The Kahala Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com), on the Big Island of Hawaii, has great beaches, calm, shallow water for kids and a dolphin program. The resort also offers Hawaiian history classes, a spa and a shuttle to Waikiki. The Kaanapali Beach Hotel (kbhmaui.com), on Maui, has an authentic Hawaiian feel, a nice beach and classes in lei-making. The Fairmont Kea Lani (fairmont.com), also on Maui, is a 22-acre resort with white sand beaches, 11 tennis courts and two- and three-bedroom villas with private plunge pools.
Tortuga Lodge (costaricaexpeditions.com), in Turtuguero, Costa Rica, is owned by Costa Rica Expeditions, one of the country's largest travel outfitters. The 145-acre eco-resort offers wildlife viewing (iguanas, sloths, monkeys, crocodiles), visits to turtle-nesting sights, swimming, kayaking and other activities. Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo (fourseasons.com) has four pools, including one walk-in pool for kids, a high-tech teen center and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. The complex is located in a dry tropical forest with two golden-sand beaches, a spa, pool and tennis.
The Ritz Carlton Cancun (ritzcarlton.com) has beach villas that sleep up to 10 people as well as some rooms fully outfitted for babies. The resort offers an extensive kids' program that includes an on-staff tutor. The resort also has private butler service. Bahia Principe Tulum (bahia-principe.com), on Mexico's Riviera Maya, has a private beach and shares services with two sister resorts connected by a mini-train system. The complex offers a large variety of restaurants and activities, including swimming, golf, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing and scuba diving.
Utah's Zion National Park offers families a variety of hiking adventures among red sandstone formations. The in-park lodge (zionlodge.com) has cabins and motel-style rooms. The parks' two-mile paved Riverside Walk has hanging gardens of ferns, birds and other wildlife. Paradise Point Resort and Spa (paradisepoint.com) is a great family base for exploring Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Torrey Pines State Reserve. An Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines (ncl.com) will have kids looking for whales and bald eagles as you cruise the Inside Passage. The seven-day cruise leaves from Seattle.
