Florida

Amelia Island

What it is: A 1,350-acre island resort with plenty of activities for everyone in your family.

The rooms: There are 249 ocean-view rooms with balconies in the Ameila Inn and numerous beach, ocean, and golf villas for your family to pick from.

Amenities: On the property are four golf courses, 23 tennis courts, a spa, a restaurant, a health-and-fitness center, numerous dining options, a fishing lake, and 23 pools.

Activities: Take a Segway tour, fish, visit the shopping village or the Amelia Island Museum of History, or golf. Children can play in the kids' camp or in the several playgrounds on-site, or they can build sand castles along the beachfront. The Nature Center offers guided tours, and cruises can be arranged through the concierge.

Details: 6800 First Coast Highway; from $199 for a standard room.

Anna Maria

What it is: Family-friendly beach cottages on Anna Maria Island.

The rooms: There are four stand-alone homes ranging from two-bedroom to four-bedroom size, as well as apartment cottages. The fully renovated cottages offer a grill area and a furnished patio or deck that is great for unwinding outside with your family.

Amenities: A heated pool and beach supplies like chairs, towels, and toys are available through the cottages.

Activities: Take the free trolley all over the island to shops, art galleries, and restaurants. The Orlando theme parks are an hour and a half away and would make a great day trip. You can also go boating, sailing, or fishing.

Details: 112 Oak Avenue; from $122 for a Studio cottage.

Apalachicola

What it is: An old-fashioned clapboard hotel on the northwest Florida panhandle coast.

The rooms: Simply decorated in a bright, open style, the rooms at Gibson Inn range from Twin rooms to King suites. The suites also include pullout sofas.

Amenities: Each room is equipped with cable TV and wireless Internet.

Activities: Apalachicola is a fisherman's paradise. Charter a fishing boat and teach your kids where that canned tuna really comes from. Nearby, there are art museums, the Historic District, the estuarine reserve, a national forest, Dixie Theatre, shops, St. James Bay Golf Course and Lafayette Park.

Details: 51 Avenue C, from $115 for a Queen room.

Captiva Island

What it is: A secluded village and wildlife sanctuary perched on a private island.

The rooms: With your choice between two different hotels and eight different kinds of villas and cottages (plus home rentals), there is sure to be an accommodation on the island that will suit your family's needs.

Amenities: The list is never-ending, with 11 pools (two are lagoon-style), a restaurant serving old-fashioned ice cream and coal-fired pizza, a sailing school, 19 tennis courts, and a kids' club, just to name a few.

Activities: Board the island's trolley or bike around the island, and your family can participate in family fishing and kayak adventures.

Details: 5400 Plantation Road; from $162 for a standard room; children 16 and under stay free with an adult.

Coconut Grove

What it is: A boutique hotel, five minutes from downtown Miami, with views of Biscayne Bay.

The rooms: There are 179 newly renovated rooms and suites; most have balconies with Japanese hot tubs. Each room features a mahogany headboard, Egyptian-cotton bedding, a stone floor, a 42-inch plasma TV, and marble bathroom with a Roman bath.

Amenities: There are 179 newly renovated rooms and suites; most have balconies with Japanese hot tubs. Each room features a mahogany headboard, Egyptian-cotton bedding, a stone floor, a 42-inch plasma TV, and marble bathroom with a Roman bath.

Activities: Visit the Italian Renaissance–style Vizcaya Museum and Gardens or the Coco Walk Shopping Restaurant Plaza (only a block away). Guests can also boat and fish in Biscayne Bay.

Details: 3000 Florida Avenue; from $149 for a Queen room.

Daytona Beach

What it is: A fun bright-yellow hotel overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

The rooms: The 212 guestrooms and suites have balconies and terraces with views of the ocean and come complete with canopied four-poster beds and tons of room for your whole family.

Amenities: Oceanfront pool, a concierge who can arrange surfing lessons for you, and prime beachfront access.

Activities: Beachcombing, water skiing, airboat rides, fishing, Daytona speedway, and many family-friendly attractions nearby.

Details: 2637 South Atlantic Avenue; from $109 for a standard room.

Fort Myers

What it is: A high-rise hotel overlooking Sanibel and Captiva islands on Southwest Florida's Gulf coast.

The rooms: The hotel offers more than 380 accommodations, including 66 luxurious suites, 36 spacious two-bedroom condominiums, and Grande Bay at Sanibel Harbour, a 107-room full-service-concierge hotel. All have a private balcony that your family can camp out on.

Amenities: There are five swimming pools to pick from, four restaurants, and even a bakery on the premises.

Activities: Ride Princess, the private yacht for an afternoon lunch, take tennis lessons from a pro, or hop into a poolside chair and watch a "dive-in" movie. Guests can also rent a canoe and have an eco-tour around the island.

Details: 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive; from $129 for a standard room.

Miami

What it is: One of South Beach's sleekest hotels, and even though the party is nearly constant in the lobby, the noise doesn't filter up to the rooms.

