The 9 Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Families, From Grenada to Wyoming
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Vacationing families so often find themselves forced into a compromise: kids’ picky young palates cancel out those gourmet meals parents are craving; mom’s longed-for spa day cuts into the water sports the kids were promised; evening plans become a negotiation between bedtime, babysitters, or subpar on-site entertainment.
That’s why the best family-friendly resorts, the ones that parents return to again and again, never force you to take sides between grown-up activities and scheduling for the younger set. Instead, they make it easy to spend time together as a group, while also having plenty of alone time as needed. We’ve rounded up our favorite family vacation spots, all of which offer all-inclusive options for effortless planning. Go ahead and plan that trip: From sunrise guided meditation to street parties with the entire gang from Sesame Street, it’s time to make some memories.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Club Med QuébecClub Med Quebec-Charlevoix, Canada
Best for: The OG of all-inclusive family travel
There’s a new kid in town at Club Med Quebec-Charlevoix, the global resort chain's first property in Canada. A prime spot for snow bunnies and their moms and dads, and with views of the scenic St. Lawrence River and surrounding mountains, this waterfront 300-acre resort is an ideal launchpad for family fun in all four seasons. In the cold months, there’s skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding and ice skating. When the mercury rises, think mountain biking, guided hikes, and whale watching.
What there isn't: lift ticket costs or the added sting of slope-side lodging. With unlimited ski-in/ski-out access, guests of all ages can participate in immersive ski workshops, taking them on an immersive journey through the wondrous ski domains of Le Massif de Charlevoix. And if teens need a break from all the family time, kids between 11 and 17 will delight in Club Med Passworld, where they can enjoy curated group activities from snowboarding lessons to graffiti art to disco nights, while little ones can take gentle nature hikes at Mini Club Med.
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Nicki SebastianAlisal Guest Ranch and Resort, Solvang, California
Best for: Animal-loving families
In California’s Santa Ynez Valley, where rolling acres of pinot noir and chardonnay vines ripen in the sun just a 30-minute drive north of beachy Santa Barbara, Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is a genuine California dude ranch with 50 acres of riding trails, two golf courses, an 100-acre lake, and a dining program that combines the best of California cuisine (locally sourced and farm-fresh) with classic Western barbecue. Horse-mad families will be in heaven here—but out of the saddle, there are arts and crafts like candle-making and painting, plus tennis, cycling, and a full-service spa. You’ll also find attractions for the smallest of kids, including a flock of barnyard critters that include a miniature Zebu cow, chickens that lay blue and green eggs, and silky South American alpacas. Breakfast, dinner, and many activities are included in the nightly rate.
Moskito IslandMoskito Island, British Virgin Islands
Best for: Those who don’t want to just vacation like Sir Richard Branson—but actually want to (possibly) rub elbows with the man himself
Moskito Island debuted in October 2021 to offer an idyllic private-island experience that’s fully all-inclusive and delightfully family-friendly. Clans can choose from three distinct (but equally luxurious) accommodations, each with between eight and 11 bedrooms, and frolic about on their island playground of activities like sailing, mountain biking, hiking, and treasure hunting. There's also beach olympics, family tennis tournaments, and personally curated menus that range from formal dinners to informal beach picnics.
Brush Creek RanchBrush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming
Best for: Groups looking for lots of space to spread out
Families craving wide open space will get exactly that at Brush Creek Ranch, a collection of three upscale ranch resorts spread across a working cattle ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming. Encompassing 30,000 acres of grasslands surrounded by the Medicine Bow National Forest, there’s the Lodge and Spa for luxury dude ranch cabins; French Creek, a sporting paradise for those obsessed with hunting and fishing; and Magee, the ranch’s wellness-focused retreat. And don’t let the wilds of Wyoming scare you off come winter: This is a resort for all seasons, and the opportunities for activities are endless so long as your family has an appetite for adventure. To start, there’s ice fishing, mountain biking, and aerial adventures, plus the Lil’ Wranglers program, which offers trail adventures and horseback rides for kids ages four to nine. You’re bound to work up an appetite from all that moving around. The farm at Brush Creek grows organic produce in its 20,000-square-foot greenhouse, and yields both American Wagyu beef and organic cream (from its flock of Alpine goats, of course), all of which is served across the ranch.
