OT: Family Vacation Resort

[dogindesoto]

Anyone have any suggestions for a nice resort to take the family this year? We are really not wanting the beach or Gatlinburg this year. Any suggestions on quality family resorts that are within 6-7 hrs of MS?

 

[Ishmael]

Never been there, but Big Cedar Lodge gets good reviews.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

My family has been going there for a long long time and now I take mine there. My kids have a blast.

 

[SirBarksalot]

You lost me at resort...
but what do you want to do?

 

[dogindesoto]

Relax.....I'm looking for something that has kids activities to keep them occupied, but not so much in the rat race of tourists.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

I hear Oxford is nice this time of year. The kids could play inside the IPF. It hasn’t been used in over a month. ***

Oh... you meant for your annual vacation trip for the family? Well, you have done the beach and you have done the mountains.

If your kids are into baseball, why not do a weeklong Spring Training tour in Florida?

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Assuming you're name means you are in DeSoto county.. 6-7 hours draws a circle from Just east of Atlanta, Gatlinburg, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Peoria IL, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, New Orleans, and back down through the panhandle of FL.

I am sure there are plenty of places in that circle, but if you stretch it a few hours the world opens up tremendously. It sounds like you want to relax a bit, but still entertain the kids... Right outside of San Antonio (10-11 hour drive from Memphis) is the Hyatt Regency Hill Country. Beautiful resort, with awesome pool areas, lazy river, etc... Close to SeaWorld, Six Flags, and The Riverwalk for touristy stuff that you can hit and get away from.

My favorite suggestion if you go, about 45 minutes away, the 777 Ranch in Hondo TX is a game ranch with a ton of exotics on however many thousands of acres. They offer photo safaris for a couple hundred dollars where you and the family ride around for a few hours checking out zebra and cape buffalo and dozens of other exotics. The animals and terrain make it feel like you are in Africa. Afterward you can grab lunch at the lodge and they have a legit chef that will cook up something cool (we had Kudu which was amazing.) I am guessing a real safari starts at $10K for a family of 4, this was pretty damn cool for a few hundred and a hell of a a lot easier.

 

[dogindesoto]

Funny you mention that. We did the Hill Country resort last summer and it was incredible. That place is the reason I'm seeking another property like it.

 

[LandArchDawg]

Arkansas State Parks do a wonderful job with their facilities. Check out Mount Magazine, but any of their mountain parks are great for a low-key family getaway.

 

[johnson86-1]

Anyone have any suggestions for a nice resort to take the family this year? We are really not wanting the beach or Gatlinburg this year. Any suggestions on quality family resorts that are within 6-7 hrs of MS?

Haven't been, but had some friends go and love Big Wolf Lodge. Basically a water park tied to a hotel. https://www.greatwolf.com/georgia

Family went to Big Cedar Lodge and they liked it. They had a free place to stay though through work. I looked at the pricing and it seemed pricey for what it is.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

No love for Steiner Mountain Resort?**

 

[Ishmael]

No love for Steiner Mountain Resort?**

Their tomato juice is good, but it’s further away than the OP was looking for.

 

[mcdawg22]

Great Wolf Lodge is really fun. They tailor a lot of stuff for kids even if they get tired of the water park. I think more than 3-4 days may get monotonous but we stayed for 3 and had a blast.