Also visit our Family Beach Resorts page to find more hotels and resorts.
1. California: Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island
Just across the bay from San Diego, Coronado Island gained fame for its 18 miles of white sands and for the landmark Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888. Your southern California beach break comes with surf lessons (ages six +), boogie boarding, kayaking and wakeboarding. In summer, add poolside bingo plus Flick 'N Float movies. During Kidtopia sessions, ages four to 12 fly kites, go on scavenger hunts and build sandcastles. At Vibes, the teen hangout, ages 13 to 17 play foosball, computer games and Karaoke. Teen spa-goers can try facials and, wearing bathing suits, get salt scrubs and massages. The mega-property offers 679 rooms plus 78, one- to three-bedroom seaside cottages and villas.
2. California: Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, Half Moon
Situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, this property, 40 minutes from San Francisco, delivers a classic northern California coast vacation complete with wildlife and waves (don a wet suit as the water's cool). In summer look for dolphins and in fall and winter watch for whales. Try family surfing lessons (ages 5 +), go ocean kayaking or horseback riding along the beach. At Ritz-Kids, the supervised program for ages five to 12, children take nature walks, create crafts and play games. You can bike the hotel's paths as well as pedal through a nearby grove of giant California Redwoods. San Francisco's museums and parks are an easy day trip away. Back at the hotel, relax with your kids at a campfire complete with hot chocolate and S'mores.
3. Florida: Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island
Sprawled on 1,350 acres on a barrier island laced with three-and-a half-miles of beach, the resort, 45 minutes from downtown Jacksonville, feels worlds away. Live oaks draped with Spanish moss and cedar trees line pathways and populate woodlands. Sign-on for crabbing, shark tooth hunts and kayaking through the salt marshes with the resort's naturalists. You can bike through the property or go on Segway tours. At the Kids Camp, ages three to 10 create crafts, feed the turtles at the property's nature center and swim in the pools. Choose from hotel rooms or one- to three-bedroom "villas" (condominiums).
4. Florida: Disney's Beach Club Resort
The beach here comes with the all the wonder of Walt Disney World, plus the perks and convenience of staying at a Disney property. These include extra hours in the parks to free shuttles throughout the "Kingdom." The faux New England-style hotel borders a 25-acre lake stocked with bass for fishing. After a day of Disney attractions, kids can cool off at Stormalong Bay, the hotel's waterpark, a three-acre expanse of pools, a waterslide and a lazy river. For parents craving adult time, the Sandcastle Club provides supervised play for ages four to 12 from 4:30 p.m. to midnight. Reserve in advance.
5. Florida: South Seas Island Resort
This 330-acre island off Florida's Gulf Coast, 32 miles from Fort Myers, gains fame for the ribbons of shells that wash up along the two-and-a-half miles of beaches. Boat, fish, sail and kayak the coastal waters as well as splashdown with your kids on the slides at H2Whoa!, the resort's pool complex. The complex also features a zero-entry pool for little kids as well as a garden of hammocks for lazily swaying to the breeze. At Captiva Kids Club, ages four to 12 go tide pooling, hunt for buried treasure and create crafts. At the Captiva Teen Club, those hard-to-please vacationers meet friends for guided kayaking, parasailing and Frisbee golf games. In 2009 South Seas Island Resort completed a $140-million renovation of 465 guest rooms.
6. Hawaii: Grand Wailea Resort
In the Hawaiian Islands, known for luxurious resorts, the beachfront Grand Wailea gains special recognition for its 50,000 square foot spa; its Wailea Canyon activity pool, an interconnected water complex with slides, caves, waterfalls, lazy river and currents; and Camp Grande, a creative children's program with a 20,000-square-foot facility featuring separate areas for movies, crafts and computer play. At morning and afternoon sessions, ages five to 12 make Hawaiian leis, do leaf printing and listen to island stories. At Night Camp, kids go on scavenger hunts and play walkie-talkie tag and enjoy movies. Ages 13 to 17 meet and mingle in the spa's soaking pools at special, teen spa nights.
7. Massachusetts: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
From this 27-acre, up-market resort fronting Pleasant Bay, you and your family can take a 20-minute, complimentary boat ride to reach Cape Cod National Seashore's undeveloped beaches. That is if you can get your kids to leave the resort. In July and August ages four to 12 may be too busy kayaking, sailing and swimming as part of the Wequassett's Children's Club, which year-old children's center has a pirate ship for climbing, Nintendo Wii games and an amphitheatre for performances. Water enthusiasts can sign-up for sailing, kayaking and windsurfing lessons while landlubbers can swing through tennis and golf. In summer, the resort hosts the Cape Cod Jazz Festival. The property offers 120 rooms and suites decorated in a New England country style.
8. Michigan: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
In summer, this year-round resort, situated on Lake Michigan's East Grand Traverse Bay, blooms with water activities. Fish, swim, sail and even scuba dive Lake Michigan from the resort's private beach club. You and your kids can swirl down twisting waterslides and hop through sprays at the resorts 15,000-square-foot indoor waterpark. Take advantage of the 900-acre property's 54 holes of golf and family-friendly policies to get your kids into the swing. Along with reduced fees for junior golfers 17 and under, this season the resort offers a Kids Golf Free program on the Spruce Run course, Sundays and Mondays after 2 p.m. Choose from hotel rooms or one- to three-bedroom condominiums.
9. South Carolina: Westin Hilton Head Resort & Spa
On Hilton Head, an island off South Carolina's southern coast, the broad, dune-bordered beach stretches for miles. The island rates high marks for its golf and tennis. Families can also go on dolphin watch cruises, try horseback riding and bike the island's trails. The beachfront Westin Hilton Head is one of the few properties to host a children's program in summer. At the Westin Kids Club, ages four to 12 go on scavenger hunts, play games and build sandcastles. During evening sessions, kids do crafts and watch movies. At times, the resort also hosts complimentary movies under the stars.
10. Texas: Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel & Condominiums
While college students flock to South Padre Island for spring break, summer brings families. This barrier island off Texas's southern tip rewards vacationers with miles of sand, warm waters and enough water toys to keep even teens interested. Families can relax at the Sheraton's 6,000-square-foot pool, among the island's largest resort pools while ages four to 12 create crafts, build sandcastles and search for shells at the hotel's complimentary children's program, available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Vendors offer kiteboarding, windsurfing, parasailing and banana boat rides. Along with hotel rooms, the Sheraton has two floors of two-bedroom, two-bath condominiums with kitchens.
For more ideas on water-focused family vacations, check out:
Also visit our Family Beach Resorts page to find more hotels and resorts.
