6 Family-Friendly Yoga Retreats and Vacation Destinations

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We get it: You want an exciting getaway from the everyday, but you need a vacation destination that will meet all your needs. Specifically, someplace that the kids won’t roll their eyes at and still feels like a reprieve for you. (And maybe, just maybe, there will be activities that the entire family can do together.)

The following family-friendly vacation destinations offer ample outdoor distractions as well as a variety of yoga and wellness options so you can actually do what you’re supposed to do: Relax.

Pro tip: Booking a vacation for the off-season often means you’ll get a luxury escape without the luxury prices.

The 6 Best Family Yoga Vacations

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1. Amangiri, Utah

Aman Resorts’s Amangiri spans 900 acres of vast red rocks in Canyon Point, Utah. The resort’s Camp Sarika was designed with families in mind and offers two-bedroom pavilions that include private plunge pools, fire pits, and views of the surrounding mesas.

What: Little ones can take part in a replica dinosaur dig in which they get to uncover imitation fossils while kids ages six and older can learn the basics of mountain climbing. There’s also wildlife workshops where staff help group members identify indigenous animals. And, of course, hiking and horseback riding.

Given Amangiri’s terrain, you may be more likely to encounter seasonal fauna (one reviewer mentioned caterpillars), so if anyone in your party is sensitive to small critters, ask which season is best to visit prior to booking. Camp Sarika is also a three-hour road trip away from Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, the homeland of the Paiute people.

Desert views are the backdrop to the resort’s spa and wellness offerings, including sunrise yoga, massages, facials, and more.

Perks: Extra beds can be added for families with small children. The website mentions complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two people per room.

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2. Karma Surf Retreat, Portugal

“For the Soul Surfers among us, surfing is like yoga on water.” That statement from the Karma Surf Retreat website expresses not just the innate connection between yoga and surfing but the overall vibe of the Portuguese destination.

What: Karma’s yoga teachers and surf instructors are knowledgeable professionals that have a nuanced understanding of the connection between the physical movements used in both activities. Yoga classes are designed to build the skills necessary for surfing.

In addition to yoga and surf classes, Karma Surf Retreat also offers stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and hiking. Childcare is available for about $20 an hour anytime the adults want some time to themselves, whether to take a class or venture out to a local restaurant.

Perks: Karma’s Yoga & Surf Family Package covers wetsuits for swim lessons, shuttles to surf lessons, and seven days in a double room suite, apartment, or house. It also includes organic breakfasts and vegetarian lunches.

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3. Mohonk Mountain House, Hudson Valley, NY

Take your kids to stay at a real-life castle—complete with turrets—and chances are you’re going to make some lasting memories. Voted by Travel + Leisure as one of the “Best Hotel Kids’ Programs in the U.S.,” Mohonk Mountain House boasts a dedicated Kids’ Club with activities for kids as young as two years old.

What: Situated near tens of thousands of acres of Munsee Lenape and Schaghticoke land in New York’s Hudson Valley, the castle overlooks a glacial lake and has easy access to 85 miles of hiking trails. Smaller tykes can explore Mohonk’s playground, feed fish, splash in the water, and play lawn games. Slightly older kids can rock scramble, hike, or fish while teens can opt to play tennis, canoe, fish, play disc golf, or swim at the nearby beach.

And as a family, you can low-key bond during any of the above activities as well as play pickleball, shoot pool, hike, ice skate, forest bathe, stargaze, or cross-country ski. Each night, kids of all ages can hang back and make s’mores or catch an outdoor movie.

For adult activities, Mohonk offers meditation and yoga spa retreats as well as an array of individual yoga classes spanning hatha and yin yoga as well as more vigorous styles, along with other movement, stretching, and meditation group sessions. Or book a private session for some dedicated “you” time.

And yes, there’s wi-fi.

Fun fact: The property at Mohonk has made appearances in Showtime’s Billions as well as the 1994 film Road to Wellville featuring Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Broderick.

Cost: Mohonk offers discounted prices for midweek and last-minute getaways.

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4. Gurney’s, Montauk, NY

Located in the Hamptons, just a few hours’ drive from New York City, Gurney’s is a resort hotel with a 2,000-foot stretch of private beach. It’s also home of the Camp Gurney’s Kids Club

What: Kids of all ages can enjoy supervised arts and crafts time as well as entertainment, like a kids’ movie screened on a projector during indoor pool time. (Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.)

In addition to yoga classes and the meditative vibe from hearing the waves pound the beach, there’s a generous listing of other adult classes, such as Sound Healing Meditation, Mindful Meditation, Morning Zen & Tai Chi, and Full Moon Sound Bath.

Gurney’s offers a seawater spa and bathhouse and locally sourced menu options. One reviewer loved that guest services sent up free cookies for their little ones to enjoy.

Cost: There are substantial discounts during the off-season.

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5. Autocamp, Joshua Tree, CA

Joshua Tree National Park, known for its vast desert landscapes, has long been a destination for anyone seeking immersion into nature and even spiritual refuge. Autocamp is a unique collection of suites inside revamped Airstream trailers for anyone who isn’t quite ready to rough it and camp in the desert.

What: Autocamp offers daytime and nighttime guided Joshua Tree hikes for the entire family. There’s also rock climbing, stargazing, and, for parents, a desert walk that culminates in a meditation and cacao ceremony. Group yoga classes take place in the early mornings and private classes are also an option.

The Airstreams feature modern amenities found at any luxury stay, including flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes, and a “spa-inspired” bathroom. Reviewers mentioned their kids loved the heated pools the complementary hot cocoa all morning long. (Yes, parents, there’s also coffee.)

And if staying in an Airstream isn’t your thing, Autocamp also offers cabins.

Cost: Autocamp’s relatively low rates make it a far more affordable option compared to many resorts. Special activities do cost extra although there are discounted prices for children under 14, seniors, and people in the military.

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6. Alisal Ranch, Solvgang, CA

Ever consider spending your vacation on a dude ranch? Alisal Ranch describes the experience of staying on the luxury ranch as “a simple life, well-lived.”

What: Alisal offers tons of activities for kids and adults to do together, including horseback riding, fishing, and hiking through Deer Canyon.

For young kids, there’s arts and crafts, a petting zoo, family bingo, fresh egg gathering, among other options. A positive Google review mentions the “endless room” for kids to play on Alisal’s expansive property, which was inhabited at one time by the Chumash Native Americans.

The fitness center is open every day and its schedule features yoga five days a week, including Therapeutic Yoga, Gentle Yoga, and All Level Yoga along with Mind Body Pilates and sound baths on the weekends.

Perks: Guests 6 years and younger stay free. Most activities and classes cost extra, but you can save with a package, such as the “Saddle Up & Save,” which includes a couple of activities as well as breakfast and dinner.

This article has been updated. Originally published April 28, 2016.