Miami Is Grand For Family Reunions
Learn about the Palms, the Park Central, and the Doral Golf Resort and Spa; find out why these properties have our family returning to Miami, Florida again and again.
When it comes to multigenerational travel, it's hard to beat the universal year-round appeal of Florida, America's No. 1 tourist destination. From the seashore to the golf course, the Early Bird specials to the salsa clubs, there are activities and entertainment for every age group. Our family, hailing from the Northeast, Southwest and Europe, have reunited to snorkel in the Florida Keys, meet The Mouse, shell on Sanibel, sail off the coast of Naples, play tennis on Longboat Key, shop in Palm Beach, barge through Okeechobee and eat, eat, eat: souvlaki in Tarpon Springs, Derek Jeter sandwiches in Tampa, pastrami at The Rascal House. But the town that keeps us coming back is Miami.
It's hot and ritzy, chic and trashy, loud and fun, colorful and joyous, risky and cutting edge all rolled into one. With active grandparents and children young or old enough to enjoy the best people-watching and shopping in the state, we say nothing beats Miami as a destination for three generations to reunite, renew their familial ties, and discover each other, one by one.
Because there is such a diversity of offerings, three generations of our family decided to test some of Miami's hottest hotels and decide which appealed to which generation. We looked at the Fontainebleau Hilton, a renovated classic of Miami kitsch which has been taken to new heights of daring and fun. Unfortunately, it's closed now and will soon become an adults' only retreat! We examined The Palms, an elegant Euro-chic boutique hotel with low-key sophistication. We revisited the stately Park Central, a 1937 National Historic Landmark whose recent restoration has brought it up to par with larger, faux Deco rivals. And last but not least, we turned to the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a recently renovated complex whose 650 acres of gorgeously re-landscaped golf courses again attract the likes of Tiger Woods.
The Palms ( 800/550-0505, 305/534-0515)
In the chaos of the Easter/Passover weekend in South Beach, the Palms in Miami Beach turns out to be an oasis of calm for sophisticated travelers with teenage kids. While thousands of toddlers are water-sliding into wading pools at the Collins Avenue hotels, the teenage set at the Palms is jet skiing along the hotel's private beachfront.
Their parents and grandparents, meanwhile, are stretched out in hammocks under palm-thatched palapas on the sand, with a pina colada and the latest Grisham novel. All around the caged tropical parrots (named Sunshine and Chance) are the many varieties of palms and dune grasses that give this hotel its lush tropical feel.
Decorated in SoBe style with teak furnishings cushioned by pearl, gold and seafoam fabrics , the Palms has elegantly appointed small rooms with good closet and storage space, and attractive marble bathrooms. There are no adjoining rooms, so a room with two double beds, a junior suite with a pull-out sofabed or a one-bedroom suite are the best bet for families. Although it feels far from the bustling Miami Beach mania, with its central location the Palms offers the best of both worlds. Within walking distance of its fan-cooled lobby are funky fashion, couture shops, art galleries, cafes and nightlife venues in and around Lincoln Road, Collins and Washington Avenues. Rates begin at $269/N sleeping four in two queen size beds and range upwards for a one-bedroom suite depending on season. Children under 12 years old stay free with their parents; baby cribs available.
The 243-room Palms, now the Palms Hotel & Spa, is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation to enhance the guests experience by adding a new Aveda concept spa, as well as Essensia, a signature restaurant and lounge, completed in April 2009. The Palms Spa will encompass 5,000-square feet, featuring holistic treatments, and the Seven Sensory Rituals, focusing on elements of touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste in order to embrace a sense of wellbeing for all guests. Essensia, the restaurant and lounge, will incorporate natural gourmet dining, combining the Floridian fare with the fresh, light cuisine of the Mediterranean. It will open in March 2009. The Palms Hotel & Spa will also update guest rooms and public areas throughout the hotel, with all renovations to be completed by Spring 2010.
Park Central Hotel (800/PARK-CENTRAL, 305/538-1611)
The pink and blue dowager towering above 6th Street at Ocean Drive is the Park Central, designed by master architect Henry Hohauser in 1937. Beautifully restored and elegantly streamlined, this is one of the few authentic Ocean Drive Deco hotels where families are welcome. Let's be clear, though, that the Park Central's stylish bar and small, better-seen-than-swum-in pool will appeal more to party-goers and European singles than to raucous kids looking for resort entertainment.
But for new parents who long to participate in Sobe's outdoors café, rollerblading and people-watching scene, it's a great choice. The small, cream and white stucco rooms with one or two double beds offer romantic ocean views, a mini-bar, ironing setup, room service and complimentary cribs on request. There's a comfortable roofdeck for sunning and viewing and a sunset drink. New for 2006 are totally sound-proof, hurricane-resistant windows and a lovely new mural behind the pool.
The Park Central is also fun for families with teens, who will enjoy a good measure of freedom. First, they'll get their own room because rooms sleep a maximum of two adults and two children under 12. Second, the Park Central is within easy walking distance of Washington Road shops and across the street from the beach, where concessionaires provide chairs, umbrellas, watersports gear and snacks. And with the vintage 1937 Nash parked out front, they'll never get lost! Last but not least, it's a very cool place to stay and be seen. Rates range from $105-$185/N per room or about $185/N for a suite, for two adults and two children under 12, depending on view and season.
Doral Golf Resort & Spa ( 800/713-6725, 305/592-2000)
If you're after laid-back luxury and time to enjoy five championship golf courses and a world class spa while your kids are whisked away, Marriott's Doral Resort is the place for you. After a $75 million renovation in honor of its 40th birthday, it's almost perfect. The only thing missing is the beach, but if you can live with the property's many swimming pools, including a Tadpool rimmed by private cabanas ($35/day rental) for little ones, the other amenities more than make up for it.
Just 10 minutes from the airport, the Doral is laid out on 650 acres of tropical gardens. In addition to the award-winning tennis center, golf and spa enclave, there's a new kid-friendly indoor facility in the heart of the Blue Lagoon waterpark with a video arcade, toys and sports equipment.
Camp Doral offers children 5-12 years three swimming pools at the Blue Lagoon, and a 125-foot Blue Monster water slide. Counselors all have college-level training and participate in swimming, fishing, music, crafts, tennis, golf, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, pool games and lawn darts with the kids. Full or half-days are available. And if mom survived her choice of one hundred spa treatments while dad played rigorous golf and they're ready for a night out, there's also evening camp for the kids. Amenities for families with infants include cribs, highchairs, kid's menus, a lending library, and babysitters on request with 24 hours' notice.
Aware that spa stays offer a good opportunity for mothers and grown daughters to bond, the Doral has 48 luxurious suites adjacent to the spa with kitchens, living rooms and outdoor patios. The Doral is minutes away from Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and South Beach. In short, whatever the age, it's a desirable destination for traveling families. Double room rates range from $119 and up; children stay free with their parents.
