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One of the beautiful sunsets we enjoyed while exploring the mountain.
We’re sharing a recap from our Montana Family Vacation, including tips for accommodations, family activities, national parks and more. As your travel planners, we’re here to help plan the best family vacation for you.
Read moreFamily travel this summer has been all about road trips. We have had many clients load up their cars and hit the road for a summer vacation. One of the longest (and sometimes boring) drives can be across the LARGE state of Texas. Being a Houston based travel advisor, most of my clients, like me, have a long drive before they cross a state line. My family hit the road for a drive across Texas and as an experienced family vacation travel planner I knew we would need an activity to get through the long highway drive that was ahead of us. We created these cute Texas Bingo cards and the whole family loved them! We have two options for your family to enjoy on your next road trip or vacation. Click the link to download.
Glamping in Texas Hill Country
In May, while we were following strict social distancing guidelines, we were feeling stir crazy. We packed up our 4 year old and 2 year old daughters and headed for the hills — Texas Hill Country to be specific. We were going for an overnight of glamping.
For my four year old this was a fantasy realized — “Camping? In the woods? Will there be s’mores?” And for her parents, we were looking forward to a change of scenery and experiencing something new and different. The travel advisor in me was excited to take the up-and-coming glamping trend for a test run with my family and check out one of the companies with glamping tents all over the country, Collective Retreats.
GETTING THERE
3 hours driving from Houston
4 hours driving from Dallas
1 hour driving from Austin airport
ROOMS
My daughter’s loved the golf cart ride to our tent on arrival and the tent itself was pretty impressive. Our tent was one of fifteen at Collective Retreats Hill Country and was spacious (x sq ft) with a king bed and en-suite bath, boho design and private deck. Since we were only going for one night and our kids are young, we opted to just all sleep together in the king bed— sleepover style. This property has several electronic fans arranged in the tent and a window unit which cooled down the tent nicely for sleeping. If you are traveling with older kids, they have one family tent which includes an additional sleeping tent next to the “master.”
MEALS
Breakfast is included in your rate (highly recommend the breakfast tacos!) and other meals need to be ordered in advance so the on-site cooking staff have everything they need. You can order full meals or the specific ingredients to prepare the food yourself with on-site grills. During normal times, they offer farm-to-table communal meals and seasonal cocktails. And, of course, after dinner they have s’mores kits available for roasting at their Texas-sized fire pit overlooking the valley.
ACTIVITIES
Typically horseback rides, streams, fishing,e tc.. available.
Since there were still local policies in effect that prohibited most public activities, we opted to hike on property, pick flowers, play cards, listen to music, read and enjoy the outdoors. All of these activities would have been made a bit more enjoyable if there was an on-property water activity: stream, pool, etc. We happened to be there during an unseasonably warm Spring weekend. Jacob’s Well nearby
PACKING RECOMMENDATIONS
A portable speaker
Plenty of snacks (we brought a cooler and they have a yeti + ice in room)
Bug Spray
Indoor activities: playing cards, bookings, coloring books
ADDITIONAL TX OPTIONS
Just 10 minutes from downtown Austin, there is an adorable outpost with 8 cottages, an onsite pool and dining options.
Another option between Houston and Austin includes 3 African safari tents (650 sq ft) which sleep up to 5 guests and golf carts for each tent which can take guests to the San Marcos River - a 5 minute golf cart ride away. This fall they will debut new 2 bedroom tents with kitchens and ample indoor and outdoor living space for the whole family.
If you would rather stay in an individual cabin or ranch home, there are several options all across west TX ranging from 2 - 6 bedroom with sprawling acres, ranch-style activities, pools and more.
Overall I think your experience will have a lot to do with the weather and these weekend trips are ideal for fall and spring. As always, your KJ Travel team is here to help you find the best fit for your family and ensure you are getting the best rates, value and booking terms. We’d love to talk!
“Teach ‘em young”
Monterey Peninsula Golf Course, 2019
Combining a vacation with one of your favorite hobbies is a win-win. Golf is one of those hobbies perfect for travel with resorts specifically catering to golf pros and enthusiasts.
We plan plenty of father-son golf trips, corporate golf retreats, golf-focused bachelor weekends, etc. but is it possible for dad to get a golf vacation and family vacation in one? We think so. Personally, it is how we prioritize a lot of our family vacation planning since most of our family members are big fans of the sport.
Below are some of our favorite U.S. resorts for great golf and family fun. Want to add any of your favorites or plan a family, golf-centric vacation? A lot of our clients have had their international bucket-list golf trips cancelled in 2020 but the socially-distanced sport is a great bet for travelers wanting to explore stateside. Drop us a line at Bonjour@katejohnsontravel.com; we’re here to help!
Kiawah Island
Kiawah, South Carolina
Ocean Course, Hole 13
Photo Credit: The Sanctuary Hotel
This beautiful island outside of Charleston, South Carolina is home to six 18 hole golf courses.
Accommodations: Guests can stay at the oceanfront Sanctuary Hotel, resort villas, private homes, or the ocean course cottages.
