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Ask the Family Travel Expert: All Summer, All-American & All-Inclusive

All-inclusive resorts can help families stay within their travel budgets. Here are three options in the U.S. if destinations like the Caribbean or Mexico are out of reach.

Question: My husband and I love the idea of taking an all-inclusive family vacation this summer, but we don't have passports. Can you recommend any all-inclusive summer resorts in the United States that are kid-friendly? We don't need crazy luxurious, but we like good food and having lots to do. -- Janette from Concord, NH

Answer: I'm with you. There's something incredibly stress-free about an all-inclusive resort, where you get nearly everything included in one price, pay upfront, and don't have to keep pulling out your wallet during your vacation. Since your lodging, meals, and most activities are included, there are fewer decisions and that makes for a very relaxing getaway.

While many all-inclusives are located in the Caribbean and Mexico, we also have them closer to home. Here are three all-American all-inclusive resorts that scream summer:

Tyler Place Family Resort (www.tylerplace.com)

Where: Highgate Springs, Vermont

This is my family's all-time favorite summer vacation destination, so forgive me if I gush. We've visited the Tyler Place every year for five years, and each visit has been better than the last. I called it the "the gold standard for summer vacations" in my WeJustGotBack.com review, and the outstanding children's programming -- nine age-staggered groups from baby to teen -- remains the best I have run across anywhere. But here's a dirty little secret: parents love the Tyler Place every bit as much as kids do, because we get a real vacation with the perfect balance of free time, adult time, and family together time. Rates include lodging at the inn or in a private cottage, all meals, and an extensive choice of group activities and lessons, from tennis, kayaking, and biking to pottery, yoga, and sailing. I adore that every guest gets his own bike for the entire stay. Private sessions, such as spa treatments and individual swimming lessons, cost extra, as do alcoholic beverages. Tip: Early- and late-season rates are up to 50% lower than during peak summer.

UCSB Family Vacation Center (www.familyvacationcenter.com)

Where: Santa Barbara, California

Like the beach? This family vacation camp, on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara, consistently earns raves for its array of activities and its staff of enthusiastic counselors. Families are housed in multi-bedroom student suites. Enjoy a mix of family and adult activities and take advantage of three children's programs: baby and toddler care from one month to 2 years; kids' camp for ages 3-11; and teen activities for ages 12-18. Rates comprise lodging, meals, and a full roster of activities, including wine tastings, yoga, kayaking, horseback riding, surf lessons, or relaxing by the pool.

Fair Hills Resort (www.fairhillsresort.com)

Where: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

If you're looking for a no-frills, old-fashioned summer vacation destination, this crowd-pleaser on Minnesota's Pelican Lake draws families who return year after year. Families stay in rustic lake cabins, meals are called with a bell, and time is whiled away with pony rides, fishing, kayaking, scavenger hunts, swimming, tennis, golf, and sailing. The American Plan includes all meals and activities, including water sports.

Wherever you choose to take your family, have a wonderful summer vacation!

Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is the co-founder and editor of WeJustGotBack.com, an award-winning family travel site featuring reviews of kid-friendly hotels and resorts, expert planning advice, readers' travel tips, and more. Sign up for a family travel e-newsletter. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Talk with fellow Frommer's travelers on our Family Travel Forum.


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