From Maine to Maui, these are America's top 10 waterfront resorts for families
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1. The Osthoff Resort
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Spacious suites. Three swimming pools. An arcade and kids' club. An on-site cooking school and spa. There are a lot of reasons why The Osthoff Resort is an ideal spot for a waterfront family vacation.
'Staying at The Osthoff Resort on the shores of Elkhart Lake felt like stepping into a luxury version of an iconic family summer camp,' says Nicky Omohundro, a mom of three and owner and editor of the site Little Family Adventure. 'The lake is a huge draw, offering a range of activities such as swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Some of the best fishing I've enjoyed recently has been on this lake. But what made this resort truly special were the little touches that made it perfect for families.'
"The private beach and lakefront fire pit provided a peaceful end to our days," she continues. "My best memories of the trip were made under a starry sky sharing s'mores and stories around those bonfires."
TEEN-FRIENDLY TRIPS: Teen-tested, parent-approved: 10 family vacation ideas that will actually excite your teenagers
2. The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Stay in Lowcountry style at The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, where water views can be enjoyed from the resort's wraparound porches. 'The resort has a wonderfully clean, bright nautical theme to its decor, and there are two pools, one with a zero-entry that is perfect for little ones,' says Sharon Nolan, a longtime Philadelphia-area travel writer who's traveled extensively with her three now-grown children.
Activities abound, from an on-site sailing school and nightly bonfires to lawn games, a seasonal kids' club, a new summer roller rink and seasonal winter ice rink, and yoga on the lawn. 'I like the resort because you could have such a varied vacation here,' says Nolan. 'There are a lot of possibilities, which can be great for families trying to please a variety of kids. In addition, the family suites provide closeness, but also allow parents the ability to stay up a bit later and not disturb the little ones.'
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3. Henderson Beach Resort & Spa
Destin, Florida
Destin's only luxury resort, Henderson Beach Resort & Spa offers everything from standard guest rooms and suites to vacation rentals that can sleep up to 16 for a family escape to the Florida Panhandle. No matter how you stay, you get access to a stretch of white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico, three pools and two lazy rivers, a kids' club, lawn games, yoga classes and a fitness studio, and complimentary bike, kayak, and standup paddleboard rentals.
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'Most people think of Destin as a vacation rental destination, but that kind of 'vacation' takes a lot of work,' says Holly Johnson, a mom of two and family travel expert at ClubThrifty.com. 'Henderson Beach Resort gives you the option to book a luxury resort stay like you would in other destinations. You can order food by the pool, visit the on-site spa, and more. You don't have to do everything yourself like you do with a vacation rental; you can have people cater to you all day and night if you prefer.'
4. Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
Georgia's Golden Isles are a favorite vacation destination of mine, and a big reason for that is the area's historic gems like Sea Island. Situated along the Atlantic Ocean, the coastal Georgia resort island has been welcoming guests since 1928. Lodging options here range from privately owned cottages to guest rooms and suites in The Cloister, a Spanish-colonial beauty of a hotel designed by Addison Mizner.
'It's a cherished family resort where generations of families return year after year to create and keep traditions,' says Florida-based freelance travel writer and editor Angela Caraway-Carlton. 'At night, a photographer roams the lobby of The Cloister to snap photos of families dressed in their best. I love seeing all of the kids dressed in their tiny suits and frilly dresses, 'cheese'-ing for the camera.'
Activities include vacation standards like pools and a beach club along with less typical offerings like horseback riding on the beach, beach shelling by golf cart, and the resort's Hawk Walk. 'It was crazy to watch fearless kids take part in the Hawk Walk on Rainbow Island, where a hawk lands on your gloved arm,' says Caraway-Carlton. 'They didn't even flinch!'
KID-FRIENDLY: The 25 best U.S. family resorts and hotels for a vacation to remember (updated for 2025)
5. Inn by the Sea
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Located on a mile of sandy beach, Inn by the Sea makes for a picture-perfect spot for a multigenerational family vacation. Guests can choose from traditional rooms or spacious one- or two-bedroom suites, some of which have balconies and two-way gas fireplaces. A heated pool, full-service spa, and activities like yoga, beach ecology walks, and the kid-focused Bug's Life Tour help the whole family (including the canine members) connect with the inn's scenic setting.
'Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth is a classic Maine seaside resort and my absolute favorite,' says FamilyVacationist contributor Allison Tibaldi. 'You traverse a private walkway/boardwalk to Crescent Beach, a dreamy stretch of sand and sea with a view of a lighthouse. It's the definition of New England charm. And Portland is only a 15-minute drive away.'
