The 15 Best U.S. Resorts for Families, According to T+L Readers

Traveling as a family is both gratifying and inherently challenging, a stacking puzzle of personalities and preferences you hope to keep stable no matter what bumps the table. In my decade as a parent who regularly hits the road, my most significant takeaways from family travel are these: First, you absolutely must remain flexible, ready to postpone or abandon a plan if someone is grouchy, hungry, or just too tired to manage. And second, no matter where you are going, everyone must have literal (and often metaphorical) space to be themselves.

For kids, it’s usually the literal space that’s required. I have never met a young person who does well in a confined space, unless that space is, say, an indoor trampoline park. For my family, that means our landing place needs a nearby playground or an easily accessed beach, lake, or swath of woods. And as I listed out the winning properties below, I felt confirmed in the above musts, as every single one checks this box in its own way. Here’s hoping the following resorts help you book your next storm-free family trip – summer is just around the corner, believe it or not.