The rooms: Simple, clean, and elegant rooms with an all-white interior.

Amenities: An outdoor play area, a private beach village, and poolside cabanas you can reserve for the day.

Details: 1685 Collins Ave., from $525 for a double room.

Conveniently located near Biscayne Bay, the hotel supplies a host of amenities for younger guests, including small slippers and robes, children's toiletries, board games, and books. Guests also have access to private cabanas and three golf courses.

Details: 1435 Brickell Ave., from $195 for a double room with a roll-away bed.

This superprivate 49-room hotel is located on its own island, which is connected by a bridge to Coconut Grove. Kids can take advantage of the toy wagon, which is packed with beach toys and games.

Details: 4 Grove Isle Dr., from $250 for a double room without a water view.

The beachside pool is great for those who prefer splashy games of Marco Polo to gentle waves. And be sure to check out the hotel's SoBe (South Beach) kids' club, which includes treasure hunts, water sports, and sand-castle contests.

Details: 1601 Collins Ave., from $399 for a double room.

The Mandarin Oriental is known for its world-class spas, but it also offers a "Little Yoga" program for kids. The "Mini Mo" family package includes passes to the Miami Children's Museum, a daily picnic on the beach, and extra treats for the kids.

Details: 500 Brickell Key Dr., from $519 for a superior double room.

Although there's also a swanky Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove, the Key Biscayne location has a Ritz Kids program for kids 5 to 12 that includes water sports, games, tennis lessons, and karaoke. The hotel also has a thoughtful kids' menu and plenty of beach space.

Details: 455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayne, from $539 for a double room.

Not only is the Biltmore a true full-service resort with a variety of restaurants, poolside cabanas, and a golf course on the grounds, but it also has the largest hotel pool in the continental U.S. The Mediterranean-style building is also rumored to be haunted by some friendly ghosts.

Details: 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Cables, from $435 for a double room.

The new spa is opening in the spring of 2008, but you can also rejuvenate just by relaxing in a hammock while the beach service takes care of adjusting umbrellas and refreshing drinks.

Details: 3025 Collins Ave., from $500 for a junior suite with a pull-out sofa.

The beachside art-deco hotel is all about the curvaceous 1940s pool and waterfall area. But you'll also love the Kiehl's products, bicycles, and poolside cabanas.

Details: 1775 Collins Ave., from $425 for a sunset-and-garden view or ocean-view room.

Steps from the beach, this boutique hotel has a fantastic rooftop pool with panoramic views, an art-deco lobby, and a refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, and microwave in every room.

Details: 11052 Ocean Dr., from $229 for a superior room.

This historically gorgeous hotel has 45 suites with ocean views. Each room comes with a personal-assistant service, so you can have your favorite food, sunscreen, and drinks delivered to your room or beach chair, along with cool towels and Evian mist. Be sure to book a dinner in the hotel's La Marea restaurant.

Details: 1220 Ocean Dr., from $595 for an oceanfront studio suite.

Miami Beach

What it is: A 1949 retro-style hotel one block from the beach.

The rooms: The 190 funky guestrooms feature stylish minimalist decor, bright, popping colors, and top-of-the-line technology (some suites even offer a 42-inch plasma television).

Amenities: Take advantage of two rooftop pools with poolside bar, free drinks from 7 to 8 p.m. each night, an in-house masseuse, and a concierge who can help with everything from free transfers to the airport to setting you up with complimentary gear to take to the beach.

Activities: Shop on Collins Avenue or visit the nearby Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. There are also plenty of WaveRunner rentals and other water-sport rentals on the beach for older members of the family.

Details: 1732 Collins Avenue; from $103 for a standard room.

Palm Beach

What it is: A sprawling Italian Renaissance–style resort set on 140 palm tree-studded acres.

The rooms: The 550 guest rooms, including 58 suites, are decorated in coral, teal, and gold to give each room a taste of its tropical surroundings. Each room has either an incredible view of the lush resort or a full ocean view. Children under 16 stay with their parents for free. Families can reserve up to five adjoining rooms, and the hotel offers free childproofing.

Amenities: There are eight on-site restaurants to choose from at the Breakers. Have breakfast at the Circle or visit the award-winning L'Escalier. Carnivores will love the Flagler Steakhouse, or, for lighter fare, dine on the spa cuisine at the Beach Club Restaurant. Other options include the Ocean Grill, with incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean, Echo for Asian cuisine, the Italian Restaurant with its wood-burning ovens, and the Seafood Bar or the Tapestry Bar. Or order room service. The Spa at the Breakers offers massage therapy, body treatments, and salon services.

