The Best Luxury Family Resorts in the US and Caribbea

Don’t worry if organizing a fun family vacation seems too much to handle. Numerous upscale family resorts in the US and the Caribbean have well-considered amenities to guarantee an unforgettable vacation for both adults and children. 21 Best Luxury Family Resorts in the US Benefits to watch out for include enriching trips that let families explore the neighborhood, beach and poolside water activities, kids clubs with daily programming, and roomy accommodations (with connecting rooms). Many kid-friendly hotels provide award-winning spas, mouthwatering cuisine, and luxurious room amenities that will make you feel at home, so you don’t have to sacrifice your personal leisure in the process.

Here are the most interesting luxury family resorts and hotels in the Caribbean and the US to think about when planning your next family holiday, offering everything from manicures for mommy and me to restaurant fare that ranges from chicken fingers to champagne and elevated snacks.

Bahamas, Baha Mar, Nassau

Millions of families, including those at Baha Mar, visit Nassau & Paradise Island in the Bahamas, which is arguably one of the Caribbean’s most family-friendly islands. Overlooking Cable Beach, the Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood hotels are part of the 1,000-acre luxury resort complex. A daily kids club schedule, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course, more than 30 upscale retail stores, a newly refurbished 300-seat jazz club, more than 45 restaurants and cafes, and SLS’s 15-acre water park with multiple swimming pools, Baha Bay, are among the shared facilities spread across the expansive complex. Every year on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, families should not miss the Junkanoo procession, which showcases the best dances, costumes, and musical performances.

Blackberry Farm, Tennessee’s Walland

Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024 $$$ | GOLD LIST 2018, 2025

For a sophisticated take on summer camp, head to the Great Smoky Mountains’ foothills. Gather at the historic on-site farm for activities like wakeboarding, geocaching, and agricultural classes. Enjoy the tasty and laid-back Dogwood restaurant as a reward. Blackberry Farm offers activities for all ages, including pottery lessons, private horseback rides, stream exploration during Youth Discovery programs, and even truffle scouting, complete with Lagotto dogs.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts’s Winnetu Oceanside Resort

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024

In addition to its prime location on Edgartown’s South Beach, this historic Martha’s Vineyard resort offers a youthful adventure program that includes mountain biking, kayaking, bridge leaping, and a ropes course. The grownups can relax on the beach, eat lunch by the pool, and then reassemble at the resort’s Cape Pogue cottage while the kids are out getting their adrenaline fix.

California’s Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point

$$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE 2018–2019–2023–2024

This Southern California resort offers a wide range of amenities, including surfing lessons on the resort’s stunning private beach, a lively pool area with cabanas and a Mexi-Cali cantina, and Miraval Spa’s first coastal location with yoga and meditation for youngsters.

Colorado’s Madeline Hotel in Telluride

In 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, the Readers’ Choice Awards

For unspoiled Colorado skiing, Telluride is hard to top, and a stay at the ski-in/ski-out Madeline is even impossible to top. Reserve a modern residence-style apartment with a fully equipped kitchen and mountain views. The children can then be left free to ice skate, indulge at Dylan’s Candy Bar, or hang out at 20 Below, a kids-only club that opened earlier this year, in the hotel’s own hidden nook of the Mountain Village.

The Paws Up Resort in Greenough, Montana

$$$ | READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2021, 2023, 2024, 2018, 2019, and 2017

After a day of pushing the boundaries on a high ropes course, leading a cattle drive on horseback, and enjoying a chef-prepared chuck wagon picnic, there’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. The Resort at Paws Up in Montana offers luxurious camping above the roaring Black River in a porch-wrapped home with the recently added benefit of free kids club access, or in a cozy family tent with separate sleeping quarters for the kids and a full bathroom with heated floors.

Dunton, Colorado’s Dunton Hot Springs

$$$ | Readers’ Choice Awards 2017–2024 | GOLD LIST 2018–2020

This all-inclusive resort is a favorite among travelers and was constructed on the remains of an old mining town high in the Colorado Rockies. In between summertime fly fishing, rafting, and horseback riding, the most adventurous children get to tour a ghost town. (Try skiing and dogsledding in the winter.) While children savor popcorn and movies in the adjacent room, parents can retreat to the Saloon for wine pairings at night.

