The Ultimate Guide to Fun Family Gaming Vacations

– There are numerous consoles and gaming PCs that cater to different ages and preferences.
– Online gameplay is supported through high-speed internet access.
– A more immersive experience is made possible with large screen TVs.
– The latest titles and popular gaming franchises are readily available.
– Comfortable seating can be found in lounges.Video games are a universal language understood by multiple generations, making family vacations centered around gaming ideal for bonding experiences. There are countless options for resorts, themed trips and locations to enjoy whether you’re a casual gamer or hardcore player.

The Ultimate Vacation for Tech-Obsessed Families

If your family loves all things tech, you need a vacation that caters to your interests. From digital detoxes to fully immersed experiences, here are the top options for a fun trip tailored to tech-savvy travelers.

Digital Detox Retreats
Reconnect with each other away from screens at retreats focused on wellbeing. Spend your time together doing active outdoor pursuits, enjoying homemade meals and engaging in meaningful conversation – all while devices are turned in at check-in.

Gaming and Tech Resorts
Stay at places like Great Wolf Lodge that have large gaming lounges stocked with the latest Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. The entire family can enjoy hours of fun together playing video games. Many resorts also have eSports arenas and virtual reality roller coaster rides.

Coding and Robotics Camps
Sign the kids up for tech camps focused on coding, robotics and app development. They’ll improve tech skills while making new friends with similar interests. Some camps offer half-day and overnight options so the whole family can participate.

VR and Simulator Experiences
Enjoy family-friendly experiences like 4D flight simulators, VR roller coasters and racing simulators. Places like the VR World Cup in Las Vegas let you play immersive virtual games together for hours of amusement.

Technology Museum Trips
Visit tech-focused museums like the Computer History Museum in Silicon Valley or the National Media Museum in the UK. Walk through exhibits that cover the history and future of tech, featuring items like early computers, smartphones and AI.

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Focus on Resorts With Gaming Lounges

One of the easiest ways to combine gaming and vacationing is by staying at a resort with a dedicated gaming lounge. Many large hotels and indoor water park resorts now provide a variety of consoles, VR gear and gaming PCs for kids and teens.

• Great Wolf Lodge – Indoor water park resorts with gaming lounges stocked with the latest consoles

• Kalahari Resort – Large gaming areas where kids can play on multiple screens while parents relax

Opt for Video Game Themed Vacations

Packages centered around gaming franchises like:

• Super Mario World Vacations – Follow in Mario’s footsteps through Japan visiting real-life locations.

Super Mario World Vacations plans trips for Mario fans to locations in Japan that inspired the iconic games. Visitors explore real-life castles, run through gardens recreating level designs and seek out other landmarks that served as the basis for the games. 

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• Pokemon GO Vacations – Guided tours of cities to catch popular Pokemon characters.

For Pokemon fans, multiple companies offer guided Pokemon GO tours of major cities. Organized walks help you optimize your Pokeball usage, catch rare Pokemon and raid major gyms with other trainers – all while experiencing popular destinations.

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Best Seasons and Hotels

• Summer for outdoor water parks and pools

• Winter for indoor activities like gaming

• Choose family-friendly resorts with gaming lounges and large suites.

Summer is generally the best season for a family gaming vacation because more outdoor amenities like water parks and pools are open. However, winter can also work well if you primarily want to focus on indoor activities like gaming.

When choosing a hotel, look for resorts that cater specifically to families with dedicated gaming lounges, large in-room suites and ample amenities to keep everyone occupied.

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Where to Stay

The Gaylord Palms in Orlando has an impressive gaming lounge for teens and kids with Xbox, PlayStation and VR. The Colony Palms Hotel in California includes access to Nintendo Switch and Xbox for guests.

The Gaylord Palms in Orlando includes a Kidz Club gaming lounge with Xbox, PlayStation and VR systems for teens. The Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs offers free access to Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles for guests.

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Hilton Orlando – The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek has a gaming area called the Game Box featuring multiple 55-inch TVs, Xbox One X consoles and PlayStation 4 Pros. High-speed internet access is also provided.

High Tech Vacations is a tour company that specializes in designing family gaming vacations. They book families into luxury resorts with access to full gaming centers equipped with the latest PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo options. This company caters to serious gamers seeking a more immersive experience.

Clubs to Visit

Dave & Buster’s and Main Event are great for families, with a wide selection of arcade and simulator games, as well as food and drinks for parents.

Themed Vacations Around Gaming Franchises

For diehard fans, planning a trip around a favorite video game franchise can make for an unforgettable vacation. Companies offer themed tours and itineraries to bring video game worlds to life.

Chain establishments like Dave & Buster’s and Main Event – which feature arcades, simulator games, bowling and food – are also great places to visit during a family gaming vacation. You can play for hours while parents take a break.

In conclusion, family gaming vacations offer a unique mix of bonding, education and entertainment across generations. With the growing popularity of esports and advances in gaming technology, these types of themed trips will only continue to expand in the future. The most important thing is finding an itinerary that works for your specific crew – then it’s game on!

