If you’re looking to have some good connection time with your teenage children, perhaps itâs time to arrange an outing to enjoy some family activities designed to test your skills while rebuilding relationships. Refreshing Mountain is an 80-acre retreat situated in the gorgeous Pennsylvania countryside where groups of all kinds go to take advantage of a wide variety of activities including ziplining, outdoor sports, target shooting, swimming and more. If your brood of teens is large enough, you can even divide into a couple of groups for some competitive family activities that develop teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Getting Grounded By Taking Flight
One of the most popular family activities at Refreshing Mountain is ziplining through the canopies of the large trees situated throughout the property. Originally created to offer a different take on studying trees, the ziplines have become so popular that the different courses add up to more than a mile of excitement. If your family is athletic, choose the Challenge Adventure Course, which combines five different zip lines with your choice of nine high adventure obstacles. If youâd rather have the excitement of ziplining without all the exertion, pick the Aerial Excursion Tour where you fly across seven zip lines totaling more than 3,500 feet. Both give a spectacular view of the Pennsylvania countryside.
[youtube id=”DIJY412ZmPY”]
Come for the Day
Refreshing Mountain has a wide variety of day activity packages that let you come and enjoy the outdoors, and then head home or to your hotel for the evening. Along with the ziplines, this expansive retreat also offers more tame family activities like geocaching, nature studies, archery, or just a dip in the sparkling pool. There are also plenty of picnic areas to provide a little something for everyone on your relaxing day out.
Stay as Long as You Like
With all the family activities available at Refreshing Mountain, many people stay for several days to experience all the fun. The family cabins are available for rental and sleep up to eight people, with one private bedroom and a private bath. All cabins are air-conditioned and heated, making this retreat a year round destination for people looking to step away from the rat race for just a little while. Refreshing Mountainâs counselors are ready to work with you to design a package of family activities that will keep you and your teenagers engaged, no matter how long you make your visit. Put your teens mind at ease; all cabins have free Wi-Fi so they’ll not be totally disconnected from the outside world!
Lancaster County a Hikerâs Paradise
If you and your teens are into hiking your family activities might include eight parks of hiking trails of varying difficulty. The Trout Run Nature Preserve has a 1.5-mile trail of moderate difficulty with three stream crossings and pools to soothe your tired feet. Listen closely as you walk the 2.5-mile trail in the Steinman Run Nature Preserve and youâll hear the melody of the wood thrush keeping time to your step. The 2.32-mile trail in the Tucquan Glen Preserve is the most beautiful trail of all, lush with vegetation in the spring and showing off colorful leaves in the fall.
Plenty of Local Attractions for the Whole Family
Refreshing Mountain is located in Lancaster County, which is a vacation destination naturally filled with family activities. The Amish Experience is just a short drive away, where you can visit an Amish House, meet some Amish people, and watch a film detailing the history of this special  group. Other local family activities include a trip to the Hershey Chocolate World and Hersheypark, hot air balloon rides and the Lancaster Outlet Shops.