Try something different to get your family out of its vacation comfort zone.
All Inclusive Family Resorts USA List. When it comes to all inclusive resorts, there are plenty of options in the United States. From private island options and upscale dude ranches to farms and estate resorts, who needs a passport?
Here are some of the best all inclusive family resorts – USA edition. These are perfect to consider when you aren’t into the standard all inclusive resort vacation. We show you family resorts with summer camp-type activities, beach options, dude ranches, elegant luxury estates, and a few outside-the-box options for vacations with meals and drinks included.
Family Resorts for Summer Camp Fun
Woodloch Pines Resort
Woodloch Pines Resort is modeled after the all-inclusive family resorts of yesteryear. Think Dirty Dancing’s fictional Kellerman’s Resort— but today in the Poconos. And yes, there are retro dance shows at night, so pack your beige iridescent lipstick, Keds, and clam diggers.
For good, clean family fun, this all inclusive resort delivers endless options. To satisfy active families, guests find indoor and outdoor pools, kayaking and rock climbing walls, and winter sports like snow tubing and ice skating. Nightly shows with live music, comics, and magicians give the resort that retro feel. Every season and holiday is celebrated in the extreme. Parents who miss summer camp will get to play like kids again.
Some of the resort’s more unique activities include its own on-site escape rooms and paintball adventures. Their snow tubing course is a winter highlight. Lastly, more epicurean offerings include wine tastings and cooking demonstrations as well as on–site art classes.
Wooldloch’s family resort is not a luxury resort. However, they have private homes one can rent within their estate section in the Woodloch Springs community. Guests staying in these homes along the golf course have access to the resort shuttle and are two miles from the resort’s action. Guests can choose between a full meal plan or rent the house only. Pictured below are the newest three-bedroom townhomes in the Tallwoods section.
A five-star spa next door
Luxury can be found nearby at the critically acclaimed destination spa, The Lodge at Woodloch. Children must be 16 and older to stay here. But guests of the family resort can book experiences at the spa. In addition to standard spa options in fitness and nutrition, the Lodge at Woodloch offers art and creative classes. Meditation and mindfulness instruction teach true well-being.
Tyler Place
Vermont’s Tyler Place Family Resort opened its doors to family travelers in 1933 looking for an old-fashioned and outdoorsy bonding experience with loved ones. Today, Tyler Place offers a modernized update to old-fashioned fun, including swimming, pony rides, canoeing, tennis, water sports, and a robust kids’ clubs. Also, there are evening programs dedicated to adult time.
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Families make friends with other guests and rebook the following seasons for the same weeks. Some weeks are unofficially known as the New York crowd or the DC crowd. Check with the resort about which week best fits you.
Unlike many resorts, Tyler Place designed its accommodations with families in mind. Parents’ bedrooms with a queen or king-sized bed come with multiple bedrooms for kids. The private cottages, inn, and guesthouse suites offer a variety to fit the privacy needs of different families.
All-inclusive rates include a cottage, studio, or family suite accommodations along with three daily meals. The kids’ programs, windsurfing and kayaking, heated indoor and outdoor swimming, fishing, and evening entertainment. Bikes and pony rides are also available for each family member during your stay.
All Inclusive Family Resorts USA Beaches
The Lodge at Little St. Simons Island
Tucked away on Georgia’s Golden Isles, Little St. Simons Island stretches across 7 miles of pristine beaches and 11,000 acres of undeveloped wilderness. The island is only accessible by boat from nearby St. Simons Island. Hiking, bird watching, kayaking tidal waters, bike rides, and fishing are available with the guidance of resident naturalists, and daily excursions to get up close with the flora and fauna.
Lodging options include single rooms, entire cottages, and the full island available for rent. To get an idea of what to expect, the Michael Cottage features two bedrooms including one with a queen bed, living room with fireplace, two private bathrooms, kitchenette, washer and dryer, and a rear porch with an outdoor shower to refresh after a day outdoors.
