Tyler Place Family Resort

The only thing disappointing about this place is that I didnt find it earlier in my life. Family of 7, 5 kids 8 to 15, and it was magical. My kids told me they'd find new parents if I dont bring them back. My wife and I met a bunch of nice and fun couples. Helps to be a bit extroverted and active(for adults). Programming and staff is great, food is good, and accommodations are clean and comfortable. Week#2.4.Life. Best week of summer I have had since I was a kid at camp.

The Tyler Place Resort is a family owned resort located in Northern Vermont. It is a well maintained property with oodles of things to do: Boating on Lake Champlain, Trampolines, Arts and Crafts, Sports of all kinds, Tennis, Pickleball, Birding and good old fashioned camp-style fun like capture the flag, lawn games, low ropes and so much more. There is even a weekly triathlon called "The Duckman". ||When our kids were little, the space and time for us to have with each other as partners was KEY to us feeling relaxed and able to enjoy a VACATION. We live without any family nearby to help us so having the time and the support of the TP place and staff made our trip feel like a true relaxing and fun. experience. ||What our family loves about TP are the connections each person in our family has made with fellow guests over our 9 years of attending (the same week). Some of my kids' closest friends are from their camp group at Tyler Place. We adults also have some very close connections with several families, and we even have connected outside of the resort (in the Real World). TP is a very social place, and though I am truly more of an introvert, I do enjoy chatting and connecting with different people.||TP has activities for everyone, both adults and kids. The camp groups are run extremely well - no other resort does it better than TP (we have been to Club Med and Smuggs and neither hold a candle to how well the groups are run at Tyler). Their activities are really fun and wholesome, and they do a great job really pulling every kid into the group. Likewise, the adult activities are also well done, and happen both on the resort as well as off site (and you are not charged more for those excursions - except for skeet shooting and golf). ||There is family time each afternoon. When our kids were little, we spent some time on family crafts, on the trampolines, waterslides, etc. Now that they are older, we often will rent boats so they can play on the lake with us and their friends. ||Meals are buffet style in one dining room, and are really well done. Sundaes on Sunday - yep. Lobster Wednesday - sure! Salad bar with local fresh veggies - indeed! Did I mention Local Vermont Ice Cream??? Need something they don't have - just ask. I have several food allergies and I am always accommodated. Libations run liberally (and are not included in the rate) - but I mostly partake in the amazing homemade mocktails and other local VT Sodas. Your kids eat in their groups, and adults eat together. ||The cabins come in all sizes and shapes, and we have stayed in several different ones over the years. They each offer your own adult space, and separate kids rooms, as well as a screened in porch, small kitchen, and most have a fireplace. The cabins might have Vermont “extras” like ants, bugs etc. This is a camp-style resort in the woods and on the Lake. This is not the "W" and is run by the Tyler Family themselves, across several generations, and these folks work hard! Any issue I have ever had with my accommodation - from nightlights, extension cords, a stuck window - have all been sorted within a few hours. The staff really are amazing. ||Reservations are COMPLEX, so here is my advice - Fill out the reservation form and be as FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE in your dates and weeks you could attend. The more open you are to when you can come the easier it will be to "get in". Spots only open when a family decides not to return, and some families have been coming for over 10 years. ||But I promise you it is worth it!

Followed their 2-step process for online reservations, but didn’t even receive a reply from them. Even after providing all sorts of personal info, they never even responded to a reservation request. If they had no availability or had other concerns, it would have been nice at least to let us know so we could start making alternate plans.

