Look to these destinations for family vacation

No matter the season, it’s always family travel time. Which destination is on your calendar? Here are five places to consider.

Tybee Island, Ga.

Just 5 miles long, this charming island is big on scenic beauty and hidden gems with a small town vibe. Located 20 minutes from downtown Savanna, Tybee Island will appeal to families who might enjoy kayaking, searching for fossils or learning about ecology on the beach. Check out Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse and enjoy bicycling around Tybee’s historic Fort Screven District. Get up close and personal with bottlenose dolphins on an adventure tour. Don’t miss the 5,000-square-foot Marine Science Center to experience touching tanks, turtle talks, floating classrooms and hands-on activities. Stay in small inns or rental properties near the sea.

For more: www.visittybee.com

Arenal Observatory Lodge

(La Fortuna, Costa Rica)

Wake to a chorus of tropical wildlife in the only lodge located inside Arenal Volcano National Park. The majestic and perfectly shaped centerpiece of a rich rainforest setting can be observed from most guest rooms, the dining room and an expansive deck. Horseback riding, biking and hiking trails wind through old lava fields and soft jungle trails where howling monkeys, slithering snakes, butterflies and colorful birds beckon visitors. Here, the diversity of habitats, from primary and secondary forests to agricultural pastures, creates various niches for winged creatures and other animals to thrive. A birding hot spot, the area is noted for the recording of more than 500 species, including cute cotinga, black-crested flirt, yellow-eared toucanet, and black-eared tanagers. Tours of various lengths are available. The lodge serves as a great base camp from which to access river rafting, zip lines, hanging bridges and hot springs.

For more: www.arenalobservatorylodge.com

Four Seasons Resort

(Santa Fe, N.M.)

It’s a Santa Fe experience in perfect balance. You’ll relish the privacy, tranquility and easy access to the pathways leading into the Sangre de Cristo foothills provided by the New Mexico resort’s expansive setting. Yet, you’ll be just minutes from the center of this cultural gem where world-class galleries, fine dining and cultural experiences await. Begin each day with a complimentary guided hike during which you’ll learn of the resort’s colorful history, while marveling at the vistas from the ridgeline trail. Plan ahead for the winter season, knowing the resort’s Ski Santa Fe Package will make it easy to experience the family-friendly mountain where 86 trails, glade runs and a ski school beckon enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. What’s more, the hotel’s onsite Ski Concierge service takes the pain out of the ground game for parents. It includes performance ski and snowboard rentals; all-day lift tickets; boots, bindings and pole; chauffeured transportation to and from the ski basin; and hot apple cider upon return.

For more: www.fourseasons.com/santafe

JW Marriott Camelback Inn & Spa

(Paradise Valley, Ariz.)

Soak up the Vitamin D and treat your crew to all that this luxury resort has to offer. Rich in history and nestled on 125 pristine acres between Mummy and Camelback mountains, the Scottsdale-area resort is well situated for relaxation and exploration. Spa lovers will have their spirits revived in the 32,000-square-foot sanctuary, where indigenous plants and minerals, desert honey and hot stones are utilized to enhance the experience. Stay in private, pueblo-style casitas, hang at the heated Jackrabbit Pool complex, hike in the nearby mountain preserve, shop in world-class boutiques or play golf on the resort’s two courses.

For more: www.camelbackinn.com.

Oasis at Death Valley Resort

(Furnace Creek, Calif.)

Visit this dramatic desert landscape to explore colorful canyons, volcanic vistas, amazing sand dunes and low-lying swaths of desert. It’s a place where rain is rare, the air is dry and adventure abounds. Yet, you can settle in to a luxurious hideaway with a colorful history and graceful appeal at every turn. Stay at the Inn at Death Valley to experience a Hollywood-style spring-fed pool, cozy cabanas, a superb spa and stylish guest rooms. Known to the Hollywood elite and savvy travelers since the late 1920s, The Inn provides a unique opportunity to experience the stark beauty of this uncommon National Park ,only to return to your own oasis in the desert. Nearby, The Ranch at Death Valley, provides a sprawling, more casual, family and adventure -focused option, a perfect basecamp in which to gather multiple generations.

For more: www.OasisatDeathValley.com; www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm