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Kona Village Resort, Hawaii
Once an ancient fishing village, this 82-acre oasis is now composed of Polynesian-style bungalows surrounded by gorgeous gardens, lagoons, black lava, palm trees and black and white sand beaches. This tropical paradise also offers activities for kids of all ages; its complimentary daily program for children ages 5 to 12 includes Hawaiian net throwing, crab catching and coconut painting, while teens will love the three-day Alaka‘i nalu program, where they can enjoy activities like standup paddleboards, windsurfing, free diving, sailing, scooter snorkeling and scuba diving. (konavillage.com)
Rancho Valencia, San Diego, California
Set in the heart of Southern California, the 49-bedroom Rancho Valencia boasts an award-winning restaurant, full-service spa and plentiful outdoor activities like croquet, bocce ball, volleyball and badminton, in addition to its renowned tennis program. And as if the resort itself didn’t have enough amenities, it’s also conveniently located to the Del Mar Race Track, Rancho Santa Fe Polo Club and numerous championship golf courses and local beaches. (ranchovalencia.com)
Nickelodeon Suites Resorts, Orlando, Florida
Heading to Florida for some theme-park fun? Consider checking into the Nick Hotel, an extraordinary getaway featuring Nickelodeonthemed rooms, heated pools, 13 slides and flumes, interactive water towers, private cabanas and daily poolside shows with Nick’s signature green slime! There’s even a kid’s only spa, mall, 4-D movie theater and tons of Nick Studio Shows. Plus, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are just a short shuttle ride away. (nickhotel.com)
Club Med Punta Cana, The Dominican Republic
Club Med Punta Cana is situated on the largest beach on the island and features 75 acres of breathtaking tropical gardens. This all-inclusive resort offers programs for children of all ages: Petite Club Med offers stimulating activities, walks, and outside play and balanced lunches, while Club Med Passworld gives tweens and teens an exclusive area to meet up and enjoy sports and artistic activities like dance lessons, video editing, DJ lessons and more. For parents, the resort also boasts an open-air nightclub, two bars, trapeze and windsurfing lessons, aqua fitness classes and much more. (clubmed.us)
Tortuga Lodge, Costa Rica
Nestled in Costa Rica’s northeast Caribbean coast, Tortuga Lodge is a great destination for families who want to explore Costa Rica’s lush rainforest and exotic wild life. The resort’s 146 acres of private bliss include 26 deluxe rooms, an eco-friendly pool and acclaimed restaurant and bar, plus tons of adventure-filled amenities, like boat tours, bird-watching and kayaking on rainforest creeks. (tortugalodge.com)%uFFFD
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Cool Cruises For Kids
By Alessandra Hickson
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Planning to spend your next family vacation sailing the seven seas? These cruise lines are known for their especially kid-pleasing cruise options:
DISNEY CRUISES: All the magic of Disney World—on deck! A Disney Cruise includes Broadway-style musicals, deck parties, fireworks displays, movie theaters, arcades, swimming pools, an Internet café and themed restaurants. (disneycruise.com)
PRINCESS CRUISES: Rather than forcing all age groups into one activity, Princess Cruises provides tons of funfilled activities for every age! Young children can have fun with t-shirt printing, scavenger hunts, the 10,000 square-foot Fun Zone and “kids only” dinners. Teens can sing karaoke, go to dance parties and enjoy mocktails! (princess.com)
ROYAL CARIBBEAN: A 22,000 squarefoot children’s area, a teen nightclub called Fuel, mini-golf, ice skating, rock climbing and roller blading sound like perfect cruise activities for any kid. But Royal Caribbean doesn’t stop there. They also have baby classes designed by Fischer-Price, a Nickelodeon-themed ship, parades and the Flowrider surf park. (royalcaribbean.com)
CRYSTAL CRUISES: They may not have a “kids’ zone” or teen nightclub, but they have luxury to spare and several activities geared towards children, like diving for pennies, water-polo, pizza parties and cooking and baking. Sony Playstations and Xbox 360 kiosks are available, as well as a video arcade and library. (crystalcruises.com)
