I don't even know where to start. From the people (everyone incredibly nice and helpful), to the tents (spacious and comfortable- especially the beds!), to the grounds (beautiful and peaceful), to the food (I gained 5 pounds!) It was a family vacation of a lifetime and will not be forgotten any time soon. It's pricey, but if you can do it you should. My advice would be to definitely stay in a tent and book your activities ahead of time. Other than that- have a ball there!

I spent that last several months searching for a special location as a destination for a 2019 summer road trip with my daughter. She's heading into her senior year of high school and opportunities for her and I to have one-on-one epic moments is down to just a few more summers before she's off to college. I sought a very special place to spend quality time together and a "platform" for great bonding time with her.

We live in Los Angeles - so breaking out of the expected requires wide-open spaces, fresh air, inspiring environments (that make you hide the iphone) and a completely different pace. In considering Paws Up i thought "What a big plus to have friendly people providing an endless list of activities to choose from to fill our days between dreamy sleep quarters and unforgettable food!" as was the promise via several of the online reviews we read on the resort. Paws Up appeared to be too good to be true -an almost surreal destination and we wondered if it could really be all that!?

Paws Up exceeded all expectations. From the moment we arrived we felt rejuvenated and excited to explore the massive 60 square mile property (and the island lodge!) via ATVs, Jet Skis, Horseback and mountain bikes. Every day featured epic meals followed by a grand adventures in an environment that you just have to see to believe. We stayed in a house on the property which was as comfortable as being at home with all the room amenities you would expect from a world class resort. We ate our meals at the resort restaurants and they even had a family BBQ event one evening that featured incredible food along with live music and shooting clays!? Who comes up with this stuff? It was just too much fun on every level.

The ultimate byproduct of all this? My daughter and i bonded in ways that just are not possible in any normal vacation routine. I mean...we developed new nicknames for each other (not sharing here!) which will always remind us of this time we were lucky enough to have spent together in this wonderful place.

Reflecting on our options for this vacation together...one option involved sitting at a pool cabana with our ipads and watching movies in our rental in the evenings. That sounds like a nice time, but now appears (in retrospect) to have been a tragic waste of a precious opportunity to make a memory that will last forever. It takes a leap of faith and perhaps a bit of extra travel time depending on where you are coming from...but if you give Paws Up an opportunity to serve and entertain you and your family...you will be richly rewarded. Do it!