The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay050

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay,, newly built in 2001, is a seaside lodge just 45 minutes from San Francisco. It sets out to pamper both parents and children, and succeeds royally. The service is highly attentive, the setting breathtaking, and the rooms more than comfortable. This is a place you may find hard to leave - until the bill catches up with you. This is, after all, a self-described luxury hotel.

Built just yards from the ocean cliffs, the resort features 261 rooms and has fashioned itself as a golf and spa resort. It offers spectacular ocean views from most rooms, and includes two restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, a Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean, and a coastal jogging and walking path. It also has six lighted tennis courts, and a basketball half court.

The rooms are comfortable, tastefully decorated, and quiet. Amenities include cable TV, high-speed Internet access, pay-per-view movies, and spacious marble bathrooms.

The stand-out feature for families, though, is Ritz Kids, a supervised children's program for guests ages five to 12. Activities often involve nature, and may include whale watching, tennis, swimming, golf, and beach treasure hunts. A full day of games, crafts, and activities costs $80 (inc. snacks and lunch), a half day, $50 (inc. snacks). Kids Night Out runs from 6pm-9pm, costs $65, and includes dinner, games, a video, and refreshments. And while they're being entertained, seize the chance to dine at Navio, the hotel's world-class restaurant (650.712.7040). After all, you only live once.

Ritz-Kids Summer Camps: Every summer the hotel hosts a series of half-day Mon-Fri camps. Themes include Kayaking (ages 8-14), which features basic water safety skills including treading water, and signaling for help; Scuba (ages 8-14), which teaches breathing underwater, basic hand signals and how to use scuba equipment; Golf and Tennis camp (ages 5-14); Coastal Arts (ages 5-14); and Fencing Camp (ages 5-14), including proper measure, tempo change and fast footwork. Lunch is provided. Costs $400 to $500/session. Call 650.712.7667 for more information.