NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2004
Top Family Resorts
Travel And Leisure Magazine's List Of Top Family-Friendly Resorts
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(AP)
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The folks at Travel and Leisure magazine have put together a comprehensive list of top family-friendly resorts for the magazine's special family supplement.
See Travel and Leisure's complete list.
Laura Begley, an editor at Travel and Leisure, reviews these top-ranked resorts for the Saturday Early Show.
The Cloister - Sea Island, Ga.
This was the magazine's readers' favorite family-friendly resort in the entire United States and Canada.
The secluded island resort has a reputation for drawing families back generation after generation. "Camp Cloister" offers fishing expeditions, scuba diving and sailing lessons - even etiquette classes. The spa runs specials for younger guests (age 11 and up) that include fitness consultations, nutrition counseling, and teen facials.
Doubles from $280.
www.seaisland.com
Casa De Campo - La Romana, Dominican Republic
This amazing property won the "Caribbean, Bermuda and Bahamas" category.
The staff will organize special activities for your family such as donkey polo, family scavenger hunts and a horseback riding breakfast. The resort also offers clubs for kids in different age groups.
The resort itself has a wide range of extremely luxurious accommodations, from guest rooms to suites to private villas - even villas with their own butlers. The experience is rounded out by three gold courses, a private marina and an equestrian center.
Doubles from $191
www.casadecampo.com.do
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita - Punta Mita, Mexico
This is the most expensive resort among this list, but there's no question that you get what you pay for. Located on a private isthmus surrounded by miles of beautiful beaches, the vacation spot creates a personalized welcome basket for all children (they ask for the names and ages of your children before you arrive), rooms are outfitted with child-sized bathrobes and special toiletries, and a bedtime treat of cookies and milk are delivered to your room each night. The Four Seasons will even child-proof your room if you wish.
While parents play the Jack Nicklaus golf course, kids can attend a supervised "Kids for All Seasons" program.
Doubles from $400
www.fourseasons.com
Westin Resort And Spa, Whistler - Whistler, B.C., Canada
This resort is the most affordable on T&L's top 50 list. More good news: it's a great destination all year long. In the winter there is fantastic skiing nearby; in the summer the outdoor mecca offers paragliding, fishing, rafting, hiking and horseback riding.
Westin, known for its "Heavenly Bed" will even provide a "Heavenly Crib." Parents can also request everything from bottle warmers to jogging strollers.
Doubles from $114
www.westinwhistler.com
Atlantis - Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas
Atlantis is the biggest property on the top 50 list - we're talking 11 pools, 17 restaurants, and 18 lounges/clubs.
If your kids get tired of swimming, the resort also offers a unique program in conjunction with the Discovery Channel. Kids become explorers for a day; sample activities include finding buried treasure, looking at stars and learning about sharks. "Base Camp" is a replica of a Spanish galleon ship.
Accommodations range from super-luxurious to more moderately-priced options.
Doubles from $215
www.atlantis.com
Disney
What about Disney? Disney and kids seem to go hand in hand, but we are yet to mention any Disney properties. Although Disney did not achieve any of the top spots, it holds an amazing nine of the 20 best resort spots in the United States and Canada, including three of the top five.
All three of these are located in Florida. Disney is rarely going to be the cheapest option for families, but you always know what you're getting, and kids are sure to love it.
See Travel and Leisure's complete list.
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