Hang20

Our extended family, kids, grandkids and grandparents, is looking for a centrally located place to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Durham NC for us to get together for a long weekend this summer. We need a variety of activities for different interests. Any suggestions? We have considered Gatlinburg, Williamsburg, Seven Springs. Other thoughts or advice on Seven Springs (I'm least familliar with this) would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Birdie

Take a look at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg www.kingsmillresort.com. Enough activities to interest everyone and shuttles to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens if people want to go in different directions. My concern would be that it might be very hot for you during the summer. You could also look at Wintergreen outside of Charlottesville in the mountains. It would be cooler.

Hang20

Thank you Birdie. Those are two places I had not looked at. I will look into them!

SAnParis2

The Asheville area offers the best of all worlds w/easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Biltmore & the Smoky Mts., while being a great destination in & of itself.

artstuff

I'm not sure what kind of activities of varied interests that you are looking for, but if there are kids and grandkids involved then I would recommend, in Pennsylvania, Knoebel's Grove Amusement Resort.

http://www.knoebels.com/index.asp

It's centrally located and easily accessible from I-80 for the folks coming from Ohio, and I-81 from NC.

Knoebel's is set in the woods of NE Pennsylvania (it's cool on those hot, sweltering, summer days), and offers free parking and free admission to their family-owned amusement park, with 50+ rides including some of the best roller coasters in the US, as well as one of the best Haunted Houses (regularly voted #1 by the Dark Ride Enthusiasts). You can either purchase an all-day ride ticket, or you can purchase a $5.00 book of coupons and pay for just the rides that you want to go on. Catching the brass ring on the carousel and riding the little train through the woods are my two favorite rides in the park.

When you get tired of riding, you can go swimming in their large mountain-spring fed pool, and ride down their several waterslides. There are other activities available in the park, including a carousel muesum, a mining museum, lazer tag, a bald eagle habitat, miniature golf, etc.. There's a big-persons golf course close by. There are also several restaurants and eating places in the park, or you can use one of their many free picnic pavilions and have your own family lunch/dinner.

They don't have a hotel on the grounds, but they do have a campground which offers cabins for rent, if you don't have your own camping gear. The park is a 3-5 minute walk from the campground. Of course, there are several hotels located in the area.

Our family of four generations have had several weekend family reunions at Knoebels, and everyone always has a great time.

Robyn