KJ Travel Amenity at Sanctuary Hotel: Daily breakfast for two and $100 resort credit.
Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, California
Photo Credit: Houston Johnson
Of course the no. 1 public course in America had to make the list. Four 18 hole courses with three of them along the Pacific Ocean.
Accommodations: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, and Casa Palmero offer advantages to getting tee times, but nearby Carmel Valley also has great hotel options including the family-friendly Carmel Valley Ranch and more romantic Bernardus Lodge & Spa.
KJ Travel Amenity at select resorts include $100 resort credit, upgrade at time of booking and complimentary breakfasts.
Pelican Hill
Newport, California
North Course, Hole 17
Photo Credit: The Resort at Pelican Hill
Two 18 hole courses exclusively for members and hotel guests
Accommodations: Multi-bedroom villas and bungalows are available at Pelican Hill Resort situated along HWY 1 close to several state parks and beaches.
KJ Travel Amenity: Daily breakfast and $100 credit to be used on Golf or Spa.
PGA West
Palm Springs, California
Mountain Course, Hole 6
Photo Credit: La Quinta Resort & Club
With five 18 hole semi-private championship courses you can play a different course every day.
Accommodations: La Quinta Resort & Club offers spacious guest rooms as well as multi-bedroom villas and kids activities.
KJ Travel Amenity: Daily breakfast for two and $100 resort credit.
Torrey Pines
San Diego, California
Photo Credit: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Two 18 hole courses in beautiful La Jolla that overlook the Pacific Ocean.
Accommodations: The Lodge at Torrey Pines with spacious guest rooms and suites, many with terraces that overlook the courses and easy access to nearby hiking trails. A bonus for family trips when golf isn’t happening is the nearby San Diego Zoo and Legoland.
KJ Travel Amenity: Complimentary daily breakfast and $100 resort spa credit.
Sea Island Golf Resort
Sea Island, Georgia
Photo Credit: The Lodge at Sea Island
Three 18 hole courses and a 17,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center.
Accommodations: The Clositer and the Lodge at Sea Island have spacious rooms and multi-bedroom suites. Private homes and cottages are also available. The private island offers five miles of beach, a tennis center, Yacht Club and children’s programming.
KJ Travel Amenity: Complimentary daily breakfast and $100 resort credit.
Kapalua Bay
Maui, Hawaii
The Bay Course
Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
On the island of Maui, Kapalua Bay has two 18 hole courses, one of which, the Plantation Course, is recognized as the best course in Hawaii.
Accommodations: You can’t go wrong with either beachfront resort, Ritz Carlton Kapalua or Montage Kapaula both with expansive hotel properties, ocean view guest rooms, multi-bedroom suites and residential-style accommodations.
KJ Travel Amenity: Complimentary daily breakfast and $100 resort credit, upgrades upon availability.
We loved seeing this article last week by Christopher Elliott, popular travel author and travel columnist and founder of a consumer advocacy non-profit. In it he describes his 10 reasons why you need a travel advisor for your post-pandemic vacation:
Prepare you for the travel experience
Understand where you're going
Screen every travel company
Hold your hand
Help you navigate the rules of travel
Be available to you 24/7
Leverage insider contacts to help you have a smoother trip
Go the extra mile to get you home
Solve your problems
Help you secure a no-hassle refund if necessary
I think our clients would agree with his list. We work hard to thoroughly research options for clients and plan with them to ensure their trip goes smoothly. We are staying on top of hotel openings, CDC guidelines and travel advisories to best advise our clients based on their comfort level with travel. Additionally, our suppliers are thoroughly vetted to help ensure company solvency and protect our clients.
In the article, Elliott also describes his own experience when his travel advisor “saved” him while he was abroad during the pandemic lockdown. For a link to the full story, click here.
We received a lot of questions from clients who are ready to start traveling. They want to know the best place to drive - or fly? And what is open there?
“Should we rent a house?” “If so, how do we know that that home is vetted and up to current health/ sanitation standards?”
“Where do we start?”
Well, friends, that is what we are here for.
We are working hard to find quality private home rentals in some of the most sought-after destinations — most of which are drivable for clients in Texas and California and typically offer better weather or different activities than what we have at home.
We work with professionally managed rental homes that have all been thoroughly vetted so there are no surprises. Our homes can also offer additional services and benefits like pre-stocking, concierge service and custom amenities.
Here are some of our top considerations when selecting your vacation rental property:
Deposit schedule and cancellation policies are understood.
Several of our partners have implemented 2 week flexible cancellation policies and waived change fees.
Confirming CDC guidelines are met/ exceeded and sanitation protocols are in order.
The rental is in accordance with local policies and quarantine requirements.
Availability of on-site managers.
Most of the properties we work with have service lines available 24/7 should anything arise during your stay. This gives us and our clients peace of mind.
This summer we are already seeing the most long-term vacation rentals in history with travelers wanting to get out of town and getaway for 30, 60, 90-day windows. Some are able to work remotely and others are wanting to make the long road trip worth it.
