Where to Find the Best Family Resorts

The Atlantis resort is a family paradise, located most appropriately on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. This megalith of a resort has almost 40 restaurants, pools, waterslides and beaches galore. One water slide even takes you through a shark-filled lagoon (although you are well protected by the plastic tube of the slide)! The Discover Channel Camp has plenty of fun, and educational, activities for kids, and all around you are surrounded by the mythical Atlantis. It's a resort that must be seen, and experienced, to be believed.

Whistler-Blackcomb is well-known among avid skiers, but did you know it boasts world-class family resorts as well? It certainly is a skiers paradise, with nearly 40 lifts, and 200 trails, many of which are skiable into June. If your family loves hitting the slopes, check out any of the many family friendly hotels and resorts in the area. Don't care for the snow? No problem! With summer activities ranging from mountain biking to an elaborate trampoline/bungee jump area, there are many ways to enjoy this Canadian wilderness.

Looking for the best family resorts in a tropical setting? What about Jamaica? The hospitality and beauty of the island are renowned, and this holds true for the FDR and FDR Pebbles family resorts. These all-inclusive retreats feature spacious suites, dining options aimed at kids, and activities for all ages. The best part of these resorts is the vacation nanny. Each family is assigned a vacation nanny who can help manage your trip. Your nanny can watch younger kids and help them sign up for activities while you enjoy scuba diving, boating or other activities. Families rave about this system, and that makes the FDR resorts worth a look!

If you're dreaming of a Continental getaway, but your kids think that Europe is all about strange food and boring museums, try a Center Parc family resort! Families stay together in large cottages in a resort complex that combines a wide-range of fun activities with easy access to Europe's greatest cities. Your kids can enjoy wave pools, water slides, archery, rafting and much more. With parks in France, England, Germany, Holland and Belgium, you're sure to find one the whole family can agree on, at prices more affordable than you thought a European resort could offer.

There are plenty of American contenders for top family vacation spot. Disney's resorts are always popular with kids. If the thought of spending a week in Orlando's theme park extravaganza has you reaching for the aspirin, consider one of Disney's smaller beach resorts. The Vero Beach resort has fun kids' activities like scavenger hunts and campfires, as well as some programs for teens. Parents can enjoy some relaxing time at the beach, and of course, Disney World is only 2 hours away.