Want the kids to have the time of their lives on vacation? We think
you all deserve a relaxing, exhilarating, memorable getaway, where,
yes, even the grown-ups have a blast. Working Mother
scoured the country and the Caribbean for the kinds of retreats that
keep your kids entertained so you can do some playing on your own, as
well as with your children. With a little help from our readers and our
staff, here are two of eight highly recommended and geographically
diverse destinations. They offer solo and together pleasures for
grown-ups and kids—and have the makings of the greatest vacation you've
ever experienced. Ready, set, go away!

Outrigger Reef, Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI

If you've never been to Hawaii, aloha! Families thrive in this natural
island environment, and Waikiki's gently sloping beaches and
activity-filled scene have definite tot-to-teen appeal. Here you can
enjoy the spectacle of snorkeling next to dazzling fish, the awe of
climbing to the top of Diamond Head and the contagious smiles that come
with a successful surf ride. And as the kids enjoy supervised
homemade-kite flying on the beach, you can enjoy a lomi lomi massage at
the resort's Serenity Spa. E komo mai (welcome)!


Family activity highlights 
Group surfing lessons, a catamaran sail and
outrigger canoe rides a few steps away at the beach; Aloha Fridays at
the hotel, brimming with native entertainers and artisans; "Sunset on
the Beach" at Kapahulu Pier, including a free outdoor movie theater and
food booths.


Cool for kids 
The Reef's Island Explorer program, in which kid ages 5
to 10 get a free, colorful backpack filled with items (a book,
binoculars, pen, sunglasses) to help them learn about Hawaiian ecology
and to discover natural wonders at the state-of-the-art humpback whale
center in the hotel lobby.


Solo and couple time treats 
Onsite Rhythms of the Ocean fitness
classes, including yoga and hula; free a.m. workouts on the lawn of
nearby Fort DeRussy; pampering treatments at the Serenity Spa;
complimentary wedding-vow renewal ceremonies conducted by a practicing
kahu (priest) on the beach in front of the hotel.


Culinary delights 
A broad array of restaurants, cafes and poolside
bars at the hotel, including the budget-minded open-air Shore Bird
Restaurant & Beach Bar—known for huge breakfast and lunch buffets
and grill-your-own dinners.


What's new 
The fresh-off-the-blueprints eight-acre Waikiki Beach Walk
project, the largest development in the island's history, which will
ultimately include more than 40 shops and restaurants, a street-level
open-air promenade and entertainment plaza.


Local attractions 
Cavorting with dolphins, sea lions and stingrays at
Sea Life Park; boarding a submarine for a tour of sunken ships,
airliners and reef structures; riding the thrilling waterslides at
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park; exploring the world's largest maze at
the Dole Plantation.


Prices and contact info 
Doubles from $180 per night; 800-688-7444, 808-923-3111 or www.outriggerreef.com.

Zermatt Resort & Spa, Midway, UT
Opening in early May, this resort is a taste of Europe in—of all
places—Utah. But amidst the lovely Wasatch Mountains you'll feel like
you're in the Swiss Alps, as Swiss immigrants probably did when they
settled in Midway, known for its annual Swiss Days festival. The
four-story chalet-style hotel, featuring wood carvings created in
Germany, is less than 20 minutes from Park City. For your little
yodelers, how do a few spins in a European carousel and 18 holes of
family golf sound? It's all included.

Family activity highlights 
Indoor/outdoor pool facilities, tennis, volleyball and basketball; the
Adventure Haus, to book mountain biking, a hot-air balloon ride or
fly-fishing; waterskiing or boating at local reservoirs.

Cool for kids 
A Swiss town-inspired carousel in the main courtyard, an 18-hole
putting course and life-size chess, checkers and shuffle board—all
complimentary; the on-site Kids' Club for children 3 and up, including
activities like arts and crafts, hiking and mountain biking, from $30.

Solo and couple-time treats 
Two natural geothermal hot spring pools to soak in under the stars; the
Mountain Rose Spa and its wellness center for a manicure, facial and
more after a long day at one of the three golf courses surrounding
Zermatt.

Culinary delights 
Swiss and French food at the upscale Schneitter's, brick-oven
specialties at the more casual Matty's Sports Grill and Lounge,
children's menus and the staff dressed in Swiss/Austrian-inspired
costumes at both; fresh-baked Euro-style pastries and gelato at
Backerei and Eise.

Local attractions 
The nearby ski resorts of Park City, where you can ride the lifts in
summer, enjoy the view from the top and mountain bike down; the Heber
Valley Historic Railroad, perfect for vintage locomotive train rides
through a breathless canyon and along the Provo River; sightseeing in
Salt Lake City.

Price and contact info 
From $118 per night, double occupancy; 877-269-9629 or http://zermatt.dolce.com.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa, Turks and Caicos Islands
Where else can you bake cookies with Cookie Monster under the palm
trees? At this activity-packed, all-inclusive beach resort, there's
everything from story time with Sesame Street characters to naptime
(for Mom!). While the kids hang with Elmo, Zoe and Grover, you can
scuba, have a lemongrass body scrub or kick back at one of this
Caribbean wonderland's five pools. Family activity highlights Pancakes
with Sesame pals and waterslide play at a pirate ship; ocean sports
like scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing; swimming on 12
miles of white sand beaches.
Cool for kids
An all-day Kids Kamp; a Sesame Street parade; for teens and tweens, the
Xbox Game Oasis, teen nightclub and reggae jam sessions.

Solo and couple-time treats


At the resort's Red Lane Spa, a luxurious assortment of treatments,
including a moonlight-and-stars Swedish massage on the beach.

Culinary delights


Ten specialty restaurants, offering family-friendly buffets, a sushi bar and adults-only fine dining.

What's new


Bert and Ernie joining as island regulars; butler service with select suites.

Local

 attractions
Little Water Cay, a nature reserve for thousands of rock
iguanas; the historic ruins of an 1800s Loyalist plantation; the
world's only conch farm; swimming with dolphins.

Price and contact info


All-inclusive rates from $159 per adult per night, $51 per child (under 2 stay free); 888-BEACHES or www.beaches.com.

Curry Village, Yosemite National Park, CA
Cliffs, meadows, valleys, giant sequoias, roaring waterfalls—they're
all part of this amazing Yosemite retreat. At the rustic Curry Village
in Yosemite Valley, 1900s-style camping is revived in a variety of
accommodations, from standard motel rooms to cabins to the popular
canvas tent cabins. And the natural beauty near Half Dome and El
Capitan peaks is off the charts. Grown-ups can go off for a romantic
stroll as kids become environmentally savvy in the Junior Ranger
program. After a cool night under the stars listening to crickets,
you'll wonder what took you so long to get here.


Family activity highlights
Stories, songs and roasted marshmallows around an old-fashioned
campfire ($5 per person); learning about the Milky Way, comets and
constellations in the Starry Skies program ($5 per person); all those
marvelous trails—offering hikes to the top of Half Dome or Vernal Fall
or the lower part of Yosemite Falls.

Cool for kids
The Junior Ranger program for kids 7 to 13, with complete activities in
a self-guided booklet ($4), a guided interpretive program and trash
collection to earn a Junior Ranger patch and learn about care of the
environment.

Solo and couple-time treats
A two-mile hike to Mirror Lake to see a reflection of yourselves with
Half Dome hovering over you; enjoying the cool mist of Bridalveil Fall;
a romantic dinner at the historic Ahwahnee hotel.

Culinary delights
At Curry Village, a buffet-style dining hall serving all meals daily
from mid-April to October, plus a taco stand, outdoor pizza caf