10 great places for a grand time with the grandkids
— -- Forget the generation gap. Create memories and have a blast by staying at a family-friendly place in honor of National Grandparents Day. Susan Avery, senior editor of grandparents.com, a new online community launching this month to help grandparents connect with their grandchildren, shares her picks with Kathy Baruffi for USA TODAY.
Camp Richardson ResortLake Tahoe, Calif.
"This is old Lake Tahoe. The rustic lodgings, without telephones or TVs, are reminiscent of a simpler, quiet life," Avery says. Sheltered by pines on the southwestern shore of the lake, the resort offers a choice of tent campsites, cabins, RV sites or a historic hotel. Rent boats at the marina, ride bikes together on miles of paved paths or sit on the deck at the resort's Beacon Bar & Grill and admire the changing colors. 800-544-1801; camprichardson.com
River Run Canoe & CampingBrownfield, Maine
"The calmness of the Saco River makes it an easy paddle for all different ages," Avery says. It's one of the most popular recreational rivers in the state, and the sandy bottom of the Saco is inviting for a swim. Go ashore to picnic or camp on a sandbar along the way. Bring your own equipment or have this outfitter gear you up and provide shuttle service to a starting point. 207-452-2500; riverruncanoe.com
Arlington Resort Hotel & SpaHot Springs, Ark.
"Go fishing," Avery says. "The size of a catch doesn't matter to children; what matters is bonding with their grandparents. It's about spending a few stress-free hours together in the great outdoors, side by side." Bass and crappie abound in the clean water at Lake Ouachita State Park, only half an hour from this historic downtown hotel. Tour a bathhouse, buy art or relax on a bench and people-watch. 800-643-1502; arlingtonhotel.com
L'Enfant Plaza HotelWashington, D.C.
"This classy, family-friendly hotel is a short walk to the National Mall and the Metro (subway)," Avery says. Washington, D.C., "is a great destination, but you have to know your child and make sure he or she has the right temperament, at the right age, to visit. Every bit of the trip is an educational one." Avery's must-sees: the International Spy Museum and the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing to discover how money is made — literally. 800-635-5065; lenfantplazahotel.com
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