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The 10 Best Family Summer Camps in the U.S.

Summer camp

Summer camps are an excellent option for families that enjoy a fun-filled vacation. Although many countries around the world have summer camp programs, the U.S. has some of the best in the world, and summer camps have become an important part of American culture. Each summer camp offers something different in terms of the accommodation, the activities, and the overall experience. Here are the 10 best summer camps in the U.S.

10. C Lazy U Ranch, Granby, Colorado

C Lazy U Ranch has been a family resort for more than 100 years, and it is located in the Colorado Rockies. The activities in the camp are divided into age groups, with some for the whole family. Some of the ranch activities include trail rides, horsemanship skills, rope courses, archery, hayrides, and fishing. There is also a swimming pool for all the family to enjoy. The family camp is also open in the winter months when activities include ice hockey, ice skating, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, skiing, and snow tubing.

9. Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri

Big Cedar Lodge is located just outside Branson in Missouri, and it is set in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. There is something for everyone at this camp, regardless of age or interests. Some of the activities and leisure facilities include bumper cars, laser tag, an arcade, five world-class golf courses, two marinas, a 10,000-acre wildlife preserve, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and archery. There is also plenty of water-based fun, as there are two lakeside beaches, five on-site pools, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats. There are several accommodation options, including cottages and log cabins of various sizes.

8. Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee

Nestled in the foothills of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm offers families the chance to explore the outdoors through a variety of activities. These include geocaching, canoeing, and hiking. Guests are also encouraged to pick vegetables, which are used to create gourmet meals for guests. Other activities include fly fishing, archery, outdoor movies, gardening, farm animal care, and painting. There are also spa treatments for those who want to relax during their family vacation. Accommodation options include cottages, suites, basic rooms, and houses with three, four, or five bedrooms.

7. Flathead Lake Lodge, Bigfork, Montana

Ciao Bambino lists Flathead Lake Lodge in Montana as one of the best family summer camps in the U.S. It is in Bigfork, which is just south of the Glacier National Park. Guests stay in either the historic lodge or in log cabins on the grounds. Activities include arts and crafts, trail rides, canoeing, a wrangler program, barn dances, campfire building, sailing, mountain laser tag, and wakeboarding.

6. Camp Sacramento, Twin Bridges, California

Located in the Eldorado National Forest in Twin Bridges, California, Camp Sacramento is a 14-acre camp with 61 cabins of various sizes. Daily activity sessions include archery, softball, arts and crafts, rock climbing, dancing, horseback riding, board games, a playground, ping-pong, and fishing on the American River. Three meals a day are included in the price of a stay.

5. Pinewoods, Plymouth, Massachusetts

The focus at Pinewoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is music and dance. Twice daily, everyone at the camp gathers together to enjoy the guests and staff performances. However, there are also many other activities to enjoy at the camp, including traditional crafts such as wood carving. The wooded property sits in25-acres of woodland and is surrounded by wood cabins. It dates back to the 1930s, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a central camp house, a kitchen, four dance pavilions, and an open-air dance hall.

4. Timberlock, Indian Lake, New York

Timberlock is one of the Adirondacks’ oldest family resorts, as it dates back to 1899. It was bought in 1963 by Dick Caitlin, remaining in the Caitlin family ever since. The camp consists of 63-acres of woodland by Indian Lake against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains. Guests stay in rustic cabins with gas lamps for lighting and wood stoves for heat. Although these seem basic, the main camp has modern amenities, including the Internet and charging outlets. Dinner is served in a covered communal dining area, and the meals are made using ingredients grown on-site. Some of the activities include fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, tennis, swimming, golf, boating, and archery. Younger guests can enjoy the play lodge, while adults can spend time in a separate lodge with a stone fireplace.

3. Snow Mountain Ranch, Grand County, Colorado

There is a vast array of activities for families to enjoy in the summer months at Snow Mountain Ranch in Grand County, Colorado. These include swimming, a summer tubing hill, a playground, ziplining, mountain biking, and horseback riding. This family camp is an equally fantastic place to visit during the winter when visitors can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing. There are also some year-round activities indoors, such as an arts center, a swimming pool, yoga, a rock-climbing wall, and a roller-skating rink. Families stay in cabins or vacation homes that range from two to five bedrooms. There is also the option to sleep in yurts or stay on one of the campsites.

2. Rockywold Deephaven Camps, Holderness, New Hampshire

Rockywold Deephaven Camps sits by Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire. The lakeside location means it is a fantastic place for families to enjoy water-based activities, including canoeing, boating, kayaking, swimming, and paddling. There is also plenty to enjoy away from the water, including square dancing, mini-triathlons, scavenger hunts, craft sessions, hikes, and bicycle tours. Dinners are included in the price of staying at the camp, and they are served at the historic lodge.

1. The Tyler Place Family Resort, Highgate Springs, Vermont

According to The Points Guy, one of the best family summer camps is The Tyler Place Family Resort in Highgate Springs, Vermont. It is a high-end camp located in a rural spot in northern Vermont close to the Canadian border. This all-inclusive resort has cottages and suites that have separate sleeping areas for children and adults. The programs include age-appropriate activities for family members of all ages, including sports and recreational activities such as wakeboarding, mini-golf, volleyball, tennis, windsurfing, hayrides, and much more.

Dana Hanson

Written by Dana Hanson

Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. She also enjoys creative writing, content writing on nearly any topic (particularly business and lifestyle), because as a lifelong learner, she loves to do research and possess a high skill level in this area. Her academic degrees include AA social Sci/BA English/MEd Adult Ed & Community & Human Resource Development and ABD in PhD studies in Indust & Org Psychology.

Read more posts by Dana Hanson

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