Family Friendly Hotels and Resorts in the U.S.

Five unique hotels make up this Forbes 4 star resort which sits on 50 acres and boasts 5 miles of private beach.  Choose your sleeping quarters from the Cloister, the boutique Lodge, the Cottages, the budget-friendly Inn and the secluded Broadfield. There is a large catalogue full of family friendly activities from toddlers to teenagers, 15 restaurants, a kids club for ages 5+.  It's safe to say your family will never be bored here. 

Stroll along five miles of sandy beaches, play golf or tennis, enjoy an array of family-friendly activities and experiences – the opportunities for recreation and fun are unlimited.  Potential activities include a pony ride at Lawton Stables, a swim at Harbour Town pool (complete with kid's pool area), parasailing, kayaking, motorboating, jet skiing, or play at the nearby playground. The food options aren't too shabby either.  This resort boasts 10 dining options which means you are sure to find something to eat for even the pickiest of eaters.

Let's start out with the highlight of this resort, the waterpark.  Tidal Cove Waterpark comes complete with water slides, pools, a lazy river, and a dedicated splash zone for younger guests.  The food options aren't too shabby either with seven different food and beverage options on site from the upscale steakhouse, Bourbon Steak, to Freestyle, a quick-grab snack bar.

Just outside Atlanta sits the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee.  Here you will find 5 golf courses, 3 pools, a kids club for ages 5+, a range of accommodations from cottage to luxury suites, and a plethora of lake activities.  Something unique for your kids: the in-room camping experience complete with a tent, flashlight, and stuffed animal.

The shear number of available activities for every season is the highlight at Smugglers' Notch.  Their website guide includes activities for every hour of every day so the only hardship will be figuring out how to fit it all in.  An added bonus?  On-site childcare is available for ages 6 months+ along with baby gear rentals.

Whiteface Lodge is tucked into the picturesque
woodlands of the Adirondacks’ High Peaks region in Upstate New York. The village of Lake Placid, home to two Winter Olympic Games and a wealth of year-round attractions, lies within walking distance. And surrounding it all, six million spectacular mountain acres of Adirondack Park—the largest protected area in the U.S. mainland. The breathtaking variety of geography provides plenty of outdoor activities. However, on-site amenities are plentiful as well,  making the lodge one of the most alluring Lake Placid resorts.

One of the best time's to visit?  Christmas.  Opryland boasts one of the best line-ups of Christmas-themed activities in the US with festive displays, ice tubing, skating, gingerbread house decorating, carriage rides, and a breakfast with Rudolph.  If you are visiting during the rest of the year, you will find a wide-range of activities and a huge indoor/outdoor water recreation facility which is kept at a pleasant 84 degrees year-round.

Paws Up is a luxury Montana mountain resort situated on a sprawling, 37,000-acre, authentic working cattle ranch in western Montana. Whether you choose an expansive private home or a sophisticated, safari-style luxury tent, Paws Up provides an unfiltered connection with the natural beauty of Montana.    As you might expect, there are plenty of horse-back riding experiences to choose from.  There’s ATV riding, boating, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, paintball, rafting, rappelling, swimming and more.  This is a true outdoor vacation for the family.  After a full day of activities, you can enjoy one of siz different dining experiences.

A family-friendly homebase for on-site activities and an exploration of San Diego.  The hotel sits along the beautiful beach in Coronado.  If the beach isn't your thing, there is also an Olympic-sized outdoor pool.  Stay on-site to enjoy movie nights on the beach or venture offsite to Balboa Park or the San Diego Zoo.

The highlights are numerous at Legoland Resort.  The obvious one is the close proximity (exactly 130 steps) to the theme park.  Your kids will loves the separate kid's sleeping area in every room complete with a theme of your choice: Kingdom, Adventure, Pirate, LEGO Friends or The LEGO® MOVIE™.  Also included are in-room scavenger hunts with prizes, nightly kid's entertainment, free creative workshops, and a heated resort-style pool​.  This resort is a must for all the Lego lovers out there.

The Disney experience in a Hawaiian setting.  A stay at Aulani includes a private beach, 6 pools, a complimentary kids club, and of course, plenty of character experiences.  Dining experiences are diverse as anyone who have visited a Disney resort would expect.  You can take in a Lu'au, snack poolside, enjoy a meal overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or treat the family to a character dining experience.  For larger or extended families, there are multiple bedrooms suites available.

The Broadmoor boasts the honor of being the Longest-Running Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond Resort in the World.  The location in Colorado Springs means 300 days of sunshine a year and a setting that allows for a wide-variety of outdoor adventures.  Ziplining, falconry, hiking, rock climbing, biking, archery, cog railway rides, and the list goes on.  Perfect for nature and adventure loving families to create some lasting memories.  Dining options are as numerous as the activities with a wide-variety of options sure to please any palate.

A trip to Mackinac Island is unique.  You will not see any cars on the island.  Instead, all guests arrive by ferry and utilize bikes or horse-drawn carriages for transportation around the island.  The hotel is situated on 18 acres and boasts two lodges, six eateries, a pool, hot tub, 18-hole putting course, arcade, lawn games, tennis courts, movie theatre, and a kids club for ages 5+.  A bonus?  Enjoy an amazing sunset from the view of the Great Lawn.

Perched on 175 acres atop a 150-foot seaside bluff and featuring a private beach club, this elegant AAA Five-Diamond retreat offers both indulgence and inspiration—from oceanfront culinary experiences to unique coastal activities and adventures.  Family-friendly activities here could mean surf lessons, a picnic, splashing around their "sprayground" and finishing the night around the campfire with some s'mores all while enjoying the pleasant Southern Califronia weather.

Just 21 miles from Charleston sits this luxury beach resort.  Here you will find a mix of traditional guest rooms and suites, 2 outdoor pools (including a dedicated family pool with water slides), and an indoor pool.  The resort activities are abundant.  Kayaking, biking, archery, surfing, arts and crafts,  alligator and dolphin adventures, paddleboarding, and movie nights.  The extensive list is sure to please every family member.

Let's start out with the basics: 12 beachfront acres, 5 restaurants, 4 pools, and 5 fire tables.  Unique to this property is a massive 33,500 gallon aquarium with a touch-tank experience.​  And the water highlights continue with floating loungers, a floating waterpark, dive-in movies, jet skiing, banana boating, parasailing, dolphin cruises, fishing, and kayaking.  Landside you will find mini golf, ziplining, crafts, campfire s'mores, and a kids club for ages 5+.  Want to preserve the memory?  On-site photography services are available.

Swim, splash and slide at Great Wolf Lodge's indoor water park resorts.  With numerous locations available across the country, your next family vacation may be closer than you think.  Sure, Great Wolf Lodge may be known for its indoor waterpark, but it has so much more to offer.  Enjoy a climbing wall, bowling, mini golf, an arcade, a ropes course, or a MagiQuest all without ever having to leave the Lodge.  Kids (and parents) will be delighted to settle into your room at night with separate sleeping quarters for children.

Ideal for families, the luxury hotel offers four pools (heated to a nice 82 degrees in winter), a spa, golf, a pickleball center, and kids club.  The delicious food options include many genres from southwestern to Asian-fusion.  If you do choose to leave the resort,  the Phoenix Zoo or Children's Museum are a short drive away.