Words can not adequately describe how amazing Tyler Place is! I had read about it for years on several family travel blogs/facebook groups before deciding to book it. Our first year, we were placed on the waitlist, and I'm so happy that we decided to "apply" again. ||We found ourselves describing it to friends as "Family Camp". It was so refreshing to show up and find similar like-minded people there. People who enjoyed traveling with their kids, but also enjoyed some adult time and being out in nature. ||Upon arrival, we were given keys to our little cabin which had a water-front view. The cabin is modest, but clean and was totally sufficient for our stay. We then headed to the bike shop to pick out bikes for our family. This was one of my favorite things about Tyler Place! It was so fun to see everyone riding everywhere. It felt like we were stepping back in time. ||Every morning (from 830-130) and evening (from 530-830), we dropped our kids off at their individual camp groups, which were age based. During their group time, they had breakfast, lunch and dinner and did scheduled activities (like capture the flag, hour on the lake, swimming pool time, trampolines, tug-o-war, etc). Both of my children LOVED camp time and meeting new friends. During this same time, the adults were able to enjoy meals with other adults (or with just each other, if wanted!) and let me tell you- the food was fabulous. I was told that it was resourced from local farmers and it definitely showed. We did not have one bad meal the entire week. And the best part was local Vermont ice cream at every lunch and dinner! ||After breakfast, parents could choose different activities that were pre-planned or could just hang out and enjoy relaxing on property. My husband and I personally enjoyed the guided hike by Chad and craft-time with Claudia. I also enjoyed a massage by Andrea. ||After lunch was family time. Our family usually spent the 3-4 hours at the lake. We rented several boats and enjoyed tubing with the kids. ||The adult cocktail hour and dinners were really special. The bartenders are amazing and it shows that they really enjoy their jobs! The cocktails are intricate and delicious and well-garnished- something that I really appreciated! During cocktail hour, they sometimes had live music (we loved the jazz band!). ||There is an option after dinner to hire a babysitter so that you can partake in evening adult-time. We loved our babysitter for the week- Hayley! We enjoyed trivia night and karaoke night and also loved sitting by the fires in the evening! ||It is obvious that this resort is family owned and something that they have perfected in the almost 100 years of being around. The staff is warm and welcoming and make you feel like part of the family- even if its your first year! The counselors are top notch and its so fun that they are international! My kids loved meeting counselors from South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and more. We met the most wonderful friends from all over the country and we cant wait to return next year!

We're at Tyler Place now, our third summer here. We feel we get a great value from the 5 day option, which is only offered during week one. We love Tyler Place, and I'll try to share helpful info for anyone considering it. First, some reasons why Tyler may not be a good fit- 1) you don't have kids, or your kids are over age 15 (they're still welcome, but kids programming ends at 15.) 2) you prefer time with just your family or spouse, and aren't very social 3) you require fancy accommodations 4) you enjoy spending meal times with your kids And now, on to the reasons why our family will keep coming back as long as we can. 1) The kids program is absolutely fantastic. The staff is energetic, engaged, and keep the kids busy with a wide variety of activities based on the age of the kids. (Fishing on the lake, swimming, pool games, campfire, crafts, etc.) The property is spacious, with plenty to keep kids engaged. There is an ideal mix of adults getting to recharge without their kids in the mornings and evenings, and still getting quality family time together in the afternoons. 2) People are so friendly. Over the years many families return, and friendships develop. New families are always welcomed, as there is a culture of being friendly and inclusive that is not so common these days. Some examples of activities for adults include sports, bike rides, and there a few tours like to a winery or maple syrup farm. 3) Accommodations are comfortable and clean. Personally, I like staying close to the center of camp so there is less time spent getting back and forth to kids clubs and meals. But if you prefer more solitude and quiet, you might prefer to stay further out. Everyone gets a bike to ride around at Tyler. 4) The food is very good! So far each year there has been a lobster night :) There is also a salad bar, vegan options, and lots of local Vermont products like maple syrup. This week we've had some rain so the dining areas have been more crowded, but typically meal times and cocktail hour spill onto the beautiful back lawn with views of the lake. 5) It's a place for your child to develop some independence, surrounded by caring staff and making new friends. Each year they return, kids have more activities they can participate in, and a little more freedom. It's a safe, happy space for families, and that's why I highly recommend Tyler Place.

Best place ever to vacation with your kids. They've discovered the perfect balance between time with adults and time with your children. It's family run, which means it's well run. The councilors for the kids make sure that every one has a good time whatever their age group. I recommend it without reservation.

We’ve enjoyed our time at Tyler Place. Kids have had a great time with their group and counselors. We’ve enjoyed the many different activities offered throughout our stay. The lake is a fun experience for everyone in our group.

We actually went 3 summers in a row. The resort itself is nice, activities are amazing, food is meh for what you pay, cabins are fine. Cabins though, nothing fancy. Came home and a few weeks later kept getting a fever nightly- 102+, did a CBC, lots of tests, kept going back. They asked about recent travel (we're from the midwest) and finally ran a Lyme panel. I have Lyme and Babesia. Babesia is like "malaria's shady cousin" after lots spent on specialists and getting great treatment (not all of which was covered by insurance) I am now FINALLY negative. Nine months on antibiotics, tons of weight gained, and my career nearly in jeopardy (it sidelined me and I had to take a leave of absence) because of a tick bite on this vacation. I spent 2x what we did on our (not cheap!) vacation, and a year fighting my way back from the most ill I have ever been. I had to speak to a CDC person and have a CDC number, as my state rarely sees cases of Babesia. Apparently that area is a "hotbed" for Lyme and co-infections. Save your money and go to Beaches instead.

