When planning a family vacation, you want things to be fun for both you and your children so you can avoid wasting money on a getaway no one enjoys.
Many resorts have plenty of activities catered toward adults, but you want to ensure your children are just as entertained and occupied.
Fortunately, while some hotels and resorts only appeal to adult clientele, plenty are specifically designed for children and families.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge — Orlando, FL
Perhaps the most obvious choice is any Disney resort, such as Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge near Orlando, Florida. This safari-themed resort is located at Disney World, and the hotel's amenities include a bus around the park.
Aside from its proximity to the theme park, the resort includes many kid-friendly activities, like an outdoor playground, an arcade, multiple Disney-themed pools, nightly campfires, and nightly Disney films played by one of the pools.
For parents, there's also a spa and fitness center, which includes massages.
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Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa — Anaheim, CA
If you prefer to visit Disneyland with your children, stay at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, both in Anaheim, California.
This hotel has a direct entrance to the theme park and offers early admission to those with park tickets or passes. Amenities here include pools, seasonal recreational activities, and their Tenaya Stone Spa.
You can also enjoy a multitude of dining options, including the resort's "Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures" activity.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa — Oahu, HI
The third and final Disney resort isn’t attached to a theme park, but the whole Aulani Disney Resort & Spa is essentially a theme park in itself.
Located on the island of Oahu, the hotel includes amenities like a private beach, multiple pools, a beach house, a kids’ club, and more.
The resort features Disney characters and mascots wandering the resort and multiple themed activities for kids.
And for the whole family, there’s live music, cultural events, and a variety of relaxing spa services.
Hershey Lodge — Hershey, PA
Another fun-themed resort to stay with the whole family is the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This hotel is attached to Hersheypark — a chocolate-themed theme and roller coaster park.
Some of the activities at the lodge itself include interacting with Hershey-themed characters, animal showings from the local zoo, s’mores roasts, a game room, an arcade, and a fitness complex with a pool, miniature golf, basketball, tennis, and more.
Plus, children get a special check-in experience — all of which are chocolate themed.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa — Pigeon Forge, TN
Whether you're planning a family trip to Dollywood or just visiting Pigeon Forge, a great family-friendly resort to stay in is Dollywood's DreamMore Resort & Spa. In fact, you can find a whole list of kid-friendly activities on the site.
Some of the amenities include a large game room and arcade, an outdoor playground, nightly fireside stories, and a special Camp DW activity center. For parents, there's a spa, fitness center, and both an indoor and outdoor pool.
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Margaritaville Beach Resort — Nassau, Bahamas
Despite the name, Margaritaville Beach Resorts are usually very kid friendly — particularly the location in Nassau, Bahamas.
There's plenty for parents and adults to enjoy at the resort, but there are specific kid's activities to ensure the whole family enjoys the beach vacation.
The Parakeets Kid's Club is open for children aged five through nine and under five with adult supervision.
Activities include arts and crafts, dancing, games, and pastry decorating.
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa — St. Lucia
If you want to take a family-oriented trip to the Caribbean islands, consider staying at Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in St. Lucia.
The resort has three wings: Harmony for adults, Serenity for couples, and Splash for families. The resort also offers childcare for infants three months and older.
Amenities for the Splash wing include the CocoLand water park, paintball, and kitesurfing, to name a few.
Parents can spend the day together enjoying the resort’s amenities, while children get to enjoy the CocoLand Kidz Club, which puts children in groups for a day of age-appropriate fun.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts — Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Another child-specific resort is Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic.
Your kids get to meet their favorite Nickelodeon characters, enjoy themed meals, play at the water parks, get slimed, and more.
There are plenty of family and adult-specific activities, like the Mommy and Me spa day, tennis courts, beach parties, butler service at the beach, and swim-up bars, with cocktails and mocktails for both parents and children.
The Tyler Place Family Resort — Swanton, VT
As the name suggests, the Tyler Place Family Resort provides a vacation experience for the entire family. Located in Swanton, Vermont, the resort has a variety of activities for children, including a multitude of summer camps.
