Since the late 19th century, when Henry Flagler established Palm Beach as a favorite winter playground for the well-heeled, visitors have flocked to Florida’s Gold Coast for sun and fun. Today, extravagant charity events and the high-end boutiques of Worth Avenue keep the wealthy residents entertained, while kids learn to paddle board and families build sandcastles on beaches just steps from all the glamour. And just a few miles north, on Singer Island, the oceanfront Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa brings together the luxe life and the convenience of a fine family-oriented hotel.

The 20-floor, high-rise hotel lies between Jupiter and Palm Beach, about a 15-minute drive from shopping, dining and nightlife in both towns. And what the hotel’s location lacks in walking-distance proximity to off-property shops and restaurants, the Marriott more than makes up for in value and family amenities.

Families love the Lagoon Pool, where the “beach entry” is perfect for toddlers and a waterslide is a hit with kids of all ages. The onsite Kid’s Zone — the resort’s kids’ camp — keeps everyone entertained with organized activities, such as watermelon-eating contests and Ping Pong tournaments throughout the day. And just steps away, along a pretty stretch of beach, children can go boogie boarding or surfing. Once your family has exhausted themselves with all the water-based fun, you can retreat to one of the hotel’s luxurious and homey one- or two-bedroom suites, all equipped with kitchens and plenty of room to spread out and relax before doing it all again the next day.

For more information, read about Marriott.

The hotel has 194 one- and two-bedroom suites located within the 20-floor building. All have a fully equipped kitchen (minus an oven), flat-screen TVs, washers and dryers and marble bathrooms with separate showers and bathtubs, making it easy for group bathing after a sandy beach day. Traveling families will definitely appreciate the full-sized refrigerators with built-in icemakers, and the dishwasher is a very handy convenience, too. The kitchens all have toasters, coffee and tea makers, microwaves, stoves, pots and pans, utensils and serving dishes. The small trashcans in the kitchen are the only area that's really lacking here, so make sure to bring extra trash bags, because you won't find any under the sink. Complimentary cribs are available upon request.

Suites
Suites offer plenty of space to stash beach toys and all those kiddie accessories you couldn't leave at home, and there's even a walk-in closet for additional storage. And while all of the suites have balconies, it's worth paying a bit more for a suite with an ocean view over those with pool or resort views.

The sleeping areas in all suites are separate from the living space, and most have sofa beds to accommodate additional guests or siblings that don't do well sharing a bed. Some suites sleep up to seven guests.

Pools
If your family is happy with great pools and a picture-perfect beach for swimming and building sandcastles, the whole gang is sure to find contentment here. One of the resort's two pools, the Lagoon Pool is a winding water adventure with a beach-style entry that's a relief for both protective parents and new swimmers. The maximum depth is about 5 feet, but be aware that there's no lifeguard on duty. There's a waterfall here for splashing around, but the pool's crown jewel (and possibly the resort's, too) is its three-story waterslide. Parents keep a watchful eye as their children take nonstop runs down the slide. Nearby, the Infinity Pool has a more laid-back vibe and is good for a dip with a clingy infant or, better yet, a solo soak. And while the infinity pool isn't adults-only, its soft ambient music and relaxed poolside cabanas make for a nice escape from the high-energy atmosphere of the Lagoon Pool.

Beach
Families appreciate the convenience of walking down the hotel's boardwalk and directly onto one of Florida's prettiest beaches. The sugary, bright white sand is perfect for building sandcastles and taking the kids on shelling walks. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for daily rentals, making it easy and appealing to claim a piece of sand for the day to look for dolphins, enjoy a picnic lunch or just enjoy some beach time. A downside of the hotel's location is that it sits next to a public beach, making the immediate area one of the first to get crowded during busy holiday weekends.