A few of the restaurants near Kalahari Resort that I mentioned do offer vegetarian options:

• Round1 Bowling & Amusement – Their menu includes appetizers like nachos, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks. They also have cheese and pepperoni pizza available which vegetarians can order without the meat.

• Chick-fil-A – Their grilled nuggets are made with broccoli and carrot instead of chicken and certified vegetarian. They also have waffle potato fries, salad options, and fruit cups.

• Texas Roadhouse – Their appetizers include fried pickle chips, fried mushrooms, and cheese sticks. The salad bar has a good selection of vegetables, beans, cheeses, and dressings for vegetarians.

• Cracker Barrel – They offer vegetable sides like baked beans, corn, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and fried okra. Their hashbrown casserole and pancakes are also vegetarian options.

• Olive Garden – They have a full section of vegetarian appetizers, salads, soups and pasta dishes. Options include minestrone soup, bruschetta, grilled vegetables, and pasta dishes with marinara or alfredo sauce.

• Buffalo Wild Wings – They have several vegetarian ready-made sides like seasoned fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. Veggie burgers are also available at some locations.

Based on their locations, Round1 Bowling & Amusement and Chick-fil-A appear to be the closest restaurants to Kalahari Resort:

• Texas Roadhouse – The closest Texas Roadhouse is about 4 miles from Kalahari Resort. It’s still fairly close, but further than the first two options.

• Olive Garden and Buffalo Wild Wings – The nearest locations of these chains are a bit farther at around 6-8 miles from Kalahari Resort. They would require more of a dedicated drive versus a short walk.

• Cracker Barrel – The closest Cracker Barrel is about 9 miles from Kalahari Resort, making it the farthest restaurant option on the list in terms of driving distance.

Tips for planning a successful family gaming vacation:

• Assess everyone’s gaming interests. Don’t just focus on what the kids want. Find out if parents, grandparents, etc. have any favorite games or genres they’d like to indulge in or experience.

• Determine your budget. Figure out what everyone is comfortable spending on resort costs, activities and excursions to set expectations.

• Research resort options carefully. Look for amenities like large suites, dedicated gaming lounges, access to multiple consoles and games to suit all ages. High-speed internet is also important.

• Consider a themed trip around a specific franchise if that really appeals to your family. But a more open-ended gaming vacation can work too.

• Look at the resort or vacation package extras. Water parks, arcades, spas, dining options, etc. will keep the whole family occupied when they need a gaming break.

• Set some ground rules. Determine time limits on gaming, agree who shares what console, set norms for noise levels, etc. to avoid conflicts.

• Pack essentials for all ages. Bring favorite games and accessories, extra controllers, portable chargers, headphones, etc.

• Leave some unstructured time. Don’t overplan every moment – allow for your family’s natural gaming and mingling to happen.

• Document your trip! Take lots of photos during your excursions and activities to remember your family’s gaming vacation.

With some planning and the right resort or package, a family gaming vacation can provide welcome relief from everyday stresses while letting everyone indulge their love of games. Have fun and game on!
Here are some of the best resorts that offer dedicated gaming lounges:

Those are some great options to consider!

The key things to look for in a resort gaming lounge are:

– There are numerous consoles and gaming PCs that cater to different ages and preferences.
– Online gameplay is supported through high-speed internet access.
– A more immersive experience is made possible with large screen TVs.
– The latest titles and popular gaming franchises are readily available.
– Comfortable seating can be found in lounges.

A resort with a well-stocked gaming lounge can really enhance your family’s vacation and make it more fun and memorable.
Based on the information provided, Kalahari Resort seems to be the most affordable option among the resorts listed:

• Kalahari Resort – Known for their affordable water parks and accommodations, Kalahari also has large gaming lounges for guests. Rooms start at around $150-200 per night depending on the location.

• Great Wolf Lodge – Generally more expensive than Kalahari with rooms starting around $250-300 per night. However, they do have frequent deals and promotions.

• Hyatt Regency – Typically a higher end hotel brand so their gaming lounges tend to be in luxury resorts. Rooms can run $300-500+ per night depending on the location.

• Gaylord Hotels – Also considered luxury convention resorts so pricing tends to be on the higher side, with rooms over $300 per night usually.

• Hilton Orlando – As a major Hilton property, rooms at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek also tend to be more expensive, starting at around $300-400 per night on average.

So while places like Great Wolf Lodge, the Gaylord hotels and Hilton often have good deals and promotions, the standard room rates at Kalahari Resort tend to be the most affordable among these options based on nightly pricing. Of course the actual costs will depend on the specific resort, number of guests, time of year and amenities included.

In conclusion, family gaming vacations offer a unique mix of bonding, education and entertainment across generations. With the growing popularity of esports and advances in gaming technology, these types of themed trips will only continue to expand in the future. The most important thing is finding an itinerary that works for your specific crew – then it’s game on!