6 Resorts with Kids Clubs That Entertain and Educate
These US resorts offer exciting activities that enhance children’s connections to the destination, from ocean exploration to ranching adventures
It’s a great time to be a kid—especially when traveling. Across the US, “kids clubs” at top hotels and resorts are stepping up their game, offering more interactive, immersive, and educational experiences that could leave adults wishing they could join in. These supervised spaces give young vacationers—typically ages 5 to 12—the chance to play, make friends, and dive into exciting activities, all while learning about local environment and conservation efforts. We've curated a few standout resorts with kids clubs in the warm climes of Florida, Arizona and California that blend fun with educational experiences.
Florida resorts: Ocean adventures and space exploration
Loews Miami Beach Hotel takes kids clubs seriously—but in a fun way. The resort has partnered with the Miami Children’s Museum and the Frost Science Museum to design its kids programming and train kids club staff. Young guests can learn all about beach ecology and native marine life on seven days of themed fun—including “Under the Sea,” “Mermaids & Pirates,” and “Backyard Blast”— where marine life lessons are woven into interactive art projects that become vacation souvenirs.
Meantime, the kids club at the Conrad Orlando—which is less than 3 miles from Walt Disney World and 10 miles from Universal Orlando Resort—features on-site programming to balance out the rides, characters, and crowds. “[Our] kids club creates enriching day-to-night activities that emphasize eco-conscious learning and inspire our young guests to connect with the world around them,” says Alyssa Gerzanick, director of hotel operations for Conrad Orlando. Among the highlights is a Kids Night Out during which young guests spend the evening exploring night sky galaxies and learning about the solar system, rocket launches, and life as an astronaut aboard the space station.
On Florida’s west coast, the shallow beach at the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa serves as a classroom for interactive STEM activities for guests of the JW Kids Club. Kids can learn about sea turtle nesting and preservation, view sea life, search for stars through telescopes, and—weather permitting—build sand sculptures and play games on the beach. Indoors at JW Kids Club’s Hideaway Hangout, kids can examine native flora through a microscope, build kinetic sand sculptures, and more.
Arizona: Desert discoveries and cultural lessons
Just outside Phoenix, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass hosts a daily supervised kids camp in which young guests can spend their day alongside other kids crafting, indoor rock climbing, playing outdoor activities, and more. One of the biggest all-ages draws at the resort, however, is the Land of the Mustangs experience, which—while not technically part of the kids club—is held on the property daily. Guests can learn native horse-handling techniques from a local wrangler from the Koli Equestrian Center and discover the history and cultural significance of the wild mustangs that roam the surrounding desert.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, a AAA Five Diamond resort near Tucson nestled in the high Sonoran Desert against the Tortolita Mountains, offers a three-hour Ritz Kids Ranger program. Tales of Native American and Mexican culture in the Wild West educate and entertain kids on guided walks during which young explorers will discover an ecosystem of plants and animals that thrive in the region.
California: Ranch adventures and animal education
Tucked on the Monterey Peninsula in northern California, Carmel Valley Ranch offers a daily kids club in which outdoor and indoor activities keep young guests entertained—but the most unique experience for kids at this resort retreat is the Junior Ranch Hand experience. During this day of adventure and learning, kids get a taste of real ranch life. They’ll interact with the animals, develop lasso skills, and even complete ranch chores alongside ranch hands of Carmel Valley.
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As resorts with kids clubs continue to elevate their offerings, young guests can enjoy hands-on experiences that not only entertain but also deepen their connection to the destination and its natural surroundings, making every vacation unforgettable.