Fall Weekends 2009: Fun for Everyone

With activities for all ages, resorts can be easy family getaways. Here are ten favorites within a three-hour drive.

By Mary Burnham ,    Sherri Dalphonse ,    Matthew Graham ,    Cynthia Hacinli ,    Dale Leatherman ,    Rina Rapuano    Published Tuesday, September 01, 2009

A restored spring-fed pool at Bedford Springs dates to 1905—when musicians used to serenade swimmers. Photograph courtesy of Omni Beford Springs

See the full Fall Weekends Guide >>

Boar’s Head: Charlottesville, Virginia

Drive time: 2½ hours.

What sets it apart: State-of-the-art recreation and Southern charm.

Try not to miss: The indoor/outdoor tennis center and sports club where fitness professionals and a nutritionist can customize a weekend of wellness; some 55 fitness classes a week including Pilates, yoga, cycling, and interval training.

Great for kids? Not unless they’re tennis players.

More information: 800-476-1988; boarsheadinn.com.

Hotel Hershey: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Drive time: 2½ hours.

What sets it apart: Chocolate as a motif (think fondue wraps at the spa and roaming characters dressed as Hershey candies); a whole town’s worth of Hershey-related activities.

Try not to miss: Two new pools with water features such as a crazy slide and gurgling fountains as well as optional $200-a-day cabanas; Hersheypark, with its 11 roller coasters and water park; outdoor ice-skating year-round; the three good golf courses (this has been named in the past by both Condé Nast Traveler and Golfweek as one of the top 100 golf resorts in the country); room options from rustic lodge to elegant hotel to new luxe cottages with porch rockers, great rooms, microwaves, and mini-fridges.

Great for kids? Definitely.

More information: 800-230-4134; thehotelhershey.com.

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay: Cambridge, Maryland

Drive time: About two hours.

What sets it apart: An airy, by-the-shore vibe and big windows framing glorious marsh and bay views; great package deals that often trump those of other nearby resorts.

Try not to miss: An 18-hole golf course that wends its way around the bay; s’mores at the outdoor fireplace on a starry night; family movies by the pool Friday and Saturday; a kids program in conjunction with National Geographic.

Great for kids? Definitely.

More information: 800-233-1234; chesapeakebay.hyatt.com.

Inn at Perry Cabin: St. Michaels, Maryland

Drive time: About two hours.

What sets it apart: Picturesque water views and nautical-chic decor; guests can sign up for a crabbing expedition; for $110 more per person, the inn will turn your catch into a multi-course extravagance.

Try not to miss: The chef’s crabcakes, braised lamb shanks, and breakfast lobster hash; seasonal spa offerings such as pumpkin scrubs and apple-cider massage.

Great for kids? Not really.

More information: 866-278-9601; perrycabin.com. 

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