Beach side: where to go with a family?

By Amy Marr

Catharine Kalafatis
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Adventure Adviser: Molokai Ranch (800-254-8871) in Molokai, Hawaii will meet most of your criteria, though I can’t vouch for the food. The long list of available activities include swimming, sea kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, mountain biking, deep-sea fishing and whale watching — all on the 53,000-acre Ranch. The oceanfront accommodations are a bit rustic, but perfect for kids — bungalow-esque tents, featuring a queen bed and two singles, self-composting toilets and solar-powered showers. Kaupoa Camp’s “tentalows” face Kaupoa Beach, famed for its soft white sand. If that sounds a bit rough for your horde, check into Kolo Camp, where you can stay in a more upgraded tent — a “luxury yurt” to be exact — complete with French doors, lanais, and skylights. Per-day rates range from $185-$245 for adults, $75 for kids 4-12, and include all meals, activities and equipment rentals.

Club Med is always another option, particularly one of the six Family Villages (call 800-CLUB-MED for details). A bit smaller-scale is the elegant Beaches Turks & Caicos (800-232-2437) on the petite island of Providenciales. Plenty of family activities to choose from, and your whole family could fit in a beachfront villa ($2,272-$2,550 per adult for an all-inclusive seven-night stay; kids 2-15 pay $60 per night).

For something a bit more exotic, head to Grenada. When you and your family aren’t sailing, hiking, snorkeling, or exploring the rainforest, you can relax at the La Sagesse Nature Center (473-444-6458) in one of the breezy, coast-hugging guest rooms. Though they don’t offer a typical all-inclusive deal, the hotel does serve excellent fresh fish (and fruit smoothies for breakfast), and is surrounded by explorable terrain.