National Park Glamping Expansion
National Park travel continues to rank high on bucket lists. We are glad to see that Backroads is expanding its investment in luxury outdoor adventures through an enhanced partnership with Under Canvas. These safari-style tent accommodations combine the beauty of the great outdoors with the comforts of upscale lodging. New 2026 glamping experiences will feature immersive stays near Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and Utah’s Arches National Park, where your family can sleep under the stars, gather around campfires, and enjoy chef-prepared meals all without sacrificing comfort. The trips offer a thoughtful balance of adventure and relaxation, with a range of activity levels to explore at your own pace. They build in multiple activity levels each day, so families can choose easier or more challenging options. Their guides and support vans also make the trips accessible for travelers who want active experiences without feeling intimidated. These trips are seasonal, mostly running late spring through early fall.
Blackberry Farm Turns 50
Blackberry Farm, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, celebrates their 50th anniversary this year! This luxury resort has been quietly catering to families especially with its expanded family programming that includes a dedicated kids’ camps, skill-based youth learning, and immersive family adventures. At the core is Camp Blackberry, a fully developed children’s program (ages 4+) offering full- and half-day sessions with rotating activities like cooking, art, outdoor exploration, and wellness. For older children and teens, Youth Discovery adds more depth, with hands-on classes in ceramics, gardening, navigation, and outdoor skills. The Family Adventure Series is designed for shared experiences rather than separation. Families can hike, paddle, forage, or complete scavenger hunts together across the Smoky Mountain landscape, reinforcing connections to nature and to each other.
The resort’s accommodation options include rooms, suites, cottages and 3- to 5-bedroom houses ideal for any size family and for multi-gen families. And it’s all-inclusive! Rates include all your meals, along with pantry snacks, pantry non-alcoholic beverages and non-guided activities.
California Dreamin’
Enjoy a coastal escape at Montage Laguna Beach and receive up to a $500 daily resort credit when you reserve two or more nights: $225 for guestrooms, $350 for suites, and $500 for villas. Use your credit toward family-friendly activities, delicious on-property dining, relaxing spa treatments, and more. You’ll also receive a complimentary upgrade to the next view category at check-in (based on availability), plus additional Virtuoso amenities may apply.
Perched on a bluff above the Pacific, this Southern California favorite pairs sweeping ocean views with an easygoing luxury vibe. Your family can enjoy two pools, watersports, a fitness center with classes, and a wonderful children’s program. Children ages 5–12 can dive into fun, STEM-inspired activities, while little ones ages 2–4 have their own thoughtfully designed toddler program—making it a fantastic getaway for the whole family.
Villa Getaway in Scottsdale
The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician in Scottsdale will debut eight new standalone luxury villas next month, creating an exceptional new option for family getaways and multi-generational escapes. Designed with space and privacy in mind, each villa features two to four bedrooms, a full kitchen, and an in-villa washer and dryer, comfortably accommodating up to 13 guests in the four-bedroom layout. Multiple villas may also be reserved for larger family gatherings.
Villa guests enjoy an array of exclusive amenities, including daily breakfast, a personal golf cart, a firepit, and access to a private pool reserved solely for the villa enclave. For a limited time, guests who stay four nights or more through May 10, 2026, will also receive a $350 resort credit, along with additional Virtuoso benefits.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, The Canyon Suites offer an intimate, boutique-style retreat while providing full access to The Phoenician Resort’s newly transformed dining, pool, and spa experiences. On-property recreation is abundant, with multiple pools, bike rentals, tennis and pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center with studio classes, a game room, and more ensuring something for every member of the family.
Goodnight Room from Sheraton
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has launched “Goodnight Room,” a warm and whimsical campaign inspired by the beloved children’s book Goodnight Moon, celebrating the small moments that make you and your family feel at home wherever you go and the calming repetition and familiarity of saying goodnight to a predictable and safe world. At the heart of the campaign is the newly unveiled “Goodnight Moon Suite” at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. It’s fresh from a $100 million renovation where your family can step into a life-size, storybook-inspired version of a room. Available to book through February 28, 2026, the suite features charming details like green walls, a red carpet, a glowing LED fireplace, a working dollhouse, and welcoming touches such as milk and cookies and a plush bunny to evoke both nostalgia and delight.
This campaign is part of the new Sheraton experience with renovations going on across the world. It also carries a spirit of giving. Sheraton is supporting UNICEF and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and through the LoveTravels by Marriott Bonvoy platform, members can donate points with Marriott providing a 2x match up to 3.75 million points.
