Unique Childhood Adventures Around The World
The Young Explorer’s Club: Childhood Adventures They’ll Actually Remember
I know, I know! The kids are barely back in school and here I am talking about spring break and summer for next year. But… maybe you missed out on early planning last year? Booked too late and got stuck with leftover rooms, inflated prices, or a not-so-great itinerary? Or worse — maybe you skipped it altogether and spent the week watching everyone else’s fantastic getaways on social media 😫
Here’s the thing: even though it feels forever away (the school supplies aren’t even bought yet!), now is the time to start thinking about where you’ll go, how long you’ll stay, and what you’ll be budgeting.
The good news? You’ve still got a little time. The bad news? Waiting too long could mean:
❌ Snagging the last room (with a parking lot view)
❌ Paying way more thanks to good old supply and demand
❌ Fewer options for everything — from dining reservations to the best guides to tours
P.S. Don’t have kids? It’s still smart to plan out your travel now. Mapping your travel year now means better pricing, better availability, and trips that actually fit your schedule (and budget) instead of just hoping they’ll work out.
But let’s end on a high note: if you think school breaks are just crowded Cancun beaches full of kids, think again. Family travel has grown up. The best experiences no longer revolve around plastic wristbands and crowded kids’ clubs, but around opportunities for wonder that are hands-on, place-based, and genuinely unforgettable. Scroll on for suggestions that are far more special that your family will be begging to return to again and again… and thank me later ✨
Gleneagles - Scotland
Gleneagles is the ultimate countryside playground for both adults and kids - shooting, fishing, horseback riding, gundog training, ferret training (kids love this one), tennis, offroading, Highland exploration, etc. Kids cry when they leave this hotel; it’s really that special. For adults, it's very close to the famous St Andrews golf course and they have a 2 Michelin star restaurant on property. Gleneagles crafts a truly remarkable escape for families; the constant stream of hands-on fun ensures that every day is brimming with new discoveries, exciting challenges, and moments of shared joy. Everyone will leave wanting to come back to this amazing Scottish haven.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Kokomo Private Island - Fiji
Children will have great fun over in Fiji because a stay on Kokomo Private Island goes far beyond your classic kids’ club activities. Crafty kids can get hands-on with clay, creating mini masterpieces with Kokomo’s resident artist or bracelet-making in one of its popular jewelry workshops; water babies can make a splash at the Kokocabana Pool Club for aquatic adventures; and animal-lovers can partake in a tropical fish-feeding frenzy in the island’s crystal-clear waters, which can also be explored on one of Kokomo’s glass-bottom boat trips. Every parent loves Kokomo Private Island because their children are well cared for at all ages; Kokomo even offers complimentary nanny services for children up to three years of age.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit
Bookings in the Residences will receive an additional $200 Resort or Hotel credit (for a total of $300 during stay)
Stays of 7+ nights will also receive a complimentary 60-minute Kokomo Signature Pacific Mastery Massage for two guests, once during stay
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
The Brando - French Polynesia
The Brando hosts its very own Lagoon School, designed to occupy curious minds ages six to twelve with five different sessions unique to animal life in French Polynesia. Two coral programs, one on turtles and another on cetaceans, and one on the fish and plants of Tetiaroa – it’s an educational program that has all bases covered. New to Lagoon School is its latest module on sea and migratory birds found in French Polynesia, with a specific focus on the species seen in Tetiaroa. Species, life cycles, threats, and conservation solutions – they’ll come away having learned plenty.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit
Bookings in a Two Bedroom Villa (or larger) will receive an additional $100 Food & Beverage credit (for a total of $200 during stay)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Hotel Eden Roc - Switzerland
Hotel Eden Roc on Lake Maggiore is Switzerland’s only true beach resort, directly on the shores of Lake Maggiore with a private beach and private marina, walkable to town. They have numerous activities - a watersports school on site, beekeeping, hiking, a spa, biking, boating, sailing, as well as a kids club. To keep the parents happy, they also have two Michelin keys, 4 restaurants, one with 2 Michelin stars, and a 20,000+ square foot wellness area with treatment rooms, pools, a fitness center, and various saunas and steam baths.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily Buffet breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay
Bookings in Suite categories will receive an additional $100 Resort or Hotel credit (for a total of $200 during stay)
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Nimmo Bay - Canada
Most of the wilderness lodges in Canada have minimum age restrictions but Nimmo Bay does not have age restrictions and even has a Kids in the Wild program. Located in the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, you are in the perfect place to see bears in their natural habitat, as well as whales and dolphins. You can even spot bears from their floating dock, complete with tub. You can also go on waterfall tours, meet local communities, and go foraging on land and in the sea to create your meal. With no road access, guests arrive at the lodge by boat or floatplane. However, catching the floatplane is easy - you just have to get to Vancouver or charter the floatplane from Seattle.
