As the resident grand dame of Southern California's Coronado Island, Hotel del Coronado has a "wow" factor even children can't miss. It hits immediately with its tall red-roofed towers, elegant white verandas and a grand lobby that glitters with chandeliers and dark, rich woodwork. There's even a hand-operated birdcage elevator taking guests up and down the four floors.

Don't worry about little ones feeling out of place in a hotel that has hosted aviator Charles Lindbergh, English royalty and Marilyn Monroe (here to film the comedy classic "Some Like it Hot"). Kids get VIP lanyards at check-in that lead to a scavenger hunt. They also get a schedule for day camps, surf lessons and pool hours, plus tips for kid-friendly meals and treats.

The sprawling beach behind "the Del" beckons immediately with kids of all ages running through the water and sculpting the sand. It often tops lists of the country's best beaches. 'Tweens and teens catch the swells on surfboards and boogie boards, while others go shopping, hang in the teen lounge or spook each other with tales of Kate, the Del's resident ghost who has a few tricks up her Victorian sleeves.

Families fascinated by the military can watch helicopters fly overhead several times a day, spot navy ships in the distance and see special forces occasionally training on the beach or off shore. Jets may also zip across the sky.

Even without the beach as a vast playground, Hotel del Coronado is a destination on its own and one of the most popular stops for San Diego's Old Town Trolley tours. At more than 120 years old, its grandeur endures. That makes it a trip-of-a-lifetime for families enchanted by the charm of generations ago.

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