The gorgeous crescent-shaped lagoon welcomes in the warm Pacific waters through openings in the protective sea wall. Marriott’s Ko’Olina Beach Club is one of the best family resorts in Oahu. You’re away from the hustle-bustle of Honolulu, but with all the fun activities and great restaurants offered at the resort, which is a mini-city unto itself. Kids will love playing on the waterslides, wide open lawns, activities center, and not to mention all the vacation friends they’ll make. Three winding pools are interspersed with lava rock grottos and palm gardens. Grab a drink at the poolside bar and relax in a lounge chair. BBQ grills are perfect for a family cookout. Get in a workout at the well-equipped fitness center, then soothe your sore muscles with a massage at the on-site Spa by the Sea. You also get direct access to the Ko’Olina Golf Course, which surrounds the resort.

Studio condos sleep two guests and come equipped with a kitchenette. One- to three-bedroom condos sleep four to eight guests and have in-suite washer/dryers. Full kitchens give you the freedom to make and serve your own meals, stop by the on-site marketplace for the essentials. For more variety, there’s a Costco that is just a ten-minute drive away. Take a night off of dinner duty and dine at one of the two on-site restaurants, Longi’s and Longboard’s Bar & Grill. On your way back to your condo, browse the selection of DVD rentals available at the resort. Have everyone change into their PJs, grab blankets and pillows and gather on the couch. Take a vote to decide which movie to watch first. Upgrade to a Penthouse for vaulted ceilings and to be located on a higher floor.

Golfers, from beginner to expert, will love the Ko’Olina Golf Club. The eighteen-hole course was designed by Ted Robinson. With multi-tiered greens and water features, it’s no wonder that it was named one of Golf Digest’s “Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S.” Take a family field trip to the Honolulu Zoo. This forty-two-acre zoo will be a big hit with little ones and grownups alike. Check out the lions, Sumatran tigers, ring-tailed lemurs, hippopotamus, and aardvark. Endangered species at the zoo include Asian elephants, African wild dogs, Komodo dragons, and chimpanzees. The Waikiki Aquarium features a variety of invertebrates, crustaceans, echinoderms, and fish. Invertebrates include coral and anemones, the crustaceans you can see are crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Check out the echinoderms: sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. You’ll also find angelfish, butterflyfish, and damselfish.