The Lodge’s all-inclusive rates include accommodations, boat transfers to and from the island, and three meals family–style. House wines at dinner and naturalist excursions create the daily ritual. Another perk, guests are welcome to use all recreation equipment free of charge.
You can read about our complete review of Little St. Simons Island.
Historic Grand Resorts
Grand Hotel
Could any resort be more historic than the setting for Jane Seymour’s and Christopher Reeve’s Somewhere in Time? The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan features the world’s longest and perhaps most famous hotel porch.
Accommodations at The Grand Hotel include nightly turndown service among the 380+ guest rooms that are individually decorated with themes. Book the First Ladies room or Jane Seymour and the Somewhere in Time suite. One and two-bedroom options are available for families needing extra space.
Activities span all ages, from 18 holes of golf on The Jewel to 8 holes of “Foot Golf”. Tennis, pickleball, swimming, lawn games in the Tea Garden, horseback riding, and carriage tours are available. Also, the resort arranges excursions around Fort Mackinac and to area shopping, too.
Live music is also plentiful at the Grand Hotel as families lounge in the gardens or enjoy Afternoon Tea. There is a daily children’s program for kids aged 5 and older from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again at 6pm and 9pm. The evening hours include a kid-friendly dinner.
The Grand Hotel’s all-inclusive rates include the Grand Hotel’s Full American Plan (FAP) with a full breakfast, luncheon buffet, and daily dinner in the main Dining Room. Kids 9 years and under stay free, and all children’s rates come with the same meal plan as an accompanying adult. Seasonal packages include golfing, murder mystery, and princess and superhero themes.
The popular event of the year at the resort is a Fourth of July celebration with many special events and fireworks seen from the porch. Room rates post the November prior, and rooms sell out.
Mohonk Mountain House
Just 90 miles north of New York City lies the Mohonk Mountain House. Surrounded by 40,000 acres of Hudson Valley Forest, the resort showcases sparkling lakeside and Catskill views. This resort began hosting outdoor enthusiasts in the 1870s.
Resort amenities entertain families with archery, horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking among other activities from ambitious to relaxing. For more leisurely adult options, the spa can work on sore muscles before the property’s library offers some quiet. Carriage rides, boating, and a historic house tour move guests around the property and beyond.
Mohonk Mountain House award-winning Kids’ Club offers complimentary summer and weekend programs throughout the year for little kids to teens for a mix of playtime and learning.
Groups are divided by Explorers and Adventurers ranging from ages 4 to 12 with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. Outdoor activities include guided horseback riding hiking, and fishing. For teenagers ages 13 to 17, a Teen Program is available with varied activities like rock scrambles, tomahawk throwing, and disc golf. A game room to hangout and watch movies with new friends is open in the evenings.
Rooms at the Mohonk Mountain House include Tower Rooms with open living areas and wood-burning fireplaces Victorian rooms come with private balconies and fireplaces. Traditional rooms feature antique-style furnishings. A larger Grover Lodge is available for large groups with multiple guest rooms, a Great Room, and eco-friendly features.
Mohonk Mountain House rates include accommodations, meals, afternoon tea, and most activities and entertainment.
Migis Lodge, MAINE
A classic lake resort dating to 1916, Migis Lodge has been welcoming the same families for generations. With 35 cottages on 125 acres fronting Sebago Lake, this all-inclusive resort combines rustic luxury with old-fashioned charm. Waterskiing, fishing, sailing, and paddle boarding are some of the included activities, while dining includes outdoor lobster bakes, picnics and five-course meals at dinner. Time-honored traditions like a pre-dinner cocktail hour with dress code and weekly bingo prevail at this traditional resort. For more great places to stay in Maine, read our guide.
Horsing Around: Family Dude Ranch Vacations from Fab to Ultra Luxe
Be sure to read our full guide to luxury family dude ranches.
Alisal Ranch
Nestled in Santa Barbara wine country, Alisal Ranch features 10,000 acres to explore by foot or horseback. Some 50 miles of riding trails take families on idyllic rides past spring-fed lakes and wildlife spotting opportunities.
