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A Quick Look at Family Vacation Home ™

Family Vacation Home™ is a unique online program that helps families manage collectively owned vacation property. After your home is registered you will have access to a secure password protected area dedicated to your family vacation home. From this secure area you will be able to invite other family members to join you. Our four tiered access system allows you to give more or less control over your family site to each individual member you invite. Once your family members have registered, you will be able to easily manage vacation reservations, news, contacts, and other important information about your family home.

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Plan your next family vacation

• Family-friendly vacation rentals

Family-friendly homes for gatherings of all sizes

Your family is unique, and so is your vacation style. When it’s time to celebrate your next getaway together, don’t settle for run-of-the-mill lodging. From rustic cabins to beachfront resorts, Vacasa has a vacation home to perfectly suit your family’s taste, size, and ideal location.

From small family gatherings to large family reunions, Vacasa makes it easy to enjoy a memorable getaway with your loved ones.

Vacation homes perfect for a family vacation

Vacation cabin destinations

A stunning Ozark retreat featuring everything from natural beauty to themed amusement parks.

Find an outdoor adventure for everyone with a Bass Lake vacation rental.

A bustling tourist destination with a healthy dose of outdoors.

A top ski resort that melts into outdoor summer adventures.

Charming Appalachian towns and the country’s most-visited national park.

A tranquil Northwoods experience awaits on 3,200 lakes and rivers.

Cozy cabins nestle on the best trout fly fishing river in Georgia.

FEATURED FAMILY CABIN RENTAL

Hogwartz of the smokies cabin, sevierville, tn.

This magical cabin is sure to become a family favorite. Take in the incredible Smoky Mountains views, soak in the bubbling hot tub, or gather around the outdoor firepit. Best of all, the fun of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg just a short drive away, including shopping, dining, an aquarium, and Dollywood theme park.

Our favorite family reunion destinations

Planning a reunion? We've got big family vacation rentals and spacious retreats that offer 6 bedrooms or more, in great destinations.

From thrilling rides to serene nature encounters, Kissimmee has something for everyone.

From tide pools and majestic forests to savoring fresh seafood and watching stunning sunsets, the Oregon Coast promises a rejuvenating family gathering.

From water sports and scenic lighthouses to vibrant local culture, the Outer Banks is your gateway to a remarkable family reunion.

This charming Tennessee town offers a thrilling blend of entertainment, natural beauty, and Southern hospitality.

This serene coastal town offers a tranquil escape, miles of pristine beaches, and a welcoming community.

Large vacation rentals for your next family reunion

Create unforgettable memories with your loved ones in our spacious and luxurious vacation rentals, perfect for hosting unforgettable family reunions.

Booking for a group or wedding?

Kid-friendly resorts

Featuring pools, spas, on-site golf, and exciting activities for all ages, including parents..

Choose from 8 beachfront resorts offering ocean views, attraction tickets, and family fun

Oceanfront resort with an emphasis on fun water features

Group-friendly villas and a tropical setting near popular Orlando theme parks

Family ski destination with plenty of beginner and intermediate trails

Splash pad and game room for the kids, poolside bar and hot tub for the adults

Beautiful Gulf of Mexico views and easy on-site dining

Peaceful stays just minutes from Walt Disney World theme parks

FEATURED VACATION HOME WITH PRIVATE POOL

Hacienda montezuma, la quinta, ca.

With a courtyard like this, you may never want to leave. Kids of all ages will love splashing in the pool or lounging in the sun. In the evenings, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the outdoor dining table before retiring to the hot tub. With beautiful and spacious interiors, there’s so much to love about this California retreat.

Toddler-friendly vacation destinations

Save on packing time and space with a convenient, toddler-friendly home. With helpful amenities like Pack-N-Plays, baby gates, and even baby-friendly flatware, you can focus on spending time together.

FEATURED FAMILY VACATION DESTINATION

Myrtle beach, sc.

There’s much family fun to be had in Myrtle Beach, whether you’re on the shore or in the water. Head to the boardwalk to enjoy amusement parks, arcades, and more, or hop on the iconic SkyWheel for a bird’s eye view. Dolphin cruises, fishing vessels, and kayaking tours are all great ways to explore—and don’t forget the miles of sandy beaches.

Pet-friendly destinations

We get it—family includes Fido. These pet-friendly getaways offer fun activities for everyone.

Family vacation inspiration

Family vacation rental FAQs

What are the best family vacations.

No matter where you travel, the best family vacations are the ones filled with quality time together. Find homes perfectly suited for your beach getaway , fishing trip , or ski vacation .

What is a good inexpensive family vacation?

In general, booking a vacation home will make your getaway more affordable. There’s more space for everyone, full kitchens to cut down on meal costs, free parking, and so much more. And with all that money saved, you can book an affordable vacation rental in top destinations, from coast to coast.

How do you plan a vacation with kids?

Planning a vacation with the little ones doesn’t have to be a hassle. Book a kid-friendly vacation home with lots of room, fun features like swimming pools, ample storage space, and more.

