Family Friendly: Domestic Elevated Lifestyle Preferred Hotel Partners

Family vacation might not have a reputation as the most sizzling prospect for downtime-deprived parents, tough-to-please teens, and moody mini-travelers. Sacrifices often must be made for the common good – but is this true anymore? Hotels once engineered to please parents and bore children – and vice versa – have shifted gears to appease the demands of the modern family.

With the end of the school year in sight, we’ve created a list of exquisite hotel partners that can transform your family vacation into a true holiday for all. These Jet Linx Elevated Lifestyle (EL) Preferred Hotels feature everything from bucolic mountain retreats to sunny seaside resorts – all with carefully-programmed activities and experiences to create magical moments for every member of the family.

Your Elevated Lifestyle Preferred Hotel team from EMBARK Beyond provide not only access to your EL Preferred Hotel benefits and complimentary booking assistance, but also offer pieces of expert advice from their previous stays at these properties to eke out every bit of enjoyment for your precious time away. Whatever your idea of a jet-set family vacation looks like, the entire family can soar above the ordinary with Jet Linx and our hotel program partners.

Acqualina Resort

Sunny Isles, Florida

Between Fort Lauderdale and Miami lie some of the greatest stretches of beach in Florida. On the small island known as Sunny Isles awaits Acqualina Resort, a 4.5-acre luxurious high-rise complex with two towers dedicated to residential and guest rooms and suites. Reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa with its leisure-focused lifestyle and grand design, Acqualina is South Florida’s only Five-Star hotel of its kind to be built completely open to the ocean, free of barriers between the 51-story tower, featuring 98 luxury rooms and 188 lavish residences, and its 400 feet of glistening Atlantic shoreline.

You won’t find loud crowds spilling out of Acqualina’s restaurants or bars, nor will you hear the other families in neighboring suites. Where you will find families will be outdoors during the day, enjoying the expansive stretch of beach, multiple swimming pools, and kids’ programming and club. Suites also feature full kitchens for a condo-style experience if families prefer to stock the pantry and refrigerator, but there are also six on-site dining options, ranging from sushi to upscale Italian.

With an abundance of hands-on activities, arts, crafts and games, the complimentary and award-winning AcquaMarine kids program can turn a child’s Miami beach family resort experience into a marine learning camp adventure. Children can learn more about the Florida environment and the sea life around the resort with various programs offered by the resort. Designed for kids ages five to 12, the marine biology-based program includes beach games, lifeguard experiences, and various educational, yet fun programs. Sharks & Rays, for example, is a group exploration where kids will play games and enjoy a scavenger hunt, and the Wonderful World of Whales program includes science experiments, scavenger hunts and more.

Teens visiting the resort can join in on the Teen Scene, which brings together kids ages 12 to 16 and specializes in themed events such as beach volleyball, dance and hip-hop classes, art classes, speed and agility training and more.

Brush Creek Ranch

Saratoga, Wyoming

This family guest ranch offers something for everyone – including a hefty dose of cowboy culture on 30,000 acres of pristine, rolling wilderness in Wyoming. The Brush Creek Ranch Lodge and Spa features 13 Trailhead Lodge rooms, 11 two- and three-bedroom log cabin residences, and nine cabin suites. All facilities come furnished with premium bedding, luxury amenities and refined Wild West character. On-site spa facilities include a grotto soaking pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room. Personalized treatments include signature massages, body wraps, and facials, all adorned by world-class products.

Retreat in nature with inclusive activities such as yoga, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and a high ropes course. Fly fishing, ATV rides, and shooting sports will be offered for a fee. However, a range of activities such as biking, rock climbing, ATV adventures and more can be planned and coordinated with dedicated staff and on-site outdoorsmen.

For active children, the Lil’ Wranglers program begins each morning with a horseback ride. The program incorporates a wide variety of fun activities tailored for youngsters aged four to nine and introduces them to friendly dude ranch excitement like unique trail adventures, ecological exploration, archery, ziplining, fishing, arts and crafts and more! All activities are led daily by highly-qualified counselors and guides, so you can rest assured knowing your Lil’ Wrangler is being safely guided on their adventures as you enjoy your own. The Activities Barn also offers 40+ activities ranging from novice to expert.

