My Dudes learned to snowboard when we went for a visit to Massanutten Resort in McGaheysville, Virginia.
It was many, many winters ago and it was the first time we’d visited the property. It was also the first time my children had ever had the opportunity to get on top of snowboards.
We signed the older two up for a snowboarding course (my youngest was only 2 at the time), and Target (pronounced the “fancy” way) came out with his cool board and his even cooler moves and spent a couple of hours teaching them everything they needed to know about snowboarding.
They fell in love –asked Santa for boards for Christmas and spent the next few winters rocking those things down mountainsides near our home.
But that wasn’t the only memorable thing about our first visit to Virginia’s four season resort, Massanutten Resort.
It’s also where they learned to ice skate (they took a class for that too), and where they first tried a ropes course (it was the kiddie one, but they still felt like little rock stars when they completed it). It was their first time soaking in one of those whirlpool baths, and I almost lost them to it because they never wanted to get out.
We spent most of our time enjoying the indoor waterpark, and we vowed to return in the summer to experience everything the beautiful, four-season resort has to offer during the summer too.
Eight years later, we finally made it back…
Because you know how life goes.
Kids grow up, they get busy, we get busy, everything is SOOOOO expensive, and it’s hard to carve out quality time for quality fun.
So, when Massanutten Resort invited us up to enjoy their summer activities and experience their new villas, we were more than happy to pack up the car and take a road trip to Virginia for a few days.
We spent three nights and four days swimming and hiking and biking and watersliding our days away all over their resort property.
Thinking about a trip to Massanutten?
Whether you visit in the dead of winter or the heart of summer, you and your family will love getting away for a week to this beautiful mountain resort.
25 Things to Know About Massanutten Resort, Virginia’s Four-Season Resort
The location is perfect.
Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Resort is surrounded by breathtaking mountain views while still being conveniently located just a little over two hours away from Washington D.C.
It is surrounded by mountains –the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies, which means you will enjoy fresh air and beautiful views the entire time you’re on property.
They’re what you call a four-season resort.
Which means they offer activities during all of the seasons -for example, snow sports in winter, warm weather activities in summer.
The Regal Vistas Villas are amazing.
We visited as a family of six and, while we could’ve all easily fit into one villa (they sleep six) we had the luxury of enjoying two!
These two bedroom, two bath units made for the perfect family retreat. With a full kitchen, spacious living room, deck with grill, one car garage, and washer and dryer unit, we truly had everything we needed for an amazing, comfortable, and reasonably priced family getaway.
It was awesome to be able to make the kids pancakes in the morning and save on breakfast. It was nice to have space for everyone to spread out and nap comfortably after a long day of swimming (it’s what I hate about staying in basic hotels as a family of 5). We even had two fireplaces in our villa –perfect for cozy winter nights!
Check out our house tour here: Massanutten Resort villa tour
The soaking, whirlpool tub was everything.
My kid took a bath every single night he was there without hassle and he stayed in until he was pruney!
But, there are countless places to stay on property.
Regal Vistas Villas is just one of them. There are several different options on property depending on your budget, location preference, and family size.
Choose where to stay here: Massanutten accommodations
Check-in is at 5pm.
And, it can be a bit hectic. I recommend arriving a bit early and just staking out the place so you can get in and out a little more quickly. Or, go ahead and enjoy a hike or some of the other activities (like swimming) during the day, and then head to check-in after dinner when the rush has died down.
There is so much to do.
With their wide range of activities available, there are countless things to experience at the resort no matter what season you visit. And, no matter what you’re in to.
You can mountain bike, swim, head to the water park, play basketball, hike, kayak, canoe, play tennis, visit the arcade, golf, ski, snowboard, fish, do crafts, take an aerobics class, head to the spa, visit the petting zoo, ride a pony, learn to ice skate, or just relax.
Check out their activities here: What to do
But added activities do tend to cost an additional fee.
You can enjoy the swimming pools in your village and the recreation areas for free as part of your stay, which is also the case for many of the arcades and other recreational activities. However, things that require equipment (like biking and kayaking), and some of the other more involved activities require additional fees.
