We’re always on the prowl for places to stay that just aren’t about 2 double beds and functional bathroom. If you’re looking for something that’s unique and a hit with the kids, check out Trekaroo’s favorite unusual places to stay with kids. It’s the type of place, your kids will love to explore and enjoy.
Wigwam Village
Make sure your kids pack their bow and arrows for a complete Native American experience. (Cave City, Kentucky)
Out ‘n’ About Treesort
Do not forget to pack your Magic Tree House books! (Cave Junction, Oregon)
Copyright Alan Rider/XTRORD.com
Safari West
Want to take your kids to Africa? Skip the 18 hour flight and experience life on the African plains at Safari West in California. Your kids can wake up and wave at the giraffes from your cabin’s patio. (Santa Rosa, California)
The Inn at Christmas Place
Every day is Christmas at the Inn at Christmas Place. (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
The Queen Mary
Spend a night on a historic 1940s warship. Your tweens and teens will love learning about the spine-tingling legends and ghosts that haunt the halls of this boat. (Long Beach, California)
For more Unusual Places to Stay with Kids from Trekaroo.
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Lydie Thomas (aka lydie) is a contributing author for Trekaroo as well as keeping up her TravelisMoreFunWithKids blog.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
With all the wonderful attractions for families in Seattle, you’re gonna want to stay for more than a day. Trekaroo families have weighed in on which hotels they like the best!
Best Kid-Friendly Hotel in Seattle – Watertown Hotel
The Watertown Hotel is getting rave reviews from Trekaroo families because they like it’s modern asthetic with comfortable rooms at a great value. Although it is located closer to the University of Washington instead of right downtown, the Watertown Hotel offers free shuttle service to most major attractions. If you have a car, parking is free unlike most downtown hotels where parking will run upwards of $26 a day. But that’s not all! Families love the free breakfast with freshly cooked bacon and eggs, free WIFI, and even free laundry facilities. A huge hit with families are the fun carts you can order up to your room. If your kids are bored, order up the art cart, or game cart. If mom needs some pampering, order up the spa cart. Average Nightly Rate $134
What’s to love
- Free shuttle to major attractions
- Fun carts – game cart, art cart, kids cart…
- Complimentary breakfast, laundry, WIFI.
- Suites are available
What’s not to love
- Not walking distance to main attractions
- No pool
Read the full reviews from families on Watertown Hotel | Check Availability and Deals at Watertown Hotel
Best Location for Families – Westin Seattle
Located right in downtown Seattle, the Westin’s location cannot be beat. It’s right on the edge of Belltown and Downtown, next to the monorail and within easy walking distance of some favorite family attractions like Pikes Place Market, Olympic Sculpture Park, Gameworks, and Seattle Aquarium. The Westin hotels are known for making families a priority and Westin Seattle is no exception. Their Westin Kids Club amenities provide so many extras that families are looking for from bottle warmers to jogging strollers. To top it off, families enjoy the wonderful indoor pool . Average nightly rates start at $159.
Other kid-friendly hotels in Chicago
Fairmont Olympic (avg nightly rate: $194) – 5 stars on Trekaroo
Seattle Marriott Waterfront (avg nightly rate $179) – 4 stars on Trekaroo
Grand Hyatt (avg nightly rate: $152) – 5 stars on Trekaroo
Sheraton Seattle (avg nighly rate $125) – 4 stars on Trekaroo
Hotels with Free Breakfast in Seattle
Which Activities came up at the top?
Best Activities for Kids in Seattle – voted by parents
Other Resources for Chicago:
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Visiting Seattle with Little Kids - adorablyconfused
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Seattle Parks and Playgrounds - wandermom1
- Stores Mom and Kids Love in Seattle by Mompreneurs – Jill Dickinson
- 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops In and Around the Seattle Area – pitstopforkids
- Where to eat in Seattle with Kids in Tow - kirida
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
Heading to Chicago for the Holidays and looking for a kid-friendly hotel? These are the hotels in Chicago that Trekaroo families were raving about in 2009.
Best Kid-Friendly Hotel in Chicago (Parent’s Choice)
Park Hyatt Chicago
Park Hyatt combines both relative affordability with excellent service. CheerioFamily can’t say enough good things about their “superb service”. Momofthreeboys thinks it’s “location is excellent. Right on Michigan avenue, across from Water Tower. There are plenty of shops everywhere. Also a nice playground within walking distance.” asmpman loved the kids “welcome packages with cameras and coloring books”. Families will appreciate the indoor pool and laundry facilities. If you have an American Girl fan, then you’ve got to get the American Girl package – cookies and milk, beds for your daughter’s doll, bathrobes, slippers and even more. Wow! What little girl would not be in heaven!