Championship golf courses, cycling, tennis, archery, boating, and —of course— wine tasting at the vineyards are available for guests.
Created with kids in mind, the Kids Club has theme days full of crafts, sports, games, and more. Parents can drop off children aged 4 years and older for this program.
Large groups can book adjoining studios or suites. Additionally, some accommodations include furnished private patios, wet bars, and multiple full bathrooms.
Alisal all-inclusive rates include accommodations, full breakfast and dinner daily, and complimentary wine tastings at nearby wineries.
Lost Creek Ranch & SPA
Situated between Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Lost Creek Ranch & Spa combines outdoor family adventure with upscale luxury. This privately owned resort near Jackson Hole, Wyoming can fill days with adventure.
Casual hiking is plentiful for active families, but more challenging and technical climbing opportunities are also available for ambitious climbers. The staff can also plan hot air balloon rides drifting over the landscape and book a round of golf.
A Kids Program is available in horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, and float trips, along with excursions to the national park.
Accommodations at Lost Creek Rustic feature cabins blend the rustic with modern amenities. Guests can choose from two-bedroom and two–bath cabins. Cabins also come equipped with a kitchenette, fireplace, lounge area, and a living room area.
Lost Creek Ranch’s all-inclusive rates include accommodations and all meals, housekeeping, personal laundry service, horseback riding with group instruction, hiking in Grand Teton National Park, youth activities, yoga, tennis, a heated swimming pool, and recreation. Finally, off-property activities like whitewater rafting and fishing trips can be arranged through the front desk for a fee.
BRUSH CREEK RANCH, WYOMING
Strap on your spurs and head to Brush Creek Ranch to discover why this working cattle ranch frequently tops the list. Set in 30,000 acres of cowboy country, with rugged mountains, lush forests and rolling prairie, this expansive resort is truly about getting away from it all – but in serious style!
The spacious ranch is home to 33 separate cabins, with the most family-centric being the cabin suites (sleeping up to four) or the cabin residences (accommodating between 6-12 people), which include a full kitchen. All the residences have tasteful rustic-luxe décor, with handsome mahogany interiors.
Keep an eye out for the Hawkins House cabin, a recent edition that makes a great choice for families. Sleeping up to eight, it includes a porch with front-row views of the running of the horses each morning – sure to delight children!
As the evenings roll in, sample some cowboy cuisine and live music at the chuck wagon dinner, or roll up your sleeves for a culinary master class in seed-to-table dining from their award-winning executive chef.
Be sure to read our full guide to luxury family dude ranches.
The Ultimate Family Wellness Retreat
Canyon Ranch is a great option for families is your youngest is aged 14 or older. There are two distinctive destinations of this spa resort, Tucson and the Berkshires. I’ve stayed at the Berkshires location numerous times, and I am a fan.
Wellness is on the menu for three square meals and snacks, and your family can take cooking classes to learn to make healthier dishes at home, too. You can still indulge in delicious desserts at Canyon Ranch, but the restaurants do not service alcohol. They do not search your bags, if you’d like to enjoy a glass of wine in your room.
The programming at both locations is what the highlight of the experience. There are endless fitness activities that you would expect but some fun classes to try as well like zombie apocalypse archery, acrobat yoga, and guided hikes and bike rides though stunning country scenery.
Relais-Chateaux Level Luxury
Winvian
The quiet getaway at Winvian resort lies in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut alongside 113 acres of woods and lakes. The property features five-star cuisine at a farm-to-table restaurant, wine tastings, and spa for adults looking for an indulgence on vacation.
Unlike many resorts, children and families are only allowed on specifically designated dates at the property. The three-day weekends that include Monday holidays and the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays are the family dates.
This can make Winvian an ideal place to book a vacation, whether you’re looking to get away on a grown-up–only trip or to meet up with other families for a kid-friendly weekend in Connecticut. Horseback riding, a 40-foot swimming pool, hiking, and fitness classes like yoga keep families busy.
