A month ago, I polled Instagram followers on the topic of that week’s newsletter, and while the majority vote was for a full-on “traveling with kids” guide, the interest in our splurgiest stay was also significant. So, this week, I’m dishing on all the details of our stay at Blackberry Mountain, a luxury wellness resort tucked in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Plus, I’m sharing my last-minute travel-friendly kids buys for fellow procrastinators like myself, looking to add some late fillers into an Easter basket. Finally, I’m highlighting a family resort in Austria that will undoubtedly add the country to your must-visit list!

Wild wellness amid the Smoky Mountains

Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains the newer sister property to the iconic Blackberry Farms property, Blackberry Mountain resort, is perched. A bit more rustic and adventure focused, it’s no less luxurious, making it a spectacular splurge for families looking to reconnect in style.

With 5,200 acres of mountainside, the wellness-geared resort offers abundant space, with hiking trails aplenty, and a menu of activities to please everyone in the family. Classes and activities include those especially created for families – family yoga, family indoor climbing, family painting, and more.

Standalone guestrooms: Every accommodation type is its own independent abode here. The Stone Cottages (sleeps three) is where we stayed, but you’ll also find larger home-style accommodations that sleep six to eight, or more. Each comes with its own golf cart to navigate the large property efficiently. As you’d expect in high price point properties, the lodgings are furnished beautifully with many offering sweeping valley views.

Kid-Friendly Amenities: Camp Blackberry is available year round to book for ages 4 and older, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions that include meals. Babysitting services are available and make planning a late, post-bedtime dinner for adults a breeze, with certified sitters able to stay in your cottage. A family pool is also available, as is a lake and epic water slide, with cantina style treats and beverages. Family-focused activities like those listed in the paragraphs above make it easy to schedule quality time and create memories.

Explore and Adventure: You’ll find some lovely hikes right on the property, and trust me when I say that the amenities will make it hard to leave(!), BUT, you can drive roughly one hour to reach the Sugarlands Visitor Center and entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here, waterfall hikes, historic sites, and the Clingman’s Dome observation tower’s epic views are all easily drivable.

Travel-friendly Target Finds!

Just in time to finish those Easter baskets, I’m rounding up some kiddo buys that can pull double duty as a bunny-approved trinket AND a travel must-have, all from Target!

• Magnatiles MicroMags Travel Set | Ages 3+ | $20

• Seek & Discover Toy | Ages 3+ | $10

• Magnetic Create & Play | Ages 4+ | $10

• Bunny Hop Activity Book | Ages 3+ | $5

• Kids Scavenger Hunt Cards | Ages 6+ | $10 (Sale: $6)

• Funky Fidget Thinking Putty | Ages 3+ | $10

• Magnetic Foam Tanagrams | Ages 4+ | $14 (Sale: $7.50)

Austria’s Sleek Family Mountain Resort

With family suites that sleep up to six guests and chalets that sleep up to nine, this kid-friendly resort in Austria is a sophisticated dream come true. In addition to childcare for ages seven days and up (yes, you read that right), there are full-fledged children programs and more than 20 childcare specialists on site every day, seven days a week. That’s in addition to a parent-child spa, sauna, cinema, hiking, playground, animals, go-kart track, and sizeable indoor play area.

Hotel rooms offer streamlined, natural decor with cozy corners for kids to climb into and a separate bunkbed room.

See more photos on Instagram: dachsteinkoenig

Need more ideas? The Kid-Friendly Stays travel directory is the perfect first stop in your next family vacation adventure, wherever you wanna go(!), offering a curated collection of hotels, resorts, Airbnbs and VRBOs for your perusal.

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