Destinations: North America

Summer may be drawing to a close, but there’s still plenty of extracurricular learning to be had. Teach your kids how to make the most of the new season with an American road trip, an urban retreat or a breather in cowboy country. Read on for four easy escapes that pair adventure with our exceptional service.

Get behind the wheel for a road trip, full of history and fun, that links two U.S. East Coast cities – Washington, DC and New York. Your family journey begins in the nation’s capital, where the staff of Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, greets young guests with in-room amenities such as kid-size robes and slippers.

A trip to the U.S. capital is a vivid lesson for every school-age kid. There are countless museums to suit every child’s interest, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, The National Air and Space Museum, and The International Spy Museum. The Hotel can also book a private tour for you around historical sites like the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

After a day packed with exploring, the team at the Hotel welcomes you and your family back with more fun. “Seeing the smile on a kid’s face as I wheel out our little red wagon filled with games, treats and toys makes my day, every single time,” says Guest Relations Manager Colin Moneymaker. “Between our life-size chessboard in the garden to our mural painting workshops at brunch, I have so much fun showing off all that there is to do for kids at our property.”

Consider a coastal detour on your way to New York City. Seafood restaurants, laid-back beaches and iconic lighthouses punctuate the drive if you go by way of Annapolis and Kent Island, Maryland, and cut through Delaware.

Once in the Big Apple, check into Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, a block from City Hall Park. Tickets for a ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty can be waiting for your arrival. Explore the nearby Oculus (aka Westfield World Trade Center), the elegant transportation and shopping hub designed by Santiago Calatrava, “and be sure to stop by Eataly for gelato,” says Guest Services Manager Daniel Gomez.

This Midwestern metropolis comes alive during the summer and fall, an ideal weekend destination for all ages. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is located on the Magnificent Mile, a perfect jumping-off point for the city’s top attractions.

“I always suggest families take advantage of the many waterfront activities available to them, whether it’s an architecture boat tour on the Chicago River, biking along the 18-mile Lakefront Trail or enjoying a meal at one of the many beach cafés,” says Chef Concierge Kristen Klus. When your family returns to the Hotel, schedule the popular ice cream cart service and surprise the kids with a make-your-own-sundae experience. The cherry on top? A cool-down in the Hotel’s 50-foot Roman-inspired pool.

When Sunday rolls around, start the day with a Sunday Side Up brunch at Allium Restaurant. “Fuel up and head to Lincoln Park Zoo, which is free 365 days a year,” says Executive Sous-Chef Tristan Baker. “Keeping on the animal theme, venture to the Shedd Aquarium, one of the first inland aquariums in the world with 32,000 animals.” Finish off the ideal weekend with a Ferris wheel ride at Navy Pier, showcasing wide-angle views of Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan.

What better place for a peaceful weekend retreat than Jackson Hole, Wyoming? “There is something truly magical about Jackson Hole,” says Director of Marketing Cory Carlson. “The vast mountains, the wide-open skies, the thriving wildlife and the night sky akin to an illuminated canopy of stars create lasting memories for the whole family.”

At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, kids can clamber around in the outdoor ropes course while parents enjoy the heated outdoor pool. From 5:00 to 8:00 pm, the whole family can head to the Commons for free live music (dancing is strongly encouraged). End the night with a kit for s’mores ready to be roasted by the outdoor fireplaces.

“Children of all ages can enjoy the wonder and beauty of the area,” says Chef Concierge and Member Les Clefs d’Or USA  Hope Maloney, “whether on a hike in Grand Teton National Park, riding the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain or seeing Old Faithful erupt.”

Directly outside your back door is the Wildflower Trail, an intermediate hike for families to enjoy together. And the national park is just a mile away – ask the Hotel can arrange for a local ranger to lead young visitors through and talk about wildlife preservation and safety.

The Golden City is an ideal urban retreat, especially for travellers looking for moderate temperatures – almost surrounded by water, the city is often the coolest spot in California. As for the indoors, at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco the family can spread out in connecting rooms or an executive suite. Make sure to ask for kid-size duvets and blankets, as well as popular in-room tents.

“From here, you’re well positioned for a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge,” says Chef Concierge Andreas Rippel, “as well as a post-museum trip to Lappert’s for ice cream.” He can round up advance tickets to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, home to a four-storey rainforest and an aquarium that houses a 200,000-plus-gallon coral reef fish tank.

Close by, ascend the de Young Museum’s Hamon Tower – aspiring photographers can focus on the surrounding cityscape – and investigate the Koret Children’s Quarter Playground, where kids and grown-ups delight in trips down the jumbo concrete slides. By day’s end, those blankets and tents are going to look especially inviting.