It’s about that time of year to start thinking about summer and fall family vacations. And while I remain optimistic about more countries opening up, there are plenty of incredible family-friendly resorts right here in the US. These coast-to-coast options have plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages occupied and entertained. They’re some of my faves, but they represent only a few of the wonderful places to forge indelible family memories.
Family-Friendly Resorts
Family-friendly resorts offer a whole host of activities for the entire family. From pool games to beach days, cooking classes to lawn croquet, or s’mores at the fire pit, they’re great places to gather everyone. Parents can work from the hotel suite or even cabana while the kids play. Kids clubs allow for a little freedom on both sides too. My clients benefits from exclusive amenities, upgrades, and hotel credits, making these resorts even sweeter.
Ocean House
Whether you stay in the main building or one of the multi-bedroom cottages, your family will have access to a sublime stretch of Rhode Island beach. By sea, there’s surfing and paddling lessons and fishing and yachting excursions. By land, there’s croquet on the lawn, golf, tennis (lawn and table), squash courts, and bike rentals. Each month brings a new program of activities, from art classes to culinary lessons. To unwind at the end of the day, choose a treatment at the OH! Spa before taking in a movie in the cinema-quality screening room. Don’t miss the Friday evening lobster boil on the beach, which only takes place during the summer!
Related: New England Summer Getaways
Salamander Resort
Just an hour from the heart of Washington, D.C. is an outdoor wonderland. Salamander Resort offers everything from a full equestrian center to zip lines. For more low-key fun, there’s bocce ball, croquet, cornhole and life-size chess on the lawn. There are indoor and outdoor pools, Sunday family-style brunch, and s’mores by the fire to cap off a perfect day. The grounds include tennis and basketball courts and a putting green, with golf privileges at a nearby course once you’ve perfected your short game. You can even learn to make award-winning dishes in the cooking studio using ingredients grown right in property in the culinary garden.
Blackberry Farm
The A-Z list of activities at this family-friendly resort in the Tennessee foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains runs from archery to yoga, and so much in between. Practice your aim at clay shooting, improve your tracking skills with geocaching, or hone your equestrian skills. After a tour of the MasterCraft factory to see how the boats are made, you can wake-board behind one or enjoy the breeze riding inside. The working farm is home to chickens, sheep, and truffle dogs. It also produces some of the fresh ingredients for the resort’s signature Foothills Cuisine.
The Resort at Paws Up
With 37,000 acres of undeveloped land, this Montana escape is basically a private national park. Stay in a family cabin, lodge, or tent and wear yourselves out with more than 70 activity options. See the area’s wildlife on a backcountry tour or catch some with a fly-fishing adventure in the Blackfoot River. For a faster pace, raft down the river, bike down a mountain or rappel down a rock face. Test your shooting skills on the rifle range or in paintball or get above it all with a hot air balloon ride or aerial rope course. The Junior Wrangler program and Kids Corps of Discovery will ensure your family gets the best of the great outdoors.
Related: Ranches in the US
Hotel del Coronado
Whether you lay your head in the historic Victorian Building, in the Beach Village or in the new Cabanas, you’re just steps away from the golden sands of Coronado Beach. Weekends bring bonfires on the beach with s’mores and sunset views over the Pacific. Trails allow bikers, hikers, and runners to take in all the views the island has to offer. Or get your exercise in with sweeping ocean views thanks to weekend spin classes and beach yoga. With more than 130 years of history, the Hotel del Coronado has a story to tell, and daily tours recite the legends of the hotel and the island.