We promised you some information on Easter family vacation ideas that wouldn’t require a passport - and then were surprised at how few there were. Why, we wondered, was it that we couldn’t throw a stone in Europe without hitting a hotel celebrating Easter, but yet we were so hard-pressed to find good packages in the United States?
Then we were reminded of how, in our days at school, the week off was called Easter break. And then in a nod to other religions - or really a move away from religion altogether - it became Spring Break, which was in many cases moved away from Easter Week to avoid any connection to what is, in actuality, the most holy day of the Christian calendar.
So there you have it, folks. For Spring Break you can find vacations up the wazoo, but that’s not what we promised you. We promised some kind of Easter bunny action, and that’s what we looked for high and low. We know you may be waiting until Spring Break to jet out of town anyhow, but if you’re like us and plan your getaways around your calendar and not the school’s, here are some spots for you.
Mirror Inn Lake & Spa, Lake Placid, NY
Deluxe Noonmark Room, copyright Mirror Lake Inn
Stay in a Deluxe Noonmark Room on either Saturday or Sunday night for $345 a night, the rate for 2 adults and 2 children. The kids will begin Easter Sunday with an Easter Egg Hunt and a coloring contest, followed by Easter brunch for the family. If you add on a night or two, you may be able to take advantage of the outside-the-norm activities the hotel offers for children, from an indoor class on Animal Tracking (taught by an Adirondack Mountain guide & animal tracker) to a precious class called Yoga for Kids & Elephants, using poses based on the lovable Babar.
The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena, CA
The Egg-ceptional Easter package includes overnight accommodations in a deluxe guestroom on Saturday April 7, Easter brunch in the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom for up to 2 adults and 2 children, and complimentary admission for up to 2 children to the Easter Egg Hunt and the special petting zoo. Rates start at $470 with the option to upgrade to a Club Level Guestroom.
Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA
We’d prefer to see this package at Hotel Hershey, Hershey’s more upscale hotel, but alas, no luck. Still, if the idea of being in a town dedicated to chocolate is heaven to you, you may be able to overlook the rather unexciting Hershey Lodge. Their Easter package, with a 2-night minimum stay, starts at $258.50 a night, and includes deluxe accommodations for two (kids stay free), Easter Sunday Brunch, and admission to Hershey Gardens & Hershey Museum.
Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, NY
With the baseball season officially opening the week before Easter, what better place to spend Easter than in the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, especially if you have baseball fans among your offspring? The Otesaga Resort Hotel is hosting an Easter Family Weekend Package for any two consecutive nights from April 5 to April 9, with Double MAP rates at $545 (children from 7-18 pay $90, children under 7 are free). The package includes standard guestroom accommodations and 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts per guest, with all kinds of fun activities for the kids: a family egg roll on the hotel lawn on Saturday, an Easter egg coloring contest, and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. A historic tour of Cooperstown and a wine tasting round it out for the adults.
Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
Their website has a full itinerary of Easter activities for the weekend, including Easter Bonnet High Tea, and for those so inclined, a sunrise Easter service on Sunday morning. Not everything is Easter-related, but it all sounds fun; potato sack races, the Family Fun Run and Family Art Class should keep you and the kids well-occupied. Rates start at $179 per person per night (children 12 and under stay & eat free with an adult), and include overnight accommodations, breakfast and dinner and a commemorative family photo.
A final note before we hit the road, so to speak: several luxury hotels around the country, particularly those in large cities, are not offering full-blown Easter packages with accommodations, but are still hosting an Easter brunch. One option? Book a regular night’s stay (or a non-Easter package) in a nice destination close to you, and reserve spots at their Easter brunch for a little extra. It could make for a nice & fast Easter getaway in your own hometown or a city close to you.