Palmaïa, The House of AïAPalmaïa House of AïA, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Best for: Broods looking to detox
Book a family suite (many of which have bunk beds and kid-friendly decor, and sleep up to four people) at this eco-friendly, wellness-focused beachfront paradise in Playa del Carmen. With swim-out terraces, a private beach with crystal-clear waters, a dedicated kids’ pool with its own slide and waterfall, plus a children’s activities program with a full calendar of educational events, Palmaïa is a resort where the entire family can get pampered. Plant-based menus shine at all four restaurants and the 24-hour room service, with items like dense vegan chocolate cake and strawberry chia-seed pudding. For those looking to tap into a deeper spiritual awakening, the in-house shaman offers a program of guided rituals.
Courtesy The Resort at Paws UpThe Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
Best for: Families looking to keep older kids engaged—and off their phones
The families who gather at Montana’s Paws Up do so to get their adrenaline pumping together. This is the sort of resort parents dream of when they bemoan too much screen time, and for good reason. With pristine Rocky Mountain air and 37,000 acres of wilderness to explore, families can get way offline—there are horseback rides, fly fishing, and the chance to climb into ATVs, and they can even try their hands at paintball, rappelling, and white-water rafting. Executive chef Sunny Jin, an alum of the French Laundry, El Bulli, and Tetsuya, oversees the resort’s refined rustic cuisine, showcased in dishes like wild mushroom pithivier with foraged mushrooms, and grilled pork coppa with miso-creamed Swiss Chard and green garlic confit.
Beaches ResortsBeaches Turks and Caicos, Providenciales
Best for: A place to feel like family on vacation, year after year
Beaches Turks and Caicos sits on what is arguably the world’s most beautiful beach—Grace Bay on the island of Providenciales, with sand like baby powder and gentle, turquoise waves. This is a resort that earns loyalty from its guests, with repeat customers who return year after year, and for good reason: The childcare options at Beaches include a kids’ club that accepts infants to teens, with camp counselors accredited by the International Nanny Association. The resort is also the only of its kind in the Caribbean to maintain staffers trained to care for children with autism, making it ideal for families of young ones with special needs. Beaches also has a partnership with Sesame Street, translating into street parties with Big Bird and Cookie Monster, as well as options for special tuck-ins with Sesame Street characters. Plus, the resort’s kid-friendly waterpark includes a swim-up bar for kids that only serves special mocktails for little ones. While the kids are having their supervised fun, there’s a world-class spa, water sports, butler service, golf, and more for mom and dad.
Whitney Lewis PhotographyLake Kora, Raquette Lake, New York
Best for: Giant extended-family get-togethers
Long before glamping made the idea of “roughing it” much more palatable, Great Camps—the grand log cabin compounds built by Gilded Age titans in upstate New York—allowed families including the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers to commune with nature in the utmost comfort. Lake Kora, which is open seasonally from July 1 through October 15, has been a playground for visitors to recharge away from the big city for more than 120 years; it’s now one of just a handful of remaining relics of this tradition that travelers can actually experience. Available by exclusive booking only, the rustic 1,000-acre estate can house up to 35 guests and offers an on-site bowling alley, squash court, and roller rink, plus the chance to kayak, canoe, and more, all on a private 500-acre lake—in other words, fun for the whole family, away from the rest of the world.
Courtesy Spice Island Beach ResortSpice Island Beach Resort, The Lime, Grenada
Best for: Families where lazing around is a priority
Grenada’s nickname, Spice Isle, is the inspiration for the name of this clean-lined beach resort, which sits on the yellow sands of the island’s Golden Anse Beach. In the Caribbean, where many resorts are adults-only and the family-friendly spots tend to skew heavy on kitsch, Spice Island is sleek, modern, and contemporary, while still delivering plenty of local flavor. Children are welcomed warmly here, but luxury and elegance aren’t sacrificed for a moment. Spice Isle’s kids’ club, Nutmeg Pod, has a full-day children’s activity program that keeps kids and tweens busy from morning till bedtime with board games, video games, supervised free play and—of course—plenty of snacks. The resort’s Seagrape Beach suites sit directly on the sand, making them a perfect spot for parents to sip on a cocktail at sunset before catching some evening entertainment, like live steel drum music.