Tyler Place was an incredible experience. I was looking for an all inclusive within driving distance. I do not like cruises or theme parks. It's a really nice fit for a certain type of customer, after reading dozens of reviews we booked and I went in optimistic but unsure if we would go again. Our 3 and 8 year old daughters loved the daily programming 8:30-1:30 then 5:30-8:30. We ate all of our meals separately from our children. I mostly slept in and sat by the pool while my kids were in program. Others golfed, played tennis, sailed, played pickleball, water aerobics etc. My favorite part were the evening 'booze cruises' we went on two. We also opted on for family photos which were excellent. These items as well as laundry service, alcoholic beverages and nighttime childcare was not included but when we checked out our final bill was less that I expected. My kids went rock climbing, rode a pony, went on pirate cruises, crafted and got lots of time in the water. My daughter turned 4 on the trip, which was fun and very special. The accommodations were great, small and tidy but all we needed. We spent very little time in our unit. Food was solidly good- my husband is on a strict diet. Pescatarian/vegetarian and there were so many choices for him. Bring 2x the sunscreen and bug spray you think you may need. Pack your passports- one day we went on a quick trip to Canada for lunch and some duty free shopping. The family that owns TP works here. It's been around since 1933. The staff is from all over the world. Lots of interesting and fun families from the US and beyond. We asked to change our week and hope we can get in for 2024.

Followed their 2-step process for online reservations, but didn't even receive a reply from them.

The owner's son, Chad, is such an incompetent guy! It was comical. I wonder if this fellow ever had any serious responsibilities in his life. We were on an canoe excursion when a sudden rainstorm broke out. Our fearless leader Chad had no idea what to do and literally pulled out his cellphone and called someone, to ask what to do!

I came here in 2016 and I'm back again in 2017. I have two children: a five-year-old and eight-year-old. I found this camp looking online looking for all-inclusive family resort. It had everything I wanted. I went to a summer camp as a kid and I wanted my children to have the same type experience, but I did not want to lose them for a week or a month. First, the food was exquisite. Most of the food is locally sourced farm to table food. There's always a variety of food, both gluten-free and vegan (though that doesn't really matter to me). I always eat too much, but hey it's vacation. The best part of this experience is the camps for the kids. Kids will go to camp in the morning at 8:30 am and are there till 130 pm. If you would like to pick them up at noon, that is available. You can have breakfast and lunch with your kids or let them eat on their own. The kids get to do all the fun camp experiences that you would think of pony rides, canoeing, archery, etc.). They fight me to get to go back and play with their new friends. At the same time, the adults get to go to camp as well. They have mountain biking, yoga, kayaking, kickball, etc. You get to go back to be a kid again and do all those fun games that you love ( I am a game person). The only rule is you cannot have dinner with your children. They go to a camp at 5:30 pm and you get to have a cocktail hour and adult conversation with other couples. I love my children very much but it is a thrill to have dinner where I'm not talking about farts. In the evening after the kids go to bed you can get a babysitter so you can go have more adult festivities. Vermont is beautiful in the summer and if you have not been there you are missing out. Weather is like a dream come true. I have read the negative reviews, and there are some credence to their criticism. Camp is pretty darn expensive. Most of the patrons are fairly wealthy (I do not put myself in that category) , but are very friendly. The cabins are quaint (I would not call them decrepit). There are people who have been coming for generations and have lifelong friendships here so at times it can feel a bit cliquey. Everyone though is incredibly inclusive. I've never had a time where I felt like I was intruding on or was not welcome to join in another group. People strive to learn others names and make sure that you're included. It feels more like the way high school should've been, instead of the the way it probably was. I hope you have an opportunity to go visit it. Update: My family just enjoyed another year at the Tyler Place. My children and 10 and 7, and both had a great time. I still recommend!

My family and I went to TP for 10-15 years during my childhood, my last year being the summer after I graduated high school (2010). Every single year, I would look forward to returning .. we would all count down the days starting the second we left. It was the MOST fun place as a kid. I have such incredible memories of banana boating on lake Champlain, biking into st Albens for pizza with my group, playing in the swimming pool, family time mid-day, and most of all, making life-long friendships with the same kids every year. My family and I still keep in touch with many families who we vacationed with yearly. I've boasted about my experience at TP to my husband for years. As soon as we got pregnant, we both talked about how excited we were to bring our kids to TP someday. I can't wait to share that incredible experience with my own little family. TP is the BEST!!

