If Christmas break is already brimming with commitments, New Year's may be just the ticket to sneak away with the kids before school starts up again. Many resorts offer family fun right up until the stroke of midnight. So if watching the ball drop from your living room feels ho-hum, think about heading to a resort that'll be ringing in 2012 with special entertainment packages -- and sparkling grape juice for the kids.
Yosemite Lodge at the Falls
Where: Yosemite National Park, CA
Why: Because this national park lodge is the closest property to Yosemite Falls, and it delivers a winter wonderland setting this time of year. Holiday packages include dinner for two, followed by a live band and dancing. The kids get their own party in another part of the hotel, with games, raffle prizes, a DJ, snacks, and an early balloon drop at 9pm. During the day, explore the wintry side of the iconic park with skiing, snowshoeing, and snow tubing at Badger Pass; an ice rink inside the park; and daily nature walks. The two- and three-night New Year's Eve Celebration packages start at $563 for two adults; kids are an additional $33 per night.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa
Where: Austin, TX
Why: Because this luxurious wilderness resort is serving up a Texas-roadhouse-style barbecue and a slew of New Year's entertainment, including an outdoor jamboree, Ferris wheel, carousel, and mini train. Kids can enjoy face painting and balloon artists while the grown-ups two-step to live music. By day, families can go on nature walks or horseback rides. The Family New Year's Eve Celebration package starts at $344 and includes a barbecue dinner and breakfast for four, entertainment, and champagne (or local favorite Shiner Bock beer) for adults.
Purity Spring Resort
Where: East Madison, NH
Why: Because this resort offers a two-night all-inclusive package and a whirlwind of winter activities, including skiing, snowshoe tours, snow tubing, a torchlight parade, ice skating, music, fireworks, and bonfires. Indoors, kids can join parents in a pizza party and watch the ball drop on the big screen. "Tykes Night Out" entertains little ones with face painting, magic, and games. This offer includes breakfast, lunch, dinner -- and, yes, free babysitting on New Year's Eve. All-inclusive rates start at $279 per night for two adults and $60 per night per child (ages 4 to 12). There is an additional charge for horse-drawn sleigh rides and snow tubing. To book this package, call tel. 800/373-3754.
Cragun's Resort and Hotel
Where: Brainerd, MN
Why: Because this New Year's extravaganza includes three party options for kids and adults. The family party includes games, music, food, and prizes, while adults have two late-night options of dancing or karaoke. There are two dinner buffet options, as well as a Sunday breakfast buffet. Daytime activities include broomball, bingo, ice fishing, dogsledding, family trolley rides, and more. Or, you can relax in the indoor pool area, whirlpool, and spa. Three-night New Year's F.U.N. packages start at $165 per night for a family of four, while the two-night packages start at $185 per night; the dinner buffet is an additional charge.
La Quinta Resort & Club
Where: La Quinta, CA
Why: Because this old-school resort outside Palm Springs appreciates that some grown-ups don't want to end their New Year's before midnight. There are two grown-up NYE options here: a dinner and dance, or a dinner followed by a John Tesh performance. Kids ages 5 to 13, meanwhile, can have a nearly overnight party of pizza and games in the kids' club, supervised by local YMCA staff. Parents aren't expected to gather their little ones until 1 am. The It's a Wonderful Winter package st arts at $209 per night and includes a holiday amenity basket as well as a $50 resort credit. The late-night party costs $100 per child.
CoCo Key Water Resort
Where: Danvers, MA
Why: Because this indoor water park outside Boston offers a toasty holiday weekend -- literally, at an unseasonable 85 degrees, with 40-foot raft and body slides, splash pads, and spa for the grown-ups. Families can ring in the New Year during an indoor evening carnival with a bouncy house, DJ, and magician. CoCo's Rocking New Year's Eve package starts at $479 and includes overnight accommodations, dinner buffet for four, breakfast for four, four two-day water park passes, and activities. For $200, add a second night that includes breakfast for four. You can also add a fifth person for $80 for the one night, or $100 total for two nights.
Salt Fork Resort and Conference Center
Where: Cambridge, OH
Why: Because this resort, with its setting in Salt Fork State Park, has a ton of family events to celebrate the New Year. Friday and Saturday night include family movies, karaoke, and a family version of the game show Minute to Win It. After 10 pm, adults can ring in the New Year with a live DJ. For outdoor fun, families can go sledding on the golf course once voted "best sledding hill" by Ohio magazine readers. Two-night packages start at $349, including breakfast and a dinner buffet for two, plus New Year's Eve entertainment. The dinner buffet costs $12.95 per child ages 4 to 10; the breakfast buffet costs $6.95 per child.
Sunriver Resort
Where: Sunriver, OR
Why: Because New Year's marks the grand finale to the resort's holiday "Traditions" program, which offers more than 150 activities for guests, such as magic shows and snowshoe tours. The family party kicks off with board and arcade games, Wii with air guitars, prizes, ice cream sundaes, and sparkling cider for the East Coast countdown. Afterward, teens can attend the "Glow Dance," with black lights, glow sticks, and the best hits of 2011, while grown-ups can head to their own celebrations. Other activities include snowmobiling, dinner buffets, arts and crafts, sleigh rides, and a polar-bear plunge on Jan. 1. Over the holiday weekend, the Traditions Sugarplum package starts at $209 per night and includes a $50 resort credit that can be used toward activities.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation
Where: Amelia Island, FL
Why: Because this luxury resort offers something for everyone, with parties for adults, kids, and families. On the nights leading up to NYE, there are family movie nights and s'mores on the beach. On Dec. 31, little ones can head to a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bash with a bounce house, movie screening, dinner, and sparkling cider. Teens get a party with Wii games, root beer floats, bowling, and a New Year's Eve feast, while parents can enjoy a romantic dinner on their own. Regular web rates start at $159 per night. New Year's Eve parties are $100 per child or teen.
Kalahari Resort Wisconsin Dells
Where: Wisconsin Dells, WI
Why: Because Wisconsin's largest indoor water park is hosting an international "passport"-themed party and a dinner buffet -- with cuisines from Africa, Japan, and Europe, plus a bit of American kid fare. There will be a family party with music, games, and a passport-stamping contest. Later, the 21-and-up crowd can retreat to their own black-lighted, DJ dance party. During the day, families can relax in the lazy river, splash in the wave pool, or test their balance at the indoor surf-simulator. A two-night New Year's Buffet Getaway starts at $550 and includes accommodations, water park admission daily, a New Year's Eve buffet, and special holiday events.
Terranea Resort
Where: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Why: Because this oceanfront resort not only entertains kids on NYE but also provides some essential diversions on the all-important morning after. As part of its holiday Traditions program, the resort throws a complimentary Happy Noon Year party during the day on Dec. 31, with poolside fun such as duck races down the waterslide, face painting, and family challenges. There's a New Year's Eve Bash for kids -- with Wii tournaments, crafts, hotel maze races, and talent shows. And on Jan. 1, hotel staff will pick up your kids for four hours of breakfast and games with other kids, just so you can sleep in. Rooms regularly start at $380, and with the Traditions Package, you only pay $30 more -- which pays for itself and then some, as it covers breakfast daily for two as well as your daily $25 resort fee. The Kids' New Year's party costs $60 per child, and the breakfast program costs $35 per child.
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