Sometimes you just want to soak in the vibrant buzz of a booming metropolis. But navigating the landscape of city hotels—which all too often tend to be noisy and short on room square footage—can be a major deterrent when traveling with kids. That’s why we’ve rounded up a selection of family-friendly urban havens for every budget that are ideal spots for kids and parents to hang out and recharge in some of the most exciting cities across the country. Check out the list below!
1. The Langham Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)
Source: Megan Brilley
The Windy City has so many awesome attractions, from the Museum of Science and Industry to the Shedd Aquarium. The best place for families to post up on a quick (or long) trip to Chicago? The Langham Chicago hotel. It combines a central location, five-star luxury without the fuss, and a welcoming atmosphere. The hotel provides the cutest little extras for young guests including teddy bears, mini robes, tents, and backpacks. For film buffs of all ages, the coolest part is that families can book a three-hour private movie screening in the cinema suite with reclining chairs, popcorn, and confections.
2. The Peninsula New York (New York City, New York)
Source: The Peninsula
A splurge that families with the funds to spend say is oh so worth it, The Peninsula New York presides over Fifth Avenue. That puts guests steps away from designer shopping, excellent museums, and some of the best restaurants. Even though there’s so much to do nearby—and the concierge will happily help on that front by arranging iconic NYC stuff like a Brooklyn Bridge walking tour and pizzeria lunch—you might have a hard time pulling the kiddos away from the Camp Peninsula experience that includes a tent pitched inside the suite, s’mores, a robe, and a scavenger hunt.
3. LUMA Hotel Times Square (New York City, New York)
Source: Trip Advisor
For a more affordable Big Apple accommodation, look no further than the LUMA Hotel Times Square. Positioned on 41st Street between Broadway and Avenue of the Americas in the middle of Midtown, it puts guests within proximity to the lights, billboards, life-size characters, and kid-friendly shops (hello, M&M’s World and the Disney Store), plus Broadway shows, and theme restaurants. Parents report the rooms are super clean and spacious, especially by New York City standards. The hotel itself is meant to reflect the energy of the city, so it’s really fun and vibrant—a perfect match for families who like to soak in every lively second.
4. Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel (Portland, Oregon)
Source: Danielle Vazquez
Portland is a Pacific Northwest gem with a top-notch zoo as well as many parks and gardens to explore. If you’d rather not stay right downtown, make a reservation at Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel. Set on a pedestrian river walk just south of the hustle and bustle, it really does feel like a retreat but with the upside of being close to the urban sprawl. The rooms with two double beds, suites featuring pull-out sofas, and cottages equipped with full kitchens rank among the best option for families. Bonus: Micro Kickboard scooters and 4Moms baby gear are available to reserve for free.
5. Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown (Washington D.C.)
Source: Fairmont Washington, D.C.
A trip to the nation’s capital affords families an opportunity to visit many monuments, memorials, and interactive museums. Going away for the weekend also means the chance to stay in a fancy hotel and order room service in cozy bathrobes or maybe go out for a nice meal. Situated less than a mile away from the National Mall and surrounded by many excellent restaurants, the Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown is an awesome escape with an enormous indoor pool, beds that beg for morning cuddles, and bespoke coloring books about the property’s cute canine ambassador, Georgie.
6. Colton House Hotel (Austin, Texas)
Source: Ayuma Photography
For parents who thought their days of chic boutique stays were behind them, let us introduce the Colton House Hotel. Perched on trendy South Congress Avenue, it’s a stylish home base for exploring Austin that prides itself on providing space, comfort, and a sense of home. It offers 80 suites with custom furnishings, eye-popping art, and kitchenettes that are stellar for families of all sizes. Some accommodations even have in-unit washers and dryers (because laundry doesn’t stop just because it’s vacation). The ability to reserve pack-and-plays, strollers, monitors, baby bath kits, and utensils for LOs at no extra charge is a huge plus.
7. The Beverly Hills Hotel (Beverly Hills, California)
Source: The Beverly Hills Hotel
The only thing more famous than the banana leaf wallpaper at The Beverly Hills Hotel is the glamorous poolside cabanas. Though, you could easily argue it’s the large suites and bungalows. Either way, once you add in the outstanding service and V-VIP program that gives kiddos the celeb treatment with sweet freebies like complimentary sodas, it’s easy to see why this 90210 landmark remains such a popular pick for a luxury family vacation in the Los Angeles area. Even hard-to-impress teens can’t deny the magic (or Instagram cred) of this place. One potential problem? Good luck telling your offspring it’s time to return to reality.
8. Hotel Commonwealth (Boston, Massachusetts)
Source: Brett O’Brien
Boston is a great educational family vacation with historic sites galore. After cruising the harbor and doing a walking tour of the Freedom Trail, you’ll no doubt need to rest. Retreat to the heritage-rich comfort of Hotel Commonwealth. This stately family favorite in Beantown has an upscale residential feel with toys at check-in, generously sized rooms, complimentary cribs fitted with Frette sheets, and Google Chromecast streaming service (hey, sometimes everyone needs a little screen time to decompress). It’s also right near Fenway Park, making it easy to bring your brood to watch a baseball game, eat popcorn, and cheer for the home team.
9. Four Seasons Hotel Seattle (Seattle, Washington)
Source: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
Located in a super walkable area that’s a matter of minutes from Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum, the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle definitely falls into the splurge category. While there are plenty of more affordable properties in the Emerald City, none come close to delivering a comparable level of luxury, hospitality, or family-friendly perks. The property supplies gratis pack-n-plays, high chairs, bottle sterilizers, diaper genies, and cribs. What child wouldn’t love a welcome stuffed animal, milk and cookie turndown, or snuggly robes and slippers? And kids under 5 years of age eat free at Goldfinch Tavern.
10. Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Source: Alana Hallett
What’s so fabulous about SoFlo is that the sunshine and palm trees just give it vacation vibes. And that’s a big part of why we love the Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale in buzzy downtown. You get all the benefits of the warm-weather coastal city including access to the beach, boating canals, outdoor restaurants, and waterfront parks. The generously-sized rooms—especially the Deluxe King Bedroom, which boasts over 500 square feet of space, a king bed, and a sleeper sofa—are a hit with families. While the hotel pool sweetens the deal for little swimmers. It’s also a great value!
