Wednesday, October 5, 2011

America's Best Family Hotels

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas, OrlandoDisney’s Boardwalk Inn & Villas,Orlando



Don’t be fooled by its name: Colorado’s Bachelor Gulch is well suited for families, with wide-open spaces and tons of activities. And if you stay at the Ritz-Carlton here, you’ll find enough amenities (and nannies) to ensure that parents get a vacation, too.

Family-friendly activities, attentive service, and beautiful landscapes are hallmarks of America’s Best Hotels for Families, as voted by readers in T+L’s annual World’s Best Awards survey. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is a prime example.

Connecting kids to the outdoors is a priority for many parents, so it’s no surprise that America’s Best Hotels for Families includes plenty of properties in natural settings. But even if the call of the wild is getting louder, Walt Disney World remains an indisputable kid-pleaser. This year, six resorts at the Happiest Place on Earth made the list. Here are some of the best family-friendly hotels:



The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, 
Beaver Creek, CO


Winter heaven, this hotel has something for every family member: air hockey and video games in the teen lounge; a 21,000-square-foot spa with claw-foot copper tubs; and access to Vail Valley’s numerous golf courses. There's also an affordable ski-nanny program, doggie spa treatments, and fire pits. Doubles from $549.

Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa,Jackson Hole, WY


Tall-timber resort abutting the entrance to Grand Teton National Park; the new 16,000-square-foot spa has a rooftop yoga studio that offers kids’ classes. Doubles from $389.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge,Orlando


Next to the theme park, a little piece of Africa: spot free-roaming zebras and antelope from your private balcony overlooking 33 acres of savanna. Doubles from $350.

The Sagamore Resort, Adirondacks, NY


Storied 1883 hotel on the shores of shimmering Lake George, where cruises take place on a handsome replica of a 19th-century wooden boat. Doubles from $189.

Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT


Yes, it’s owned by that von Trapp family—thus the Austrian-style décor and the weekly Sound of Musicsing-alongs. Doubles from $325.

Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, SC


Barrier-island resort that has wide-ranging activities: tie-dye lessons, all-ages golf, and Surf Kayak Rodeo.Doubles from $460.

The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV


Recently renovated 1913 property with a Cold War-era bunker that’s open for tours. Doubles from $359.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, 
Kailua Kona, HI


Inspired by the golden age of Hawaii; keikis get to make kiddie-size leis and snorkel Kealakekua Bay. Doubles from $795.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Anaheim, CA


Takes its cues from California’s Yosemite National Park, down to an Ahwahnee-like lodge and a redwood waterslide. Doubles from $265.






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