You don't have to look any further to find the best family vacation spot. CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private eco-certified island in the Bahamas, offers pristine white-sand beaches and bright-blue waters, along with plenty of exciting, family-oriented activities. Book an ocean-view cabana or beach bungalow, so the kids can play on floating beach mats while you lounge in style. Take the family on a kayaking adventure at the secluded Barefoot Beach, or explore the abandoned island community of Cistern Cay together on your own personal watercraft. How about snorkeling between tropical coral reefs teeming with colorful fish? Then pick up some souvenirs or crafts from the Straw Market.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is a child-friendly destination where you can enjoy various thrilling activities. Kids will absolutely love the Splashaway Bay water park, with its fountains, water cannons and drench buckets. Have a splash in the biggest wave pool in the Caribbean, relax in the beachfront infinity pool and conquer the island's 13 water slides, including the tallest in North America. Next, take the whole family up 450 feet in a hot air balloon to find an unrivaled view of Perfect Day. By now, you and your children have probably worked up an appetite with all the fun activities, so head to Captain Jack's restaurant for some mouthwatering Bahamian food like conch salad, fish stew or baked crab fresh from the sea.
To show your family all that the Caribbean has to offer, cruise from Orlando to Haiti, Jamaica, Cozumel and, of course, Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Let the adventure begin from Yucatan's laid-back beach town Progreso, which is one of the best places for family vacations due to its pristine beaches and exciting water activities. Here you'll find the longest pier (4 miles) in Mexico and a relaxed beach-town vibe that the whole family will enjoy. Unwind on the sandy Malecon Beach, or go kayaking through fascinating mangrove estuaries near the fishing villages of Chelem and Chuburna.
When in Progreso, don't miss the opportunity to take a family excursion to the impressive Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site around 100 miles inland. Discover the well-preserved palaces, grand temples and the iconic El Castillo (or the Pyramid of Kukulcan), a massive Maya calendar formed in stone. To give your family an even bigger history lesson, head to nearby Merida, known as "The White City," to witness the majesty of its pearl-white Spanish architecture. In addition to strolling around and admiring the buildings, your family can visit art galleries and the region's best museums — or just enjoy some delicious ice cream.
A must-see for families in Juneau, Alaska, is the stunning Mendenhall Glacier about 12 miles from downtown. The impressive glacier, with its various shades of deep blue, is about 13 miles long and flows from its source, the Juneau Icefield, and ends at Mendenhall Lake. If your family is full of explorers, head to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where you can follow one of several hiking trails. The half-mile Nugget Falls Trail leads to a beautiful waterfall, and in summer, the 0.3-mile Steep Creek Trail offers the chance to view brown and black bears.
When you reach the end of Lynn Canal, the longest fjord in North America, you'll arrive at Skagway. With its well-preserved buildings and fun activities, this small town is a great family destination that hasn't changed much since the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. A fun activity for children is a ride in the vintage locomotive along the 2,885-foot White Pass and Yukon Route railroad. You'll pass breathtaking scenery and spots with evocative names like Bridal Veil Falls, Dead Horse Gulch and Glacier Gorge. Your kids are sure to love following in the footsteps of the Klondike stampeders at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
A family visit to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier is an exceptional experience you won't forget. Start your cruise in Seattle, Washington, and sail to Inside Passage, Juneau and Skagway. This route will take you through Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier before you continue your journey to Victoria, British Columbia, and back to Seattle again. When sailing through the southern edge of Fords Terror Wilderness area, your family will be blown away by the various spectacular landscapes, like drifting icebergs in the deep blue waters, snow-capped granite cliffs and the huge Dawes Glacier. Children will be excited to watch the harbor seals splashing in the icy waters, and they may also glimpse some brown bears, moose, bald eagles, wolves, sea ducks and deer. The whole family will find magic in this breathtaking area of Alaska.
Between tropical adventures and icy expeditions, cruises can offer unforgettable access to all of the world's best family vacation spots. Once your kids have snorkeled with brightly colored fish, soared through massive on-deck waterslides or kayaked among breaching humpback whales, they'll never want to head back home.
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At Perfect Day at Cococay, your Beverage or Wi-Fi packages can be used on the island too!.
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Tap water in Mexico is generally not potable, and if you go snorkeling, bring biodegradable sunscreen.
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Dress in wind-resistant layers in Alaska, and bring sunglasses for the days (the sun's glare off the snow can be intense) and a sleep mask for the nights — the sun is hardly ever set here in summer!