When planning a family vacation, it’s important to choose a resort that offers exciting activities for children to ensure a fun-filled experience for everyone. Many resorts have curated programs and activities specifically designed to keep kids entertained, engaged, and happy. Here are the top picks for family-friendly resort activities that will make your next family getaway unforgettable.
1. Kids’ Clubs and Camps
Most family resorts feature kids’ clubs with supervised programs tailored to different age groups, providing both entertainment and education.
- What to Expect: Kids’ clubs often include arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, storytelling, and themed parties. Many resorts offer camps with activities like treasure hunts, team-building games, and sports challenges.
- Unique Experiences: Some clubs focus on local culture, offering cooking classes, dance lessons, or language workshops that give kids a chance to learn something new.
- Resort Examples: Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean offer Sesame Street-themed activities, while the Ritz-Carlton properties provide immersive kids’ camps with nature exploration and creative play.
Pro Tip: Look for resorts with kids’ clubs that offer full-day programs, giving parents a chance to relax while kids have fun.
2. Water Parks and Splash Zones
Resorts with on-site water parks or splash zones are perfect for kids who love to make a splash. These areas provide endless fun with water slides, lazy rivers, and interactive water features.
- What to Expect: Water parks typically have shallow pools, water slides, fountains, and splash pads designed for kids of all ages. Some resorts feature pirate ships, water cannons, and even lazy rivers for family fun.
- Unique Experiences: Some resorts offer nighttime pool parties, wave pools, or inflatable obstacle courses for kids to enjoy.
- Resort Examples: Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is famous for its Aquaventure Water Park, which includes water slides and a lazy river, while Aulani, A Disney Resort in Hawaii, offers an expansive splash zone and lazy river.
Pro Tip: Check the height requirements for the water slides before your trip to ensure your little ones can enjoy all the attractions.
3. Nature and Wildlife Adventures
For kids who love animals and the outdoors, resorts that offer nature and wildlife adventures are perfect for learning about the local environment while having fun.
- What to Expect: Many family-friendly resorts offer guided nature walks, bird-watching tours, and wildlife encounters. Kids can learn about the environment and local wildlife through hands-on experiences.
- Unique Experiences: Some resorts offer animal-feeding sessions, dolphin encounters, or even junior ranger programs where kids can help with wildlife conservation efforts.
- Resort Examples: At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in Florida, kids can observe giraffes and zebras from the resort’s savanna, while Lapa Rios Eco Lodge in Costa Rica offers guided jungle tours and wildlife spotting.
Pro Tip: Bring binoculars and a nature journal so kids can record their wildlife sightings during their adventure.
4. Creative Arts and Crafts
For children who love to express their creativity, many resorts offer arts and crafts sessions where kids can make their own souvenirs and gifts.
- What to Expect: Kids can participate in pottery painting, jewelry making, sand art, or t-shirt decorating. Some resorts offer classes where children can create keepsakes using natural materials like seashells or driftwood.
- Unique Experiences: In cultural destinations, kids may have the chance to try traditional crafts, such as mask-making in Bali or beadwork in Africa.
- Resort Examples: The Four Seasons in Maui offers Hawaiian-themed crafts like lei-making, while Beaches Resorts have a dedicated arts and crafts area for children to get creative.
Pro Tip: Sign kids up for group classes so they can make friends while enjoying creative activities.
5. Interactive Cooking Classes
Many family resorts offer kids’ cooking classes, allowing young chefs to create delicious dishes while learning about local cuisine.
- What to Expect: Kids can participate in hands-on cooking classes where they learn to make simple, kid-friendly dishes like pizza, cookies, or cupcakes. Some resorts also offer healthy cooking classes that introduce kids to new flavors and ingredients.
- Unique Experiences: In regions known for their cuisine, kids can participate in cooking classes that focus on local dishes, such as making sushi in Japan or tacos in Mexico.
- Resort Examples: The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman offers “Ritz Kids Cooking,” where children can make their own meals, while Soneva Fushi in the Maldives offers eco-friendly cooking classes using organic ingredients.
Pro Tip: Encourage kids to take part in classes that focus on local dishes for an educational and delicious experience.
