The Grand Hotel lives up to its name. From its sweeping, 660-foot front porch (guests are charged $10 general admission to set foot on it) to its unrepentant evening dress code (dresses or pantsuits for ladies, coats and ties for gents, in all areas of the hotel), the Grand Hotel provides a constant reminder of its rich and luxurious history as one of the United States' most distinctive destinations since the late 1800s. But don't let the tradition and formality of the hotel and its policies fool you: it can still be a great choice for a family vacation. On-site bicycle rentals, carriage tours, and riding stables provide families with a variety of ways to tour the island, while a 220-foot-long heated pool and supervised activities for kids (available from Memorial Day to Labor Day for ages five and up) gives little ones plenty to do at the resort. Still, as anyone with a wiggly toddler or preschooler knows, having to dress up just to walk through the lobby after 6:00 p.m. could be seen as a deal-breaker.

The Grand Hotel lives up to its name. From its sweeping, 660-foot front porch (guests are charged $10 general admission to set foot on it) to its unrepentant evening dress code (dresses or pantsuits for ladies, coats and ties for gents, in all areas of the hotel), the Grand Hotel provides a constant reminder of its rich and luxurious history as one of the United States' most distinctive destinations since the late 1800s. But don't let the tradition and formality of the hotel and its policies fool you: it can still be a great choice for a family vacation. On-site bicycle rentals, carriage tours, and riding stables provide families with a variety of ways to tour the island, while a 220-foot-long heated pool and supervised activities for kids (available from Memorial Day to Labor Day for ages five and up) gives little ones plenty to do at the resort. Still, as anyone with a wiggly toddler or preschooler knows, having to dress up just to walk through the lobby after 6:00 p.m. could be seen as a deal-breaker.