Family Resort Guide Home Page
Family Resort Guide is a resource for travel tips and destination guides made by, and especially for, families traveling with kids! Let’s be real, traveling with children is challenging. We love to stay at resorts with over-the-top amenities and on-site restaurants to help minimize stress and maximize family time and memories. Plus, kids’ care programs pair perfectly with a day on the green, at the spa, or at the swim-up bar… or all three!
So, where to first? We did the work so you don’t have to. This list of the best family-friendly resorts in America will have even you asking, “Are we there yet?”.
Best Family Resort Guides by State
Top 11 Best Family Resorts in America
1. Big Cedar Lodge – Ridgedale, Missouri (Table Rock Lake)
Big Cedar Lodge is the ultimate family-friendly resort on Table Rock Lake. It offers a variety of accommodations to suit your family’s needs during your stay including the lodge, lakeside cottages, log cabins, houses on the golf course, and glamping/camping cabins. There are 5 golf courses on the property: Payne’s Valley (19-hole), Ozarks National (18-hole), Buffalo Ridge (18-hole), Top of the Rock (9-hole, par 3), and Mountain Top (13-hole, walking course). Resort amenities are available to all guests or all accommodation types. These include yard games, mini golf, nature trails, fire pits, and a playground. Soak up the sun by one of the multiple outdoor pools and hot tubs located in 4 separate areas on the resort grounds or try out the lazy river or kids pool. There is even a lakeside beach on Table Rock Lake as well as pedal boats, canoes, and kayaks if you’re feeling more adventurous.
Read our full resort review here: Big Cedar Lodge
More Missouri Resorts
- Best Family Resorts in Missouri
- Best Lake Resorts in Missouri
- Best Resort Pools in Missouri
- Best Family Resorts near Branson, Missouri
📍Big Cedar Lodge – 190 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO 65739
2. Westin Kierland Resort and Spa – Scottsdale, Arizona
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa is the ultimate family resort in Arizona, located in northern Scottsdale. Choose from either standard rooms or suites at the Westin Kierland Resort. There are 7 dining and drink options on the property (including a must-see Scotch library in the lobby), a full-service spa, and multiple golf courses (27 holes) on the Westin Kierland Golf Club. When you’re ready to cool off, head to the pools or water park. There is a family-friendly pool, an adult-only pool, a hot tub, as well as a lazy river, a water slide, and a FlowRider surfing simulator. Poolside cabanas can be rented or if you’re feeling extra, rent a private island on the lazy river for a unique poolside experience for your family!
Read our full resort review here: Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
More Arizona Resorts:
- Best Family Resorts in Arizona
- Best Lazy Rivers in Arizona
- Best Golf Resorts in Arizona
- Best Mountain Resorts in Arizona
📍Westin Kierland Resort and Spa– 6902 E Greenway Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
3. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa – San Antonio, Texas
We love the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa for its well-maintained pools, sandy beach pool, lazy river, water slides, and the adults-only hot tub with a lovely hill country view that’s especially nice at sunset. Our kids love the nightly s’mores and the rubber duck race on Sunday mornings before we head back up I-35. There’s a large back patio off the main building with outdoor fireplaces and a sprawling green lawn where the kids can play tag or corn hole (our favorite) while you wait to eat the best filet mignon ever (trust us) at Cibolo Moon, one of the many on-site restaurants. There are also championship golf courses and walking trails surrounding the resort.
Read our full resort review at our sister site here: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
More Resorts in Texas:
- Best Family Resorts in Texas
- Best Lazy Rivers in Texas
- Best Lake Resorts in Texas
- Best Beach Resorts in Texas
- Best Ranch Resorts in Texas
📍JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa – 23808 Resort Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78261
4. JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes – Orlando, FL
The JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes resort in Orlando, Florida boasts a lazy river over 1300 feet long! Float past cascading waterfalls, bridges, and lush tropical landscaping while you soak up the Florida sun on this lazy river. Other features at the resort water park, which is also shared with the Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes Resort, include 3 water slides, multiple pool “coves” that are attached to the lazy river including a shallow zero-grade entry perfect for kids, hot tubs, and a water obstacle course. When you’re done exploring the water park, don’t forget to explore the Grande Lake area. With guided kayak tours, fishing, sunrise safaris, and falconry experiences, there’s truly something for everyone at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lake resort!
