Below are many different ideas for mother-daughter vacations. Active types may like white-water rafting, sailing, horse-riding (in from rustic camps, or on luxury trips in Italy) ; others may prefer that temple of female bonding, the spa. Hopefully these suggestions can help you find a mother-daughter vacation where you both have fun.
Sugar and Spice Ranch Camp
These summer camps in Texas Hill Country are exclusively for small-group mother-daughter vacations: "We try to create an incredible bonding experience through horses and the mother and daughter experience itself." Stay in a bunkhouse, and ride your own horse for the week: learn to tack up, groom, bathe, feed, etc.
Wilderness Horse Camp, OR
Mother-Daughter Weekend Rides offer trail riding, home cooked meals, stories, around the campfire in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of northeast Oregon. Only ten people per trip.
Equestrian Vacations - Luxury Mother-Daughter Vacations
Or perhaps you're in the mood for Ireland's Kinnitty Castle Ride and Spa Trip, or Italy's Tuscany Ride and Spa Trip-- you get the picture. For Moms and daughters of all ages; Most or all meals, castle, villa, estate or hotel accommodations, "fabulous horses", guides, tack, massages and spa treatments are all included.
American Girl Place / Fitzpatrick Hotels
For girls who own an American Girl doll: at check-in, daughter, and Doll are greeted by name; in the guest room, an American Girl bed is ready for the doll, as are a robe and slippers... Breakfast for three includes a place set for the doll; then Mom, Daughter, and Doll head to American Girl Place a short walk away. Fitzpatrick Grand Central and Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel are American Girl preferred hotels.
Similarly, several Hilton hotels have a package that features stuffed toys from Build-A-Bear Workshop®: the "Build a Bear® Pawsitively Fun Package" includes special treatment for Build-a-Bear (stuffed animal) guests. The flagship Build a Bear store is in New York City. (Read about Build-A-Bear Workshop® store experience.)
Summer Camps - Special Weekends
Quite a few summer camps add mother-daughter weekends to their kids-only camp schedules. For example, Mother-Daughter Winter Adventure Camp Dudley, on Lake Champlain near Westport NY, has an annual Mother-Daughter weekend -- in winter-time. (Feb. 2007). Kickapoo Summer Camp TX, in Texas Hill Country, has Mom-Daughter weekends in the spring, with horseback riding, water slide, arts & crafts, swimming, tennis, etc. Kids are also welcome at a Ladies Weekend in April. Mother-Daughter Horse Camp Weekends, at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin Camp, MI.
Seagull Seafarer Sailing Camp, NC
Ordinarily, this camp-- with 350 acres along coastal rivers and sounds -- is for ages 6 to 16 to learn seamanship, as well traditional camp activities such as archery, canoeing, tennis, golf, creative arts. But occasionally the place turns into a Family Camp; and this special schedule includes a Mother-Daughter weekend, with sailing, creative arts, campfires, and many activities.
White Water Rafting - California
The Whitewater Voyages company offers family trips, and points out that these trips are a great idea for a Mom-daughter adventure.
Many other whitewater rafting companies offer family trips: Virginia is noted for rafting; you can also check Idaho, California, Yellowstone area...
Spas - Mother-Daughter Vacations
More and more spas are offering kids' services: manicures, hairbraiding, mini-massages, etc. Also, there's a trend for resorts to offer both spas and kids' camps for their guests. About's Spas web site has a list of kid-friendly spas, by state, and also a list of spas with services for kids and teens.
Moms with teenage girls may also want to check the Mother-Daughter Packages page at Spafinder.com. Be sure, though, to check the minimum age at any spas you want to book,to make sure your teen is old enough. (Meanwhile, Mom's age will remain a mystery.)