The distinctive accommodations are what make Winvian stand apart. Luxury cabins dot the Winvian landscape with whimsical architecture. Also, each cabin is extensively themed and different. A stone cottage and treehouse is suspended 35 feet above the forest floor. It’s hard to beat the uniqueness of their Helicopter Suite. Even the most traditional Hadley Suite we stayed in was gorgeously appointed.
Many cottages come equipped with gas or wood-burning fireplaces, radiant-heated floors, steam showers, jacuzzis, and full bars, along with artistic touches and detailing.
Winvian all-inclusive rates include accommodations, most resort activities, dinner, and breakfast with varied rates for family-friendly weekends. But Winvian’s restaurant is closed during lunch.
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Blackberry Farm
For those parents unwilling to sacrifice style and luxury while enjoying a country break, few options beat Blackberry Farm (read our full review!). Families on the hunt for mountain adventure quests head to Blackberry Farm in Eastern Tennessee for stream exploration, geocaching, and archery. There’s even the chance to hone farming skills before retreating to magazine-worthy accommodations for the day.
For kids four years and older, Camp Blackberry and Blackberry Youth Discovery take campers on a kid-only adventure, including culinary arts, crafts, and outdoor fun. Additionally, the Youth Discovery program for those aged 10 and older teaches children how to paint, build ceramics, farmstead, and explore the property with others their own ages.
Accommodations at Blackberry Farm include historic and estate rooms, suites, houses, and cottages. The Garden House features a main house with two cottages clustered near each other for larger groups and includes heated bathrooms, fireplace, hardwood floors, and a full kitchen to arrange private chef experiences. Sweeping views, plush robes, and luxury linens treat guests to high-end comfort and relaxation.
While the kids are busy, grown-ups enjoy culinary and tasting activities along with a full spa and carriage rides, wildflower hikes, or car tours.
Blackberry Farm’s all-inclusive fees include accommodations, meals, snacks, and children’s programs at Camp Blackberry. Some resort activities and recreation are also included.
5-star Decadence: The Best Club Level Lounges
The Ritz Carlton Club Lounges
Because some club lounges offer extensive food and drink, a club-level room provides a nearly all-inclusive experience. The best lounges offer breakfast, a light lunch, a makeshift dinner of appetizers, cocktails, and dessert.
While most lounges offer the above, it is the appetizer spread that may or may not suffice for dinner. It is the one meal that is hardest to feed children. After spending a week at both Ritz Carlton Naples resorts club level, we became completely uninterested in dinner after a few days.
Our favorite Ritz-Carlton resorts include Naples and Orlando in Florida, Laguna Niguel in California, and Bachelor Gulch in Colorado. Although we haven’t tried them, The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles and New York Central Park are considered exceptional lounges.
Langham and Belmond Club Lounges
In Illinois, you cannot beat the club lounge at The Langham Chicago for the atmosphere and generous food displays presented by very personable butlers.
The Obvious All-Inclusive option: Disney World
The Disney Dining Plan began offering alcoholic beverages with their plans this past year, and tired, smiling parents raised a glass in return. For those who book a vacation package with a Disney resort, park tickets, and a dining plan, you have an all-inclusive vacation. Also, Disney resort packages include free airport transportation.
For the most luxurious option that doesn’t feel like a theme park resort, we suggest the new cabins at Copper Creek. These stand-alone cabins are part of the Disney Vacation Club offering at the Wilderness Lodge. A screened-in porch on Bay Lake includes a fireplace and a hot tub. The soaring ceilings of the open kitchen and living room make the place feel large and airy. While it’s true the water shuttle to Magic Kingdom will pass by, it still feels like your own paradise.
There are smaller resort room options that are less money. All of the deluxe Disney Resorts have strong signature restaurants for dinner. For foodies wanting to try as many different dinners as possible on the dining plan, we prefer the Grand Floridian and Beach Club properties to enjoy the restaurants of many nearby resorts. Transport by boat, monorail, and walking makes several dinner choices within easy reach.
So, let the family vacation experts plan and book your vacation! Luxe Recess offers travel booking services.
[wpforms id=”19890″]Additional reporting by Susan Finch.
great!