Kids' Club
The Kids' Zone, the hotel's onsite kids' camp, occupies a large air-conditioned room with movies, board games, coloring books, and flat-screen TVs, and acts as a meeting place for scheduled activities (some with a fee to cover materials) held at the pool and beach throughout the day. The watermelon-eating contest is always a hit and kids have a blast digging for "treasures" in the sand during other supervised beach activities. Spontaneous Ping Pong tournaments take place throughout the day, and kids can stop by the camp to tie-dye T-shirts at designated times, too. The Kids' Club is open to kids ages 4 to 12, with morning sessions (9 a.m. to noon), afternoon sessions (1 to 4 p.m.) or full-day sessions that include lunch (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). On Friday nights, the Kids' Club gives parents a break by offering Kids' Night, from 6 to 8 p.m. The program includes dinner and a movie for a fee per child.

3800 Ocean
The hotel's only true sit-down restaurant (and the only one open for dinner) is the somewhat swanky 3800 Ocean, which is open for all three daily meals, with menu offerings focused on seafood, pasta dishes and flatbread pizzas. For breakfast, the restaurant serves a full buffet with pastries, cereal, fresh fruit and an omelet station. Kids love the make-your-own waffle station with fresh berries and whipped cream at the ready. While the dress code is casual at 3800 Ocean, the atmosphere is nonetheless fairly sophisticated and doesn't exactly suit fussy toddlers. High dinner prices make dining as a family pretty unappealing, too.

Lagoon Cantina
Your best family bet for lunch at the hotel is to order something poolside at the Lagoon Cantina, a casual restaurant with great-for-sharing items like chicken quesadillas, tacos and loaded nachos. Moms and dads might like to indulge in the unique hand-made margaritas, too (try the Ginger-Peach or Coconut).

Reef Tiki Bar
The Reef Tiki Bar, open for lunch only, has a very nice location right next to the beach, and a simple menu with burgers, salads and sandwiches, as well as hot dogs and chicken fingers for the kids. The restaurant can bring food to your brood on the beach, too, but wait times for food when the hotel is busy can vary from long to unbearably so.

In-Room Dining
There's a Publix supermarket just a few miles from the resort -- just before the bridge to Singer Island -- where you can pick up groceries on your way in. And loading up on drinks, snacks, sandwich fixings and mac and cheese will keep all of you satisfied.

All About the Extras
Gift Shop
A small gift shop in the lobby sells sunscreen, diapers, beach toys and more.

Wi-Fi
In-suite wireless/wired Internet is available for a fee. Complimentary wireless Internet is available in the lobby and other public areas.

Parking
Parking is valet only and costs a fee per day, with unlimited in/out privileges.

Babysitting
Babysitting services with licensed sitters can be arranged through the concierge. Be sure to arrange 24 hours in advance.

SiSpa and Fitness Center
The resort's onsite spa, SiSpa, has eight modern treatment rooms and offers a range of massages, facials and scrubs. There's a gym located next to SiSpa on the lobby level of the resort, and is open 24 hours. There are cardio machines, free weights and medicine balls.

The Art of Smart Timing
Families can enjoy all of the resort's amenities year-round, but the busiest and most crowded times for the hotel are during the holiday season (early November through Christmas), as well as around spring break in March and April. Rates are best after spring break and before summer vacations begin, as well as after school is back in session in September.

Getting There and Around
The Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, 15 minutes away by car or taxi, is the closest major airport to the resort. You can often find cheaper flights into Fort Lauderdale (about an hour away) and Miami (about 1.5 hours away) airports, however. It's a good idea to rent a car during your stay, and all of the major car rental companies can be found at all three airports.

For Mom and Dad
Take advantage of the Kid's Zone on a Friday night to deposit the children and plan a couples massage at SiSpa, make reservations for a romantic dinner at 3800 Ocean or have the concierge arrange a sitter for the night and make the short drive to West Palm Beach for a fun night on the town.

Clematis Street is West Palm Beach's main drag, and the historic area with bricked streets its loaded with more than 60 restaurants and shops that include everything from French and Thai eateries to galleries and ice cream shops. Just a stroll for some people watching and window-shopping here makes for a nice adult escape. And if you're hungry, Rocco's Tacos is always a fun date night place, with delicious Mexican food and one of the best margarita and tequila menus in the state.

If you want to take things a bit more upscale, plan a dinner for two on the tiny island of Palm Beach at one of several restaurants at the iconic historic Breakers Palm Beach. Overlooking the crashing waves for which the hotel was named, the Seafood Bar here does divine sushi and cocktails.