Georgia’s Sea Island

$$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE 2017, 2021

The 63-room Garden Wing of this southern resort is the ideal location for an endless coastal adventure. Take the kids to Camp Cloister for naturalist training, sail or paddleboard through salt flats with dolphins, lose yourself in the 65,000-square-foot spa, play on one of the three championship golf courses, and end the day with family bingo.

Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii’s Four Seasons Oahu

The Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023

The Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is next door to Disney’s Aulani, offers parents an Oahu vacation with all the amenities of paradise, but without the Mickey Mouse ears. These include spa services for all guests, access to the Ko Olina Golf Club, outdoor pools and beachside water sports, and cribs for toddlers and tweens.

Mountain House at Mohonk, New Paltz, NY

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This fifth-generation-owned clifftop lake hideaway, located 90 miles north of New York City, brings together history buffs and nature lovers. Rock climbing, lit nighttime disc golf, and frog hunting at the free kids club are some of the gadget-free outdoor activities that kids can do to pass the time. Programs for mindfulness meditation taught by Nina Smiley, Ph.D., round it out. For parties involving multiple generations, the six-bedroom Grove Lodge is ideal.

Mountain House at Mohonk, New Paltz, NY

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This fifth-generation-owned clifftop lake hideaway, located 90 miles north of New York City, brings together history buffs and nature lovers. Rock climbing, lit nighttime disc golf, and frog hunting at the free kids club are some of the gadget-free outdoor activities that kids can do to pass the time. Programs for mindfulness meditation taught by Nina Smiley, Ph.D., round it out. For parties involving multiple generations, the six-bedroom Grove Lodge is ideal.

Florida’s Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Orlando

$$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ SELECTION 2017–2018–2019–2021, 2022–2023, 2024

Situated on 500 acres near the Florida Everglades’ head, this opulent Orlando resort offers an outdoor paradise that is far from Disneyfied, complete with marshes, ponds, and cypress trees. Take a fishing lesson, visit the Greg Norman-designed golf course, take the kids on a guided eco-tour by kayak, or immerse them in Florida’s great outdoors at the brand-new interactive kids’ club.

Chicago’s Peninsula, Chicago, Illinois

$$$ | HOT LIST 2017 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 & GOLD LIST 2018, 2019, 2022

Chicago is always seeing the opening of new hotels, but none can compare to the Peninsula for affluent families. With the Camp Peninsula package, you can choose among luxuries like an in-room tent and a scavenger hunt for the kids, or you can use the concierge’s children’s guide to find places to explore in the city. Chicago’s only hotel skating rink is located on the Peninsula throughout the winter. The Chalet serves hot beverages and nibbles for visitors to enjoy this winter wonderland.

California’s Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach

The following awards were chosen by readers: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Something about entering the expansive, windswept lobby of the Montage, which opens up to expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean, truly kicks off your beach holiday in Southern California. Reunite with the family in Goff Cove, one of the several beaches conveniently accessible from the hotel’s clifftop location, after booking one of the premium suites, which are larger than most Manhattan apartments at 1,200 square feet, and skipping off to the spa.

Montana’s Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky

$$$

You don’t have to give up luxury to visit Yellowstone National Park. This 160-acre private ranch is covered with forests and offers horseback riding, high alpine lake fishing, and cabins directly on a pristine river. From here, you may take guided trips into the neighboring park. The range of outdoor activities will be especially appreciated by older children.

Antigua’s Tamarind Hills Resort and Villas

$$$

Tamarind Hills Resort & Villas in Antigua offers the ultimate reward: unhindered views of a glittering Caribbean ocean. There is enough space for everyone to move around in the 56 rooms, which include roomy suites and villas with up to five bedrooms. Additional benefits include villas with private pools and fully furnished kitchens, as well as easy access to Fryes and Darkwood beaches, two of Antigua’s most coveted stretches of sand. Activities in a children’s program include scavenger hunts, tie-dye T-shirt creation, and reggae dancing classes. In-house spa services and a knowledgeable concierge staff that can arrange any experience on the island are accessible when you’re ready for a little self-care.

