The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Taking your children on a trip can be one of the most exciting, educational and memorable experiences you can give them. And traveling with kids continues to get easier as more hotels and resorts offer amenities and programs geared specifically toward the little ones.

When you’re planning your summer vacation, consider taking advantage of these charming extras. The Andrew Harper Travel Office can help find family-friendly accommodations wherever you plan to go. Here are a few of our favorite amenities for kids:

Tents: For an additional charge, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe (pictured above) can include a small camping tent in the room, replete with bedding, a teddy bear, an electric lantern and a s’more-making kit.

Sundae Surprise: At the newly renovated Four Seasons Chicago, children can get a visit from The Ice Cream Man, a sundae-making expert with a cart bearing top-quality ice cream and an array of tempting toppings.

Treasure Hunt: On check-in at Paris’ Le Bristol, kids receive a plush toy rabbit named Hippolyte. He’s a mischievous bunny, and he’s hidden his garden tools around the hotel. Guided by hotel staff, children seek out the implements, which they can keep as souvenirs.

Kids’ Night Out: While parents have a boring Saturday night by themselves, kids at Acqualina play games and have dinner together in the AcquaMarine Room, followed by a movie shown in the Library.

Beach Bag: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island presents children with a beach bag containing a stuffed animal, memory book, crayons and sunglasses. If the kids get tired of the beach, the resort offers a range of craft activities and guided nature experiences.

Kids’ Concierge: Working with the entertainers Sharky & George, The Athenaeum’s kids’ concierge can arrange a full London itinerary, including offbeat activities such as filming a Harry Potter-themed documentary, engaging in some “mad” science experiments and seeking treasures around the city.

Children’s Museum: One of the best children’s museums in the country, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, is right next door to Cavallo Point, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

37,000 Acres: At Montana’s Resort at Paws Up, the Kids Corps of Discovery organizes excursions to a nearby ghost town, aquatic fun in the Paws Up lake house and a range of traditional ranch activities.

Ponies: Paws Up doesn’t have a monopoly on horseback riding. San Diego’s Grand Del Mar, for example, has its own equestrian center, where kids can enjoy pony rides. The Explorer’s Club, open until 10 p.m. on weekends, offers supervised games and crafts.

Private Villas: On Costa Rica’s secluded Nicoya Peninsula, small groups can take advantage of the Hotel Punta Islita’s private seaview villas. Ideal for families, these two-, three- and four-bedroom villas feature private plunge pools, full kitchens and landscaped gardens.

Helicopters: Set on a pristine forested shoreline in British Columbia, Nimmo Bay affords families the opportunity to board a helicopter for a day of fishing in otherwise inaccessible streams, or hiking in ordinarily out-of-reach mountain meadows.