Hate the cold? 5 family trips to avoid winter in

With a sunny, beach vacation on the calendar, a long stretch of cold, cloudy days is easier to handle. Here are five destinations to consider.

• Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu, Hawaii

Retreat to this luxurious, 452-room resort, where five miles of coastline, seven beaches and 1,300 acres of lush and natural landscape beckon. Choose to simply relax alongside the sea or one of multiple pools or tap into a long list of family-friendly activities that will appeal to the curious in your clan. Take a guided kayak trip and learn about local history, the resident turtles and other marine life. Spot native birds along wilderness trails. Learn to surf with a pro and meet the resort’s friendly surfing dogs. Play lawn games, saddle up for a beach horseback ride, go night snorkeling and star-gazing before falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on Oahu’s North Shore.

For more: www.TurtleBayResort.com; www.GoHawaii.com

• Sam Lord’s Castle, Barbados

This recently- pened, 422-room, eco-luxury, all-inclusive beachfront resort, situated on 72 historic acres, boasts a mile-long private beach for sand castle building, sunning and a menu of water sports. Families can look forward to golf, tennis, coastal snorkeling, diving expeditions, boogie-boarding, spa time and deep-sea fishing while relaxing into the casual Caribbean vibe. Expect a surplus of family-centered activities and child-friendly amenities and menus designed to delight young travelers and their parents. A kids’ club for infants through age 12 is run by professionally trained child-care experts and provide classes, games, outdoor fun and activities to engage and entertain the youngest guests.

For more: https://www.slcwyndham.com

• Islands of Tahiti

For an over-the-top treat, take the family to Tahiti. The remote islands of French Polynesia make for a dreamy getaway your crew will remember for a lifetime. Explore magical motus (small islets), crystal clear coves and palm-fringed lagoons under turquoise skies. Snorkel, scuba or paddle amid stingrays, sharks, turtles and other creatures in water so clear and warm you’ll want to float in it forever. Splurge for a stay in over the water bungalows or cruise the pristine seas via a majestic sailing ship.

For more: www.WindstarCruises.com; https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/faa-a/pptpf/hoteldetail

• FDR Resort, Jamaica

There is nothing like an afternoon splashing in the surf, swishing down a 100-foot water slide and building sand castles to wear out an active youngster. At the FDR Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, once Junior goes down, a Vacation Nanny is available to sit by his or her side, while you enjoy an afternoon playing golf, scuba diving or exploring by kayak. Check in to this all-inclusive seaside getaway, and meet your CPR-trained Vacation Nanny who will assist you and your family in having the most relaxing time possible. Trained in child care and housekeeping, this professional staff member’s goal is to fill in where needed, whether by looking after youngsters in the pool, or making sure the kids’ favorite snacks are on hand in the room

For more: www.fdrholidays.com

• Turtle Inn, Placencia, Belize

A holiday trip to this Central American outpost offers an extraordinary bounty of experiences packed into a short time frame. A Belize adventure offers a chance to explore ancient caves, get immersed in Mayan culture and kayak through freshwater lagoons. You can also snorkel above the second largest barrier reef in the world and hang out with spider monkeys, loggerhead turtles, toucans and kingfishers. End your trip at the Francis Ford Coppola-owned, 25-room, seaside refuge where you will fall fast asleep to the sweet song of the natural world in your thatched-roof bungalow.

For more: www.CoppolaResorts.com/TurtleInn; www.TravelBelize.org