THE HOT LIST
Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
With world-class golfing and a host of family activities, Casa de Campo offers beachside luxury for parents and children. After lounging at the beach, try your hand at deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, or bicycling. Golf aficionados will want to check out the three Pete Dye-designed golf courses. When parents want to slip away for a spot of personal time, Casa de Campo staff members are there with supervised children’s activities, and nannies are available for hire from 8 a.m. until midnight. (casadecampo.com.do)
Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami, FL
Of all the lovely Art Deco hotels in South Beach, Loews is the one that is truly welcoming to families. Located close to the beach, it has an attentive, kid-friendly staff, a kids’ camp, a kids’ menu at the hotel restaurant, and, most importantly, a huge wonderful pool with lots of shallow walk-in inlets. Lending libraries of games and DVDs, tours and supervised activities will keep kids happy, and parents can indulge in a massage at the hotel’s Elemis Spa. (loewshotels.com)
Half Moon, Montego Bay, Jamaica
A wonderful blend of luxury and family-friendly accommodations and activities, Half Moon features an equestrian center, a dolphin lagoon, many swimming pools, an 18-hole putting course and, most notably for parents and children, the Anacy Children’s Village, where there are swings, sandboxes, and activities for kids all day long. The resort also offers excellent family packages, including the use of four- to seven-room waterfront villas. (halfmoonroyalvillas.com)
Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Phoenix, AZ
Built as one of Phoenix’s first resorts in 1929, the Arizona Biltmore is an iconic destination. Picture yourself soaring through the summer skies on a hot air balloon, getting a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, or maybe on a family expedition through the Sonoran desert. Kids will have a blast swimming in one of the eight pools, playing tennis, biking, creating artwork or sliding down the windy slide at the Kids Korral. There are also five on-site dining options and a spa, salon, and fitness center. (arizonabiltmore.com)
Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, Costa Rica
Your family’s discovery of Costa Rica’s spectacular country starts on the 1,100 acres of rainforest at Los Suenos Marriot Ocean and Golf Resort. Outdoorsy families can enjoy the three nearby beaches, hiking trails and water sports available. For those less interested in getting water-logged, exploring San Jose will introduce kids to its vibrant culture. Or, drop the kids off for a fun day at the Tortuga Kids Club while you practice your golf swing in tranquility. (marriott.com)
Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort, Puerto Rico
Is your family ready to for a trip to paradise? No passport necessary at the Rio Mar Beach Resort! Located between the Atlantic Ocean and El Yunque National Forest, it offers a plethora of activities. Adults can spend the day on the golf course, at the spa, or on the tennis court while kids ages 4-12 can enjoy supervised pool and beach activities at Club Iguana. Families are also welcome to partake in sailing, water sports, and rainforest and city tours. (wyndhamriomar.com)
THE COLD LIST
Windham Mountain, The Catskills, NY
A local family-friendly mountain only two-and-a-halfhours from the city, Windham boasts an abundance of trails for all levels, an ice-skating rink, and a daycare program. There are also group and private lessons available for both kids and adults. Families can stay at the Winwood Inn or in condos. The resort is also home to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center, where children and adults with disabilities can learn to ski or snowboard. (windhammountain.com)
Smugglers’ Notch
Resort, Smuggler’s Notch, VT
If you look up “family ski vacation” in the
dictionary, chances are you’ll find Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Families
can stay in a mountainside condo near ski lifts, an indoor swimming
pool, tubing park, ice skating rink, entertainment center, and daycare
facility. When it comes to hitting the slopes, even children as young as
2 %uFFFD can learn to ski in the hotel’s Little Rascals program. The resort
also offers a special class in which instructors give intermediate-level
parents the tools to teach their kids to ski. (smuggs.com)
Snowmass Mountain,
Aspen, CO
Colorado
has always been a hotspot for skiing vacations, and now families have
an even bigger incentive to head there for the winter. Snowmass
Mountain, just 10 miles away from Aspen, boasts a newly developed
family-friendly base village featuring condos, restaurants, shops, and
more. The mountain itself is ideal for skiers of all skill levels and
ages, and when the kids get enough of the snow, they can head to the
Treehouse, a 25,000-square-foot children’s center with nature-themed
rooms, a daycare and fun activities. (aspensnowmass.com)
Woodloch, Hawley, PA
Nestled in the
northeast Pocono Mountains lake region, Woodloch is a destination for
family adventures, where kids and parents take part in activities side
by side in a picturesque setting. On the itinerary for winter: snow
tubing, ice skating, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow showing, family
Olympics, and more! If you’d like to stay indoors, take advantage of the
racquetball courts, indoor swimming, Jacuzzis, or fitness center. With
an onsite family meal service, you never have to leave the premises! (woodloch.com)
The Osprey at
Beaver Creek by RockResorts, Avon, CO
When visiting in the winter months, your
family will find an endless number of activities at this resort in
Colorado’s beautiful alpine sanctuary. From downhill and cross-country
skiing to snowshoeing and ice skating, adventurers big and small are
sure to be satisfied. Beaver Creek also offers ski and snowboard
schools. Upon your return from the great outdoors, you will be greeted
with fine dining, elegant guest rooms, and an outdoor pool and hot tub. (ospreyatbeavercreek.rockresorts.com)
Philadelphia,
PA For families searching for some local inspiration, we recommend
looking right next door. Not only does Philadelphia have museums and
restaurants and great city walks, but it has a bunch of “must” visits
for families, including the Franklin Institute Science Museum
(www2.fi.edu), where you can take a stroll through the famous Giant
Heart, and the Please Touch Museum (pleasetouchmuseum.org), which is
chock full of exhibits like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. And then
there’s all that history to be had at places like the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall. (gophila.com)