6. Sports and Adventure Activities
For active kids, many resorts offer a wide variety of sports and adventure activities to keep them entertained throughout the day.
- What to Expect: Resorts often have facilities for soccer, basketball, tennis, and mini-golf, along with team games like volleyball or dodgeball. Some resorts also offer adventure activities such as rock climbing, zip-lining, and archery.
- Unique Experiences: Kids can try activities like surfing lessons, horseback riding, or even circus school, where they can learn acrobatics and trapeze skills.
- Resort Examples: Club Med resorts are famous for their range of adventure activities, including circus school and trapeze training for kids, while the Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers eco-tours and snorkeling adventures.
Pro Tip: Check for family packages that offer complimentary sports lessons or access to adventure courses for kids.
7. Themed Parties and Nighttime Fun
Resorts often host themed parties and nighttime activities that are perfect for family fun, ensuring the entertainment continues even after the sun sets.
- What to Expect: Kids can enjoy themed parties like pirate nights, beach bonfires, or glow-in-the-dark dance parties. Many resorts offer outdoor movie nights, where families can watch a favorite film under the stars.
- Unique Experiences: Some resorts feature character meet-and-greets, storytelling around the campfire, or fireworks shows.
- Resort Examples: Beaches Resorts are known for their weekly themed parties with Sesame Street characters, while Great Wolf Lodge locations across North America offer nightly pajama parties and dance-offs for kids.
Pro Tip: Bring themed costumes or pajamas for kids to fully enjoy nighttime events and themed parties.
8. Treasure Hunts and Escape Rooms
Many resorts now offer interactive treasure hunts or escape room experiences designed specifically for families and kids.
- What to Expect: Treasure hunts often lead kids through the resort’s grounds, solving puzzles and searching for hidden items. Escape rooms challenge kids to work together to solve clues and unlock the room before time runs out.
- Unique Experiences: Some treasure hunts are based on local history or resort themes, while escape rooms may include age-appropriate challenges that kids can solve with their families.
- Resort Examples: The Four Seasons Resort Orlando offers a themed “Explorer Island” treasure hunt, while the Hilton Hawaiian Village features an interactive scavenger hunt around the resort grounds.
Pro Tip: Sign up for family-friendly escape rooms for a fun bonding experience that includes problem-solving and teamwork.
9. Interactive Science and Educational Programs
Resorts with an educational focus offer science-based activities that engage curious young minds, blending fun with learning.
- What to Expect: Kids can participate in hands-on science experiments, nature conservation activities, and educational programs focused on topics like marine biology, astronomy, and environmental stewardship.
- Unique Experiences: Some resorts have marine biology programs where kids can learn about coral reefs, participate in turtle conservation projects, or visit local research centers.
- Resort Examples: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel offers an “Eco-Adventure Center” where kids can learn about marine life and conservation, while the Fairmont Mayakoba in Mexico offers nature-based scavenger hunts and eco-tours for young explorers.
Pro Tip: Look for resorts with educational programs that align with your child’s interests to make learning fun during vacation.
10. Kids-Only Pools and Water Play Areas
Many family-friendly resorts feature dedicated kids’ pools or water play areas, offering a safe and exciting space for little ones to splash around.
- What to Expect: Kids’ pools often feature shallow areas, water slides, and interactive splash zones designed with safety in mind. Some resorts also offer mini lazy rivers or pirate-themed water parks.
- Unique Experiences: Water play areas may include play structures with fountains, water cannons, and soft padding to ensure kids can play safely while parents relax nearby.
- Resort Examples: The Hyatt Ziva Cancun offers a pirate-themed splash zone with water slides, while Beaches Turks & Caicos features a water park with dedicated pools for kids of all ages.
Pro Tip: Bring water shoes and sunscreen to keep kids comfortable while they play in the water all day.
Conclusion
From kids’ clubs and water parks to nature adventures and themed parties, these fun resort activities for kids ensure that families will have an unforgettable vacation. With a wide range of entertainment options catering to all interests and ages, resorts can provide endless fun while creating lasting memories for the whole family. Whether you’re looking for a tropical getaway, a mountain retreat, or a beachside escape, choosing a resort with kid-friendly activities ensures both children and adults can relax and enjoy a truly special vacation.
editor