Kid-Friendly Vacation Resorts in the U.S.

Finding an affordable resort in the U.S. that’s kid-friendly is not as easy as you’d think. Many resorts are looking for couples and singletons who wish to relax in style. Some places are all-inclusive to cater for kids, but that’s not always what the parents want who often prefer more choices at the luxury end of the market. Also, when there’s plenty of activities both on the resort and outside of it, going fully inclusive can get restrictive after a while. Having a little greater flexibility on your vacay is no bad thing either!

Here are a few kid-friendly resorts that offer enough activities for the children and the adults too.

Half Moon Trail, Minnesota

The Half Moon Trail is a family-owned treasure. It is a resort in Minnesota, the state known for copious lakes through the region. The Half Moon Trail resort is no different with Boot Lake right there to go kayaking or fly-fishing depending on your preference for getting wet or staying dry!

The kid-friendly activities at the resort including learning woodworking, going on organized treasure hunts, trying to succeed at Marble Mountain, Minnow Races and various other tournaments. Some activities are kids-only, and others are with the participation of mom or dad. There’s usually a kid activity in the morning and sometimes one in the afternoon too. For parents, there’s a family activity each evening too.

Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida

Drive past the 61^st mile marker in the Florida Keys and you’ll reach the Haws Cay Resort. For the children, they can join the Coral Cay Kids’ Club with organized activities like snorkeling in the clear waters, participating in a scavenger hunt, or working on arts and crafts. The Haws Cay Resort has four villages with different accommodation spread between them. Whether wishing to stay in a villa or lanais, each have their own unique aspects to recommend them.

For the adults, there’s kayaking on the calm waters, fishing for mahi fish or taking a cruise as the sun sets in the distance. The saltwater lagoon is also interesting to swim in and enjoy fresh ocean water rather than chlorine water.

Carmel Valley Ranch, Monterey Peninsula, California

When the idea of staying on a ranch appeals, then head on over to the Carmel Valley Ranch for a good ‘ole time. Only a 10-20-minute drive from either Monterey or Carmel by the Sea, it has three heated pools available all year and a kids’ pool too. There are also areas for toddlers, young kids and teenagers that are safe to use because the pools are away from the main relaxation areas for safety reasons.

Explore the downtown areas of Monterey or Carmel by the Sea, Cannery Row or Pebble Beach for a good one-day excursion. There are plenty of sporting activities available including swimming, tennis, horseback riding, and golf. For organized fitness, there are classes to keep in gym shape too. And for parents who want a quiet night out, there’s babysitting available for a fee too.

A suitable resort to keep the kids occupied so the adults can get a rest from their role as ‘parent’ is like paradise. Organized activities tailored to children of different ages makes it possible for parents to enjoy themselves more than when trying to organize it all by themselves. As a result, they’re likely to return home far more rested than they would otherwise.