What’s to love
- Location (near Michigan Ave and Water Tower and a nice playground)
- Kid-friendly staff and service
- Complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception
- American Girl Package
What’s not to love
- Very few suites
Read the full reviews from families on Park Hyatt Chicago | Check Availability and Deals at Park Hyatt
Best Value Kid-friendly Hotel in Chicago
Homeward Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown
Families love this hotel because of it’s spotless rooms and spacious suites that are perfect for families. Couple that with a kitchen and complimentary breakfast and dinners, the value that the Homeward Suites offers is hard to beat. Although this is not a luxury hotel, the rooms and beds are very comfortable. It is also located within walking distance to good public transportation. To check availability and deals. Rates start as low as $110/night at select times of the year.
Other kid-friendly hotels in Chicago
Known for treating kids as well as they do adults, this hotel is luxurious but wonderfully welcoming to families. Book now and get $125 off “while stocks last”. Rates start at $445/night. Check availability and current rates at Four Seasons Chicago
You wouldn’t expect this boutique hotel to be kid-friendly but it is. Besides having sheek rooms, they also have board games and cards, snacks, and free tickets to Navy Pier. It is located just 1 mile from Magnificent Mile where there is lots of shopping and restaurants. Book now. Average nightly rate starts at $230.
This is a good bargain hotel with suites, indoor pool and a decent location. Book early and save 15%. Nightly rates start at $145.
Hotels with pools
Doubletree Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile (Rates start at $88/night)
The Palmer House Hilton ( Rates start at $95/night)
Best Western River North Hotel ($109/night)
Omni Chicago Hotel (Rates start at $199/night)
Which activities turned up at the top? Hot List of Best Places to take Kids in Chicago
Other Chicago Resources:
- Fun in Chicago with Young Kids
- Family-friendly Tips from a Local Mom for Exploring Chicago
- Free and Cheap Entertainment in the Suburbs of Chicago
- Best FREE attractions in and around Chicago
- Free Museum Days in Chicago
- Places to cool off the Kiddos in the Chi-town Area by asmpman
- Kraft Great Kids Museum Passes in Chicago
- Saving Money on Chicago Kids Museums – Museum Adventure Pass
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL
Here are some of hotels that Trekaroo families are recommending for our next visit to New York City with the kids.
Best Family-Friendly Hotel in NYC (Editor’s Choice) – Hotel Beacon
For our last vacation hooray this summer, we stayed at the Hotel Beacon on the Upper West Side. I was blown away! I’ve got a 2 year old son, so I wanted to stay in the Upper West Side to make it easy to get to the Children’s Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park and more. The Hotel Beacon was within easy walking distance to all the mentioned attractions and the price just made it all the better.
What’s to love
- Location, location, location (top NYC family attraction within walking distance, easy subway access, grocery store across the street, yummy restaurants all around)
- Newly renovated large suites (bathrooms are separate and not attached to bedrooms)
- Fully equipped kitchens in all rooms (standard and suites)
- Price ($245 for a one-bedroom suite Sun/Mon, $295/night Tue-Sat)
- Service
What’s not to love
- The fact that it was sold out when we wanted to extend our stay. Bummer!
For my full review, go to Hotel Beacon. To check on availability and current rates at the Hotel Beacon.
Other kid-friendly hotels
WooGo Central Park – Tempo Apartments
Also on the Upper West Side, the Tempo Apartments has a collection of studios and one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and hard-wood floors. Book now and save 30% on travel through October 31st. Rates start at $192/night. To check on availability and current rates at Tempo Apartments.
The Pod Hotel New York
A hip, new hotel in midtown New York has got the normal rooms and bunkbed rooms! Perfect for familes with teens and tweens. Book now and save 25% off their average nightly rate of $229.
On The Ave Hotel
Another Upper West side hotel (can you tell that I like the UWS?). Book now and receive 30% off their average nightly rates ($282/night for a regular room)
Hotels with pools
Gramercy Park Hotel (Gramercy Park, Rates start at $595/night)
Empire Hotel (Newly renovated Midtown hotel, Rates start at $350/night)
Hotel Gansevoort (Located in the West village – Rates start at $465/night)
Travel Inn Hotel (Located in Midtown West, outdoor pool, Rates start at $142/night). Only hotel with free parking in NYC.
- For more hotels for kids in New York City
- For nearby activities for kids in New York City
- Hot List of Best Places to take Kids in New York City (NYC)
- Where Families Should Go in NYC when the Weather’s Bad
- 13 Things I Learned Visiting NYC with 2 Young Kids
- Must-See New York City attractions
Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA
