The 16 Best Family Resorts in California
Bring the whole family to California and make memories that will last a lifetime. Everyone can find something they love at one of our 16 family resorts. When travelling with children, it’s essential to make their vacation fun and memorable. These are perfect family vacations because they allow everyone to relax and enjoy their time together.
California is a vital source of some of the world’s most beautiful resorts and hotels. From sunny beaches to historic towns and charming neighbourhoods, there’s something for every type of traveller at these top-rated properties. From family-friendly hotels with fun activities for kids to cosy retreats away from it all—here are our picks!
- The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, is a beautiful hotel on Mount Tallac. The views from the rooms are unique, and you can see the lake and surrounding mountains from your windows. The hotel has a spa, pool, fitness centre and many other amenities that make it an excellent place for families or couples.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, also has an outdoor pool that is open year-round. It has a sandy beach area with lots of lounge chairs and umbrellas where you can relax with a drink, watching the sunset over the lake. Hotel Rooms are clean with flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi available all the time.
- Argonaut Hotel, a Noble House Hotel, San Francisco
The Argonaut Hotel is a 4-star hotel in San Francisco, California. It was constructed in 1927 and converted into a boutique hotel in 2015. This hotel is in Union Square, one of the city’s most popular shopping and entertainment districts. Given the prime location, it’s an ideal place to stay for business and regular tourists.
The Argonaut Hotel offers business travellers modern rooms, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, parking, LCD TV, hair dryer, ironing board, and minibar. Guests can enjoy a bathrobe and slippers provided by the hotel.
The Argonaut features an on-site restaurant serving American cuisine for dine-in or takeout guests. There is also a bar where guests can relax after a long day of shopping or sightseeing around Union Square.
- Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe
Camp Richardson is at the base of Mt. Tallac, which is 6,000 feet above sea level. The camp offers a variety of activities for families and children, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and swimming in the lake. It also has a ropes course and zip line in that children can participate. There are many amenities available at the camp, including Wi-Fi Internet access, picnic tables with grills, restrooms with showers and hot tubs, a playground and water fountains for pets.
The lake is home to more than 700 birds, including bald eagles, osprey, loons and pelicans. You’ll see lots of wildlife — including black bears, bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes — particularly during the spring through fall. You’ll also find deer fawns along the shoreline. It’s one of the best places in North America for seeing bighorn sheep!
- Railroad Park Resort, Shasta Cascade
Railroad Park Resort Shasta Cascade is a family-friendly resort in the heart of California’s Shasta Cascade region, an excellent place to go and have fun with your family in the summer.
This resort offers many amenities for families and kids, including an indoor heated pool, basketball court, tennis courts, and bike rentals. The resort also has a fitness centre with free weights and cardio equipment. There are also plenty of activities for kids like arts and crafts, horseback riding, water slides, fishing, hiking trails and much more.
- Hotel Del Sol, San Francisco
Hotel Del Sol San Francisco is a hotel built to ensure that the family stays happy and comfortable. The hotel has a kids’ club, so parents can enjoy their time without worrying about the kids. They also have a lot of amenities for families with children, like in-room microwaves and refrigerators, cribs, and more; the rooms are more like full fledge suites.
The hotel is situated in the middle of Silicon Valley and is perfect for business trips. It is also close to famous landmarks like Levi’s Stadium and Oracle Arena.
- Sanctuary Beach Resort, Monterey
Sanctuary Beach Resort Monterey is a family-friendly resort that offers both the beach’s excitement and the spa’s relaxation. It is one of the famous resorts in Monterey Bay, with its prime location on Pajaro Dunes.
Sanctuary Beach Resort Monterey offers many amenities for families and kids. There are two pools, three outdoor spas, an outdoor children’s water play area, and many more activities for children to enjoy. The resort also has excellent dining options perfect for families, such as the Sanctuary Cafe and Sanctuary Market.
- The Waterfront Beach Resort, Huntington Beach
The Waterfront Beach Resort is an excellent place for families and kids. It has many amenities that make it a perfect place to visit. The resort offers many outdoor activities, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and surfing lessons. They have a full-service spa with massages and facials available. There are three pools on the resort, one of which has an adult side.
The beachfront resort is in Huntington Beach, California, about 30 minutes from Disneyland and 45 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The resort has 1,000 guest rooms and suites across four towers.
- Surf & Sand Resort, Laguna Beach
Surf & Sand Resort is a family-friendly resort with lots of facilities. The resort offers an all-inclusive experience for families and kids, including an expansive pool area, hot tubs, and a kids’ activity centre.
It is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year – especially during the winter when you can enjoy warmer weather than in other parts of the country.
