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
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. 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.*
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!
