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The joys of vacationing without kids
By Stefanie Berry Stark, Special for
USATODAY.com
Sure, kids can be cute. But not
necessarily when you're seeking relaxation, rejuvenation and
refuge from responsibility while on vacation. Who wants to
hear little feet running through hallways, poolside games of
Marco Polo or high-pitched screams in the dining room when on
a restorative retreat? Parent or not, traveling adults of all
ages sometimes crave shelter from rambunctious youngsters.
Kids will be kids, after all, and even the most well behaved
child comes with an unpredictability factor that threatens the
tranquility of a completely relaxed getaway. Greg Miller,
father of three and a commercial real-estate developer from
Minneapolis, knows the value of kid-free trips. "There are
certainly times when it's nice to get away without children
around," he says. "Kids add a different dimension to any
trip.... You can't just say, 'Get out of here and I don't want
to see you for eight hours.' Even if they aren't your own,
they tend to be pretty intrusive."
So, where are these idyllic spots where
toddlers can't tread? Miller and his wife are partial to Canoe
Bay, an adult retreat in Chetek, Wisconsin. They first visited
the 280-acre property six years ago to celebrate their 25th
wedding anniversary and have returned a half-dozen times
since. You can't beat the serenity of the wooded wilderness,
canoeing on a private lake and perusing the property's
extensive library of more than a thousand titles, says Miller,
who also enjoys the gourmet dinners and excellent wine list —
served in an intimate dining room without booster chairs.
"No kids, period," proclaims Canoe Bay
owner Dan Dobrowolski, declaring the property's child-free
policy. "That's our niche. That's what we're known for, and
quite frankly, that's why people love us. People need to get
away and know that the chance of hearing a screaming kid or a
large group is nonexistent."
While hardly prevalent, peaceful adult
havens tend to be smaller, independently owned upscale inns or
lodges (several belong to the Relais & Chateaux group),
but resort properties and bed and breakfasts offer restrictive
child policies as well. Some properties are geared more toward
couples, but generally adults of all types are welcome. That
includes: parents who need a break from kids and teens, older
couples nearing retirement, mothers and daughters traveling
together, or a few adult friends on vacation.
John Trevenen, general manager of the
Mayflower Inn in Washington, Conn., politely acknowledges that
children older than 12 are welcome, but insists that the inn
is "an adult retreat." Many great hotels cater to children
with specially designed programs, Tevenen points out, but few
are geared just for adults.
"The Mayflower is not designed with
children in mind," he explains. "I think children would be
very bored here. We offer calm, quiet sophistication, which is
appreciated greatly by our guests. It's giving the public a
choice."
Might adult retreats be a growing trend?
"How could it not be?" asks Canoe Bay's Dobrowolsk. "Some
people think it limits your market but we don't see it that
way. I think it's [a trend that's] going to grow
exponentially." Dobrowolski points out that most Baby Boomers
are well past the parenting stage and simply don't want to
vacation with "a bunch of screaming kids."
Although there isn't a comprehensive list
of vacation properties that restrict children, Zagat's Top
U.S. Hotels, Resorts and Spas, which has been published
yearly for 14 years, offers a "Children Not Recommended"
index, which debuted in 2001. The index lists 20 upscale adult
retreats. As people's needs and desires change over time and
trends emerge, new indexes are created, says Zagat
spokesperson GiGi Gordon. A "Child/Family Friendly" index also
exists, which, in contrast, listed 99 properties in 2001.
"Today couples are working longer and
harder," says William Norman, president and CEO of the Travel
Industry Association. "Often, their free time is dominated
with kids, chores and outside activities," explains Norman,
who says quick romantic trips are "the perfect way for
Americans to get away from their daily hassles and rejuvenate
their love lives at the same time."
"People have left their children with the
in-laws and are coming for a romantic retreat," says Laurie
Bongiorno, owner of the adult-oriented White Barn Inn in
Kennebunkport, Maine.
Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana is
an adult ranch with no children's activities, said Amanda
Dunn, a reservationist there. "Most people come here because
we don't have children." When parents call wanting to bring
their kids, Dunn politely steers them toward nearby
kid-friendly ranches, something most adult-oriented properties
do. "Occasionally, some do get upset about it, but mostly, I
hear, 'Oh, it will be nice and quiet.' "
If high-end properties aren't to your
taste, consider a bed and breakfast. Theresa Hamilton, owner
of the Fairbanks House bed and breakfast on Florida's Amelia
Island says she's noticed a recent increase in adults looking
for a child-free environment.
"We've always had the no-child policy,
but we've noticed that more people are specifically saying
they called us because they want a quiet, romantic getaway,"
she says.
Stefanie Berry Stark writes about
travel from Washington, D.C. |
