Whether you’re looking for the excitement of a big city, coastal charm, engaging history to learn about, or a touch of nature, Massachusetts is an excellent place to plan a family vacation. Some of the best places to visit in the state are Boston, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Plymouth, and the Berkshires. To make your stay with kids a comfortable and convenient one, many resorts throughout the state offer plenty of fun along with cozy accommodations.
Here are some of the top resorts in Massachusetts for families to inspire your next vacation getaway.
Nantasket Beach Resort, Hull
Located on Boston’s South Shore, the Nantasket Beach Resort is a charming hotel that overlooks Nantasket Beach. It’s a great getaway spot from Boston because it only takes 15 minutes to get from Boston to the hotel via ferry. The guest rooms all have fireplaces, and many of the rooms have ocean views from the balconies. There is a heated swimming pool and hot tub onsite, as well as a well-equipped fitness center. For onsite dining, there is Crave that serves acai bowls and smoothies, and also Shoreline Kitchen & Bar for contemporary casual dining. For families, the hotel has rollaway beds for a $20 fee per day and cribs available for no cost.
Cape Codder Resort & Spa, Hyannis
Cape Codder Resort & Spa is fun for families because it has a three-story water park and kiddie play pool. There are basketball and pickleball courts here, as well as onsite restaurants, an arcade, and a spa. The water park is open all throughout the year and features high-speed waterslides, a stormy river with waterfalls and rapids, a wave pool, a whirlpool, and a sauna. For lodging, some suites work great for accommodating families. Family packages are also available here. When you stay at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa, you’ll be close to the beaches and various Cape Cod attractions.
Winnetu Oceanside Resort, Edgartown
One of the best baby-friendly resorts on this list, Winnetu Oceanside Resort is in the Martha’s Vineyard area of Massachusetts. It offers a complimentary children’s day program that includes lots of fun activities for young travelers ages three to 12. There is also a children’s evening program so that parents can take the night off and enjoy some time together. Meanwhile, the parent and toddler program at the resort works on strength and motor coordination, fine motor development, sensory stimulation, imagination, and creativity. There is a hotel at the resort and also vacation homes to rent. This pet-friendly hotel allows dogs, except during peak season in July and August.
Blue Water Resort, South Yarmouth
Along the shores of Nantucket Sound, you will find the Blue Water Resort, which has a private beach and a convenient location. You and your family can stay in a cottage or oceanfront room here and enjoy onsite dining at the casual pub and surfside grill. There is an events calendar on the resort’s website, which is worth checking out before your stay to plan some fun activities without even having to travel far from your room.
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Hancock
If you love spending time in the snow with your family, the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is a good choice for your Massachusetts vacation. It’s also one of the best resorts in New England. The ski area offers lift tickets, private lessons, and equipment rentals. There is also lodging at the resort at the Country Inn. At the inn, you can book a suite with a master bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and Wi-Fi. Resort guests can use the outdoor heated pool, exercise room, and whirlpools, and you can arrange for spa services from a local business nearby. The resort also offers vacation homes at Jiminy Peak, which are two- to four-bedroom units on one or two levels that are perfect for family trips.
Rockport Inn & Suites, Rockport
Located just 35 miles north of Boston on the north shore, the Rockport Inn & Suites is a hotel that is good for families. It has pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, a fitness center, a continental breakfast, and well-equipped rooms and suites. A good option for families is the two-room suite that offers townhouse-style accommodations with two floors of living space. The hotel also has a breakfast-to-go option, a free daily newspaper, and 24-hour coffee and tea. You can check out many local attractions during your stay here, including top sights in the charming small towns of Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, and Salem.
Red Jacket Beach Resort, South Yarmouth
For your next family vacation, you can also book a room at the Red Jacket Beach Resort, which is an oceanfront family resort in Cape Cod’s mid-Cape area. When you stay here, you’ll be close to hiking trails, bike baths, cultural sights, and shopping. This resort has an onsite spa for parents to relax and unwind. Kids will love the Cape Cod Creamery for a sweet ice cream treat in the summer. Multiple dining establishments are located onsite at the resort. There’s a kid’s club at the resort to keep little ones entertained, plus indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness room, and a private beach where yoga classes are offered.