Coworth Park - United Kingdom
Coworth Park is super close to London Heathrow Airport, making it perfect if you have a layover, or to start or end your trip to London or the United Kingdom. It's got a full service spa and fitness center, an indoor swimming pool with underwater music, tennis, croquet, horse riding and polo lessons with the Guards Polo Club, equestrian facilities, walking, jogging, and cycling trails, SEVEN playrooms for kids, a kids club, babysitting, and a full program of kids programming. It's part of the same collection as the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel BelAir. This hotel would pair perfectly with The Newt in Somerset for a great week of British countryside exploration.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Guestrooms:
Guaranteed one-category upgrade at time of booking for all room categories, up to Junior Suite category
100-unit credit once during stay (in local currency), applied to guest room folio at time of checkout
Complimentary breakfast for two daily, through in-room dining or hotel restaurant
Complimentary WIFI (unlimited number of devices) provided throughout guest stay
Junior Suites:
Same as Guestroom benefits above, however upgrade is subject to availability at time of check-in
Suites:
100-unit credit DAILY (in local currency) per guest bedroom, applied to guest room folio at time of checkout
Complimentary breakfast for two per suite guest bedroom daily, through in-room dining or hotel restaurant
Complimentary WIFI (unlimited number of devices) provided throughout guest stay
Complimentary round-trip airport transfers for one-bedroom suite categories and above. Valid on all stays made until March 31, 2026
Carmel Valley Ranch - California
Carmel Valley Ranch, nestled in the hills of Carmel in Northern California, offers both flexible family suites and engaging, kid-friendly activities. Children can immerse themselves in the ranch's Adventure Camp, participating in activities like junior golf lessons, equestrian experiences, and even a unique "Bee Experience" where they learn about honey production. The hotel has a full ranch on-property, allowing for animal interactions for both kids and adults - from picnicking with Sicilian mini-donkeys to hiking with goats. The property also boasts multiple swimming pools, including a kids' splash pad, and dedicated family and adults-only pools, in addition to a golf course.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily Breakfast For 2 People
100 USD Property Credit per Stay
Room Upgrade Based On Forecasted Occupancy
First Priority for Early Check-In, Late Checkout, and Connecting/Adjoining Room Requests
Southall Farm - Tennessee
This sustainable farm resort with 325 acres of open space has numerous activities to keep kids happy, with a roster of experiences from learning about majestic birds of prey as they land on gloved arms, to discovering local flora and fauna through guided hikes, to aerial adventures across four ziplines and watersports on Lake Mishkin. Southall’s orchard tours are good fun for children as they eat their way around 40 varieties of apples, as is roaming around the farm in an off-road cart with a beekeeper and tasting the farm’s award-winning honey. But perhaps one of the simplest and most satisfying activities at Southall are mealtimes with field-to-fork and farm-fresh fare with the family, followed by S’mores in front of the fire.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily breakfast credit of $45 per person, for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining
100 USD Property Credit per Stay
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Hacienda AltaGracia - Costa Rica
Hacienda AltaGracia is one of my favorite properties in the world (it was seriously incredible). Rates include meals, non-alcoholic drinks, daily programming, transfers, and shared charter flights from San Jose airport. The property is equally amazing for adults (the most incredible spa ever, amazing food, fantastic additional activities like the River Bath) and kids (80+ horses on property, a butterfly garden, multiple playgrounds, a kids club for ages 5+, a really cool excursion you can book where you go make candy while visiting an adorable local lady's farm with a billion farm animals).
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
$100 USD equivalent Hotel credit to be utilized during stay, valid towards Food & Beverage (including THE WELL) and towards adventures
$100 USD Bonus Dining and Experience Credit
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Galapagos Safari Camp - Ecuador
Galapagos Safari Camp specializes in family-friendly Galapagos travel. It’s a land-based way to experience the Galapagos (meaning you sleep on land but go out on day expeditions on boats to see other islands) with flexible schedules, private land tours, and tailor-made itineraries giving families the freedom to explore the Galapagos Islands at their own pace, according to their own needs and interests. Guests can visit the giant tortoise reserve, run through underground lava tunnels, hang out with the marine iguanas on the beach, take surf lessons next to sea lions, and snorkel with penguins. The property has Family Safari Tents with two separate sleeping areas connected by a shared living room lofted up in the air to allow tortoises to continue to roam freely, in addition to a Family Suite.
Rancho Santana - Nicaragua
This resort is a quick private transfer across the border from Liberia airport in Costa Rica. Families LOVE this property. The kids club is a cute space with really kid-friendly activities for littles like cookie baking and jewelry, as well as night time options so parents can enjoy a dinner out. Older kids absolutely adore the surf lessons here. They also have lots of fun animal and nature focused activities, such as witnessing turtle hatching, monkey scouting, sandboarding, horseback riding, and more. They have lots of house/condo options with multiple bedrooms within the hotel, offering options to fit every size group and family.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Breakfast for Two Daily
One signature experience per booking (Choose from one Surf Lesson, one Sunset Horseback Riding, one Yoga Class, or one Mountain Biking Experience)
$100 Hotel Credit per Stay (to be used on services such as spa, dining, or selected amenities valued at $100 or more)
Room Upgrade (subject to availability)
Priority Check-in and Check-out (subject to availability)
Complimentary In-Room Internet
Four Seasons Punta Mita - Mexico
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is a paradise for families, offering an extensive range of amenities designed to entertain and engage guests of all ages. The resort's signature Kids for All Seasons program provides a complimentary, supervised space for children aged 5 to 12, with a daily schedule of fun activities like Mexican arts and crafts, treasure hunts, and nature walks. For teenagers, The Container offers a dedicated, adults-free zone with video games, virtual reality, air hockey, and a private cinema. The resort also boasts a family-friendly lazy river, complete with swim-up bar for the adults and ICEE machine for the kids, an infinity pool, and two private, swimmable beaches with complimentary water sports like snorkeling and kayaking. The property also offers an adorable "Babies for All Seasons", which provides amenities for infants aged 0-18 months, such as a dedicated menu of baby food purees, premium baby gear like cribs and bottle warmers, baby spa experiences, and in-room babyproofing.
Perks I can add for my Bessties at this hotel:
Daily breakfast for 2
100 USD hotel credit for rooms or 200 USD for suites & private retreats
Room upgrade to next category (subject to availability)
Early check-in, late check-out (subject to availability)
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