Grand Slam Tennis Tours
Great seat & vacation pkgs to the 2009 French Open
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Swarthmore Adult Camp
Affordable 5-Hour/Day Sessions Scenic Campus/Day & Resident
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This is your opportunity to rate and review the resorts and camps you've visited. As material comes in I'll post it here, so you can read what others think.
So far, I haven't received any written feedback on Bridges Family Resort & Tennis Club. If you've taken a tennis vacation there, I'd like to hear your reactions.
Rate Bridges Family Resort & Tennis Club
Although located near the ski slopes at Sugarbush, the Bridges focuses on tennis during the summer. It consists of 100 condominiums all within easy walking distance of a recreation center and a dozen hard and clay courts, two of them indoors. Those courts are its principal amenity, and that and the vigorous efforts to promote tennis by director Josh Hanna make this a haven for avid players.
Pro Shop: 802-583-2922
The courts at the Bridges occupy two locations. There are five clay courts at the recreation center: 2 indoors and 3 outdoors. Those outdoor courts nestle against a hillside inset with terraced wooden seating capable of holding up to 500 spectators. Across from the recreation center a pathway leads up a low hill to an additional 7 courts—2 hard and 5 clay—grouped around a pavilion with umbrella-shaded picnic tables.
Tennis Staff. Tennis Director Josh Hanna came to The Bridges in 2000, after captaining the University of Vermont Men's Tennis Team. A New Jersey native, Josh's love of Vermont and of tennis is a perfect combination for The Bridges Resort. He teaches "the modern game," and likes to make sure every lesson he teaches comes with some intensity and a lot of enjoyment.
Tennis Programs. The weekly calendar includes several doubles mixers, among them a parent/child round robin (loaner children available to those who did not bring their own), and a well-attended pro exhibition (during July and August). There are also two sessions of daily drills, including the fast-paced Wide Open Workout (WOW). There are four junior programs: the Green Mountain Tennis Adventure for advanced juniors ages 12 and up; Super Champs, an hour-long skill development clinic for those ages 12 and under; Champs, for kids ages 8-11, which runs full and half days midweek; and Camp Bridges, a multi-recreational program that includes tennis for those ages 4-7.
Courts & Fees. The complex consists of 2 hard and 10 clay courts; two of the latter are indoors. Court fees: Free to guests.
Golf Courses. The Bridges does not have a golf course but guests can play at the nearby Sugarbush course.
Sugarbush Golf Course: Robert Trent Jones designed this 18-hole course. It has a classic mountain layout, notable for its great views and for punishing errant shots. Par: 72. Length: 5,187-6,524 yards. Open May to October.
Fitness Center. There is a small, unattended fitness center in a mirrored room that looks out at the yard around the swimming pool. It contains an assortment of cardiovascular equipment, some Paramount weight-training stations, and some free weights. Aerobic classes are also available.
And ... The rec center has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, and an outdoor playground.
The resort runs a multi-recreational day camp from Monday through Friday in summer, with half day and full day options. It's geared for kids ages 4-10 and includes tennis, swimming, hiking, and field trips.
There are roughly 100 condos altogether at the Bridges, all of them built in two phases—one on the same level as the recreation center, the other on the bluff behind—beginning in 1973. They have 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms and come with a total of six floor plans. Although all of these have been furnished and decorated by the owners they have to meet minimal standards of quality and upkeep for the resort to agree to rent them.
Faced with gray stucco or weathered wood, these units have fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, and full decks, most with barbecues. All come with televisions and VCRs (a selection of tapes is available from the main desk). In multi-bath units one or more of baths will have shower only. Master bedroom in some has private entrance. Although bedrooms tend to be small, the condos as a whole are well laid out and inviting. All have Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, a sleeper sofa, and one-day supply of coffee on check in. Late arrivals can fill out shopping list and arrive to a condo stocked with what they need.
Dining at the Bridges itself is limited to a tiny cafe that serves sandwiches, salads, and light fare. There are numerous restaurants in the valley, however.
For other unpretentious, child-friendly resorts in the mountains with solid tennis and condominium lodging, look at:
For something on the beach, look at:
These rates are for two-night minimum stays and do not include include 9% tax and 4% service charge. No pets allowed. Family Plans and Grand Slam Tennis Packages are also available.
Apr. 12-June 18, 2009
2 nights: 1-bdrm $330-$350; 2-bdrm $380-$525; 3-bdrm $630
June 19-Oct. 10, 2009
2 nights: 1-bdrm $370-$390; 2-bdrm $455-$605; 3-bdrm $750
Oct. 11-Nov. 7, 2009
2 nights: 1-bdrm $330-$350; 2-bdrm $380-$525; 3-bdrm $630
Seasons. Although the Bridges is open all year, with tennis available on its two indoor courts, the height of the tennis season runs from June to mid October.
Travel Instructions. By Air: The nearest major airport is Burlington, Vermont, 45 miles to the northwest. By Car: The resort is 140 miles from Montreal, 190 miles from Boston, and 300 miles from New York City.
General Tourist Information. Visit the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing web site or contact them at 6 Baldwin Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633-1301; Phone 800-VERMONT (800-837-6668).