Family Time at Canyon Ranch
Still looking for a relaxing winter break getaway? Canyon Ranch’s Let Wellness Grow offer, your teen and young adult children, aged 13–21, stay free when accompanying a parent or grandparent on a two-night or longer Stay Your Way package. Whether it’s reconnecting over morning hikes, sharing mindfulness moments, or simply taking time to unwind, this is the perfect opportunity to nurture well-being across generations at their resorts in Tucson, Arizona: Lenox, Massachusetts or their retreat in Woodside, California. Book by December 25 for travel through January 3, 2026. Canyon Ranch is also opening their newest property in September 2026 in the Texas Hill Country and 45 minutes from downtown Austin. It will also be the first resort in the world with a dedicated Women’s Wellness Practice! We look forward to hearing more about their offerings.
Family Friendly Chicago
The Langham, Chicago has partnered with the Chicago Children’s Museum to transform its Kids Suite play area into an immersive retreat for young travelers ages 2–10. The redesigned suite features interactive, educational elements inspired by Chicago’s most beloved landmarks—sparking creativity, curiosity, and hands-on discovery.
Beyond the renovated children’s area, The Langham will debut an expanded lineup of family-friendly programming, including engaging painting and cooking classes designed especially for children. These enhancements build upon the hotel’s thoughtful family offerings, such as its private Cinema Suite for movie nights, “Wicked”-themed afternoon tea, and in-suite amenities like kids’ tents and robes.
As we are members of the exclusive Couture by Langham program, we’re pleased to offer you the following VIP benefits:
• $100 hotel credit for food & beverage or spa services
• Daily breakfast for two
• Complimentary next-tier room upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability)
• Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
• Personalized welcome note and VIP amenity from the hotel
A Montana Holiday
Family holiday gatherings are fast approaching! How about one surrounded by nature? Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana, just 35 minutes north of Yellowstone National Park, offers festive holiday packages for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing your family or friends group with a blend of seasonal activities and spacious accommodations in the heart of Paradise Valley. Sage Lodge is also part of Virtuoso; so added amenities apply. And Yellowstone under snow is magical! The resort offers a variety of lodge rooms and suites along with ranch houses that can sleep up to 16! Your holiday package will be filled with seasonal activities and holiday crafts, live entertainment and holiday meals in the resort restaurants or in your ranch home. Other activities abound for the entire family including stargazing, yoga classes, junior ranger programs, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, carriage rides, archery, cooking classes, various crafts (woodburning, leather, branding and more). Plus a spa, hot tubs and a variety of dining options. These holiday packages provide a warm and festive environment for your family to celebrate the holidays amidst the scenic beauty of Montana.
Four Seasons Debut in Naples
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is now accepting reservations ahead of its opening in October 2025. Located on 1,000 feet of beach in Old Naples, the resort sits on the former site of the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, within the larger 125-acre Naples Beach Club residential and golf resort.
The property will feature 220 accommodations, including 57 suites and 153 private residences. Dining options include five restaurants, among them The Merchant Room, led by two-time James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen.
Market Square will serve as a central gathering fun spot with a food market, bowling alley, game room, professional putting green, and a private screening room. A two-level wellness center called Sanctuary Spa will include a thermal circuit, rooftop lap pool, and a fitness center. There will also be a supervised children’ program for ages 4-12 and a teen center. Plus six tennis courts and two resort pools.
Your family will also have exclusive access to sunset cruises on the resort’s 34-foot classic Hinckley Picnic Boat. Nearby attractions include Everglades National Park, Corkscrew Sanctuary, Naples Zoo, Naples Botanical Gardens, and the Golisano Children’s Museum.
For select dates from October 20-January 2, you can receive up to $300 per night in resort credits depending on the room category booked. As members of Four Season’s Preferred Hotel’s program, additional amenities will also apply!
Adventure Meets the Wild West
Tauck introduces an exciting new adventure for 2026: the Wild West Family Adventure, part of the Tauck Bridges collection. This eight-day journey through the American Southwest, spanning Colorado and Utah, is crafted specifically for families. Highlights include exploring ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, hiking amidst the stunning landscapes of Arches National Park, and uncovering prehistoric wonders at the Moab Giants dinosaur museum.
The itinerary brims with activities like horseback riding, a rejuvenating soak in hot springs, whitewater rafting on the Colorado River, and a lively chuckwagon dinner in Durango. Families will also enjoy a luxurious stay at ULUM Moab, where safari-style tents offer a perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
This unforgettable experience is available from June to August 2026, starting in Durango, CO, and concluding in Moab, UT, promising a perfect mix of outdoor thrills, cultural exploration, and plenty of family fun.