BEST TRIP EVER: Family travel made easy: 101 fresh vacation ideas for the best trip ever (updated for 2025)
6. Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
Amelia Island, Florida
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa occupies a prime stretch of Atlantic Ocean beachfront on a barrier island off the northeast coast of Florida. Guests can rent chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas for relaxing by the shoreline, but you'll probably spend a lot of time swimming, shelling, body surfing, and sandcastle building. A family pool, nautical-themed splash pad, and adults-only pool offer more ways to cool down, and other resort amenities include a mini-golf course, the 10-hole Little Sandy golf course ideal for novice golfers, bike rentals, and a nature center offering tours and family programming.
'The luxury resort is known for its incredible spa, beach access, and its proximity to all of the fun in Fernandina Beach,' says Megan duBois, FamilyVacationist's senior theme park editor. 'And I love that every year the resort hosts Fish to Fork, a culinary festival that highlights the bounty of Florida's waterways.'
STAY IN SUNSHINE: 10 dreamy Florida beach resorts that are perfect for families
7. Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
Point Clear, Alabama
A local fixture since 1847, Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection occupies 550 acres overlooking Mobile Bay near the charming city of Fairhope. Options for family fun range from tennis and pickleball courts, croquet lawns, and two 18-hole golf courses to a seasonal outdoor pool with a waterslide and splash pad. Guests also love the daily tradition that starts by the fireplace in the main lobby, processes to a ceremonial firing of a replica 19th-century cannon on the edge of Mobile Bay, and finishes with light bites back at the hotel.
'I love the Grand Hotel; it's the epitome of Southern charm,' says Caraway-Carlton. 'I've gone there since I was a child. It's not just for tourists; the locals go there just as much as visitors do. It's beloved by the community, and nearby Fairhope is literally like stepping into a Hallmark movie.'
MAKE MEMORIES: 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages
8. Fairmont Kea Lani
Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
With 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two- and three-bedroom two-story villas, Fairmont Kea Lani offers lodging options for families of all sizes. In addition to the resort's white-sand beach, there are two family pools connected by a 140-foot waterslide (plus one pool reserved just for the adults). On-site Hawaiian cultural programming helps visitors connect with the islands' history and culture, and the complimentary Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Experience that begins with a traditional sunrise chant is not to be missed.
'The Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui was the most beautiful, family-friendly but also luxurious resort I've ever been to,' says Amber M. Shimel, a Florida-based mom of five who runs the blog Amber Likes. 'My children still talk about the wonderful sitter the hotel provided one night. There were family-friendly activities, and the beach had lots of shade and a grassy area perfect for toddlers.'
DECISION TIME: How to choose the best Hawaiian island to visit
9. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
Oahu, Hawai'i
When you combine Disney and Hawaii, it's not surprising you wind up with a waterfront resort made for making memories. Where else can you meet Disney characters while also taking in Hawaiian sunsets, spotting sea life, and enjoying Hawaiian shave ice?
'Our family loves the blend of Disney storytelling combined with an authentic Hawaiian beach vacation at Aulani,' says FamilyVacationist contributor Dave Parfitt. 'A particular highlight was channeling our inner Moana and watching sea turtles float by during the sailing canoe tour. If your family loves Disney but prefers a laidback beach trip as opposed to the hustle and bustle of a theme park, Aulani's the place for you.'
'Aulani is not only our family's favorite resort, but it was also the best vacation we've ever taken, according to my kids,' says Meagan Wristen, a mom of three who runs the blog Mommy Travels. 'The teen program was one of the best we've experienced, the family activities were unique and fun, and of course Mickey was there.'
ALMOST ALL-INCLUSIVE: 6 best Hawaii resorts that are (nearly) all-inclusive
10. Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Situated on a 72-acre peninsula of protected natural reserve in the shadow of El Yunque National Forest (the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System), Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico espouses a true vacation vibe. The waterfront resort's motto is 'doing nothing means everything,' and oceanfront hammocks, poolside cabanas, and a seriously soothing spa provide plenty of opportunities for totally chilling out.
CLOSE TO HOME: 8 best Puerto Rico (almost) all-inclusive resorts for families
Of course, there are lots of ways to do more than just relax, whether that's splashing in Puerto Rico's largest lagoon-style pool, paddling a kayak in the Atlantic Ocean, taking a family-friendly sushi-making class, pedaling a complimentary bike rental, testing your skills in a TopGolf Swing Suite, or teeing off at the 27-hole, Tom Kite–designed championship golf course. Seventeen food and beverage options include beachside food trucks for casual family meals.
