Steps from that famous stretch of South Beach sand, the oceanfront Westgate is an impossible-to-miss cheery canary yellow. Consistent with the Art Deco-dominant local style, the exterior has a streamlined, minimalist look. Palms flank the front entrance, welcoming you inside. Once you check in, head for the back patio to get the lay of the land. Check out the Tropical Oasis Pool with private cabanas, new Beach Bar and the short walk to the resort’s reserved area on the beach. Not up for making lunch? Primo’s Deli has you covered. Plan on cooking out under the pergola for dinner. The furnished BBQ area has a fireplace and even hammocks off to the side, where you can collapse once you’ve all stuffed yourselves with grilled-to-perfection ribs or spicy jerk chicken. Got an active crew? Keep them busy with the onsite activities – events include a lawn games happy hour, outdoor movie night in the garden, water balloon war, scavenger hunt, family cookout and more. Ask about sports equipment like volleyballs and ping pong paddles, or walk the little ones over to the playground. When you’re ready to head to your villa, check out the board game library – it has all the classics covered, from Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders to Rummikube and Scrabble.

Spacious, newly renovated one-bedroom villas range from 600 to 900 square feet, and are furnished with a king bed in the master, and queen sleeper sofa in the comfortable living area. Select residences have oceanfront views and jetted tubs, and all have well appointed kitchens for making easy dinners. Recruit some table-setters and salad-tossers while you focus on the entrée. Once Team Cleanup has worked its magic, get the popcorn started and see if you can get anywhere near group consensus on a movie.

You can easily walk to dinner spots and specialty shops from the Westgate South Beach, so window shop and browse menus until you see something that strikes your fancy. And if you’re a performing arts buff, options abound. Check the schedule at The New World Symphony, which hosts free movie screenings, wall-casts, a mini-concert series and an impressive permanent collection of Antiquities, Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. Catch the docent-led tour if you happen to be there on a Saturday at 2:00 PM. You’ll find two gorgeous theaters, the Ziff Ballet Opera House and Knight Concert Hall, inside the Adrienne Arsht Center. Or keep it low-key and stroll the shops and gelato stands along Lincoln Road. Art Deco aficionados will want to spend some quality time in Wynwood and the Design District. For Cuban eats and culture, Little Havana/Calle Ocho is also a must.