Skip The Buffet: These 6 Kid-friendly Resorts Serve Gourmet Meals

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If your idea of dining at an all-inclusive family resort involves endless lines and boring buffets, it's time for an update. These days, the food scene at many of the top all-inclusive resorts is anything but blasé. We're talking local ingredients, farm-to-table menus, and even hands-on cooking experiences that the whole family can enjoy. 

Forget the rubbery chicken and limp pasta. These resorts are raising the bar on what vacation dining can be, even when you're traveling with kids. Consider this list your invitation to plan a culinary vacation at an all-inclusive family resort where the food is every bit as memorable as the scenery. 

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Bigfork, Montana

A family-run property near Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake Lodge consistently ranks as one of the best family dude ranches in the U.S. and Canada. Guests at this consistently praised resort enjoy horseback riding, boating on the sparkling lake, and communing with nature. General manager Chase Averill is the third generation of his family to operate the ranch. And as a father of three, he has first-hand experience feeding hungry kids.

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Meals are hearty and delicious. In the morning, take a group horseback ride followed by a cowboy-style breakfast served fireside. Lunch is a nourishing buffet with a lakeview, while a plated dinner presents wholesome main dishes, such as pork shank with parmesan risotto or roasted sabayon with strawberries. You won’t find heavy sauces, just quality ingredients simply prepared. Homemade bread and irresistible desserts – think berry pies, sugar cookies, and fruit crumbles – are served warm from the oven at the onsite bakery, new for 2025. Nightly wine pairings keep oenophiles satisfied. 

Los Cabos, Mexico

With a world-class kids' club, baby concierge, and a stunning beach, Grand Velas Los Cabos is a popular resort for families in Mexico’s up-and-coming culinary hotspot, Baja California. With so much unspoiled coastline, it’s no surprise that a windfall of fresh fish is a big part of the resort's culinary scene. The climate, with sunny days and breezy nights, is a springboard for growing luscious vegetables and fruit that the resort sources from nearby orchards and fertile farms. 

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There are a variety of global cuisines to indulge in here, though Grand Velas takes special pride in its Mexican heritage. At the on-site restaurant Frida, you'll enjoy traditional Mexican recipes with a contemporary twist, from red snapper in complex molcajete sauce to a duck confit tamale. Frida is a fine place to sample Baja’s noteworthy homegrown wines as well. A gorgeous setting and top-notch service guarantee a meal you won’t soon forget. 

The Grand Velas resort chain also has all-inclusive properties in Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit with their own uniquely local culinary options. 

New Paltz, New York

Historic Mohonk Mountain House is a beloved Victorian castle nestled in a forest a few hours from New York City. Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages may cross-country ski, golf, kayak, or hike with the in-house naturalist. Time spent in the fresh air builds an appetite and Mohonk serves a cornucopia of locally sourced products to celebrate Hudson Valley bounty. Beverages lean local too, with apple cider pressed at nearby farms and beer from neighborhood breweries on tap. 

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Start your day with an eye-opening, all-American breakfast buffet featuring light-as-a-feather waffles served with New York State maple syrup and house-made jams. The upscale lunch buffet includes a carving station and hot-from-the-grill sandwiches big enough for Dagwood. A multi-course dinner is a sophisticated seated affair that ends with fabulous desserts. During summer vacation, you can dine outside by the lake. 

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Immersed in a mangrove jungle intersected by canals, Fairmont Mayakoba is a luxurious resort on a swath of Caribbean beach that’s the definition of tropical paradise. It’s home to exotic parrots, monkeys, and sea turtles that delight kids and kids at heart, and it's one of the world's top all-inclusive resorts for impressive cuisine because there are just so many global dining options from Korean barbecue to a New York-style steakhouse. 

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At the resort's Sweet Spot, Mexican confections join rainbow-swirl lollipops and old-fashioned bulk candy, a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. And guests who crave even more variety may opt out of the all-inclusive plan and explore nearby Playa del Carmen’s dining scene. For something interactive, book a hands-on cooking class with Chef Sandra de la Mora and feast on a meal that you’ve helped to prepare. Your family will learn the secrets of the Mexican kitchen as you make guacamole in an authentic molcajete and press masa into tortillas using a classic tortilladora.

 Val Claret, France 

Situated in the majestic French Alps, Club Med Tignes faces the Grande Motte glacier with direct access to the slopes. It’s a celebrated winter vacation playground for sports enthusiasts with snowy peaks beckoning visitors to downhill ski and snowboard.

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The marketplace-style main dining room was designed to evoke a stroll through the mountains. Culinary offerings from the Savoy region, like local charcuterie and cheese fondue, are woven into the menus. After a day on the mountain, stick-to-your-ribs gratins and robust stews are soul-satisfying. The kitchen turns out mouth-watering breads and pastries as well, so leave your diet at passport control. 

Oberbozen, Italy

Italy’s South Tyrol region, bordered by Austria and Switzerland, is home to ADLER Lodge RITTEN. The lodge and chalets of this wellness-focused favorite are surrounded by pristine flora with a spectacular view of the Dolomites. Adler’s cuisine reflects geography, blending earthy mountain ingredients with Mediterranean brightness.

The chef partners with local purveyors to source quality foods to create enticing dishes that respect traditions without being tethered to them. Wine from small, family-run vineyards complements farmhouse cheeses and air-dried meats. The resort’s beekeeper has numerous bee colonies producing ambrosial honey. Breakfast is a sweet-and-savory buffet, lunch is self-serve, and dinner is a lavish occasion prepared in an open kitchen and served under the stars. 

Bonus: Children ages eight and older are welcome at the lodge and can join in on the resort's roster of unusual activities, including trekking with a friendly pack of alpacas. 

Beyond the buffet: 6 all-inclusive family resorts that serve up some seriously good food originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com. 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.