Some activities for both parents and children include a pool and splash pad, tennis courts, water activities on the lake, biking, nature experiences, wellness and art classes for adults, and a children’s recreation center.
Sandos Finisterra — Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Another all-inclusive resort with activities for both parents and children is Sandos Finisterra, located in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
There are an array of suites with varying amenities, but each booking includes access to a kid's club and a baby club.
From 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., both soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are unlimited at the pool and the beach. In addition, there's a gym, tennis courts, and daily activity schedules.
Tanque Verde Ranch — Tucson, AZ
If you want to enjoy a family vacation at a dude ranch, consider staying at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.
Plenty of children-specific events include daily horse-based activities where kids are grouped by age and ability.
There are plenty of horse riding opportunities for adults of varying skill levels, as well as watercoloring, Jeep rides, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, yoga, tennis, fishing, archery, and much more for parents and their kids.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando — Orlando, FL
Universal Orlando is a great place for adults and children and a perfect family vacation destination. However, if you're planning a visit, consider staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando.
Staying at the hotel gives you amenities like skipping lines, free shuttles and water taxis, early admission to some parks, and more.
Even the most affordable option gives you access to the resort's pool, perfect for family fun.
Spice Island Beach Resort — Grenada, West Indies
Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada, West Indies, is a wonderful resort for all ages, giving both parents and their children a relaxing and entertaining vacation experience.
There’s a specific kid’s club called the Nutmeg Pod Activity Center. Other activities include a spa with tea service, a yoga retreat with beachside sessions, golfing, tennis courts, biking opportunities, and the stunning white sand beach.
Grand Hotel — Mackinac Island, MI
Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan, is considered one of the best family resorts in the United States.
Family-oriented resort events include golfing, biking, horseback riding, carriage tours, lawn games like cornhole and croquet, and plenty of opportunities to explore the island.
Plus, children under five stay for free, and children between six and 17 have a discounted rate. In addition, they provide exclusive photography sessions if you want family portraits done at the resort.
Paradisus Playa del Carmen — Quintana Roo, Mexico
Paradisus Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is a great resort for those wanting to enjoy the beach and enrich themselves with local culture with their whole family.
Explore and enjoy a picnic at local cenotes, take yoga classes, experience Mayan rituals with a shaman, learn Latin dances, and indulge in the spa.
There are two pools to enjoy with your kids, plus Kid Zone, which provides kid-exclusive activities for kids one and up.
Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino — Curaçao
While the name may not sound kid-friendly at first, Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino in the Dutch Caribbean islands is a wonderful family vacation resort.
They have two children’s clubs: Explorer’s Club For Kids, exclusive to kids ages three through 12, and Core Zone Teens Club for teens 13 through 17.
There are also a host of group family activities, like rock climbing, tennis, batting cages, sumo wrestling, and more.
Families can also enjoy four pools, tons of water activities, and a host of nighttime activities for parents and kids.
C Lazy U Ranch — Granby, CO
Another dude ranch to take the family to is C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, Colorado, located in the Rocky Mountains.
There’s a specific kids and teens horseback riding program, but there are plenty of activities on the ranch for the whole family as well.
Some of these activities include the pool and hot tub, spa, fly fishing, archery, hatchet throwing, beehive tours, tennis, mountain biking, a ropes course and zipline, and much more.
Club Med Punta Cana — Dominican Republic
Club Med has a multitude of resorts around the world, each catering to a different clientele.
Some are adult-only couples destinations, while others — like Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic — cater to family trips.
Family-oriented activities at this location include family yoga sessions, a splash park pool, circus school, trapeze and aerial skills lessons, and relaxing by the beach.
There are also separate childcare services for infants between four months and two years of age, two to three years old, four to 10, and 11 to 17.
Bottom line
Traveling with the whole family can already be a hectic ordeal, so you want the vacation to be as relaxing as possible to reduce money stress and the stress of everyday life.
Whether you choose a resort that caters specifically to your little ones or a destination designed to incorporate both parents and their children, you're sure to find a location that meets the entire family's needs.
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