The resort's hotel-within-a-hotel concept, Villas en la Reserva, makes a good choice for families, offering spacious villas with kitchenettes, separate living rooms with queen sleeper sofas, and balconies or patios with ocean views. Stay here and you have access to your own pool area, coffee shop, and poolside bar and restaurant. But my favorite part about staying in the Villas en la Reserva? The Monday and Tuesday morning deliveries of pan sobao, a traditional Puerto Rican bread served warm with honey butter and local cheese that tastes just as good as it sounds.
From Maine to Maui, these are America's top 10 waterfront resorts for families originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
They planned their wedding. They weren't even engaged yet.
Katelin Morales and her partner, Jeff Beqiri, began wedding planning in February 2024. The Philadelphia-based couple booked flights to Peru to meet with a wedding planner, look at venues and start to lock in vendors for their destination wedding. Now there was just one thing left for Beqiri to do: propose. 'I knew that I needed a long runway for the type of wedding that I want. And my fiancé wanted more time to buy the ring that he wanted to buy me,' Morales, a 33-year-old lawyer, tells Yahoo. 'So we had the wedding planner, the venue, the photographer and also the videographer booked all before we got engaged.' The pair met on an app in May 2023, and their timeline quickly fell into place. 'We both said that we were dating with the intention of marriage,' Morales says. 'We were official two weeks after we met, and by July, we were saying, 'I love you.' Pretty organically, we were talking about marriage.' They decided to get a head start on wedding planning without waiting for the formality of Beqiri getting on one knee. They're in good company. Planning nuptials before an official proposal is a trend that's been gaining momentum over the last few years, now inching toward common practice. A 2024 survey by the wedding planning website Zola found that a majority of couples were doing some ideating about their wedding day, like creating a mood board or curating a registry, prior to a formal engagement. But the smaller percentage of those who went so far as to decide on a wedding date, book a venue and start a wedding website (where friends and family can check out wedding details) more than doubled by 2025. Here, couples discuss why they decided to tackle the 'I do' before the 'Will you marry me?' — and how it saved them from extra wedding stress. Why plan early A few factors played into Morales's decision to plan early. 'I knew it was going to be a destination wedding and I wanted to give people a full year's notice of when we were getting married,' she says. 'We also had a conversation about kids very early. … We would like to have our first kid when I'm 34, so we wanted the wedding in early 2026.' Then there's her job as a bankruptcy lawyer. 'The workload ebbs and flows a lot. There are months when I can't even go to a dinner,' she says. 'I wanted to make sure that there would be enough downtime in my job to take advantage of for planning, instead of having to do everything in the six months before my wedding when I can't control work.' Having ample time for wedding planning was her main concern. And with that under her control, she could leave the timing of her engagement up to Beqiri. Devin Short felt similarly. The 29-year-old, who lives in Westchester, N.Y., tells Yahoo that both she and her then-boyfriend Nick had already set their sights on a particular wedding venue in Florida, which she was anxious to secure. 'The venue is notoriously booked out in advance, and the place is special to us,' says Short. So, when she was sure by July 2022 that her partner was preparing a proposal — 'I knew he had asked my dad for his blessing and that the ring had been ordered' — she gave the place a call. 'I called to inquire about the next year, and they only had one date left in December,' she says. 'I really wanted a Florida-in-Christmas moment, so I asked for a contract.' Short and her mom immediately started working on getting more details of the big day together. Nick was aware of it, but not yet involved — he was busy putting together a proposal, after all. Once the venue was set, Short booked a wedding planner, as well as a photographer and videographer. 'I waited to pick our band because that was his one request,' she says. Both Short and Morales's priorities were in line with others who have gotten a head start, according to the 2025 Global Wedding Market Report by Think Splendid, a wedding consulting firm. Among 53,493 newlyweds who were polled, 31% started looking at venues before getting engaged, while 32% and 18% started the same process with photographers and wedding planners, respectively. Jenny McDonough, a Colorado-based planner and founder of Stargazed Weddings, tells Yahoo that getting a call from a couple that isn't yet engaged isn't out of the ordinary. 'People want to make sure that they get their preferred date, their preferred venue and their preferred photographer. And they have friends telling them that it books up quickly,' she says. Hence, most of those who get a head start on planning are specific about what they want. With less time comes less choice, in most cases, which is exactly what Caroline, 30, (who asked to keep her last name private) from New Jersey wanted to avoid. She and her now-husband Brendan had a particular date in mind for their wedding long before he proposed. 'We wanted our wedding to be on my grandparents' anniversary,' says Caroline, who planned to honor her family by getting married in their native Ireland. 