Make lifelong memories and celebrate special moments with loved ones at these incredible luxury resorts throughout the United States
Celebration vacations are one of this year’s top luxury travel trends. When planning an unforgettable multi-generational celebration vacation, selecting the right setting is key. It’s important to choose a destination that offers plenty of flexibility and variety to please the whole group.
The best solution is often to find a superb destination resort with opportunities for special moments and activities for all ages. Fortunately, there are luxury resorts that genuinely understand how to deliver exceptional vacation experiences for each generation. These resorts offer a wide array of accommodations and amenities that keep everyone happy and entertained.
If you’re dreaming of sandy beaches, cool mountain air, tropical getaways, or fun-filled lake escapes, there is an ideal celebration destination to fit the bill. We’ve rounded up a selection of outstanding resorts within the continental United States, each with exciting activities and adventures for all ages. Many of these are luxury resorts with spacious multi-bedroom cottages or villas. All offer memorable shared experiences, exceptional dining and a strong sense of place.
Here are 12 luxury resorts to consider for a spectacular celebration vacation that your entire family will remember for years to come.
Whiteface Lodge, New York
Constructed in the style of Adirondack Great Camps, Whiteface Lodge is located near the shores of Lake Placid and surrounded by the six-million-acre Adirondack Park. The idyllic resort offers luxurious all-suite accommodations in multi-bedroom configurations, which include full kitchens, private balconies, and fireplaces. The resort’s flagship dining venue, Kanu, is a perfect setting for multi-generational family celebrations.
Whiteface Lodge offers a wealth of activities and amenities for families, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a movie theater and bowling alley, sports courts and fishing. The resort’s complimentary Kanu Kamp kids club and Canoe Club beachfront watersports area operate during select times. In the winter, guests can enjoy on-site ice skating as well as nearby downhill skiing and snowboarding.
The Greenbrier, West Virginia
Long known as “America’s Resort,” The Greenbrier has welcomed generations of families since 1778. This luxury destination resort is ideal for milestone celebrations and multi-generational family trips. Situated on more than 11,000 acres, the historic property has hosted presidents and celebrities as well as families who return year after year.
The Greenbrier features over 700 rooms and suites, as well as cottages and estate homes, and more than a dozen restaurants and cafes for gatherings and celebrations. Adults and children can enjoy a wide variety of activities and amenities, including golf courses, tennis, pickleball, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bowling and a world-class spa. Guests seeking outdoor adventures can take part in fishing, falconry, hiking, and e-biking. The Adventure Zone kids programs, carriage rides and tours of the resort’s historic bunker are also popular.
Nemacolin Resort, Pennsylvania
Stretching across over 2,200 acres in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, family-owned Nemacolin Resort is a luxurious destination resort perfect for multi-generational celebrations. This AAA Five-Diamond resort offers five exquisite lodging options to match every family’s preferences, including spacious rooms and suites in The Chateau and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Falling Rock, the all-suite Grand Lodge, and multi-bedroom private estate homes.
Nemacolin provides an unusually wide array of activities, attractions and dining options for its guests. Families can enjoy multiple pools and championship golf courses, adrenaline-filled adventures at The Peak, outdoor sports at the Rod & Range Club, art classes, Kids Club programs and wellness treatments at the Woodlands Spa. The opulent resort offers many choices for celebratory meals and events, including the Forbes Five-Star Lautrec steakhouse, Aqueous and enchanting Fawn & Fable.
Blackberry Farm, Tennessee
All-inclusive Blackberry Farm is a luxurious Relais & Châteaux resort nestled in the scenic foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Blackberry Farm is known for its award-winning cuisine and outstanding personalized service, making it an excellent choice for milestone family celebrations. The exclusive property’s 4,200 bucolic acres provide a wonderful setting for all generations to bond and connect.
The resort offers 68 lodging options, including cottages and multi-bedroom houses perfect for family groups seeking togetherness as well as private space. Family members can enjoy horseback riding, tennis, pickleball, watersports, cycling, guided hikes, active adventures and spa treatments. Farm tours, cooking classes and a variety of epicurean experiences are popular with guests. Family-focused activities and Camp Blackberry for kids are also available.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
Multi-generational families will love staying at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island’s Forbes triple Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond luxury hotel. The grand oceanfront property is a perfect choice for celebrating groups seeking a luxurious beach vacation with outstanding amenities and superb service. The Sanctuary is one of only five properties in the U.S. to hold a triple Five-Star rating for its hotel, restaurant and world-class spa. Families make memories together at the resort’s pools and along the shore.
Set directly on ten miles of sandy beach, The Sanctuary features 255 sumptuous guest rooms and suites, nearly all with direct ocean views. The resort’s premier steakhouse and signature seafood restaurant are ideal settings for celebration dinners. Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers miles of biking paths and hiking trails, five championship golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, kids programs, nature experiences and other immersive activities for children, teens and adults.
The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia
The Cloister at Sea Island is an extraordinary destination for celebrations and milestone family events. Making lifelong memories is easy at this legendary Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond beach resort. Spread across 50 acres, the Mediterranean-style property beautifully combines modern luxury with timeless tradition. Once immersed in this private island vacation experience, The Cloister at Sea Island feels like a world of its own.
