The 17 Best US Resorts with Kids Clubs
PureWow Editors select every item that appears on this page,, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Read the original article on Purewow.
Sometimes, I read Reddit and my heart just opens. That’s how I reacted to a recent post:
“Best US resorts with kids club for toddlers? I need a g’damn break…
[I have a] 2 year old, 4 year old and [am] 7 months pregnant. We go on trips every other weekend as we love traveling and exposing our kids to new things, but we need a break. We’ve never used any sort of babysitting/kids club thing and know very little. Any suggestions?”
I feel you so deeply, SanFranPeach. I was a woman who loved to travel before I became a woman who loved her kid, so I was surprised that school breaks and summer holiday trips with my child did not approximate the restful, carefree vacations of yore. Instead, trips were mostly just more cooking, but in a kitchen with a different view and the pots and pans all in confusing places. (Still, kid-friendly Airbnb rentals are great choices for traveling with other families.) Along with learning what to pack for a family vacation, and enjoying years of cheap family vacations as well as ones that are plush, I’ve determined that sometimes, you just can’t beat traveling to a resort with a great kids club. These clubhouses for little kids are where babysitters entertain and maybe even educate your young ‘uns while you fall asleep at the pool with a frozen drink. I remember how proud my son was of the tie-dye shirt he made at a kids club at a Maui resort, and how excited he was to tell me about the little boy he befriended that day.
What to Look for in the Best US Resorts with Kids Clubs
While many hotels have babysitting services, a resort with a kids club is preferable since it entails a custom-built facility with toys, games and colorful décor, signaling to your kids that there’s something fun there for them (as opposed to just your sterile hotel room, where a babysitter would be minding them). The very best clubs lean into the resort’s strengths, with nature walks detailing the flora and fauna, or cultural lessons involving local history. And of course, there’s usually something involving action, in the pool, playground or the nearby park. Finally, tops kids clubs are sensitive to your child’s stage of development—while most take ages 5 to 12, some resorts have staff and equipment suitable for kids as young as 6 months and as old as teenagers. Fees for all this? Those range too, from being free with your stay to being a la carte premiums starting at $75 per half-day. I’ve checked the facts and reviews and crunched the numbers for this curation of the best U.S. resorts with kids clubs…make your reservations now, because school break is just around the corner.
The 51 Best Vacations for Kids in the U.S. for 2024
BEACH RESORTS
1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Oahu, Hawaii
Aulani
Age Range: 4 to 12
Activities: visits from Disney characters, local cultural learnings from Aunty
Hours: 7 am to 2 pm
Cost: free; premium add-ons cost extra
Aulani is a luxurious Disney resort located on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. It boasts a stunning oceanfront setting with lush tropical gardens and cascading waterfalls. The resort features 462 guest roomsoffering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean or the lush surroundings. It offers a variety of amenities for both adults and kids. Adults can relax at Laniwai Spa or enjoy a drink at Makahiki Bar & Lounge. Children can have a blast at Aunty's Beach House, a 5,200-square-foot supervised play area, or enjoy visits from beloved Disney figures. That’s all included in the room rate, though extra-special experiences like a race with Moana or a shark dance party can be added for a fee.
2. JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
JW Marriott Marco Island
Age Range: 5 to 10
Activities: Sand Castle Building, Bowling & Mini Golf at 10K Alley, Story Time on the Beach
Hours: 10 to 2pm
Cost: $120
The JW Marriott Marco Island is a luxurious resort located on the beautiful Marco Island in Florida. With over 700 guest rooms and suites, it offers a variety of accommodations to suit every traveler's needs, including connected rooms which is great for extended families traveling together. For families with children, the resort features a supervised kids club called the Tiki Time Day Camp, where young guests can enjoy a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, sandcastle building, outdoor games, and more. Note that the Tiki Time Day Camp age limit stops at 12, unlike many resort kids clubs that age out at 12 or older.
3. Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Palm Beach, Florida
Hotels.com
Age Range: 3 to 17
Activities: theater, interactive light peg wall, conservation education
Hours 10 to 6 pm; May to September
Cost: free; otherwise, $25 per hour to $95 per day
The Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa offers a luxurious and family-friendly atmosphere with 103 chicly decorated rooms, each with oceanfront views. On a private beach in Palm Beach, the resort stays serene with lots of activity at the on-site kids club, Loggers, which is a supervised environment for children ages 3 to 12, including activities like arts and crafts, games and outdoor exploration. The name "Loggers" for the kids club at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is a reference to loggerhead sea turtles.These endangered reptiles are known for their nesting habits on Florida's beaches, including Palm Beach. The name is a way to honor and protect these creatures, while also engaging children in learning about their importance and conservation efforts. Bonus: There’s a plush complimentary teen club for youth aged 13 to 17, with games including an arcade with a claw machine, table tennis and Xbox.
4. Montage Laguna Beach Resort, Laguna Beach, California
Montage
Age Range: 2 to 12
Activities: 2 to 5-year-olds get indoor./outdoor games and dramatic play; 5 to 12-year-olds do crafts, lawn and pool play
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: from $125 per half day
The Montage Laguna Beach is a luxury resort nestled on a breathtaking waterfront site in Laguna Beach, California. With 258 guest rooms and suites, it offers breathtaking ocean views and a tranquil atmosphere. The resort features five world-class restaurants, including The Studio, serving Californian cuisine, and The Beach Club, offering beachfront dining. For families with children, the Montage offers supervised kids clubs, including Paintbox Petite, for 2 to 5 year olds (potty training not required!), and Paintbox, for 5 to 12 year olds. These clubs offer a variety of activities, such as arts and crafts, games, and outdoor adventures—there’s even 12 cool merit badges, earned for activities like sandcastle building and catching a wave.
5. Aqualina Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Florida
Acqualina
Age Range: 4 to 12
Activities: beach yoga, seashell crafts, animal protection learning, a cultural immersion in the form of a Spanish lesson
Hours: 10 am to 4 pm
Cost: complimentary
The Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach is a luxurious oceanfront oasis located in Miami Beach. This exquisite resort boasts 98 elegant guest rooms and suites, each with chill views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal. Indulge in a culinary journey with Michelin-starred AQ by Acqualina or the more casual Costa Grill serving fresh seafood and Mediterranean cuisine. There are great cocktails at AQ Bar or served poolside. For young guests, Acqualina offers the AcquaMarine children’s program, where children ages 4 to 12 can do arts and crafts, play games or have well-supervised beach adventures. There’s also a variety of special events and themed activities throughout the year, such as holiday celebrations and character meet-and-greets.
6. Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Terranea
Age Range: 3 to 12
Activities: outdoor games, coastal environment education
Hours: 3-hour sessions beginning at 10 am
Cost: $135; 2-hour sessions beginning at 2 pm, $90
The Terranea Resort is a family-friendly destination located on a spit of land suspended over the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The place has 582 guest rooms and suites dotted along its stunning ocean views; there’s a relaxed atmosphere and diverse dining options (your kids will love burgers on the oceanside patio). The Terranea Kid's Club, offers supervised activities including arts and crafts, games, beach adventures and nature exploration while parents relax, sunbathe and take long strolls across the breezy landscape.
7. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
Four Seasons at Wailea
Age Range: 5 and up, 9 to 17
Activities: younger kids-games, crafts, pool time; tweens and teens, outrigger canoes and water sports
Hours: 9 to 5 pm
Cost: complimentary
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has a Kids for All Seasons program where children 4 to 12 can enjoy their own Hawaiian experience, supervised and safe. Kids ages 4 to 12 get to go on beach adventures (more fun that just having Mom watch sleepily from a towel), are given Hawaiian cultural lessons on traditional practices like hula dancing and lei-making. The snorkeling and sandcastle building alone will make them want to come back. And you’ll be pretty taken with the stunning ocean views and famed Four Seasons service in the 383 guest rooms and suites.
