As the saying goes, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” so it should come as no surprise that little ones will be wide-eyed at the magnitude of kid-friendly offerings available through Benchmark Resorts & Hotels in The Lone Star State. Springtime school breaks offer an opportunity for families to explore and connect, but mapping free days with little ones can be a full-time job. Let us do the work, so you can focus on the fun. Located an easy jaunt from Houston, here is an itinerary showing how families can spend a day with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels this spring – Texas style:
Fins Up! Splish, splash at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe | Houston:
The day begins in one of the resort’s family-friendly suites or lakefront cottages, the perfect mix of vacation rental with modern comforts and resort amenities (separate bedrooms and living areas, kitchenettes, private porches with a lake view and a personal boat dock), for the dreamiest of getaways.
Access—and fun—are unlimited for guests at the resort’s Jolly Mon Waterpark. Spanning more than three acres and including 600 feet of waterslides, your kids will be entertained for hours. The 48 and over (inches, that is) will delight in the two turnabout water slides that land them in the heated pool. For something more low-key, tube the day away on the Lay-Z River, or snag a perch and relax on a half-submerged pool lounge chair. The resort’s waterpark also includes five pools, two hot tubs, a kiddie pool and a splash pad, ensuring something for every swim level and spring break style.
Once the family has worked up an appetite for lunch, grab a basket of cajun-loaded fries, crispy quesadillas at the swim-up 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. Private cabanas, equipped with a ceiling fan, mini-fridge, and storage, provide a dedicated sun reprieve for families.
For serious vacation bragging rights, let the little ones’ imaginations run wild at the resort’s Mermaid Academy. The experience includes a Swim Like A Mermaid demonstration, lessons, a photo opportunity with the Margaritaville Mermaid, a seashell dive and a certificate of completion (cost: $85 per participant; $25 per adult companion).
Keep those creative wheels turning with the resort’s Virtual Reality Snorkeling experience, which transforms the pool into a memorable sensory experience, transporting guests deep under the sea (among other fantastic settings). Guests are welcomed into shallow water and provided with a snorkel and flotation belt that will keep them safely tethered during their experience. A family of up to four (minimum age is seven) can safely enjoy the experience together, starting at $12.99 per person.
Back on land, kids will love watching the action at the boat slip on Lake Conroe. Make a night of it and close out your successful day of magic-making with dinner and a toast for the grownups at the LandShark Bar & Grill, overlooking the docks. The kiddos can join in with something from the Little Shark’s menu (like the “Pups Punch”).
By day’s end, the kids will be thoroughly tuckered (and happy), as will the parents. A spring break success.
