper on a weekend getaway more than bad weather. At Great Wolf Lodge, regardless of rain, snow, wind, and cold, this indoor water park is a balmy 84 degrees every day, and only an hour and 15 minutes from Manhattan! Who needs to fly to the Caribbean? We visited Great Wolf Lodge for a one night stay in early Spring with our two girls, ages four and six, and they had a splashing time!