The Surf & Sand Resort is in Laguna Beach, CA. It is within walking distance from the beach and close to many other attractions such as restaurants, shopping centres, etc. So, you can enjoy sunset and waves hitting the nearby shore while having an irresistible meal at the beachfront restaurant.
- Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, San Diego
The Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa San Diego are in Mission Bay’s heart, steps from SeaWorld and Petco Park. This hotel also offers a variety of amenities for families to enjoy, including:
Family suites with two queen beds and one king or two double beds
Kid’s club with pool area access for ages 3 to 12 years old
The hotel offers guests an outdoor pool with a children’s slide, a water playground area, a basketball court, and more! There are also three on-site restaurants (including a California cuisine restaurant named “The Grill”) that guests can reserve at no additional cost.
- Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Santa Barbara
The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort is located on the beach and has a pool and hot tub. There’s also a restaurant, bar, fitness center, spa, business center, and gift shop.
The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort rooms have balconies, flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet access and coffee makers. The resort also offers an outdoor pool, cabanas, a hot tub, and fire pits. Many rooms face the ocean so that you can enjoy the hypnotic sea view.
- Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado
The Loews Coronado Bay Resort is located on San Diego Bay and has a private beach. It also has an on-site spa, fitness center, and restaurant. The resort offers specialty rooms with whirlpool tubs, king beds, or two-room suites with one king bed and seating area (the latter being great for families).
The pool at this family-friendly resort is large enough to hold everyone’s needs—and then some! There’s even an outdoor poolside bar where you can order drinks like margaritas or get one of those fancy frozen daiquiris that come with all those little umbrellas (we’re talking about natural ice cubes here).
- Blue Sea Beach Hotel, San Diego
The Blue Sea Beach Hotel San Diego is on the beach in Coronado, California. It’s a family-friendly resort that offers activities for all ages, including:
- Swimming pools with slides and splash pools
- Tennis courts and basketball courts
- Volleyball court (for adults)
The hotel has rooms with different designs; some have kitchens, so you can cook your food if you want to save money! You’ll also find many restaurants here that serve delicious meals at affordable prices. There are also plenty of other things to do at this resort, such as visiting the USS Midway Museum or taking a cruise around Point Loma Naval Base before returning home after relaxing by our poolside cabanas (or even renting one).
- Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point
The Monarch Beach Resort Dana Point is in Dana Point, California. It’s a family-friendly resort that offers all amenities and activities for everyone to enjoy.
The hotel has a heated pool with an outdoor water slide, a lazy river, and a water playground if you have kids too young to swim yet! There is also a kid’s club on-site where children can play games or do arts & crafts while their parents relax at the beachfront bar or restaurant.
In addition to its excellent location (within walking distance from Fisherman’s Wharf), this resort offers plenty of other family-friendly activities, including an arcade room with video games; karaoke nights every Friday night (with live entertainment); live music on weekends; movie screenings every Sunday afternoon during summer months; paintball tournaments all summer long!
- Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel, Carlsbad
Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel Carlsbad is a family-friendly resort in Southern California. The resort has everything you need for an enjoyable stay with your family, including a restaurant that serves delicious meals anytime, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre; tennis courts; shuffleboard tables, and playground equipment for kids of all ages. This location also offers plenty of activities for adults! You can go fishing or kayaking on their pond nearby Lake Hodges or rent bikes from them too!
There are several restaurants at this hotel, including Tamarack Restaurant & Bar (breakfast), Surfside Grill (lunch) & Pacifica Bar & Grill (dinner). There are multiple lodging options available here, such as standard rooms that sleep two people each or deluxe suites which sleep up to 6 people each, depending on how big they are. Still, most rooms will fit comfortably within those parameters, so make sure your room fits before booking one!
- Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica
Shutters on the Beach is a 5-star hotel located in Santa Monica. It’s also a family-friendly hotel, so you can bring your kids there if you want to soak up some sun and surf.
The resort offers everything from luxury suites to oceanfront rooms, with first-class amenities and modern design details, which makes it feel like a home even when you are away from home. Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or just staying close by while visiting Los Angeles attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood or Disneyland Park (both within 15 minutes), this property will offer something for everyone!
- Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, Huntington Beach
The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is in Huntington Beach, California. It has a water park, a lazy river, and a wave pool for kids to enjoy. Adults can also enjoy the restaurants, bars, and other amenities on site.
The resort offers an excellent location for families who love to spend time together or want to get away from it all!
There are plenty of things to do on-site at the Hyatt Regency. The water park is one of the most popular attractions, with a lazy river and a wave pool for kids to enjoy. Adults can also enjoy the restaurants, bars, and other amenities on site.
The California coast is vast, and many great family resorts are available to suit every budget and taste. Each of these five hotels offers something unique that will make your trip an unforgettable experience. One thing is sure: you won’t be disappointed!