'I also wanted my other grandmother to be at our legal ceremony [in the United States]. She was older, so we were racing a bit against the clock. … She was able to be there to witness before she passed away, which I'm extremely grateful for. Planning ahead of time gave me that sentimental moment.' 'Where's the ring?' Morales calls herself an 'open book' with family and friends, so when she and Beqiri discussed their February 2026 wedding two years ahead (and 10 months before they were even engaged), she shared the news. Her family was skeptical. 'I don't see a ring on your finger,' was the response she got from relatives who were wary of Morales being hurt. 'I had previously been in a seven-year relationship that didn't end up in a marriage, so they didn't want me to go through that again.' She was confident that this was different. 'I knew it was going to happen, I didn't feel any trepidation about any of it,' says Morales. 'It was just a matter of when, not if.' She attended a few wedding-related pop-ups and spoke openly about wedding planning in front of co-workers. 'People would be like, 'Where's your ring?' So I would find myself saying, 'Oh, it's getting cleaned,' even though I didn't have it yet,' she says. 'It can be kind of embarrassing when you go somewhere talking about your wedding and they don't see a ring on your finger. That's the first place that your eyes go.' However, that hasn't been a problem since Beqiri pulled off a surprise proposal to Morales last December. 'I definitely was surprised, and that was important to him,' she says. 'Although I knew it was going to happen, I didn't know the circumstances, when it would happen or what the ring would look like.' And better yet, the couple feels that they've been better able to enjoy the start of their engagement era because their plans for next year are already set. 'Most couples are planning right after they get engaged, and we had already done that stuff,' she says. 'Despite people being skeptical, at the end of the day, I was right. It turned out exactly how I said it [would], and it gave me more faith in myself and us as a couple too.' No stress or ruined surprises Caroline also says that the surprise of her early 2024 engagement wasn't ruined by wedding planning for six months prior. 'I let him plan [the proposal] on his own time,' she says. And data suggests that proposals aren't quite the surprise they're built up to be, anyway. Zola found that 53% of couples getting married in 2025 have shopped for rings with their partners, while 70% have discussed when they would be getting engaged. Asking 'Will you marry me?' is more of a formality. 'Even with all the planning, Nick managed to surprise the f*** out of me when he eventually did propose,' says Short. 'So it was a win-win because I was prepared, but also caught off-guard.' She has nothing but good things to say about planning early for her big day. 'I didn't stress about not having anything done, I had all my choices or preferences for vendors. I felt so in control from start to finish,' she says. 'It was the best choice ever.'
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business Insider
The chaos that has plagued Newark is over after lots of 'begging' for help, United's CEO says
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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
They planned their wedding. They weren't even engaged yet.
"People would be like, 'Where's your ring?'" Katelin Morales and her partner, Jeff Beqiri, began wedding planning in February 2024. The Philadelphia-based couple booked flights to Peru to meet with a wedding planner, look at venues and start to lock in vendors for their destination wedding. Now there was just one thing left for Beqiri to do: propose. 'I knew that I needed a long runway for the type of wedding that I want. And my fiancé wanted more time to buy the ring that he wanted to buy me,' Morales, a 33-year-old lawyer, tells Yahoo. 'So we had the wedding planner, the venue, the photographer and also the videographer booked all before we got engaged.' The pair met on an app in May 2023, and their timeline quickly fell into place. 'We both said that we were dating with the intention of marriage,' Morales says. 'We were official two weeks after we met, and by July, we were saying, 'I love you.' Pretty organically, we were talking about marriage.' They decided to get a head start on wedding planning without waiting for the formality of Beqiri getting on one knee. They're in good company. Planning nuptials before an official proposal is a trend that's been gaining momentum over the last few years, now inching toward common practice. A 2024 survey by the wedding planning website Zola found that a majority of couples were doing some ideating about their wedding day, like creating a mood board or curating a registry, prior to a formal engagement. But the smaller percentage of those who went so far as to decide on a wedding date, book a venue and start a wedding website (where friends and family can check out wedding details) more than doubled by 2025. Here, couples discuss why they decided to tackle the 'I do' before the 'Will you marry me?' — and how it saved them from extra wedding stress. Why plan early A few factors played into Morales's decision to plan early. 'I knew it was going to be a destination wedding and I wanted to give people a full year's notice of when we were getting married,' she says. 'We also had a conversation about kids very early. … We would like to have our first kid when I'm 34, so we wanted the wedding in early 2026.' Then there's her job as a bankruptcy lawyer. 'The workload ebbs and flows a lot. There are months when I can't even go to a dinner,' she says. 