Below are some of the most popular destinations and some of our favorite properties (that are still available):
Lake Travis, TX rental. 5 bedroom, 4 bath sleeps 10. Dates available in August starting around $1,600 a night.
Rental in Aspen, CO. 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, sleeps 10. Dates available in June and July starting at $1,000 a night.
Destin, FL rental . 6 bedroom, 6.5 bath sleeps 15. Dates available in late July starting around $975 a night.
Port Aransas, TX rental. 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath sleeps 14. Dates available in July starting at $1,500 a night.
Beachfront Galveston, TX rental. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath sleeps 6. Dates available in August starting around $510 a night.
Santa Fe, NM rental. 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, sleeps 10. Dates available in late July and August starting at $1,300 a night.
We’d love to help you find the perfect fit for your summer vacation rental. Get in touch with us here!
Ranch Roundup
The Resort at Paws Up
Montana
Photo Credit: The Resort at Paws Up
Paws Up is a luxury Montana mountain resort situated on a 37,000-acre, authentic working cattle ranch in western Montana.
How to get there: 30 minute ride from the Missoula, Montana airport
Accommodations: Choose between 28 private homes with 2-4 bedrooms or luxury camping in one of 36 luxury tents, each with a private ensuite bathroom and dedicated camping butler who can help guests with everything from starting campfires and preparing s’mores to planning daily itineraries.
Activities: Horseback riding, fly fishing, river rafting, repelling to paintball, hot air ballooning, and chuck wagon dinners. Kids club activities for ages 3-12 and nanny services available.
KJ Travel Amenity: $300 activity credit to use during your stay.
Travel Tip: If you can’t decide between a private home and a luxury tent, then we suggest you do both! Split your time between the two and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Brush Creek
Wyoming
Photo Credit: Brush Creek
Reconnect and relax on over 30,000 acres of a working cattle ranch at Brush Creek Ranch, a collection of all-inclusive guest ranches in Wyoming.
How to get there: 3.5 hour drive from Denver, Colorado
Accommodations: 11 log cabin residences with 2 and 3 bedrooms, 13 spacious rooms in the Trailhead Lodge, and 9 cabin suites.
Activities: Archery, horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking and trail running, ATV riding, shooting sports, rock climbing, and yoga to name a few.
KJ Travel Amenity: $150 per adult resort credit to enjoy during your stay.
Travel tip: The cattle drive is a once-in-a-lifetime horseback experience where you move cattle to different pastures on the ranch.
The Ranch at Rock Creek
Montana
Photo Credit: The Ranch at Rock Creek
In Western Montana, The Ranch at Rock Creek sits on 6,400 acres of wide open space.
How to get there: 1 hour from Missoula, Montana
Accommodations: There are 10 glamping cabins available that are a combination of structure and canvas tent, or go glamping in the Homesteader wagons that have a king bed, twin bunks, and luxury amenities. Other accommodations include a historic upscale barn, uniquely designed lodge rooms, and luxury homes.
Activities: During summer, guests can look forward to rodeos, fly fishing, ropes course, yoga, shooting sports, stagecoach rides, mountain biking, photography and art classes and little grizzle’s kids club (ages 4-12) to name a few.
KJ Travel Amenity: $100 ranch credit to enjoy during your stay
Travel Tip: Off property activities are also available including white water rafting.
If you are looking to bring your whole crew for a private ranch experience, Brush Creek is offering the option for private ranch buyout for groups of 10 - 29 people exclusively for 2020. The buyout is inclusive of most activities, on-site spa, and three-meal dining services and the dates are filling up. Let’s talk if a multi-gen ranch vacation is on your bucket list.
The Ranch at Emerald Valley
Colorado
Photo Credit: The Broadmoor Resort
Check in at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs and get ready to disconnect and relax in the open air at the nearby Ranch at Emerald Valley.
How to get there: 15 minutes from the Colorado Springs airport and 90 minutes from the Denver airport.
Accommodations: Choose your two or three bedroom cabin from the 13 different private homes available. Dine in your cabin or the grand lodge for a gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by the Broadmoor chefs.
Activities: Horseback riding, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, archery and campfires complete with s’mores. Childcare services are also available.
Special welcome gift
Travel tip: When you stay at The Ranch you have full access to the facilities at the Broadmoor Resort.
One of my favorite Texas spas has recently completed a room and living space renovation designed by a very talented friend, Brianna Wright- Guay of Brianna Wright Interiors. The rooms are fresh, charming and beautifully appointed.
I love the Lake Austin Spa Hot Tub Cottages for a fall or winter romantic getaway with their fireplaces, private garden and outdoor hot tub. In the summer, I would choose the luxury lake view room to soak in the views for an active girls getaway. And, with a group of friends, family or if you want some extra space the Lady Bird Presidential Suite can’t be beat.
When booking your Lake Austin Spa vacation with KJ Travel, each traveler will receive a $100 credit to use on a pampering spa treatment or extra activity like a sundown wine cruise.