Montauk, Maldives and more: Summer vacation ideas near the water for families
In the Four Seasons Resort Maldives' Hologram Room, family members can virtually swim with manta rays, whales, seahorses and octopuses. Credit: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at
Do you have a summer vacation plan? Here are three destinations that promise to deliver family adventure and magical memories.
Montauk Yacht Club
Montauk, New York
Head to the east end of Long Island, just beyond the famed Hamptons, for a relaxed experience in a beachy enclave where fishermen, surfers, urban hipsters and families easily mix in the salty air. Stroll along the docks to witness (and later sample) the arrival of the day’s fresh catch, as tony yachts and the occasional sightseeing boat, spouting the area’s seafaring history, inch into the harbor. On your way to or from Montauk, enjoy a casual lunch at the Clam Bar, a family favorite, open-air seafood shack, where platters of fried clams might call your name. Stay in one of 107 stylish guest rooms or historic cottages at the storied Montauk Yacht Club Resort, where all things nautical will serve as your holiday backdrop. A children’s playground, volleyball and tennis courts, SUP, kayaks and fishing expeditions provide plenty of opportunity for family fun.
MORE INFO montaukyachtclub.com
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
The Maldives
Leave life’s challenges behind and find your way to an island sanctuary on the remote northern Baa Atoll in the Maldives. Stay within a natural UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where you and your family can sleep in over-the-water or beach bungalows, tucked aside jungle greens and surrounded by sparkling turquoise waters. Kids will be thrilled to snorkel with manta rays, help rehab sea turtles, identify local dolphin populations and assist with the transplant of coral frames. You’ll want to cycle through the former coconut plantation on a lizard and bat spotting safari before taking to the water for a wide array of water sports in the sheltered lagoon or beyond. Not ready for a wet suit? Then sample the experience in the Hologram Room, where family members can virtually “swim” with manta rays, whales, sea horses and octopuses. For an old-school experience, board a resort fishing boat to catch your dinner using traditional hand-line fishing techniques.
MORE INFO fourseasons.com/maldiveslg
Half Moon Resort
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Find your way to this iconic Caribbean resort, where you’ll find a multitude of ways to enjoy family time within 400 beachfront acres. Young guests are greeted with their own welcome drink and invited to discover the Anancy Children’s Village, a play area for kids ages 3 to 12 and designed to showcase Jamaica’s rich heritage through storytelling and island-style activities. Settle into individual rooms, suites or villas before choosing from a menu of activities that include a round of golf on the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole championship course, tennis and water sports such as scuba diving, parasailing, wakeboarding and tubing. The use of kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and snorkeling gear is included in your stay at Half Moon. You’ll want to experience a beach BBQ to sample local specialties including a variety of jerk dishes. While dining, you’ll be treated to steel band and congo drum performances, fire-eaters, dancers and even crab racing.
MORE INFO halfmoon.com