The Cloister offers 265 elegant rooms and suites, including multi-bedroom accommodations in The Cloister Ocean Residences. Guests can enjoy multiple dining options and an extensive range of activities and amenities. These include championship golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, swimming pools, horseback riding, and the Beach Club, which is located directly on five miles of private beach. Camp Cloister programs are available for kids aged three to 14.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Florida
The Florida Keys island archipelago is famous for its stunning tropical beauty, turquoise waters, world-class watersports and spectacular sunsets. Since 1946, families have gathered at Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge for celebration vacations and multi-generational getaways. Situated on a 27-acre beachfront estate in the Upper Florida Keys, Cheeca Lodge features a variety of spacious rooms, suites and villas, including 43 oceanfront suites. The resort’s private villas, known as The Casitas at Cheeca Lodge, are an excellent option for celebrating families and multi-generational groups.
Guests at Cheeca Lodge can take advantage of multiple pools and distinctive dining venues, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a 525-foot fishing pier, tennis and sports courts, and a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center. The impressive oceanfront resort is known for its excellent watersports and excursions, as well as its Camp Cheeca program for kids.
Grand View Lodge, Minnesota
It’s easy for multi-generational families to celebrate and make memories together at Minnesota’s Grand View Lodge. Located directly on nearly 10,000-acre Gull Lake and nearby Roy Lake, the four-season resort has provided cherished vacation experiences for over 100 years. With its broad array of accommodations, attractions and experiences, family-owned Grand View Lodge keeps all ages engaged and entertained.
Multi-generational groups can choose from a wide variety of lodging options, including multi-bedroom cottages, villas, cabins and amenity-filled luxury homes. Grand View Lodge offers something for all ages and interests, including indoor and outdoor pools, golf, tennis, biking, fishing, watersports, year-round Kid’s Club activities, and treatments at The Spa at Grand View Lodge. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding are available during the winter months. Grand View Lodge’s many dining venues are ideal for family gatherings and celebrations.
Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri
Set on 4,600 acres overlooking Table Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lodge is a top-notch resort for outdoor-oriented multi-generational celebration vacations. Located in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains just south of Branson, Big Cedar Lodge offers families plenty of opportunities to connect and celebrate while taking part in a variety of outdoor activities and adventures. The resort’s dining venues, particularly the Osage Restaurant and The Workman House, are well-suited for celebratory dinners and events.
Big Cedar Lodge features a wide range of accommodation options, including high-end spacious cottages, multi-bedroom private resort homes, and lodge suites. The resort offers boundless ways for multi-generational groups to bond and make memories. Guests can enjoy six championship golf courses, watersports, horseback riding, boating, fishing, an attraction-filled 50,000-square-foot indoor activity center as well as a luxury spa and hiking trails.
Terranea Resort, California
Terranea Resort is located just 30 minutes south of Los Angeles, yet it feels worlds away from city life. Set on 102 scenic acres, Terranea is a luxurious destination resort that will please every family member with an endless variety of ocean- and land-based activities and adventures. All ages can have fun making memories at this oceanfront property, both together and apart.
Terranea offers a wide range of Mediterranean-style accommodations, including multi-bedroom bungalows, casitas and villas perfect for multi-generational groups. Many offer breathtaking views. Guests can choose from multiple resort dining options, including outstanding restaurants that are ideal for celebratory dinners and events. Popular activities at Terranea include watersports, tennis, pickleball, hiking, falconry and treatments at Terranea’s world-class spa. Families and kids enjoy the resort’s four pools and the Terranea Kids Club for ages three to 12.
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, New Mexico
The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado is an ideal celebration destination for families seeking immersive cultural experiences and activities for all interests. Spread across 57 acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, this luxurious property makes it easy for families to forge lifelong memories together in an enchanting setting. The resort is just a 15-minute drive from Santa Fe’s many art galleries and cultural attractions, which adds to its appeal.
The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado offers multiple venues for celebratory meals, and a wide range of accommodations and activities for all generations. Families can select from a choice of spacious casitas and suites, including two-bedroom interconnecting units. Guests can enjoy swimming, mountain biking, golf, horseback rides, spa treatments, complimentary guided hikes and jeep tours. The resort’s concierge can help organize memorable customized experiences and celebration moments designed for the group.
Montage Big Sky, Montana
Select destination resorts focus on providing a premier setting for family gatherings and milestone celebrations. Montage Big Sky is one of those properties. Situated amidst the Spanish Peaks just 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, Montage Big Sky provides a spectacular home base for multi-generational vacations and events throughout the year.
Celebrating families can choose from spacious guest rooms and multi-bedroom suites, as well as stunning mountain homes and residences with up to six bedrooms and panoramic mountain views. Dining options range from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, and private dining options can also be arranged. Activities vary by season and include hiking, biking, kayaking, fly fishing, golf, spa treatments at Spa Montage, and private tours and experiences. During the winter months, Big Sky Resort transforms into a snowy wonderland, offering world-class skiing, snowboarding and outdoor adventures.
For details on 11 additional grand destination resorts perfect for celebration vacations, explore our related TOGETHER feature: Memorable Luxury Resorts in the USA for Multi-Generational Family Vacations.
By Nancy Schretter, Contributing Editor
Header Photo Credit: Whiteface Lodge