For families traveling with teens this spring, we’ve rounded up some of the best resorts in North America and the Caribbean with unique teen programming, including hotels with underwater-themed bowling alleys and go-karting to fly-fishing and hiking excursions.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa | Palm Beach, Florida (pictured)
Delivering a renewed approach to family travel, the newly reimagined Forbes Five-Star resort provides a playful yet luxurious beachfront retreat for parents and teens alike. Among Eau Palm Beach’s recently renovated spaces, the new Hideaway Teens Club is outfitted with environments for teens ages 13 - 17, featuring specialized spaces for gaming with Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo games, a 24-hour arcade that includes everything from pinball to an old-fashioned claw game, table tennis, and drinks and snacks. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy cocktails at the adults-only pool, authentic Italian new restaurant, Polpo, luxe treatments at Eau Spa, and more.
Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale, MO
The award-winning wilderness resort is a playground for all ages, with specific programming that allow teenagers to explore the wonders of the Ozarks. For teenagers looking to make friends on vacation or spend time with their siblings, there are daily activities including nighttime Glow-Ball, or glow-in-the-dark volleyball; DJ Dance Parties; teen archery tag; mini golf; fishing excursions; and hiking. At Fun Mountain, teens can bowl in the underwater-themed bowling alley, play laser tag, Go-Kart, or traverse the sky-high ropes course. Nearby at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, teens can embark on horseback rides or get up close and personal with wildlife on a Wildlife Tram Tour or Private Wildlife Tour, or enjoy activities such as fishing, hiking, and critter encounters.
Keswick Hall | Charlottesville, VA
The historic resort just outside of Charlottesville offers teenagers visiting colleges the perfect place to stay to experience a true sense of place and get to know the heart of America’s birthplace. Keswick Hall is a stately retreat with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and experiences that showcase the region’s bounty. Guests can enjoy a relaxing treatment or sports massage in the brand-new Keswick Hall Spa, play a round of golf at the resort’s award-winning Full Cry Golf Course, play a casual game of tennis on the resort’s clay courts, and enjoy farm-forward meals at Marigold by Jean-Georges. Nearby, teens scouting colleges can take a tour of University of Virginia, or learn about the nation’s complex history at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and James Monroe’s Highland Estate. Beginning this summer, guests will also enjoy pickleball and relaxing by the family-friendly pool. Families with teens can book luxurious rooms, or book a suite with an add-on room with separate entrances.
Mauna Kea Resort | Kohala Coast, Island of Hawaii
The iconic Mauna Kea Resort, comprised of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, is the ideal destination for families with teens who crave adventure and cultural experiences. With a “stay at one, play at both” mantra, guests can enjoy amenities at both properties during their stay, from outrigger canoeing and Manta Night Swims to world-class oceanfront dining and luxury spas. Teens can play a casual game of pickleball or tennis, trek a portion (difficult level, easy to moderate) Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, enjoy the Mauna Kea Luau with a fire show, learn to hula or play ukelele, participate in crafts, stand-up paddleboard or kayak, spot sea turtles while snorkeling, and swim in the tranquil waters of Mauna Kea Beach and Hapuna Beach.
ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki | Honolulu, HI
The award-winning ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki is the pinnacle of luxury in Hawaii, with just nine suites each spanning an entire floor, VIP access to some of Honolulu’s top beach and cultural destinations, and easy access to the city’s premier shopping destinations that rival Rodeo Drive. Each residence-style accommodation spans an entire floor and multiple bedrooms with prime Pacific Ocean views. Guests enjoy full chefs-grade kitchen, a private balcony and outdoor hot spa, access to ESPACIO’s world-class spa, airport transfers and luxury car services, and more. To accompany the ESPACIO stay, the hotel’s critically acclaimed restaurant, Mugen offers an unmatched tasting menu experience that showcases local ingredients through the lens of French and Japanese cuisine. Its brand-new nine-course tasting experience is accompanied by a robust cocktail and wine program. ESPACIO and Mugen are the first and only hotel and restaurant duo in the state of Hawaii to achieve Forbes Five Star designations, accomplished within the first full year of operation. ESPACIO has also been recognized as an AAA Five Diamond Property. What’s more, those who stay at ESPACIO receive special access to Honolulu’s top art and cultural destinations (Iolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art, Bishop’s Museum) all to themselves, with previews of special exhibits, after-hours access, and private white glove tours.
Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection | Los Cabo, MX
The award-winning beachfront property, Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, is the perfect destination for a family vacation. The resort offers a variety of teen activities such as bike riding, stand-up paddle boarding lessons, volleyball, soccer, tennis, pickleball, bocce ball, and an Auberge Adventures menu of only-in-Cabo land and sea experiences. In addition, the resort has an exclusive and secluded spot for teens, La Cueva, featuring ping pong, foosball, Xbox, a pool table, arcade games, and more. Esperanza is the ideal destination for larger groups and families seeking adventure, offering guests barefoot luxury infused with the spirit of Baja.