Sea Crest Beach Hotel, North Falmouth
Sea Crest Beach Hotel is a relaxing waterfront resort that is great for families in one of New England’s best beach vacation destinations. It is in the Upper Cape area and on a private stretch of beach along Buzzards Bay. Families may enjoy the three-bedroom cottage for rent at the resort for a little more space to spread out. Family-friendly activities are offered here between Memorial Day and Labor Day, including beach games, water sport rentals, yoga, and live music.
Beauport Hotel Gloucester, Gloucester
You and your family can enjoy a luxury oceanfront getaway at the Beauport Hotel Gloucester, which is a 94-room hotel on the north shore of Boston. It’s a great city escape and just 40 miles from the city. The hotel is on the oldest fishing port in America and one of the most awe-inspiring lighthouses in the world – the Eastern Point Lighthouse. It has a rooftop pool and bar, an excellent restaurant, complimentary beach cruiser bikes, and direct beach access. Guests can arrange for boat rentals, water shuttles, cruises, and schooner adventures during their vacations.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club, Brewster
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is one of the best beachfront hotels in the U.S., where you can stay in a turn-of-the-century mansion. There are vacation rentals here also for your stay in a multi-bedroom villa. The resort has an onsite spa to treat parents to massages, facials, and body wraps. The location of this resort is less than an hour from 15 towns on Cape Cod. Some of the activities that you can do with your family here include biking, tennis, kayaking, paddleboarding, pickleball, swimming pools, oyster tours, and live music.
Great Wolf Lodge, Fitchburg
The Great Wolf Lodge is perfect for a family vacation, including this one in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. There are tons of kid-friendly activities here, including an indoor water park. There are spacious suites for the whole family, family-friendly dining establishments, and a live action game called MagiQuest that can be played throughout the hotel. Other activities you can enjoy here include the rock climbing wall, bowling alley, ropes course, arcade, laser tag, and Build-a-Bear workshop. The resort’s calendar lists special events, such as character appearances and family yoga.
Riviera Beach Resort, South Yarmouth
Riviera Beach Resort is a favorite Cape Cod hotel among families for its nostalgic charm and lots of activities in the heart of Cape Cod. There are pool- and ocean-view rooms with one or two bedrooms just steps away from the resort’s private beach. Onsite dining options include the Courtside Café and Boat Bar, while all-day, full beverage service is available for refreshing drinks. Families enjoy the “sea service” offering, which allows guests to scan a QR code on their beach chairs to place orders and be served right on the beach.
The Williams Inn, Williamstown
One of the top luxury hotels in the Berkshires, The Williams Inn is a great option for families. The inn has 64 well-appointed rooms and a farmhouse-style architecture. It also has an onsite restaurant that offers seasonal and locally sourced cuisine, plus a craft bar. Since this hotel does not have much in the way of kid-specific amenities onsite, it is best for families with older children. Pets are welcome at this hotel, which even offers a dog package that comes with pet pampering and special perks for pups.
Cape Cod Family Resort, West Yarmouth
Plenty of family fun awaits you when you stay at this Yarmouth resort with an inflatable park. The resort has 69 standard rooms that are right by the inflatable park. Just a block away, you’ll find 39 family rooms, eight pet-friendly rooms, and an accessible room. This is a fun place to be so that kids can play safely under staff supervision. Family-friendly dining is available at the Shark Bites Café, and there are cabanas to relax in as well. In addition to the inflatable park, there is also the Wicked Wave Water Park and the Shark Tank Arcade onsite to keep little ones entertained.
Sea Mist Resort, Mashpee
Mashpee is one of Cape Cod’s seaside communities and is home to the Sea Mist Resort. It is between the towns of Falmouth and Hyannis. This family-friendly resort has one- and two-bedroom suites to accommodate travelers. There are 90 condos in total here, and all of them have queen-size beds, two full bathrooms, and decks or patios with furniture. Some amenities offered here are indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, tennis courts, pool and ping pong tables, mini-golf, shuffleboard court, a fitness center, and charcoal grills.
Brewster Green Resort, Brewster
Another good place to plan a Massachusetts family vacation is the Brewster Green Resort, which has two- and three-bedroom condos available. The resort also has indoor and outdoor pools, an exercise room, a tennis and shuffleboard court, and a playground. The resort is spread across 17 acres of property and has plenty of room to spread out and relax. Families can explore the national seashore, Nickerson State Park (one of the best parks in the state), historic lighthouses, whale-watching cruises, and rail-to-trail biking baths during a stay here. Just outside the resort, you’ll also find great fishing, cross-country skiing, golf, the beach, boating, horseback riding, and picnic areas.