Read our full resort review here: JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
More Florida Resorts:
- Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Florida
- Best Family Beach Resorts in Florida
- Best Lazy Rivers in Florida
- Best Resorts in Orlando Florida
📍JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes – 4040 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837
5. Gaylord Opryland Resort – Nashville, Tennessee
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is a fantastic family-friendly resort located in Nashville, TN. It has three large indoor atriums (atria?) that allow you to beat the Tennessee heat in the summer months by feeling like you’re walking around outside while actually being in a comfortably air-conditioned atrium. One atrium a The Gaylord Opryland Resort even has a quarter mile-long river that you can take a trip down on a boat. No, we’re not kidding!
Enjoy a different restaurant every meal with 12 different dining options to choose from. There is an impressive variety of resort amenities and activities to entertain the whole family at the resort and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for characters that cruise around the resort and change with the seasons. There is an indoor water park with water slides, surfing, and a lazy river (pro tip: book waterpark admission with your reservation) that is great year-round family fun. The Gaylord properties across the country are also known for ICE!, a walk through storytelling exhibit made completely of, wait for it… ice! They also do an exceptional job with Christmas decorations and activities making a trip to the resort to kick off the holiday season a yearly tradition in our family!
More Tennessee Resorts:
- Best Family Resorts in Tennessee
- Best Smoky Mountain Family Resorts in Tennessee
- Best Water Park Resorts in Tennessee
📍Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center – 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
6. Jekyll Island Club Resort – Jekyll Island, Georgia
The Jekyll Island Club Resort is a charming and historic getaway on Jekyll Island, a channel island on the Atlantic coast, among what is known as the “Golden Isles of Georgia”. Accommodation options at the resort include standard guest rooms, more spacious suites, or even cottages for families looking to spread out a bit more. There are two delicious restaurants, a vibey lounge, and a poolside bar and grill on the property for guests to enjoy.
Various family-friendly amenities will keep your family entertained during your Georgia beach vacation. There is an outdoor pool, bicycle rentals (our favorite way to explore the island!), croquet lawn, fire pits (s’mores please!), and beach chair and umbrella set ups. There is a complimentary shuttle that will takes guests to the nearby sister property, The Jekyll Ocean Club Resort that has direct beach access, an outdoor pool, and another restaurant on site. Guests can enjoy the amenities at both properties. Fun things to do on Jekyll Island include exploring the island’s history and historic homes in the Jekyll Island Historic District and learning something new from the interactive and educational Georgia Sea Turtle Center that travelers of all ages will enjoy!
More Georgia Resorts
📍Jekyll Island Club Resort – 371 Riverview Dr, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
7. Caribe Resort– Orange Beach, Alabama
Caribe Resort is a beachfront condo resort located along the Gulf Coast of Alabama in family-friendly Orange Beach, AL. This resort is the best of both worlds – spacious condos with full kitchens and separate living rooms for families that want to spread out but still with all the resort amenities you know and love. This resort has a lazy river, water slide, splash pad, multiple pools (heated indoor and outdoor), and hot tubs as well as mini golf, sport courts, a full service marina, and a sauna. Families can enjoy dining at Cobalt, a restaurant on-site serving a variety of fresh-caught costal menu items that pair perfectly with that Gulf sunset!
More Alabama Resorts:
📍Caribe Resort – 28103 Perdido Beach Blvd #100, Orange Beach, AL 36561
8. The Broadmoor – Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Broadmoor is a family-friendly resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado with incredible views of the famed Pike’s Peak and the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Accommodation options for guests include spacious rooms and suites with traditional decor and nice views. The Broadmoor is known for having an impressive offering of amenities for guests to enjoy, such as the pool, a spa, golf courses, tennis courts, and a kids’ program. Some more unique offerings at the resort include falconry, zip-lining, horseback riding, and access to nearby hiking and mountain biking trails. There are multiple onsite dining options that are all top-notch and kid-friendly. Area attractions you won’t want to miss in Colorado Springs include Garden of the Gods (red rock formations), the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. The Broadmoor is a great resort option for families looking for the perfect blend of elegance and adventure in Colorado Springs!