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection | Meadow of Dan, VA
Located on 12,000 acres in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection, is a majestic year-round mountain retreat that provides a truly one-of-a-kind experience that is perfect for a Spring Break getaway that the whole family will enjoy. The expansive property boasts spacious suite accommodations in the main Lodge, standalone cottages and cabins dispersed throughout the property, and remote treehouse suites perched high above the valley; a championship golf course weaving through the forests and valleys; an exceptional culinary program with three distinct restaurants; a full-service spa and fitness center with an indoor/outdoor swimming pool; an observatory with top of the line telescopes operated by a local astronomer who leads stargazing experiences each night; and an impressive roster of outdoor adventures from horseback riding to ATV tours and beyond.
La Quinta Resort & Club | La Quinta, CA
Situated beside the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains, La Quinta Resort & Club offers an idyllic destination for families with teenagers, highlighting a variety of exciting outdoor activities and casita-style accommodations, allowing for teens to have their much-needed privacy while still being within parents’ reach. Boasting 16 world-class hard courts and five clay tennis courts, as well as eight pickleball courts, La Quinta Resort offers talented pros available for one-on-one and group instruction, ideal for those with energy to burn. Teens are also invited to perfect their swing on the green, on one of five unique, award-winning public golf courses. For teens looking to soak up some sunshine, guests can take to the family pool and enjoy pool club classics including snacks, burgers and chicken fingers. Set on 1,400 acres of land, La Quinta Resort & Club allows for plenty of space for teenagers to safely explore and have fun.
theWit Chicago | Chicago, IL
Located in one of the safest and most fun areas of Chicago, theWit Hotel provides the perfect accommodations for travelers of all ages, especially teens. Less than a 10-minute drive to Grant Park, home to Lollapalooza, and within walking distance to Chicago’s must-see spots, including the Bean, State Street, the Chicago Theatre and even Lake Michigan, theWit sits in the heart of the action, allowing guests to choose their own adventure. Constantly named one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, the Loop serves as the perfect means for vacationers to explore the vibrant metropolis with deep-dish pizzas and Italian beef sandwiches in hand, within a heavily populated area. Teens staying at theWit can experience both the luxury and comfort of the hotel along with the excitement and bustle of Chicago, making it the ideal place for any Lollapalooza attendees and young travelers.
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection | Park City, UT
For teens seeking fun outdoor adventure, The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection, is a luxurious family-friendly retreat, only 35 minutes from Park City. Spread over 3,500 acres, the resort is full of year-round family-friendly activities. Here are a few highlights below:
Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection | Deer Valley, UT
Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection, is an iconic hotel in legendary Deer Valley, Utah. The family-friendly resort offers year-round wilderness adventures and immersive experiences for guests of all ages with highlights below:
Big Cypress Lodge | Memphis, TN
A stay at the fun-filled Big Cypress Lodge housed in the Memphis Pyramid is a teen’s dream. While roaming the 535,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops amidst 100-foot tall Cypress trees and two floors of immersive retail space, teens can check out the resort’s aquarium holding over 600,000 gallons and 36 fish varieties native to Tennessee. They can stop by daily at 2:00 PM to enjoy live fish feedings by our Bass Pro Shops staff. The Fishbowl at The Pyramid also allows teens to jump out to sea with an underwater bowling adventure, complete with 13 bowling lanes and throw strikes surrounded by sea critters. For the adventure seekers, step onto the country’s tallest free-standing elevator, the 28-story Sky High Ride & Observation Deck, and journey 300 feet in the air to take in the sights of Memphis, Tennessee.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra, Florida
A premier year-round destination and family vacation favorite since 1928, the AAA Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is the perfect locale for a multi-generational family getaway. Located on a stretch of pristine beach in northeast Florida, elevated oceanfront accommodations are met with attentive service and endless leisure pursuits. With 262 exceptional oceanfront rooms and suites, including various accommodations to fit up to 5 people and connecting room options, it’s easy for larger groups to remain close. Plus, spacious balconies and ground-floor patios allow for socializing and a great home base. Guests can choose from over a dozen fine dining establishments, casual restaurants, lounges, and bars, where options abound for guests of all ages. The breathtaking beach offers endless opportunities for fun and sun, including shell and shark tooth hunting, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling, kayaking, picnics, beach games, and more; while multiple adults-only and family-friendly pools, tennis courts, two golf courses, a sophisticated spa, and kids’ summer camps and daily activities provide endless fun for guests of all ages.
