It’s that time of year again, bring on Spring Break! It is always hard to find the perfect family vacation spot but here are our top three picks for this Spring Break.
1. The Hotel Terra — Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Ski in, ski out at this slope side eco-boutique hotel with spacious rooms to accommodate families of any size. There’s an Italian restaurant at the hotel, called Il Villaggio Osteria, that is the perfect spot for dinner with the kids. And, the Mangy Moose is within walking distance for Apres ski, if you want to do a casual early dinner or catch some live music. Plus, there’s a heated pool for the kids and a little playground right outside. The sister hotel, Teton Mountain Lodge, right across from it, is also a great lodging option. The Kids Ranch Ski School at Jackson Hole is very well organized, making drop offs and picks up smooth and the kids will learn how to ski quickly on the Jackson Hole terrain. While the kids are in ski school, be sure to treat yourself to a nice lunch at the Handlebar Restaurant at the Four Seasons or Piste on the mountain. Take a day off and explore the town with breakfast at the Persephone bakery or lunch at Cafe Genevieve and a visit to the National Elk Refuge. And if you can time it right, the Rendezvous music festival is a fun weekend to be at Jackson Hole, you can enjoy the perfect combination of live music along with amazing skiing.
2. Eau de Palm Beach — Palm Beach, FLA
This is a beautiful family resort that has recently been redone in modern Jonathon Adler decor. It is a quick car ride from Palm Beach International airport and about a 15 minute drive from Worth Avenue. The room options have great configurations for families. The hotel has easy access to the beach and beautiful swimming pools with plenty of lounge chairs. There is a kids club with pirate and mermaids themed activities called AquaNuts and a teen club with the latest technology called the Coast. You can easily head to Worth Avenue for shopping and dinner at Pizza Al Fresco. Or, if you’d like a date night, head to Imoto or Saint Ambroeus for dinner and have a drink at the Brazilian Court or Buccan before or after. For shopping, be sure to visit C. Orrico, P.B. Boys Club and Aristokids. If you want a break from the beach, Lion Country Safari, the Palm Beach Zoo and renting bikes from Palm Beach Bicycle (with lunch at the counter at Green’s pharmacy) are all fun activities.
3. The Springs Hotel — La Fortuna, Costa Rica
If your family is adventurous and likes to stay busy, this is the hotel for you. Located by Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna, have the hotel send a driver to pick you up at the airport so you can relax and let a local who knows the roads get you there. The Club Rio outdoor center will entertain the kids with a plethora of activities — horseback riding, tubing, kayaking, wild life sanctuary, repelling, nature walks and more. The outdoor center is located right at the resort making it very easy to keep the kids busy all day long. Plus, The Springs Hotel, has natural hot mineral springs, pools and waterfalls for you to enjoy (including a water slide and swim up bar) all with a beautiful view of the volcano. The concierge provides a list of local tours and activities to get your adrenaline pumping — waterfall canyon rappel, ATV extreme tour, canopy zip line and Arenal hanging bridges (they will guide you on what’s best for your child’s age). The rooms are very spacious with layouts that are well configured for families and most have nice outdoor patios with hammocks so you can enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica.
Please check back for The Local Moms Network expanding list of favorite family friendly hotels. We are always researching and looking for recommendations that fit our criteria 1) hotel room configurations that accommodate families 2) activities that appeal to all ages 3) desirable locations that parents and kids will both enjoy (and an opportunity for parents to have some alone time too!).