My kids have never talked about how comfortable a hotel bed was or how many loyalty points we earned from a stay. But years later, they still remember the treasure hunts, the telescopes, and the art projects they proudly brought home.
Why Families Are Looking for More Than a Kids Club
As I discovered more family-focused resorts on our travels, I realized the best kids programming was not just about keeping children occupied in a small colourful room. The activities that stood out encouraged them to explore, create, and learn something new.
Whether it was a guided nature walk, an art workshop, or a chance to get hands-on with something, those were the experiences they talked about long after we returned home.
Why Hotels Are Investing in Curiosity
Family travel has changed a lot over the last decade. Parents are increasingly looking for experiences that go beyond entertainment and give children an opportunity to engage with the world around them. Instead of simply filling time between pool visits, many families are seeking activities that encourage creativity and exploration.
It’s a trend that aligns with exactly what we look for when we travel. We want hands-on experiences rather than simply seeing a destination from the sidelines.
For families, that can mean anything from learning about local wildlife and ecosystems to trying photography, art, astronomy, or science-based activities. These experiences give children a chance to connect more deeply with a destination and leave with memories that often outlast the vacation itself.
This summer, Loews Hotels is leaning into that idea with the expansion of its Loews Little Legends program. The new STEAM Explorers initiative combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math with hands-on activities designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and family connection.
What’s Included in the STEAM Explorer Experience
The program centers around two key elements: STEAM Explorer Kits and on-property Discovery Days.
The explorer kits are designed to encourage children to actively engage with their surroundings. Each kit includes tools such as binoculars, a compass, a magnifying glass, and a kaleidoscope, along with an activity book filled with prompts and challenges designed to spark observation and discovery throughout a family’s stay.
Rather than simply handing children another screen, the kits encourage them to slow down, explore, and look at their surroundings a little differently.
How Discovery Days Bring Destinations to Life
While the explorer kits provide a starting point, some of the most interesting experiences happen through the property’s Discovery Days programming.
At Loews Miami Beach, kids can participate in activities developed alongside the Frost Science Museum, bringing a bit of South Florida’s science and natural world directly into the hotel experience.
The photography workshop is what caught my attention immediately. Kids ages 4 to 12 learn the basics of composition while using a Polaroid camera, leaving with their own collection of photographs and a new skill they can continue practicing throughout the trip.
Other properties are taking a similar approach by partnering with local organizations and experts to create experiences that reflect the destination itself.
Why These Experiences Matter for Families
As parents, we’re often focused on planning the perfect family vacation. But when I look back at the trips my boys still talk about, it’s rarely the hotel room or even the pool that stands out.
It’s the moments where they discovered something new, created something with their own hands, or saw the world a little differently.
Programs like Loews Little Legends tap into exactly that kind of travel memory, and we cannot get enough of it!
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.