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We know how difficult it can be to choose the perfect gift for someone who means so much to you. So, why not gift your loved ones with something that will last them a lifetime?
Whether you are giving a gift for an adventurous wanderer, that special someone, or the whole family, we know there is something here for everyone.
Gifts for the adventurer:
Give a gift that lasts all summer long! Boating in DC and Boating in Boston both offer season passes, available to purchase at any time of the year, even the offseason. Visit the DC website or the Boston website for more information.
Giants Ridge is the perfect destination for a winter break ski trip with the family. Gift them ski lift passes, rentals, or season passes this Holiday season. Visit Giants Ridge’s website for more information.
Get them out of the house and on the water with Lake Roosevelt Adventures houseboat rentals. Check out the website to see all the options.
Send them down south to Flamingo Adventures in the Everglades to warm up their winter season. With beautiful weather, views, kayak and canoe rentals, their newly-built eco-tents, or houseboats, what more would they need? Visit the Flamingo Adventures website to book a room and rent their floats!
Gifts for the romantic:
Wakulla Springs dinner cruise is the perfect evening out for you and your loved one, or to gift to the happy couple in your life! For more details, Wakulla Springs’ website.
A night’s stay that will surely make memories is at the gorgeous Lodge at Breckenridge in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. Visit the website to see so many options for their next stay. (Best part? They are pet-friendly!)
Gifts for the whole family:
Need an activity to get the kids working together? Take the family down to East Potomac Tennis Center for junior tennis lessons. What a great way to get them outside and enjoying each other’s company! Visit their website to learn more.
Does your family love animals and the outdoors? Rock Creek Park Horse Center is the perfect location for riding lessons, trail rides, and even family volunteering! Gift the kids’ an experience and get the whole family out there! Visit the website.
Of all the presents, the best is the gift of knowing you gave the perfect gift without the stress of the stores!
Labor Day has two main definitions: 1) a day off from work or school and 2) the unofficial end of summer. But, why is it on the first Monday of September? And why do we even celebrate it? Well, it was intentionally planned to be a break for those working men and women at the halfway point between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. (Crazy, but true – we looked it up!)
To celebrate our break from work, here are our five picks to sit back, relax, and enjoy nature at its finest before the madness of the holiday season commences.
Rock Creek Park Horse Center | Washington, D.C.
Rock Creek Park Horse Center is truly a gem in our nation’s capital. Deep in the woods of Rock Creek Park, you can find peace in the company of horses and those who love them. Now, we know you might be saying, “I didn’t even know there was a forest near Washington, D.C., let alone IN it.” Yes, it’s true! They offer boarding, camps, lessons, and trail rides for equestrians at all skill levels. The horses there project calmness and compassion to all people around them.
For Labor Day, we suggest experiencing the joys of riding the trained horses through the nature trails. The ride lasts about one hour and is led by an experienced Trail Guide at a walking pace. Riders must be 12 years or older. Visit their website for more information.
Pavilion Café | Washington, D.C.
During your day off, you might want to explore the city of Washington, D.C., without the hustle and bustle of people. Visit the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden and their Pavilion Café. The Pavilion Café has delicious food throughout the year, including flatbread pizzas, toasted sandwiches, hot entrees, and a Sunday brunch! Throughout the summer, it hosts a Jazz in the Garden event every Friday and then turns into an ice staking wonderland in the winter (just in case you want to plan a future trip).
Since most D.C. workers aren’t at the office on Labor Day, this is a prime opportunity to visit the Pavilion Café and enjoy the beautiful art pieces throughout the garden. Hours from Labor Day to Mid-November are Monday- Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm. Visit their website for more information on their menu as well as group reservations.
Watkins Glen State Park | Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen State Park is a part of the Finger Lakes State Parks and has 19 beautiful waterfalls and 833 steps to get to the top of them all. After hiking through the waterfalls, experience Watkins’ Olympic-sized pool and campsites throughout the park. For Labor Day, we would suggest it all!
If you are into racing, you might already know this place. Watkins Glen State Park is home to the Grand Prix, and when you visit their town, you can tell that it is just one of their many pride and joys! During the first weekend of September each year, there is a re-creation of the Grand Prix during the Vintage Grand Prix Festival. This year, it is on September 6th, so you have some time to plan your weekend getaway. Visit their website for more information.
Lake Welch | Stony Point, New York
What if we told you that within the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains in New York, you would find a half-mile-long sandy beach? Stay with us, because Lake Welch Beach within Harriman State Park could be your dream Labor Day weekend getaway that you didn’t know you needed. The park offers swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking, and camping in Beaver Pond Campground only a few minutes away.
On-site is a beach store for all your needs and a snack shack for all your food indulgences. Have we mentioned there is an array of alcoholic beverages available to enjoy – including White Claw! Enjoy the unofficial end of summer on a beach in New York; everyone would want to hear about it! Visit their website for more information.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park | Weeki Wachee, Florida
Weeki Fresh Water Adventures is the only kayak and paddleboard rental facility located on the river at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida. Enjoy a three-hour, self-guided journey onto the gorgeous, clear waters of Florida’s most tranquil and popular Weeki Wachee River. The 5.5 miles on the river will leave you in awe of nature’s beauty, whether you are on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). Throughout your excursions, see native Florida wildlife such as fish, birds, turtles, and the gentle giants of Weeki Wachee, manatees.
