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Cherry Valley Lodge, 2299 Cherry Valley Rd., Newark, Ohio, 800/788-8008 or 740/788-1200. www.cherryvalleylodge.com
Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort, 5900 Water Rd., Rothbury, Mich., 231/894-4444. www.doublejj.com
Peek'n Peak Resort and Conference Center, 1405 Olde Rd., Findley Lake, N.Y., 716/355-4141. www.pknpk.com
The Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, Mich., 313/271-2700. marriott.com/
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More and more grandparents are taking to the road with their grandchildren for weekend getaways, giving parents some time off while grandma and grandpa spoil their "second brood." Hotels and inns are catching up with the trend, developing programs that work for the kids, while giving grandparents an opportunity to take the credit for a fun time.
No one welcomes children like Cherry Valley Lodge in central Ohio. Costumed bears greet kids with cookies and milk, bedtime stories and night-time tuck-ins. Summers and holidays feature complimentary crafts and recreation activities that allow some downtime for their elder hosts and pool toys and bicycles are always free. The rooms are kid-friendly, too: two TVs, refrigerators, and upon request, free rockers and baby swings. Grandparents should take time to enjoy the grounds. Cherry Valley is the nation's only hotel arboretum and botanical garden. The staff will provide babysitting while adults tour the gardens, take a spa treatment or enjoy a quiet dinner.
Another memorable destination is the sprawling, western-themed Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort, set in the wooded hills of western Michigan. Families are directed to cozy log cabins at The Back Forty, a kid's playtime paradise in the summer; in winter, youngsters will want to check out the resort's monster sledding hill. Dine at the Sundance Steakhouse for western-themed food and decor.
In winter, the focus turns to skiing, and that's the time to take grandchildren to Peek'n Peak Resort, where first-class ski instruction is available for kids as young as 3. Half-day ski schools are popular here; children learn the ropes with instructors while adults ski at their own pace or grab some quiet time. Standard hotel rooms are available at the Inn at the Peek, but hip grandparents book at The Fairway, with two-or three-bedroom adjoining suites, fireplaces and full kitchens.
The Dearborn Inn was built in 1931 on the grounds of the Ford Motor Company. Although the rooms have been modernized, the historic retreat has maintained its charm, with Colonial-style bedsteads and linens. For a real taste of history, rent one of the five Colonial houses, built to replicate the homes of famous Americans such as Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe. Nearby is the Henry Ford, a massive repository of Americana. Kids love being steeped in the various eras represented, making this both a fun and educational trip.