Even if you’re not a fan of cold temperatures and snow, you don’t have to head to a tropical location for a winter escape. There are lots of family-friendly resorts around the U.S. where you can stay inside and still find plenty of ways to have fun without getting cold.
From indoor water parks and tricked-out arcades to entertainment zones and bowling alleys, the amenities at these resorts will keep the whole family occupied for hours, no winter coats and gloves required. Here are my picks for the best family resorts for winter getaways with loads of indoor fun.
Contents
1. The Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
This historic luxury resort in the Allegheny Mountains is as an excellent choice for a family-friendly cold-weather getaway. Outdoorsy types will find lots to do here, but it’s also a great option if you don’t thrive in cold temperatures. You can take a 90-minute tour of the declassified bunker that was built at the resort in the 1950s to house Congress in the event of an attack on Washington, D.C., or learn about the resort’s fascinating past and its Dorothy Draper decor on an interior walking tour of the property.
CHECK IN: 19 best family resorts and hotels in the U.S.
Young guests ages three to 10 can head to the Adventure Zone for supervised activities while the grownups book a treatment at the resort’s 40,000-square-foot mineral spa. An arcade, escape rooms, and bowling center offer spots for a little friendly competition, and the whole family can enjoy nightly movies at The Greenbrier Theatre. Sign up for an art workshop or tennis or pickleball lesson at the indoor courts to add in even more fun.
2. Woodloch Pines Resort
Hawley, Pennsylvania
One of the best all-inclusive resorts for families in the U.S., Woodloch Pines Resort will keep your whole crew busy no matter the time of year. During the winter, there are lots of ways to play both outdoors and inside. If you’d rather stay warm, this Pocono Mountains resort offers an arts and crafts room and kids club space for younger guests and a three-level indoor playground with slides, a treehouse, and a special area for toddlers.
ALL IN: 13 best all-inclusive family resorts for every age and interest
The kids will appreciate the indoor pool and splash zone, while the whole family can take part in a range of scheduled activities inside throughout the day, including games and nightly family-friendly entertainment. And the grownups might even be able to squeeze in a little time at the spa or fitness center amid all the action.
3. Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Ninety minutes from Chicago and less than an hour from Milwaukee, Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark makes a great spot for a Midwest family vacation any time of year. The Moose Mountain Falls indoor water park is a big draw, with a constant temperature of 86 degrees perfect for zipping down waterslides and floating on the lazy river.
GET IN THE CAR: 6 scenic Midwest road trips for outdoorsy families
When you’re done making a splash, head to the arcade for both classic games and newer offerings and try your hand at mini-bowling at Bruce’s Bowl-A-Rama. Chelsea’s Activity Zone helps the kiddos get creative, and Bruce the Moose and the other resort mascots might show up for photo ops. There’s a restaurant and food court on-site, and the resort’s one- and two-bedroom suites have kitchens, whirlpool baths, and fireplaces in the living room.
4. Showboat Resort Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
It’s a safe bet that the whole family will love a wintertime stay at Showboat Resort Atlantic City. Everyone can play for hours at the resort’s Lucky Snake, the largest arcade on the East Coast offering everything from classic arcade games and pinball machines to roller skating, bowling, mini-golf, and go-karts.
KEEP BUSY: 10 family resorts with nonstop activities for kids with nonstop energy
Not enough action for you? Then head to the resort’s Island Waterpark, the world’s largest indoor, beachfront water park with 11 waterslides and an indoor boardwalk selling classic New Jersey eats. There are also five on-site restaurants, a spa, a 24-hour gym, and a regular schedule of events suited for both families and adults. Family rooms and suites are available with ocean views and lots of space to spread out.
5. Camelback Resort
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
It might be freezing outside, but it’s always warm and toasty at Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark at Camelback Resort, one of the best family resorts with indoor water parks in the U.S. Splashing down the park’s 13 waterslides is just one way to have fun indoors at this resort in the Pocono Mountains.
GO WITH THE FLOW: Cold outside? These 7 family resorts have indoor lazy rivers you can float on all winter long
An impressive indoor play zone includes bumper cars, laser tag, rock climbing zones, an escape room, and a ropes course, as well as traditional arcade games. Your kids might never want to leave. There’s also a fitness center if you’d rather work out indoors than out on the slopes of Camelback Mountain. One- to four-bedroom suites (some with fireplaces) offer lodging options for families of all sizes and make it easy to cozy up at the end of a busy day.
6. The Sagamore Resort
Lake George, New York
Set on a private 70-acre island on Lake George, this all-season resort listed in the National Register of Historic Places has a lot to offer during the winter months. Yes, there are outdoor activities if you want to play in the snow. But if you’d rather stay inside, The Rec Center is the place to be for family fun. The 10,000-square-foot indoor entertainment zone includes ping pong and other table games, mini-golf, an indoor basketball court, and a movie theater.
BY THE WATER: 17 best lake resorts and hotels in the U.S. for families
A 33,000-gallon indoor pool overlooks the lake, and The Sagamore Spa offers a range of face and body treatments and a new Salt & Sound Lounge for halotherapy. Book a family room at the resort for a truly comfortable stay, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette, and a fireplace in the living room.
7. Blue Harbor Resort
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Blue Harbor Resort is made for family getaways. For a special trip, book the Aquarium Suite with a sea-life mural over the bunk bed alcove or the Boathouse Suite, where a cottage-themed alcove includes a bunk bed and a single bed shaped like a boat. Both suites include passes to the resort’s Breaker Bay indoor water park, which features waterslides, a lazy river, and the only double surf simulator in eastern Wisconsin.
PLAN A TRIP: 12 best winter vacations in the U.S. for families
Two indoor mini-golf courses glow in the dark for a little added excitement, and there’s an arcade where the kids (or young at heart) can earn credits to redeem for prizes. Multiple on-site dining options include a snack bar inside the water park, and the grownups can indulge in a little self-care at the fitness center and spa.
8. Nemacolin
Farmington, Pennsylvania
No matter how old you are, you’ll find lots to keep you busy indoors at this four-season luxury resort on more than 2,200 acres in southwestern Pennsylvania. Embrace your inner ninja warrior at the Fun Zone at the Hardy Girls’ Gym, or test your skills at indoor axe throwing if you’re 12 or older.
TRAIL MIX: Get outside this winter at these top cross-country ski resorts in the U.S.
Everyone will have a ball at the Cosmic Bowling Alley and the arcade, and scheduled art classes and workshops help the whole family get crafty. There’s an indoor pool and kids club for young guests, and a spa and casino for adult visitors. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you can do at the resort during the winter. There are five hotels from which to choose at the resort, including The Grand Lodge with all-suite accommodations.
9. Crystal Springs Resort
Sussex County, New York
A four-season, two-hotel resort, Crystal Springs Resort is about an hour from New York City in the Kittatinny Mountains of northern New Jersey. If you head here during the winter, you can stay warm and toasty at the indoor pools that include the unique Tropical Biosphere Pool Complex. Ten on-site dining venues mean you never have to leave the property if you don’t want to, and two full-service spas allow the adults to schedule in a little me time.
MAKE A SPLASH: The best Great Wolf Lodge Resort locations in the U.S. and Canada
The kiddos will love the indoor rock-climbing wall (for ages six and up), the resort-wide photo scavenger hunt, and the board game lending library. Be sure to check the activity schedule when you’re there for workshops like hot cocoa bomb making and activities like the indoor goat yoga class, which is open to ages eight and up and includes a meet-and-greet with the animals afterward.