📍The Broadmoor – 1 Lake Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
9. Mohonk Mountain House – New Paltz, New York
The Mohonk Mountain House is a historic lakefront all-inclusive resort located in New Paltz, New York in upstate New York, about 2 hours north of NYC. The all-inclusive rates include meals, resort activities, wellness classes, entertainment, valet parking, kids club program, and gratuities. Spa treatments, horseback or carriage rides, and alcoholic beverages can be purchased to enhance your stay but not included. Activities at the resort include hiking, axe throwing, golf, tennis, pickleball, a playground, swimming pool, lake activities such as kayaking, swimming, beach, paddle boards, pedal boats, and canoes. Winter activities include ice skating, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. The kids club provides drop-off care for guests aged 4 – 12 years old with a morning, afternoon, and evening session that runs from mid-June to Labor Day and also on most holiday and school breaks. There is nightly entertainment such as live performers, movie nights, and campfire s’mores… yum!
📍Mohonk Mountain House– 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, NY 12561
10. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort – Farmington, Pennsylvania
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a sprawling resort property set in the woods of Farmington, Pennsylvania about 1.5 hours south of Pittsburgh, close to the borders of West Virignia and Maryland. The resort property is actually 3 separate hotels and several private residences available for rent as well. Each of the hotels, Falling Rock (guests must be 16+ years old), The Chateau, and The Grand Lodge, have a diffrent vibe so each visit to Nemacolin will feel like the first time! There are four upscale dining options, five more casual eateries, and five bars and lounges on the property. Given its size, it is no wonder there are almost countless resort amenities. Families will enjoy spending time playing golf, lawn games, tennis, swimming, ziplining, rock climbing, bowling, doing off-road excursions, and checking out the spa… just to name a few! This resort really does have to be seen to believe it and is a great option for families looking for a relaxing getaway with over-the-top resort amenities and service!
📍Nemacolin Woodlands Resort – 1001 Lafayette Dr, Farmington, PA 15437
11. Great Wolf Lodge – Various locations across the USA
The Great Wolf Lodge is the ultimate kids resort! Mainly due to the HUGE indoor/outdoor full-tilt water park with something to enjoy for everyone in the family. The water park is perfect for both little and big kids (and adults) with multiple water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and pools. This resort was designed with families in mind with rooms big enough to accommodate the whole family with different sleeping arrangements (hello, bunk beds!) and even themed suites you’ll want to check out. There are also multiple on-site restaurants and even the MagiQuest adventure (an interactive game using a magic wand to complete quests and adventures). you’ve got the perfect family vacation!
12. Woodloch Pines Resort – Hawley, Pennsylvania (Poconos)
The Woodloch Pines Resort is a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort located on Lake Teedyuskung in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania, about 3 hours north of Philadelphia. The all-inclusive rate includes 2-3 meals daily, daytime resort activities, and family-friendly entertainment nightly served from a menu that changes daily and offers a variety of family-friendly options. Activities include waterskiing, lakeside beach and waterslide, outdoor and indoor pools and splash pad, impressive playgrounds, bumper cars and boats, and family boats on the lake. There is also a kids program with kid-friendly games, contests, and activities that parents are encouraged to participate in with their children. There is nightly entertainment at the resort from performers such as musicians, comedians, and magicians.
📍Woodloch Resorts – 1731 Welcome Lake Rd, Hawley, PA 18428
13. Shangri La Resort – Afton, Oklahoma (Grand Lake)
The Shangri La Resort is located along the shores of Monkey Island on Grand Lake in beautiful Northeastern Oklahoma. There is a resort pool and kids’ splash fort with water slides that is sure to please both kids and parents alike! Resort activities include Golf, Tennis and Pickleball courts, an arcade, and local fishing and horseback riding. Dine in style at one of the 6 on-site restaurants and catch live music on the lake on Fridays and Saturdays in the Summer. The Shangri La Resort on Grand Lake is what Oklahoma Summer night dreams are made of!
Read our full resort review here: Shangri La Resort
More Oklahoma Resorts:
📍Shangri La Resort – 57301 OK-125, Afton, OK 74331
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So… Are we there yet?