There’s a beauty to simply disconnecting, getting away from the hustle and bustle of life’s everyday demands. The truest semblance of adventure, enjoyment, and rest can be found at Brush Creek Ranch. It’s where families can explore a vast array of activities under the western sky.

Mauna Lani

Kohala Coast, Hawaii

Surrounded by royal fish ponds, ancient petroglyph fields, natural lava plains, and bordered by a collection of swimmable beaches, Mauna Lani beckons to be explored. From a coastal family trek mirroring historic paths once reserved for Hawaiian royalty, to adventuring along the ocean in a traditional Hawaiian-style outrigger canoe, authentic experiences await, allowing families to connect and create memories that will last a lifetime. A recent $200 million makeover offers new rooms, three pools, a spa and fitness center, a kids’ club and a cultural center.

With 334 rooms in 14 different categories, this resort offers a range of solutions for travelers’ needs. Whether it’s snorkeling, surfing lessons, outrigger canoe excursions, deep-sea fishing or scuba diving – the on-site activities crew can assist with all manner of activities. There are also two 18-hole golf courses; the South Course was built on an ancient lava flow and the North Course features rolling fairways through tropical forest.

Family suites and private residences range from 1,040 to 4,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor living space and provide plenty of room to connect and relax after a thrilling day of adventure. Family time takes on special meaning here as you wake up to the gentle sounds of waves and enjoy story time huddled together on your private and spacious lanai underneath the starry night sky.

The Holoholo Kids Crew is the ultimate island-style hideaway for the resort’s younger guests to connect to the land, ignite their sense of discovery and create a deep understanding and awareness for the natural surroundings. Taking advantage of Mauna Lani’s storied and sprawling land, the educational and fun programs range from cultural immersion, athletics and wellness to culinary classes, movies under the stars, Moonlight storytelling and navigation. Family-friendly activities include snorkeling with lazy sea turtles and schools of tropical fish, lei making, surf lessons and historic petroglyph and lava tube tours.

Beach Villa at the Del

Coronado, California

Since 1888, magical memories made at the Beach Village have begun with just a footprint in the sand. The Beach Village at Hotel Del Coronado, a private oceanfront enclave of 78 residential cottages and villas, offers sophisticated amenities just steps from the sparkling sands of Coronado Beach.

Guests of the resort also have access to a private main pool with cabanas and chaise lounges, as well as secluded plunge pools scattered about the property. Families that enjoy cycling, sailing, watersports and fishing will be in heaven, and there are many family-oriented activities such as surf and paddle boarding lessons, tennis lessons, golf, boat rentals and more. If your family really loves to get out and about, excursions across the city of San Diego can be arranged as well. Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo and a simple stroll around La Jolla are all perfect for the whole family.

Kids can also enjoy the Kidtopia activity center. The program provides kids ages four to 12 with a resort treasure map at check-in and many accompanying adventures.

Salamander Resort & Spa

Middleburg, Virginia

Just an hour from Washington D.C., the Salamander Resort & Spa sprawls across 340 acres of Middleburg, Virginia. With 151 guestrooms and 17 suites, this destination offers a generous amount of space for families large and small to stretch out and take advantage of the plethora of family-friendly programming.

The foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains teem with family-friendly wineries and opportunities for equestrian adventures. No trip to the hotel is complete without a pony ride or a visit to the equestrian center featuring a 14,000-square-foot stable with 22 stalls, nine beautiful paddocks and a spectacular outdoor riding arena. Riding lessons can be scheduled easily, and even if children don’t opt for equestrian activities, the miniature horse, Cupcake, is certain to thrill young ones.

Families can also enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a complimentary putting green for aspiring golfers, archery, clay shooting, axe throwing, river floats and lawn games including croquet, bocce ball, corn hole and life-sized chess. Also, discover the surrounding area and browse local boutique shops, zoom down zip lines, and enjoy exclusive golf privileges at Creighton Farms.