Ready to plan your year of family travel? Many people understandably gravitate toward tried-and-true hotels and destinations. But some of us also love checking out what’s new and noteworthy.
If you fall into the second camp, you’ll want to browse our list of enticing properties opening throughout the U.S. in 2023. It includes upscale beach escapes as well as hotels you would only want to visit with kids. Hold off on booking any flights until you’ve read on…
The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
Chattanooga, Tennessee
If your kids love trains, you won’t want to miss this Tennessee hotel. It spent decades as a train depot and was transformed into a hotel in the 1970s. Now the Chattanooga Choo Choo is undergoing a $10 million renovation, which includes restoring 25 historic Pullman train cars that will serve as freestanding hotel rooms. There will also be a new outdoor swimming pool, an open air lounge, and gardens. Expect its debut mid-year. Choochoohotel.com
Conrad Orlando
Orlando, Florida
This modern-luxe resort brand is opening its second Florida property in the fall. The 433-room Conrad Orlando will be part of the Evermore Orlando Resort, also debuting in 2023 with a 20-acre beach, eight acres of water activities, and two Jack Nicklaus golf courses. Located next to Walt Disney World Resort, it will offer easy access to the theme park, plus be just 10 miles from Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Families will especially love the “oversized” family suites. hilton.com
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
This year, there will be more to love at Dollywood. Dolly Parton will launch her second hotel, a 302-room resort inspired by the mountains where she grew up, with timbered beams and expanses of glass. There will be a two-story stone fireplace in the lobby, a music room, a pool complex, an Event Lawn with gathering spaces, and Camp DW activities. Among its rooms will be family suites, bunk rooms, and even themed suites. Of course, it’s all located right next to Dolly’s namesake theme park. dollywood.com
Great Wolf Lodge Maryland
Perryville, Maryland
If your family likes Great Wolf Lodge, they’ll love the new Mid-Atlantic location. It will be the largest of the 20 resorts, with 700 suites, a whopping 126,000-square foot indoor water park, a 57,000-square-foot family entertainment center, and several dining options. With 48 acres of land, it’s able to offer outdoor activities like Yoga Trails, too. greatwolf.com
Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort
Big Island, Hawai‘i
This iconic resort has been empty for more than a decade. But this coming summer, it will reopen as a luxurious Rosewood property. Kona will have 150 stand-along guest hales—indigenous-style structures with palm thatched roofs—each with its own lānai and outdoor shower. The 81-acre resort will offer several dining venues, a spa, multiple pools and tennis courts. A diverse outdoor recreational program will include ocean sports and activities designed to inform, inspire and excite travelers of all ages. Perhaps best of all, there will be a cultural center where guests and locals can learn about Hawaiian heritage.
The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The family-owned Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa closed in 2019 due to a fire, but is reopening in the spring after a complete renovation. In contrast to its name, the property has a sophisticated-rustic style, with stone walls, leather chairs, and substantial drapes. It’s just a short walk away from the Jackson Hole town square, for easy access to shops and restaurants, but also provides easy access to the outdoors—including the renowned ski resort, Yellowstone National Park, fly-fishing and horseback riding opportunities, and more. Need some grownup time? There’s also a spa. rustyparrot.com
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