'I wanted to make sure that there would be enough downtime in my job to take advantage of for planning, instead of having to do everything in the six months before my wedding when I can't control work.' Having ample time for wedding planning was her main concern. And with that under her control, she could leave the timing of her engagement up to Beqiri. Devin Short felt similarly. The 29-year-old, who lives in Westchester, N.Y., tells Yahoo that both she and her then-boyfriend Nick had already set their sights on a particular wedding venue in Florida, which she was anxious to secure. 'The venue is notoriously booked out in advance, and the place is special to us,' says Short. So, when she was sure by July 2022 that her partner was preparing a proposal — 'I knew he had asked my dad for his blessing and that the ring had been ordered' — she gave the place a call. 'I called to inquire about the next year, and they only had one date left in December,' she says. 'I really wanted a Florida-in-Christmas moment, so I asked for a contract.' Short and her mom immediately started working on getting more details of the big day together. Nick was aware of it, but not yet involved — he was busy putting together a proposal, after all. Once the venue was set, Short booked a wedding planner, as well as a photographer and videographer. 'I waited to pick our band because that was his one request,' she says. Both Short and Morales's priorities were in line with others who have gotten a head start, according to the 2025 Global Wedding Market Report by Think Splendid, a wedding consulting firm. Among 53,493 newlyweds who were polled, 31% started looking at venues before getting engaged, while 32% and 18% started the same process with photographers and wedding planners, respectively. Jenny McDonough, a Colorado-based planner and founder of Stargazed Weddings, tells Yahoo that getting a call from a couple that isn't yet engaged isn't out of the ordinary. 'People want to make sure that they get their preferred date, their preferred venue and their preferred photographer. And they have friends telling them that it books up quickly,' she says. Hence, most of those who get a head start on planning are specific about what they want. With less time comes less choice, in most cases, which is exactly what Caroline, 30, (who asked to keep her last name private) from New Jersey wanted to avoid. She and her now-husband Brendan had a particular date in mind for their wedding long before he proposed. 'We wanted our wedding to be on my grandparents' anniversary,' says Caroline, who planned to honor her family by getting married in their native Ireland. 'I also wanted my other grandmother to be at our legal ceremony [in the United States]. She was older, so we were racing a bit against the clock. … She was able to be there to witness before she passed away, which I'm extremely grateful for. Planning ahead of time gave me that sentimental moment.' 'Where's the ring?' Morales calls herself an 'open book' with family and friends, so when she and Beqiri discussed their February 2026 wedding two years ahead (and 10 months before they were even engaged), she shared the news. Her family was skeptical. 'I don't see a ring on your finger,' was the response she got from relatives who were wary of Morales being hurt. 'I had previously been in a seven-year relationship that didn't end up in a marriage, so they didn't want me to go through that again.' She was confident that this was different. 'I knew it was going to happen, I didn't feel any trepidation about any of it,' says Morales. 'It was just a matter of when, not if.' She attended a few wedding-related pop-ups and spoke openly about wedding planning in front of co-workers. 'People would be like, 'Where's your ring?' So I would find myself saying, 'Oh, it's getting cleaned,' even though I didn't have it yet,' she says. 'It can be kind of embarrassing when you go somewhere talking about your wedding and they don't see a ring on your finger. That's the first place that your eyes go.' However, that hasn't been a problem since Beqiri pulled off a surprise proposal to Morales last December. 'I definitely was surprised, and that was important to him,' she says. 'Although I knew it was going to happen, I didn't know the circumstances, when it would happen or what the ring would look like.' And better yet, the couple feels that they've been better able to enjoy the start of their engagement era because their plans for next year are already set. 'Most couples are planning right after they get engaged, and we had already done that stuff,' she says. 'Despite people being skeptical, at the end of the day, I was right. It turned out exactly how I said it [would], and it gave me more faith in myself and us as a couple too.' No stress or ruined surprises Caroline also says that the surprise of her early 2024 engagement wasn't ruined by wedding planning for six months prior. 'I let him plan [the proposal] on his own time,' she says. And data suggests that proposals aren't quite the surprise they're built up to be, anyway. Zola found that 53% of couples getting married in 2025 have shopped for rings with their partners, while 70% have discussed when they would be getting engaged. Asking 'Will you marry me?' is more of a formality. 'Even with all the planning, Nick managed to surprise the f*** out of me when he eventually did propose,' says Short. 'So it was a win-win because I was prepared, but also caught off-guard.' She has nothing but good things to say about planning early for her big day. 'I didn't stress about not having anything done, I had all my choices or preferences for vendors. I felt so in control from start to finish,' she says. 'It was the best choice ever.' Solve the daily Crossword
