Family travel 5: Base camps

Choose a base camp for your next family adventure. Here are five spots to consider.

The Lark, Bozeman, Montana

More than a decade ago, a vintage, 38-room motor lodge was meticulously remodeled, with sustainability as a core value. What emerged is a stylish standout with spacious and cleverly designed guest rooms evoking an outdoor adventure vibe. You'll also find flat screen TVs and a bulit-in platform bed.

It's a perfect home base for exploring a region that includes Yellowstone National Park, blue-ribbon waters and miles of hiking and biking trails. If you are not sure where to begin, the folks at this hip motel want to help. The Lark Map Room is a friendly spot where guests can grab guides and consult locals about adventure opportunities in town and beyond. Settle into the casual lobby to sample local coffees and ice cream in the summer season, and to collect intel on all the region has to offer. The whole family is welcome, including your four-legged members.

For more: www.larkbozeman.com

Mountain Modern Motel, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Located in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole, families can check in to traditional guest rooms, clever bunk rooms or a combo of both, each with a full bath, air conditioning, coffee maker, mini-fridge, microwave and ample storage for your adventure gear. 

Occupying a full city block and steps from the town square, shopping, dining and events, the 194-room property offers frontier flair with all the benefits of stylish design and comfort. A recent expansion added new rooms as well as fire pits, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and 19,000 square feet of outdoor space. 

Winter guests can enjoy custom gear walls for skis and snowboards and concierges to help plan days on the slope or in nearby Grand Teton National Park. Expect thoughtful amenities tailored to the modern outdoor enthusiast including a bike repair station, all-day dining, and grab and go options for families on the move.

For more: www.mountainmodernmotel.com

The Whiteface Lodge,Lake Placid, New York

Relax in luxury amid the Adirondack wilderness. Check in and allow the lodge concierge to help you mix hiking, fly fishing, canoeing, tennis, pickleball and rock climbing into your family holiday. Splash in the pools, bowl, play platform tennis or enjoy the award-winning spa. 

During the summer months, kids ages 3 to 14 can tap into a full range of activities provided by the complimentary Kamp Kanuin including arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses and science experiments. After sunset, a fine dining experience awaits the parents while the kids enjoy a pizza dinner as well as themed activities that range from Pirates at Play to Space Night. End the evening roasting marshmallows with your family around the campfire.

For more: www.thewhitefacelodge.com/

Four Seasons Resort, Santa Fe, New Mexico

It's a Santa Fe experience in perfect balance. You'll relish the privacy, tranquility and easy access to the pathways leading into the Sangre de Cristo foothills provided by the resort's expansive setting. And you'll also be just minutes from the center of this cultural gem where world-class galleries, fine dining and cultural experiences await. 

Begin each day with a complimentary guided hike; you'll learn of the resort's colorful history while marveling at the vistas from the ridgeline trail. Play golf amid dramatic sandstone ridges at Black Mesa Golf Course or at the top-rated Paako Ridge, home to fantastic high-desert views. 

Opt for a Jeep ride amid the dramatic cliffs and rugged terrain of Diablo Canyon and the Rio Grande or choose a more gentle approach and ride mountain bikes on local trails. Later, relax by the pool or sample a spa treatment to cap off your day.

For more: www.fourseasons.com/santafe

Turtle Inn, Placencia, Belize

A holiday trip to this Central American outpost offers an extraordinary bounty of experiences packed into a short time frame. This trip offers a chance to explore ancient caves, get immersed in Mayan culture and kayak through freshwater lagoons. You can also snorkel above the second largest barrier reef in the world and hang out with spider monkeys, loggerhead turtles, toucans and kingfishers, and watch the sunset. End your trip at the Francis Ford Coppola-owned, 25-room, seaside refuge where you will fall fast asleep to the sweet song of the natural world in your thatched-roof bungalow.

For more, check out thecoppolahideaways.com/resort/turtle-inn and www.travelbelize.org

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