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For parents who want to take a vacation with the kids, but also get an occasional break from the duties of parenthood, many resorts have incorporated ways to constructively occupy children on vacation apart from mom and dad.
With family travel going through a seemingly endless boom, Travel Impressions compiled a listing of its Top 10 best resorts in terms of the activities offered for kids.
Beaches Ochos Rios in Jamaica offers childcare by caregivers accredited by the International Nanny Association, an 18,000-square-foot water park, and the Xbox Play Lounge or Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of the Caribbean and Mexico offer the Ritz Kids programs at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba; The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun; The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; and Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico. Ritz Kids offers an educational program for children aged 4-12 based in part on Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society and its understanding of the pillars of water, land, environmental responsibility, and culture.
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas offers an aquatic playground with 14 lagoons, 141 acres of slides and rides; the LEGO-affiliated Atlantis Kids Adventures; the Sea Squirts program for kids aged 3-6; the Junior Ultimate Trainer for a Day program, and a series of other children's workshops and events.
Riu Jalisco in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico offers a varied program of children's entertainment programs for kids aged 4-12. The Riu brand promotes its own dancing sea turtle character in an educational entertainment program that teaches values such as cultural diversity and care for the environment. The property also offers plenty of equipment and opportunities for active play, such as pool slides, water games, outdoor recreational areas, and indoor playrooms.
The Breakers Palm Beach in Florida offers Camp Breakers to kids 3-12 years of age, providing meals and play experiences. Besides the beach, the resort offers kids special golf and tennis camps, and a 6,160-square-foot Family Entertainment Center with an arcade, video games, bike rentals, outdoor sports courts, and a playground.
Hyatt Resorts in Hawaii features Camp Hyatt with interactive programs that mix fun and games with education about the flora, fauna, culture, and geography of the islands. Fun activities include sandcastle building, lei-making, and hula lessons as well as visits to the aquarium or zoo at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, seeing the parrots at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, and fishing at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.
Now Resorts and Spas in Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun has an Explorer's Club with Red Cross-certified staff for children 3-12 years of age. They also offer the Core Zone Teens Club for teenagers, with activities such as pool games, bonfires, and disco mixers.
Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico offers kids The Playroom, an 11-room club with game rooms, iPlayrooms for toddlers, a beauty salon and mini fashion runway, dollhouse, kitchen, Xbox room, toy room, arcade, two playgrounds and a theater, as well as many daytime activities.
Generations Riviera Maya, a Gourmet InclusiveResort by Karisma located in Mexico, offers kids aged 4-12 the chance to experience fine dining at Little Eko Chefs, where they can learn about cooking. The Eko Kids Club offers art projects, ball pits, movies, crafts, video games, and an indoor playground.
Hard Rock Riviera Maya has the Little Big Club to keep kids busy. Kids 12 years and up can join in the activities at the Music Lab, such as live performance, DJ spin sessions, and shooting their own music videos.
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