[1.] Hotel Caesar Augustus on the island of Capri, Italy
If your kids think that history is boring, give them a more interesting lesson in the infinity pool at the Hotel Caesar Augustus on the island of Capri, Italy. Perched on the edge of a 1,000- foot cliff, it has a magnificent view of the Mediterranean — a jaw-dropping panorama across the sparkling Bay of Naples. Capri was where the ancient Romans chose to spend their vacations, and on a clear day you can see Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii in A.D. 79. At the hotel, a statue of A ugustus himself recalls the first emperor who admired Capri’s beauty so much that he took the island as his private preserve. In ancient times, these giddy heights, which could only be reached by a thousand- step stone stairway called the Scala Fenicia, were dotted with luxury villas, whose excessive grandeur the 55-room Hotel Caesar Augustus casually echoes today. Sit down to an alfresco banquet at the Lucullo Terrace restaurant, and the kids (the hotel welcomes ages 10 and up) might even declare that history is pretty cool after all.
[2.]
Florida Keys
Imagine a Norman Rockwell version of the Florida Keys. Duck Key is a place where families can enjoy the island chain’s isolated, timeless beauty minus a big leap offshore. Within a sprawling 60 acres of landscaped waterways, the resort of Hawks Cay has more than 400 suites and villas, five pools and four restaurants genteelly placed on tree-lined lanes. Stay in a two-, three-bedroom villa with a full kitchen, and leisurely stroll along boardwalks as sailboats drift past and fathers fish with sons. A serene oceanside enclosure has marine biologists on hand for small-group encounters with bottlenose dolphins. The Island Adventure Camp program sets up teenagers for three days of snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. At dusk, families gravitate toward the open fires magically lit around the main pool, snuggling in towels. There you can still enjoy the most delicious mojitos north of Havana
[3.]
Barbados
Marvel at the green monkeys of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve and the green pools of Harrison’s Cave. But marvel too at the Barbados school system, which has led to one of the world’s highest literacy rates at 99.7 percent. Let that be an example to the kids as you explore Barbados. Then relax at the luxurious, 112-room Sandy Lane resort, where celebrity parents have stayed. There through the complimentary Treehouse Club for children ages 3 to 16, you can all try a game of cricket, practice how to dive, and get a chance to swim and snorkel with turtles alongside a “turtle tutor.” You can’t help but learn something new.
[4.]
Jumby Bay, Antigua
The family compound is a great idea. If you can’t collect all the generations under one roof, use multiple roofs. In Antigua, a 300-acre private island is the setting for Jumby Bay. The luxurious hideaway features 40 suites, 16 villas with private pools and six estate homes. La Casa, for example, has a three-bedroom main house, plus three guest cottages. And on the grounds of this compound are a croquet lawn, lighted tennis court, pool with Jacuzzi and gym. To get around the island, every family member gets a bike on arrival — except for babiesRose Buds for , who get Silver Cross prams. Children can enroll in the Camp Jumby -- part of the Children special offerings -- to see the natural side of this island, and camp staffers can help the whole family on reservations, outing ideas and the ever-important babysitters. The available all-inclusive rates make meals very easy
[5.]
Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
If the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, only offered it’s lomi-lomi massage and access to D.T. Fleming’s Beach, it would be a dream vacation. But the Ambassadors of the Environment Program, in partnership with Jean- Michel Cousteau, makes this family trip a meaningful one too. Interactive adventures let kids explore a coral reef like a marine biologist, discover the “fires of Pele” in a lava-flow hike and follow the stars as if they were early Polynesian navigators. Families can gather around the Calabash table to share the day’s stories — and memories
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