Summer camp for everyone: These family resorts bring all the fun in the sun

Photo courtesy of AleksandarNakic / E+

Capture the magic of summer camp

You’re never too old to yearn for the summer camp experience of horseback riding, archery, swimming, crafts, and roasting s’mores underneath the stars at night. Places like The Resort at Paws Up in Montana and Sundance Resort in Utah capture that magic with an exciting array of activities to appeal to travelers of all stripes.
 
Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a family resort, or a place to host a multi-generational family vacation, these resorts are here to spark your sense of fun and adventure.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

Sundance Mountain Resort, Sundance, Utah

In 1969, Robert Redford purchased the land for Sundance Mountain Resort to create a place celebrating art, nature, and community. More than 50 years later, his vision is still strong.
 
The 5,000-acre Mount Timpanogos resort feels like a year-round summer camp for adults, with outdoor activities like skiing, ziplining, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and fly fishing. At Sundance Art Studio and Gallery, guests take workshops in silversmithing, pottery, soap-making, and journal-making. Before you check out, leave time for a visit to the spa and a meal in the Tree Room restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

Barnsley Resort, Adairsville, Georgia

Barnsley Resort is nestled into 3,000 acres of pristine meadows, lakes, and forests. Traditional lodge-style accommodations, standalone cottages, or entire vacation homes cater to couples, groups of friends, and multi-generational families.
 
Activities include ax throwing, sport clay shooting, archery, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and whiskey tasting in the evening. A golf course, a swimming pool, a spa, and restaurants specializing in locally sourced cuisine help cement Barnsley’s reputation as one of the best destination resorts in the South.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Prepare to be dazzled by The Resort at Paw Up, one of the best all-inclusive resorts in the country, according to USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Best known for glamping tents as luxurious as any hotel room, you won't have to choose between comfort and the great outdoors at this 37,000-acre working cattle ranch.
 
Activities include ATV tours, horseback riding, fly fishing, mountain biking, geocaching, go-karts, an aerial adventure park, and cow croquet (a family favorite). For an epic culinary adventure, book a treehouse or glass house in the forest of the adults-only enclave, The Green O, where a James Beard-recognized chef wows with an eight-course dinner every night.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

Brasada Ranch, Powell Butte, Oregon

Surrounded by mountains in the high desert, Brasada Ranch enjoys pleasant weather and gorgeous views all year round. The resort offers traditional rooms, bungalows, or cabins for groups of all sizes.
 
Your biggest problem will be deciding how to spend your time with options, including an upscale spa, a year-round golf course, horseback riding, fishing, indoor and outdoor pools, a waterslide, a lazy river, crafts, and a kids' clubhouse. Sunsets here are especially spectacular.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Florida

The Ritz-Carlton brand is synonymous with luxury, and The Ritz-Carlton Naples is the perfect example. After extensive renovations following Hurricane Ian, the resort reopened in the summer of 2023. The newly imagined space includes a Vanderbilt Tower with bi-level suites, nine eateries, and the largest Ritz-Carlton club lounge outside Dubai.
 
Families love the Ritz Kids program, which offers "big experiences for small guests," from cooking classes to scavenger hunts. The oceanfront resort sits on a white-sand beach with cabanas, plush lounge chairs, and activities like kayaking and parasailing. Three pools cater to families, adults, or spa guests. (You'll find lawn games next to the family pool.) And if one location isn't enough, a complimentary shuttle service carries guests to the resort's sister property, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon, where you'll find activities like golf, tennis, pickleball, waterslides, and a lazy river.

Who was voted the best?: Best Spa Resort (10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2024)

Photo courtesy of Carneros Resort and Spa

Carneros Resort and Spa, Napa, California

At first glance, Napa might not seem like the obvious place for a family vacation, but Carneros Resort and Spa, a perennial best wine country hotel winner, appeals to kids and adults alike. Cottage-style rooms and standalone homes offer plenty of privacy for romantic getaways or families. The resort is famous for its two swimming pools: The breathtaking adults-only pool sits atop a hillside with sweeping valley vistas, while a second pool caters to kids and families.
 
However, the activities give Carneros Resort and Spa its summer camp vibe. Examples include pickleball clinics, live music, wine blending, and saberage demonstrations. Family experiences include a kids club, outdoor movie nights, little green thumb garden tours, and scavenger hunts.

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Grand Geneva Resort and Spa offers so many experiences that you can return to each season and have a different vacation every time.
 
Located in beautiful Lake Geneva, local activities include skiing, a climbing wall, two golf courses, disc golf, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, archery, an arcade, mini bowling, and the Timber Ridge Lodge Indoor/Outdoor Water Park, voted as one of the best indoor water parks in the country by 10Best readers.

Photo courtesy of Adventures on the Gorge

Adventures on the Gorge, Lansing, West Virginia

Adventures on the Gorge is the ideal place to base yourself for a New River Gorge National Park trip. Lodging options include camping, glamping, several styles of cabins, and entire vacation homes to suit a range of budgets and travel styles.
 
As you might expect from a resort with the word adventure in its moniker, the activities here are the real draw. In addition to exploring the national park, options include white water rafting, kayaking, ziplining, rock climbing, fishing, paintball, obstacle courses, and jetboat tours. 

Who was voted the best?: Best Hot Springs (10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2024)

Photo courtesy of Tamara Gane

Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Stateline, Nevada

The Edgewood Tahoe Resort is one of the only resorts on the shores of Lake Tahoe. It boasts a private beach, lawn games, and Adirondack chairs to soak in the views. The resort is also home to one of the best public golf courses in the country, which hosts the popular American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament every July.
 
Other summer camp experiences include nightly s’mores, movies on the lawn, crafts, astronomy tours, plus ice skating and a ski shuttle in winter. There's also a year-round heated outdoor swimming pool, a spa, and luxury Mastercraft boat rentals, so you can embrace the best of lake life.

Photo courtesy of Visit Tuscon

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, Arizona

Live life like a character from "Yellowstone" on this Arizona dude ranch. Activities at Tanque Verde Ranch include horseback riding, guided hikes, swimming, yoga, fishing, spa treatments, and kids' day camps and overnight camps.
 
Opt for the all-inclusive package to get the most bang for your buck. The package includes lodging, three daily meals, horseback riding, nature programs, supervised kids activities, and more.