San Antonio is the perfect place to take a family vacation.  We were able to visit the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa over the weekend, and I have to tell you, it was so much fun!  There were tons of kid and family friendly activities that we could have stayed a week just at the resort and still not experience it all.

Let me start off by saying that the view from our room was incredible.  Seriously, after we did a quick tour of our suite and threw all of our stuff all over the place (don’t lie, you do this too!), we walked out onto our balcony from the suite and were greeted with this.  What you are looking at is the 6 acre pool (and water park) rated #3 by USA Today recently in Best Pools!

We could also see this to our side, which includes a view of the outdoor seating area of Cibolo Moon (a terrific restaurant on-site that I will surely blog about in its own post soon!), a gorgeous fountain, and one of the outdoor fire places.  So amazing!

Kids’ Night Out

We were invited to the resort to have the opportunity to experience their great range of activities for kids and families at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.  Have you ever gone on vacation and thought, “Hey, when do I get a chance to relax?  Vacationing with kids is WORK, not fun!”?  Okay, yeah, me too.  Every.time.we.travel.

This is where the Kids’ Night Out comes in handy.  My kids didn’t really know what to expect, so when I told them that they would be going to the resort’s “vacation within the vacation” or Kids’ Night Out, they thought it sounded pretty cool.

It is a special evening presented by the onsite Range Riders Club, which was created just for young guests aged 4 to 12. It is available each night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and they offer different themed celebrations.  The theme when we went was American Bandstand, and it had a ’70s feel to it.  Activities planned include crafts, games and movies where kids have fun and parents can enjoy some alone time.  This gives Mom and Dad a chance to have a date night out at one of the resort’s restaurants, go for a swim, work out at the resort’s fitness center, get spa treatments at the resort’s Lantana Spa, or even just hang around in the room.

So, what’s in it for the kids?  Well, they get dinner (they get to pick exactly what they want, too – very cool!), interactive individual and group play activities, and a keepsake to take home reflecting the theme of the night.  The cost?  Just $65 per child nightly.  The best part is that you know they’re having a great time while you’re having a great time.  A win-win for all.

I was impressed with the amount of games they had available for the kids.  Not only did they have a game of Twister going when we arrived, but they also had a few video games going and a huge board game shelf with a vast selection of games to choose from.  They also had a record player playing some tunes and some groovy decorations all over the place!

My kids loved that they got to go around a fire and make their own S’Mores as one of the activities.  That was a highlight for them, because my kids love both fire and marshmallows. 🙂

They had the choice to make them as Bacon S’Mores, but all of my kids opted for the traditional kind.  We hear that they’re trying out different gourmet recipes and flavors of s’mores this summer and I can’t wait to see what all they come up with!  I heard talk of Oreos coming into play, so we shall see…

Even my sweet 3 year old got to get in on the fun of the s’mores with us.  Notice anything fun (and themed!?) about this picture?  How fun, right?

So we dropped our biggest 3 kids off while we dropped by the Lantana Spa to learn more about their fabulous treatments and facility.  I had no idea it was the largest spa in Texas, and I was drooling at the private pool exclusively for Lantana Spa guests.  Then, we went for a nice dinner at Cibolo Moon.  We had a BBQ Brisket Buffet and it was SO GOOD.

When we did go to pick the kiddos up, they said they had really enjoyed their time there.  They got to play with other kids their ages.  Grace was super proud of the pillow that she got to make herself.  She’s super crafty, so I wasn’t surprised at all!

I can’t wait to share more about the resort with you all, but there is too much to list in this one blog post.

For now, I’ll leave you with some information about even more kid activities specials so you can book your own amazing vacation to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.

“Our Resort Experience Team has designed activities for our summer season that will create lifetime memories for our guests,” said JW Marriott San Antonio general manager, Arthur Coulombe. “Whether you are looking for something new to try with your friends, spend time resting among our beautiful, natural and unspoiled Hill Country terrain or create memories together as a family, our associates are committed to helping you feel inspired and restored during your stay.”

A few new activities for the 2015 Summer Experience include:

The Making of a Movie Star – Calling all future Academy Award nominees!  Children with a dramatic flair will love this award winning evening as they make costumes and perform a play that engages young imaginations, inspires creativity, and creates memorable experiences. The talented new movie stars will produce a stellar performance for all parents and leave with a special keepsake.

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lounge – Who says the teen years have to be awkward? This dynamic teen-themed night is a roving adventure away from parents including casino games, LOUD music, play tables and snacks.

Morning Extreme Swim – For folks who love to swim against the current.  Guests are invited to jump in the resort’s 1,100-foot long lazy river to wake up their normal swim workout.  This exhilarating experience takes place before the resort pools open for the day.

Yogi Bugs – Fun and Zen intersect at this interactive yoga experience for young children.  The class combines dynamic movements, posture and breathing exercises in a relaxed environment.

Not only that, but check out these deals!

The resort has crafted a special package to help vacationers kick-off the summer fun. Book early for best rates and dates:

$100 Resort Credit Package

• Stay a minimum of two nights and receive a $100 nightly resort credit to use towards your favorite activities including spa treatments, dining and more.
• Room rates $269-$459
• Valid through December 31, 2015

AND
Red, White & Blue Texas True offers extended stay packages with 15% off three consecutive night stays and 20% off four consecutive night stays from May 21-September 7.  The three and four night package savings is open to all guests – you don’t have to be from Texas!

For more information on summer kid activities at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, or to book your family’s great summer getaway vacation, call 1-210-276-2500 or visit www.jwsanantonio.com.