This is our 20th year. We first came when my son was 14 months old and he is still going with us ( with his wife too) even though he is now 31. We will be joined by our nephew and his 4 children. They live in Arizona ad can't wait for Tyler each year. Everything is effortless. If you want to do adult sports, games etc. you can find plenty to do but if you just want to lie in a hammock and read a book that ok too. From 8:30- 1:30 and 5:30- 8:30pm is your time. Family time in between, to go to the lake, take a boat out, fish, of laze. something for everyone except if you are looking for fancy or nightlife.

I look forward to this vacation every year. This type of vacation is perfect for the stay at home mom/dad that really needs a vacation where everything is taken care of, kids, meals, dishes, entertainment, activities. It is true that there are only a few hours in the afternoon of designated "family time" so if you are looking for a vacation where you get A LOT of together family time this probably isn't the place for you. Adults get to participate in summer camp type activities (canoeing, kayaking, yoga, games, biking) or just sit around and do nothing! My kids love coming back to see their camp friends and they get a little more freedom to roam free each year. Dining and cocktail hours do present a challenge for introverts or people that don't quite find a "group" that they connect with. My suggestion would be to come prepared to make small talk, and don't take it personal if you just don't click with people. Accommodations are quaint cabins, so it's not luxurious, but it's also not roughing it at a camp site. Just go into the week expecting to meet new people, participate in some fun activities and have your children well taken care of.

We just got back from our first vacation at Tyler Place, and we loved every minute of it! The kids had a blast, and by day 2 were already clamoring to come back next year. For us parents, there was some much-needed kid-free time, with activities and social events both as a couple and with other adults. To address some of the other (more negative) reviews: my understanding is that the people coming during July and August tend to be "legacy" families (families that have been coming for decades), which I can see could lead to some cliques. However, in early June we found none of that-- just friendly folks who enjoy chatting over a drink and a nice view of the lake. The accommodations are rustic, but very comfortable-- good beds and good showers, which is all I really care about. The focus is on the experience, not the furniture. We found the counselors and childcare to be truly excellent. Something that really sets TP apart is that it offers care for babies...the woman who cared for our 9-mo-old was the ultimate surrogate grandma and, after a week, we felt like she was part of the family. There is time to spend as a family from 1pm-5:30 pm, and you can have breakfast or lunch with the kids, but really-- having those kid-free meals is part of what makes it a VACATION! (and the kids actually preferred to eat with their camp group.) The food is great-- very local and fresh. Another aspect that we enjoyed was the personal interaction with the Tyler family. Chad and Ted made sure new guests were introduced to returning guests, and fostered a fun, friendly atmosphere where the adults have as much fun as the kids. There is a lot of love and decades of experience that go into the Tyler Place and the result is an amazing getaway for the entire family. We are already counting the days until next summer!

By far the best family vacation we've ever had. We had plenty of family time as well as time with just my husband and myself. It was nice to be able to socialize with other adults without having to scream at 2 three-year-olds to stop fighting and not to touch things. We loved it so much we're going again this year. It is a beautiful place with great accommodations wonderful food amazing activities and the best part was great people that we have now become friends with that live all over the country and even out of the country. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great family vacation where you don't feel like you need another vacation once you get back from your vacation.

Not my cup of tea. There are a lot of things this place does well (food, independence for kids, great activities), but if you are looking to spend time with your kids or enjoy accommodations nicer than your cousin's waterlogged basement, go elsewhere. There is a lot of mandatory segregation of parents and children. The kids are in a day camp from before breakfast until after dinner, except for a couple of hours in the afternoon. We would have loved to have this as an *option*, but with busy work schedules, etc. we don't get to see our kids a lot at home and were hoping to connect with them more during the trip. It felt like we were on a completely different vacations. Kids can't eat in the regular/adult dining room, so if you want to eat with your family you are busted down to cheerios and chicken fingers in the small room that allows mixed-age dining. This place does a ton of repeat business. Whole extended families come for generations. During our visit we were one of a handful of families with no previous connection to the resort. That might sound like evidence they are doing things right, but it results in a clubby atmosphere. This is especially true at mealtimes, which can feel excruciatingly like a high school cafeteria. There is no other option to eat (unless you leave the property), and no formal seating arrangements, so many times during the week you will find yourself awkwardly asking if there is free space at a table full of people who are laughing at twenty-year-old in-jokes. I am not normally socially anxious in any way, but having to do this at every meal for a week was wearing. TP attracts a country club/chattering class demographic: hearty 19th-hole backslappers, women who organize boarding-school auction galas, npr/pbs producers, university professors, lobbyists. This is not an environment for the conversationally meek. Introverts, you have been warned. Do not expect diversity of any kind. Lastly, the price is way out of line for the accommodations provided. Our room had peeling Eisenhower-era wallpaper, stained fixtures in the bathroom, mismatched linens, ancient shag carpet, a hodge-podge of Salvation Army furniture. Every morning there was a crust of dead bugs on the bathroom sink. I get it: it's like driving in a rusted-out BMW 2002, so exclusive in its decrepitude that only the gauche dare point it out. Well, I'm pointing. Despite being one of TP's more expensive rooms, it is several clicks below any chain motel, and frankly insulting given the nearly $7k we spent for a week here.