Le Carl Gustaf Hotel Barrière, St. Barts

$$$ | 2021 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2022, 2024 HOT LIST

Situated in close proximity to the highly sought-after Shell Beach in St. Barts, this little luxury retreat provides breathtaking ocean views and family-friendly relaxation. With 21 rooms dotted over a serene cliffside, visitors are encouraged to relax on the large pool decks, private restaurant, and beach club. A five-bedroom private home with its own pool and larger bungalows with separate bedrooms are suitable for families. While the kids engage in on-site activities like treasure hunts, art workshops, and pastry classes, take use of the complimentary Le Carl Gustaf electric bike or visit the spa. The concierge staff is always happy to give advice on how to explore the island, and the service is excellent.

the island. Enjoy a meal at Beefbar, Chef Riccardo Giraudi’s award-winning restaurant that draws inspiration from Monte Carlo’s international culture. Here, visitors may savor a variety of foreign street cuisine and creative beverages while taking in views of the Caribbean’s azure waters.

Scottsdale, Arizona’s Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE from 2017 to 2019 to 2020 to 2021 to 2023 to 2024

This 65-acre desert favorite is all about adaptability. Little ones can play a life-size version of Pac-Man at the Trailblazers Family Adventure Center at the resort in Arizona, which offers a different themed adventure every week. A 200-foot winding water slide at the Sonoran Splash Pool will keep the youngsters occupied while you relax under an opulent private cabana. More than 300 interactive exhibits are available at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, which is nearby. There are five award-winning restaurants and bars on the property for you to choose from when you’re hungry.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Los Angeles

$$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ CHOICE IN 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

Tucked away on a quiet street, this Beverly Hills mainstay’s opulent rooms and dining options attract both local celebrities and visitors from out of town. With features like free baby bath supplies, kid-sized bathrobes, free coloring books and crayons, and kid-friendly menus for both in-room and restaurant meals, kids won’t feel excluded here. Parents: Don’t miss Veil & Velvet’s seasonal speakeasy event, which will take place in the hotel’s renovated lounge. An comprehensive martini menu, tables with vintage jewel boxes, and a “press for caviar” are all part of the entire experience.

button that shows servers swooping in bringing an assortment of the best caviar. A citrus body scrub created from Dead Sea crystals and sound bath meditation are two new treatments added to the spa’s repertoire, which is perfect for a brief respite from the stresses of parenthood.

Cape Cod, Mass.’s Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

The Readers’ Choice Awards for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024

For the true magic of this sophisticated yet laid-back Cape Cod resort, which you can all enjoy together, skip the Children’s Center. The resort offers spacious suites, poolside cabanas, boat rides to the Outer Beach, and a great dinner at Twenty-Eight Atlantic, where cocktails (and mocktails) are made and served at the table.

The Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California

$$ | AWARDS FOR READERS’ SELECTION 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

The Resort at Pelican Hill is located on the glistening Newport Beach shoreline, only one hour south of Los Angeles. With more than a million hand-cut glass tiles at the bottom, the expansive coastal getaway features the largest circular pool in the United States, sure to astonish both children and adults. The pool hosts a daily “Morning Splash” during the summer, where everyone may have fun with inflatables and floaties. The resort’s 332 bungalow and villa rooms come with a number of “Imagination Amenities,” which are free for visitors and perfect for kids aged 2 to 10. These include a bucket of amusing soaps, mugs,

and toys, as well as a sketching set and an easel to make a unique creative space in any lodging. Youth yoga for years three and up, as well as the Mommy & Me Gelato and Manicure experience, are additional kid-friendly programs. Villa rents range from 2,200 square feet to 3,581 square feet and come with two, three, or four bedrooms. Other benefits include gourmet kitchens, on-call personal butlers, and panoramic patios with views of the ocean.