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. Special annual event: Mother & Daughter Christmas Week.
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 - 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
These New York City hotels sometimes have Mother-daughter packages designed for owners of 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 the American Girl Place store 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®. For example, the "Build a Bear® Pawsitively Fun Package" included 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 late-Feb./early March. 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.*
Red Mountain Resort & Spa, Utah:
Mothers plus teen daughters are welcome clientele at this beautiful resort in southwest Utah, near St. George: take guided morning hikes in the surrounding red rock scenery, share healthy delicious meals, enjoy yoga, salsa workouts, Tai Chi and the Rocks, an excellent spa... Drive to Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon on the same getaway.
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/teen camps for their guests.
*Always check for updates!