Activities: Hit the links at the par-70 Ocean Course, Florida's first 18-hole golf course. Kids can join in with the Breakers Junior Golf Academy, which will teach children the etiquette and foundation skills they need to play golf. The Family Entertainment Center offers swimming in an oceanfront heated pool, an arcade with over 20 games, a toddler playroom, a craft area, a movie room, a game room with Playstation 2 and Xbox systems, and babysitting services. The Coconut Crew Interactive Camp is also an option for children 3 to 12. They will entertain your children with themed nights and monitored play while you play croquet, soccer, football, snorkel, kayak, or scuba dive.

Details: One South County Road, from $920 for a Deluxe room with a king-size bed.

The Ritz-Carlton

What it is: Situated 11 miles from Palm Beach International Airport, this is a seven-acre seaside escape along the coast of southern Florida.

The rooms: The 310 lush rooms at the Ritz-Carlton are glamorous and comfortable. Each room offers a private balcony view, a 32-inch flat-screen television with a DVD player, and a marble bathroom. Suites can feature up to three bedrooms, five bathrooms, a living room, and club access.

Amenities: Guests yearning for additional pampering can book a Club-level room or suite and have access to the Ritz-Carlton lounge, which provides breakfast, snacks, hors d' oeuvres, drinks, and desserts. Club members can also access the private balcony lounge, which has spectacular views of the ocean and pools. Kids can visit the Ritz Kids AquaNuts program and take part in sports, games, arts and crafts, swimming-pool play, and nature tours. Female teens and tweens can stop by the beauty salon and get their hair, makeup, and nails done—or even dress up in a fabulous outfit. All teenagers ages 13 to 17 that say, ?Mom I?m bored,? should visit the Coasts Teen Lounge and play video games, surf the Web, create a music mix and upload it to their iPod, and dance the night away when the lounge is converted into a club.

Activities: Kids can attend a Kids Night Out at the hotel and parents can explore the city of Palm Beach and taste the cuisine. The whole family should make sure to visit the nearby Lion Country Safari and catch a glimpse of lions, white rhinos, chimpanzees, zebras, and giraffes in the comfort of the car.

Details: 100 South Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan; from $299 a night for a guestroom with two double beds.

Port St. Joe

What it is: A group of cottages and an inn nestled around cabbage palms and long-needled pines on a quiet coast in Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.

The rooms: Families can only have their pick between the Sand Dollar Cottage or the Turtle Tower for lodging, but with spacious room layouts, outdoor swings, hammocks, and rocking chairs your family won?t even miss being in the main Inn.

Amenities: There are laundry rooms, outdoors hot tubs, and jacuzzi?s at the Turtle Tower (only available to those staying in that unit). The hotel has plenty of amenities from boogie boards to ocean kayaks that will get you and your family active and enjoying the outdoors.

Activities: Some popular activities include horseback riding on the beach, shallow flare inshore fishing or offshore deep fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and motor boating. The St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and the St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge are nearby sites to see. Dive trips, snorkeling trips, and sunset cruises are also available.

Details: Mar-Dec. $1275/week, Jan-Feb. $1050/week, $225/night 2-3 night minimum Sand Dollar Cottage: Mar-Dec. $1600/week, Jan-Feb. $1250/week, $275/night 2-3 night minimum

Santa Rosa Beach

What it is: A luxury resort on the coast of Florida.

The rooms: Choose between a guest room with a view of beachfront dunes or the gulf. Each 500-square-foot room includes a king-size bed and queen-size sofa sleeper. There are also iPod docking stations and entertainment centers with flat screen TVs and DVD players. The bedrooms are decorated in a simple coastal style with turquoise and sunny yellow palettes.

Amenities: The resort offers a variety of amenities, from championship golf to award-winning tennis facilities. Unwind in the coastal-inspired spa or work up a sweat in the fitness facility. The resort-wide concierge service can take care of any requests, from reservations to activity suggestions.

Activities: Kayak or paddle through the 220-acre coastal dune lake, or take an instructed fly-fishing outing. Hike or bike over miles of trails around the resort, or tour the nearby state parks and preserves. The resort also offers supervised activities for children.

Details: 34 Goldenrod Circle, from $230 for a one-bedroom cottage.

Sunny Isles

What it is: A ultraluxury boutique resort and 188 residences between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

The rooms: The resort's 54 rooms and 43 suites are equipped with flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms, and private terraces. Many suites also have full kitchens.

Amenities: Complimentary services include transportation to Bal Harbour Shops, use of the fitness center, and membership to the Beach Club with two pools. Also available for an additional charge are babysitting services, pool cabanas, pet-walking services, an on-site salon and barber shop, and services at the ESPA spa. The resort also has several restaurants, from the Il Mulino New York, an acclaimed Italian restaurant, to the Costa Grill for beachside lunches and snacks.

Activities: The resort offers the AcquaMarine children's program, which lets kids learn about the jobs of coast guard members and life guards and study the biology of waves, marine life, and sand. There are also private lessons in swim and sports available. Adults can play golf and tennis at nearby clubs, charter yachts, or take advantage of various water sports on the beach.

Details: 17875 Collins Avenue, from $850 for the Intracoastal Hotel Room.