Spring is upon us, and it’s time to move forward with family-travel planning. Here are five ideas to consider:
1. Del Mar, Calif.: Immerse your family in Old World, Mediterranean-inspired luxury when you check into the family-friendly, 249-room Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Lounge beside one of four heated pools, check out the equestrian center, sign up for a guided hike into the adjacent canyon preserve, or consider a mother-daughter spa treatment.
Get in the swing of things on the Tom Fazio-designed golf course or pile into the free shuttle for a day at the beach. For an extraordinary dining experience, indulge in an adults-only evening at Chef William Bradley’s Addison, Southern California’s only five-star, five-diamond restaurant.
Contact: fairmont.com/san-diego; addisondelmar.com
2. Get My Boat: These days, the sharing economy is about more than transportation and sleep spots. Now you and your family can float, paddle, sail or ride personal water craft in more than 154 countries for as little as a few hours without investing in your own boat or committing to a weeklong charter. And you can arrange it from your smartphone.
Water craft owners list their boats, you peruse the options and then set sail in the Caribbean, power-boat around Miami or sleep aboard a floating B&B in Bali. Choose from options that include a guide or captain, or hone your skills in waters around the world.
Contact: getmyboat.com
3. South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Fla.: Is someone in your clan a seashell lover? If so, you’ll want to take advantage of a beach walk with the resort’s designated shelling concierge in this famed southwest Florida beach community. Later, opt for kayaking, standup paddleboarding, family birding tours, or scout out the Points of Discovery within the onsite wildlife preserve.
Play beachfront golf, enjoy a spa treatment or simply relax within the 330-acre beach resort. Kids can learn about marine conservation, snorkel in sea grass and discover where manatees live. Ask about the fifth-night-free promotion, which is available now through the end of May.
Contact: southseas.com
4. Hollywood, Calif.: Harry Potter fans from around the globe are expected to flock to Universal Studios in Hollywood with the April 7 opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s groundbreaking tales, the signature attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, will entertain in detailed, hyper-realistic 3D-HD with Hogwarts Castle as the focal point.
While in town, consider a Warner Bros. Studio tour for a behind-the-curtain look at how Hollywood creates magic. Travel through back lots and onto soundstages, and visit the Archive, where costumes, props and even Batmobiles are part of the memorabilia. Don’t miss Stage 48: Script to Screen, a new interactive soundstage where you can learn about the production process of a film or TV show, and visit the set of “Friends.”
Contact: discoverlosangeles.com
5. Greenville, S.C.: Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this South Carolina city has more than just Southern charm to entice families. Craft your crew’s itinerary from award-winning urban bike trails, an 80,000-square-foot Children’s Museum, water parks, hiking trails, baseball-theme museums and sporting activities, programs at the Roper Mountain Science Center and free trolley rides.You’ll want to create your own scavenger hunt for the nine bronze mice statues hidden along Main Street, an installation inspired by the book “Mice on Main.”
Contact: visitgreenvillesc.com