One of our favorite activities during our most recent stay was the mountain biking. We got outfit for bikes, took a short course with mountain biking trainers, went on a guided bike ride, and then were let loose on the mountainside for a couple of hours to adventure. The Dudes loved every moment of it.
PRO TIP: Make sure you wear closed toe shoes that are bike riding appropriate or they won’t be able to let you ride.
Save on activities with a pass: Buy activities passes (click link then scroll to bottom of the page for info)
Older kids and teenagers will be entertained the entire visit.
There are just so many things for them to do.
Mine played a ton of ping pong. They also went to the gym and got into a few pickup games. They loved spending time at the water park (indoor and outdoor), and they had a blast with the biking.
And, if you have younger children they will have plenty to do too.
My nephew enjoyed the petting zoo and the pony rides at Woodstone Stables. And we all loved riding the chair lift to the mountain top.
Adults can have some special fun too.
Book a wine seminar, enjoy a cooking demo, learn to scuba dive, or just relax at the spa. There are a number of activities designed to ensure that grown ups have fun too.
See all activities here: Massanutten Resort activities
You can go tubing year round.
In the winter, you tube on the snow like usual, but they also have a hige summer tubing track at the Family Adventure Park.
They also have a bunch of other activities there.
Like zip lining, a ropes course, bounce houses, gem mining, ridge climbing and rappelling, and more.
You can see everything offered there here: Family Adventure Park
Buy a lift pass.
And the lift all the way to the very top. Then hike a little further to enjoy the view. It’s a short hike and a leisure ride up and down.
They have an escape room.
And it is a blast. We spent a super fun hour trying to solve the mob crime together. We were successful, but we did require a lot of hints.
There are plenty of restaurants on property.
We ate at both of the eateries in the water park. We also tried The Blue Ridge Buffet (located on the top floor of the water park), Virginia BBQ & Pizza Co, and Base Camp, located near the ski lift. The kids loved the pizza.
Check out all of their dining options here: Where to eat
There is a spa.
And, while I didn’t have the opportunity to experience it on this visit, it is definitely on the agenda for next time!
Check out the spa service: Massanutten Resort Spa
They host a number of fun festivals.
Right on property that attraction vendors and entertainment that people come from all over to enjoy.
Up next: Fall Festival
And it’s a great place to go as a group.
Like a family reunion, girls’ getaway, corporate event. They have the space, the staff, and the activities to make it great.
The Waterpark is pretty epic.
And that’s not just us saying that! Massanutten Resort’s Waterpark has won several awards from many publications for their wonderful water
park facilities. They’ve been named one of the top 10 best indoor water parks by USA Today, Parents Magazine, and the Huffiington Post.
My dudes thought the basketball shooting area was the most fun, Rockingham Racer, the outdoor slides were the fastest, and the indoor lazy river was the best place to hang out.
Pro Tip: don’t forget to bring beach towels from home! They don’t provide towels at the park.
They loved doing the Wave Rider experience as well.
Note: Waterpark admission is not included in your resort stay unless you book through a package.
Watch our waterpark video to see it in action…
Think about renting a cabana.
Especially during the crowded summer weekends. It’s nice to have a designated place to return to when you get tired of being in the water. They have a safe, plugs (so you can charge your phones!), 6-free waters, 2-free towels, and service from Chill Grill.
Learn more: Massanutten Cabana rental
There are also 6 separate pools.
Two indoor pools and 4 outdoor pools. The indoor pools are open year round while the outdoor pools are just open during their summer seasons. Even if you don’t have access to the water park, you can swim every day somewhere on the resort.
There are also 3 parks on the property.
With playgrounds, walking/jogging trails, fishing, tennis courts, shuffle board, cornhole, and more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with your family.
The My Guide is like a resort bible.
They are seasonal guides to everything going on at the resort. You can view My Guide online before you arrive, but they also give you one when you check-in to help you plan your adventures each day of your visit.
Massanutten Resort even offers tours for those who want to leave the resort for fun.
To attractions not on the resort. Like a brewery tour and a D.C. tour. If you’re staying on property for a week or so, this could be a gret way to enjoy a trip to DC.