This was a fantastic family vacation. We took our two teens, ages 13 and 15. It was our first year there, and we hope to join the ranks of repeat visitors. Our 13 year old had plenty of peers to become friends with ... There were not as many kids in the 15 / 16 year old range, but he still had lots of fun. I wish we started going years ago!! Adult time is awesome ... So many choices of activities. Husband loved sailing. I loved water activities and creating things in the arts and crafts building. Food is AMAZING with lots of vegetarian options, which we appreciated. Kids entertained nonstop. Adults, too. We did not want to leave!!!!!

Expensive, but worth every penny! My wife and I got a much needed break while also getting a memorable vacation with our son. Will definitely be coming back next year and every year after that! The only reason I can't give this place 5 starts is because of the price. It's a lot of money to shell out on a vacation.

Extremely expensive and underrated. We spent over 10K for a 1 week stay. Although the concept is wonderful, we barely saw our children during our "family" vacation. Accommodations are rustic at it's best. Counsellors, which most are good, some are not and the water in the lake is quite polluted. You can see some of the algae from the nearby agriculture surface during hot summer months. Wish we could have loved this place but from experience, there are a lot more nearby for better pricing, better service that cater to "family" vacations rather than ditching your kids vacation.

I have to agree with Ann J. on her review. We have stayed at other family camps since our stay at TP and been much happier. I consider myself an extrovert, but this made a sorority rush week seem like a piece of cake. With so many repeat customers it is very difficult to break in. People are pleasant to you, but there is definitely a 'type' of person that likes this place and fits in--but I honestly can't figure out what it is---it is very clubby as Ann described. At other camps, they give you assigned seating for dinner to mix it up and then you sit wherever you like for breakfast and lunch. At TP, every single meal was as Ann described. You either sit by yourselves, or I feel like I'm setting up a dinner date every night with other couples whom I barely know. We went to the evening social hours, we participated in the activities, but just didn't click with but 1 or 2 couples. And new people have just 2-3 days to get assimilated before the cliques are already formed. I want to relax, I don't want to have to think about who I'm going to sit with and have to be 'on' all the time, yet I want to enjoy conversation with other adults. As my then 7 year old said, this is not a family vacation because we are never together as a family. I actually got into quite a heated discussion with one of the older family member owners who chastised me when I allowed my 5 year old child to come into the buffet area at breakfast to choose what he wanted to eat. This after seeing other families do it for 3 or 4 mornings in a row. Be consistent. Kids are not allowed to eat with their parents, and they are sent off to 'camp' for 8+ hours of the day, with a break mid afternoon. My 5 year old extrovert cried on the 3rd day of camp, saying she didn't want to go back. We were stunned, as that had NEVER happened on any activity, with any sitter, ever. To be fair, when we mentioned it to the counselor, they did try and reach out to our child. Evenings are filled with drunken fests when parents 'hire' sitters (who are the staff who watch them all day) to watch their kids. We had an okay time, the accommodations were disappointing (we stayed in the inn) and had bugs all over our screened porch--we couldn't really use it at night because all the bugs came flying in). My first night there, I got 3 spider bites from standing next to the trampoline, and when I brought it to the attention of the front desk, they didn't really seem to care that there were spiders all over the trampoline where my kids would be playing. I thought I needed a break from the kids for a week and I thought that them being able to have their own summer camp experience right along with us would be great. I actually missed my kids and as my family (kids included) looks back on our week at TP, we definitely are glad to have tried it, but I really have to wonder if the travel writers who continually list Tyler Place as this amazing family camp have ever actually stayed at TP, or just read the reviews, or might even come for a site visit, but there are sooo many other amazing family camps out there, but between TP and all the 'lists' of family camps out there, you would think that TP provides a one of a kind vacation...there are so many other family camps out there. Keep looking if you want to actually vacation WITH your family. Other camps that are often listed with TP, are nothing like TP...

Great place - great way to vacation with kids. We loved the people, the service, the food and activities. Can't think of a better way to spend a week of vacation when you have young kids.

We've been three years in a row. Going back for a fourth year next week. Best vacation place for young families. Great people, great food, great activities. Kids pick this over cruises or disney.