They are called Weeki Fresh Water Adventures for a reason – each time you kayak, it is truly a fresh new adventure unlike any other! Visit their website for more information.
And there’s more!
Though we did say five, we are giving you a bonus two! There are so many activities within Florida that are perfect for Labor Day weekend. Below are just a few suggestions on where to go:
Rainbow Springs State Park | Dunnellon, Florida
For Labor Day weekend, you must get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather – especially Florida’s sunshine skies. Rainbow Springs State Park has 1,472 acres of amazing azaleas that turn the whole park into a beautiful portrait with pinks, purples, and whites! The headsprings and campground have a variety of programs, such as ranger-guided walks, snorkeling expeditions, and kayaking. They also have picnic pavilions that are perfect for family reunions (or end of summer celebrations!)
For a place that is rich in natural beauty and cultural history, don’t wait to book your weekend getaway to Rainbow Springs State Park! Visit their website to do just that.
Everglades Florida Adventures | Everglades City, Florida
Everglades City sits perfectly at the end of the Wilderness Waterway that links the Everglades to Flamingo City. With activities such as kayak fishing in the backcountry, canoeing through tunnels, guided paddling excursions, hiking and biking around prairies and wetlands, or observing the diversity of the cypress hammocks from the perspective of a floatplane, many visitors and locals alike flock to Everglades City to experience it all! The most popular visitor attraction is the 10,000 Islands Boat Tour that lasts 90 minutes and takes visitors six miles out to the Gulf of Mexico through the islands in Chokoloskee Bay – the perfect way to spend the day!
These amazing activities are ideal opportunities to see the incredible animals found throughout the area, including manatees, bald eagles, roseate, ospreys, and spoonbills. Visit their website to book your adventure.
It’s never too late to start planning a summer vacation… until it is. Stop scrambling to find a summer-day-saving destination this Labor Day weekend, and let us do it for you! From hiking Mount Rainier, an active volcano 14 thousand feet above sea level, to lounging in a perfectly heated hot tub on a luxury house boat in the middle of Lake Roosevelt, the key to savoring the rest of your summer lies below.
The minute you step out of your cozy Swissmont lodging it’s like you’ve landed on another planet. With views of the pristine Lake Chelan greeting you every morning, it’s hard not to appreciate the majesty the North Cascades National Park has to offer. Explore the lake by kayaking or take in the sights while you fish. Discover the park with the Rainbow Falls Red Bus Tour, through several hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, backpacking or even horseback riding. LEARN MORE
Escape the city this Labor Day to the splendors of Bear Mountain State Park. Enjoy an abundance of wildlife like bald eagles, osprey, and white-tailed deer while scaling the many Bear Mountain hikes. The top of the mountain rewards you with vibrant summer views of Bear Mountain and the Hudson River. The Hessian Lake offers kayaking and fishing or you can take a dip in the Bear Mountain Pool. You can even get your shopping done down the road with the Labor Day sales of the Woodbury Commons Outlets. After a fulfilling summer day, cool down with an ice cold beverage and delicious meal at the 1915 Restaurant before retreating to your cozy Bear Mountain accommodations. LEARN MORE
Spend your Labor Day in awe of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. The Lodge at Breckenridge will immediately have you stunned with the spectacular sights seen from the deck and from the comfort of your room. You can also enjoy the summer mountains through hiking group guided tours, on horseback, or through venturing out on your own with a variety of different trails. Aside from the delightful Traverse Restaurant & Bar located at the Lodge, a quick trip into the quaint Breckenridge town will offer a slew of dining options. LEARN MORE
It’s no question Mount Rainier is one of the most overwhelming spectacles in the nation. At 14,410 feet above sea level, this active volcano and its surrounding park have almost 40 different beautiful trails waiting to be explored. Celebrate Labor Day scaling as many hikes as you can, seeing the gorgeous wildflowers while they’re still in bloom, discovering an abundance of wildlife, and learning about Mount Rainier National Park first hand. You won’t be the only one celebrating either! This year marks Paradise Inn’s centennial anniversary. For the past 100 years Paradise Inn has been greeting guests with amazing hospitality and caring service. They don’t plan on stopping now! LEARN MORE
End your summer with a week of bunking in a luxurious houseboat on the stunning and secluded Lake Roosevelt. Whether your boat comes with an onboard waterslide, a top-deck hot tub, a gas BBQ, or all three and more, the only true way to experience Lake Roosevelt is on a houseboat. When you’re not on your water home you can be exploring the outer area with fishing, bird & wildlife watching, hiking, and hunting. With only a limited amount of houseboats available, we suggest you reach out to Lake Roosevelt Adventures before all of their houseboats are booked! LEARN MORE
What better way to keep the thrills of summer alive than a theme park? Fairfield Inn is just a 19-minute drive from an exciting Kings Dominion adventure. The Ashland area is also full of microbreweries and wineries, has a luxurious spa, a cultural arts center, two golf courses, and a Botanical Garden all within a 20-minute drive. After you’ve finished your Labor Day weekend itinerary you can retreat to the warm welcome of the Fairfield Inn & Suites for a relaxing stay in their acclaimed accommodations. LEARN MORE
Perhaps one of the most common last minute summer activities in both the Washington D.C. and Boston metropolitan area, these boathouses will give you and your crew a great day on the waters of your favorite cities. With 7 boathouses in DC and 5 in Boston, one of these locations is bound to have the boating experience you’re looking for. (Weather permitting)
