Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, so why not go out with a bang? We found five luxury resorts planning to end the season with tennis matches, campfires, intimate outdoor concerts, paddleboat races and a spectacular fireworks show.
If your goal is to have fun with your family over the holiday, this Colorado Springs treasure is a safe bet. The historic Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort is located at the foot of the southern edge of the Rockies and has a small lake in the middle of the property perfect for paddleboat racing, which is one of the many family-friendly activities planned for the property’s Labor Day Family Celebration. Other events include bingo, fly-fishing lessons, scavenger hunts and jewelry-making classes. The resort’s seven restaurants, bowling alley, spa, pool, golf and tennis courts mean you don’t have to leave the grounds during your stay, but we recommend an adventure (biking, horseback riding, hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting) in the great outdoors, too.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Situated in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, this hotel is renowned for its tremendous views. Still, it’s the activity calendar that we can’t take our eyes off right now. The Fairmont is hosting a cruise ship-themed Labor Day weekend party where guests partake in activities usually found at sea: limbo contests, hula hooping and “dive-in” movies in one of the resort’s five pools. Some other quintessential summer activities at the luxury hotel include badminton, bocce ball, underwater bingo and flying down one of the two 200-foot waterslides. And to properly bid adieu to the season, a fireworks show will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Bonus: You’ll also get a super late 4 p.m. checkout on Labor Day.
Looking to end the summer in a gorgeous New England setting? This Rhode Island wonder will certainly fit the bill. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Five-Star Victorian inn is a grand seaside escape. The resort will kick off the weekend with an August 30 alfresco cabaret session featuring actor/singer Scott Dreier, who will be covering the great Doris Day. Guests who purchase tickets will be treated to a cocktail reception and buffet dinner while the sun sets. On August 31, the Ocean House will hold its final clambake of the summer on its private beach — expect a casual-chic setting, fresh seafood prepared oceanside, and a live band to help mark the end of the season.
On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this resort offers an idyllic spot for an end-of-the-season soiree. The beachside luxury destination has two outdoor pools plus opportunities to paddleboard, kayak and golf. Kids can take sandcastle-building classes while adults can go for a sunrise yoga class. Everyone can take part in the outdoor barbecue and live entertainment after dark at the firepits. Other family-friendly activities include fishing expeditions and s’mores — with a side of old-fashioned storytelling, of course.
Take in the U.S. Open, the last tennis major of the year, and get a little pampering to boot at this Manhattan Four-Star hotel. The Trump’s “Game. Set. Match.” package includes a bottle of sunscreen (for long days of matches under the sun) and a 30-minute massage (a great treat after sitting in plastic seats all day). But beyond lavish amenities (the package is good through September 13), the property’s location also shines. The SoHo hotspot offers easy access to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center — you can take a taxi, subway or train. And post tennis, guests can see what all the racket is about in the hip hood’s dining and nightlife scene.
Photos Courtesy of The Broadmoor, Ocean House and Trump International Hotel and Tower