8. La Costa, San Diego, California
La Costa
Age Range: 6 months to 12 years
Activities: movies, saltwater aquarium, craft
Hours: 8 am to 4 pm; half or full days; Date night, Wednesdays and Thursdays 5 to 9 pm
Cost: $72 per half day
Parents will appreciate Date Night at La Costa Resort, a luxurious destination nestled in Carlsbad, California—that’s because the kids club, Kidtopia, is open late from 5 to 9 pm to give the Olds a chance for a romantic (or at least quiet) dinner alone. This resort is known for its championship golf courses and world-class spa, but it also offers a fantastic experience for families. The kids club supervises children as young as six months old, and tailors offerings of arts and crafts, games, storytelling and even a saltwater aquarium to kids through 12 years old.
9. Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach, Florida
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach
Age Range: 3 to 12
Activities: arts and crafts, swimming, Kinect tournaments
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: full day, $95; half-day, $50
Clearwater Beach is #2 among the best family vacation spots in the nation, according to travel experts. Beloved for its sugar sand beaches and relaxed vibe, parents will also appreciate its kitted-out children’s program, where kids are taken beachcombing, play board games, eat lunch together during full-day session and hit the playground. That gives parents time to enjoy the gorg views of the Gulf of Mexico from one of the 286 roomy guest accommodations. Or have a float in one of multiple pools before hitting the on-premises SHOR American Seafood Grill and The Rooftop Bar.
ADVENTURE RESORTS
10. Migis Lodge, South Casco, Maine
Migos Lodge
On Sebago Lake 40 minutes northwest of Portland, this little collection of cabins is situated in 135 woodland acres along 3,500 feet of Sebago Lake. These 35 fieldston cottages and eight guestrooms are, In other words, heaven for summer campers, both grownups and their children, who can waterski, wakeboard and swim in the lake when they’re not playing pickleball or hiking. The kids’ camps run all summer; littles make tie-dye t-shirts and build fairy and gnome houses, while older kids can try underwater scavenger hunts and acing capture the flag.
11. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Georgia
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, is a luxurious resort nestled along the shores of Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. The resort boasts stunning views of the lake and surrounding greenery, a picturesque setting with 255 guest rooms and suites. Families can choose dining options including Linger Longer Steakhouse, Barrel Room and Gaby's by the Lake, before going on group activities like fishing, kayaking and canoeing. The kids club takes kids on nature walks and supervised swimming outings, and also has them spending some indoor time working on arts and crafts.
12. Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass
Sheraton Grande at Wild Horse Pass
Age Range: 5 to 12
Activities: native culture learnings, games and outdoor activities, indoor rock wall, Nintendo Switch and crafts
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm; Night Out 5:30 to 9 pm
Cost: $60 half day, $130 whole day; $85 Night Out
It’s all about the stunning Sonoran Desert at this Chandler, Arizona resort, starting with a daily morning meet-and-greet with a wild mustang and wrangler at the equestrian center. It’s an ideal intro for your family to this resort’s architectural and programming inspiration from Native American heritage. With 500 guest rooms and suites, the Sheraton Grand offers a variety of accommodations to suit every traveler's needs. Guests can enjoy a variety of dining options, including the upscale Ahvat Hale, the casual Ironwood American Kitchen, and the poolside Oasis Bar & Grill. The resort also boasts a world-class spa, a fitness center, multiple swimming pools and a championship golf course. For adults, the Sheraton Grand offers a variety of activities, including tennis, horseback riding and hiking. For children, the resort features a dedicated kids club with a variety of engaging activities. The kids club is a spacious 3,000-square-foot facility that offers arts and crafts, games and supervised swimming. Wednesday through Saturday, the kids club has staff on hand from 5:30 to 9 pm for a special “kid’s night out” to keep them entertained while parents have a night out of their own.
13. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain
Age Range: 5 to 12
Activities: curated activities focusing on life in Southern Arizona including the Wild West, Mexican heritage, Native American culture and Tortolita Mountains plants and animals
Hours: Friday through Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: half days, $125, full days, $250
The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain is a luxurious 286-room resort nestled in the Sonoran Desert, just north of Tucson, Arizona. Situated on 640 acres of pristine saguaro cactus-dotted desert, the resort overlooks the Santa Catalina Mountains. Activities include golf, tennis, hiking and horseback riding. Dinner is served at the upscale Ventana Grille or casual Dove Mountain Café. The resort also features multiple swimming pools, including a family pool and an adult-only pool. The dedicated kids club is located in a separate building where kids do arts and crafts, games and supervised swimming, when kids aren’t learning all about the high desert and its diverse ecosystem via a walk led by a naturalist.
RANCH RESORTS
14. Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel Valley Ranch
Age Range: Tots-2 to 5; Kids-5 to 12
Activities: organic gardening, indoor/outdoor games, arts and crafts
Hours: 9am to 4pm
Cost: 9 am to 1 pm, $125; 9 am to 4 pm, $230
The Carmel Valley Ranch is a luxurious resort nestled in the heart of Carmel Valley, California. Surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, the ranch offers a serene and picturesque setting. With 123 guest rooms and suites, the resort provides a variety of accommodations to suit every traveler's needs. Guests can enjoy a variety of amenities, including multiple swimming pools, a spa, a fitness center and a golf course. For families, the ranch features a new Adventure Den, a 2,500-square-foot indoor play space that offers a variety of engaging activities for a range of ages, and every day of the week has a different themed activity: Marine Monday, Wildlife Wednesday, etc. The Adventure Den includes a climbing wall, a zip line, a ball pit and a Lego play area.
15. Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana
Ranch at Rock Creek
Age Range: 4 to 12
Activities: hiking, riding
Hours: variable
Cost: included in resort cost
The Ranch at Rock Creek is a luxurious resort nestled in the heart of Montana's Granite County. Situated on 6,600 acres of pristine wilderness, the ranch offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests. With 29 guest rooms and cabins, the resort provides a variety of accommodations to suit every traveler's needs. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities, including horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. For children, the resort features the Flint's Forest Rangers kids program, which gives kids a backpack, water bottle, hat and activity passport, in which they note activities they’ve done (nature exploration, archery, fishing and more) with a paw print, in homage to the ranch’s dog mascot. Supervised by a staff member, all this outdoors activity is going to imprint the wonders of the Montana wilderness specifically nature in general in hopes of teaching your kids it's totally possible to put down their screens.
Book It; From $2,100 per night
SKI RESORTS
16. The Lodge at Steamboat, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Steamboat
Age Range: 3 to 6
Activities: group lessons grouped by age and skill level
Hours: 8:15 to 3 pm
Cost: variable
Skiing is a real win-win for families, no matter how sporty parents may or may not be. Ski schools will take your young ‘uns and teach them the basics then practice, practice, practice with them all day, while you enjoy the more advanced slopes or, let’s be real, indulge in nap time. Colorado’s Lodge at Steamboat is a charming condominium resort located in the heart of Steamboat Springs, full of a variety of two and three-bedroom units so any size brood or extended family will be comfortable. Amenities include fully equipped kitchens, gas fireplaces, and balconies or patios with stunning mountain views. Your condo is walking distance to the Steamboat Mountain Camp, making it an ideal choice for families with children enrolled in the camp's programs. The camp offers a variety of activities for children of all ages, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and more.
17. Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe,Vermont
Lodge at Spruce Peak
Age Range: winter, 1 to 14; summer, 3 to 14
Activities: summertime obstacle course, year-round heated outdoor pool, winter ski lessons
Hours: 8 am to 4 pm
Cost: $247 per day
Ski buffs on the East Coast will want to check out this children’s adventure center, off the Village Green in Stowe, that has indoor climbing and a winter kids’ program for children aged 1 to 14 (summertime, they entertain children aged 3 to 14). The Stowe Adventure Camp is a great perk for older siblings who can still enjoy nature hikes and activities while parents enjoy the spa or a hike (or sleep). Plus, the Cubs Childcare center offers day care for 3 months to 4-year-olds during the ski season and summer seasons. As home base, keep the fam cozy at the Lodge at Spruce Creek, a 250-room ski in/ski out resort a short drive from the Village Green.