Aston Shores at Waikoloa

It’s like staying in an Italian villa, but in the heart of Hawaiian paradise. The resort is located in a gated community, providing your family peace of mind for your vacation. The Mediterranean architecture blends nicely with the surrounding golf courses. Dig through your luggage for sunscreen and water wings before heading to the outdoor pool. Go for a swim or spend hours relaxing poolside while the kids play sharks and minnows. Get in touch with your inner Serena Williams on the tennis courts. If you’re up for a more traditional workout, the fitness center has everything you need to stay in shape. Come together in the afternoon and evening for a family cookout on the BBQ grills.

One- to two-bedroom condos sleep four to six guests. Full kitchens have what you need to whip up anything from sandwiches to a gourmet meal. It’s always a good time for chocolate chip cookies; let the little ones help out while the big kids are occupied with the in-suite Playstation 3, it also plays blu rays. Bring favorite games and movies from home or take advantage of the resort’s rentals. When the cookies are baking, show off your multitasking skills and throw a load of laundry into the in-suite washer/dryer. Upgrade to a deluxe condo for flatscreen TVs and newly updated kitchens.

Golf lovers will be happy to know that Aston Shores is adjacent to two eighteen-hole championship golf courses. The Beach Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 1981. The King’s Course, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, is more challenging than the Beach Course. If you’re up for some retail therapy, check out the King’s Shops and Queen’s Marketplace. The King’s Shops has Macy’s, Tiffany & Co. and Tommy Bahama. Get a new handbag at Michael Kors. When it’s time for lunch, there’s A-Bay’s Island Grill and Island Fish & Chips. First stop at Queen’s Marketplace: Starbucks. Now that you’ve had your caffeine get ready for more shopping at Malibu Shirts, Quicksilver, and Island Pearls. Dolphin Quest Hawaii offers dolphin encounters for the entire family. Guests as young as two years old (when accompanied by a grownup) can spend ten minutes with a dolphin. Guests aged five through nine will enjoy the Kids Quest - no grownups allowed! If you have a free day on your vacation, consider being a Trainer for a Day. It’s a five-and-a-half hour experience for ages ten and up. The most popular experience is the Encounter Deluxe. It’s for ages five and up and lasts forty-five minutes.