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Simplified Family Travel

HANDPICKED PROPERTIES

We spend hours finding the very best in private family homes, vacation rentals, villas and hotels in the most family-friendly destinations

FAMILY-FOCUSED

Beyond cribs and highchairs - toys, books, or ideas highlighting the very best things to see and do to keep kids happy

PERSONAL SERVICE

Personal, trusted service from a team of parents and experts

“ I had been searching for nearly a month trying to find a place to stay for my family of 5. I was so frustrated that I nearly gave up until I came across Kid & Coe. After a matter of days, I had our entire vacation booked into the most amazing properties. ”

Kid-Friendly Family Vacations

Less to pack, insider info, kid-ready houses, family amenities, take $75 off your first booking.

The owners had left not only a couple of city guides, but a hand-drawn map of the café-rich local area, Amsterdam-Zuid, picking out their own favorite things to do and eat: apple pie and playgrounds featured heavily. They'd also left a note on the well-stocked fridge telling us to help ourselves.

Kid & Coe has properties that put children first... Breathe a motherly sigh of relief at houses and apartments with toy-filled children bedrooms and grassy backyards approved for play.

Our Kid & Coe home had a personality informed by its inhabitants. I think the boys slept soundly because they were in a room designed for children and full of beloved toys and books. They felt at home immediately.

All Family Destinations

• Nicoya Peninsula
• Dominican Republic
• Puerto Plata
• Primrose Hill
• Notting Hill
• The Cotswolds
• Putney and Barnes
• Charlestown
• Shepherd's Bush
• Queen's Park & Kensal Rise
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• The 5th arrondissement
• Canal St Martin
• The 11th arrondissement
• San Gimignano
• Italian Alps
• Puerto Vallarta
• Atlantic Coast
• Quinta do Lago and Faro
• Switzerland
• The Netherlands
• United States
• Hollywood Hills
• Philadelphia
• Lake Tahoe and Truckee
• Newport Beach
• Southampton
• East Hampton
• Venice Beach
• Destin & Miramar Beach
• Santa Barbara
• Midtown West
• Yucca Valley
• Fort Lauderdale
• Washington DC
• Kennebunkport
• The Berkshires
• Joshua Tree
• Mill Valley
• Russian River
• Saint Simon's Island
• Ho Chi Minh City

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Family-friendly vacation rentals in United States

Find and book unique family-friendly homes on Airbnb

Top-rated family-friendly rentals in United States

Guests agree: these family-friendly homes are highly rated for location, cleanliness, and more.

Cabin in Texarkana

Nettles Nest Country Inn

Nettles Nest is a rustic cabin nestled in the piney woods of northeast Texas in the small town of Redwater, just outside of Texarkana. It is located on a 5 acre lake. It's a great place to unplug. No Wifi. Fish (bring your own pole,etc.), swim, paddleboat, kayak, relax on the deck or under the pavilion. Good for couples, solo adventurers, business travelers, families , and pets (up to 2 at no additional charge) . $30 fee per day after that, up to maximum of 4. No large groups. No parties.

Tiny home in Rolla

Tiny Paradise on the Quarry

Come and enjoy the Tiny Paradise on the Quarry, as seen on HGTV's "Tiny Paradise" in 2017. House Beautiful Magazine's listed it as one of the TOP 50 Tiny Houses in the USA. Featured in People Magazine's HGTV special edition magazine. Missouri Life Magazine listed it as one of the top 9 gems in Missouri. Also featured as one of the four fall get-a-ways in 417 Magazine's. St. Louis Magazine listed it as the coolest Airbnb in their Aug/Sept 2019 issue. You are welcome to have more than two guest.

Cabin in Pettigrew

BuffaloHead Cabin

Private solar powered primitive 'Top of the Buffalo' cabin in the Buffalo National River Headwaters surrounded by the Ozark National Forest in the center of the Upper Buffalo Mountain Bike Trails. Close to Hawksbill Crag/Whitaker Point, Upper Buffalo Wilderness, Horseshoe Canyon, Glory Hole, Lost Valley, Hailstone & Kings River Falls. Glorified camping w/o a tent. Use an outhouse and outdoor solar shower bag. Basic clean. Wood bunks. No beds/linens/blankets/pillows.Value is seclusion/location.

Cabin in Pawhuska

The Cabin @ The Lodge at Taylor Ranch

The Lodge at Taylor Ranch is home to two of Oklahoma's premiere disc golf courses, but we offer more than just disc golf! Our rustic, yet cozy cabin sits just above the water! In the winter you can snuggle up next to the fireplace or in the summer you can jump off the dock and go swimming! We are 6 miles away from The Mercantile (10 minute drive). We have hosted many Weddings, Parties, Disc Golf Tournaments, Retreats, Boy Scout Camp-outs, Fishing Derbies, etc! We also have an RV Park as well!

Cottage in Yoder

The Little House in Yoder

Built in the late 1800's, the Little House is the oldest house in the Yoder community. It's full of old-world charm and modern conveniences. If these walls could talk, they'd tell lots of stories! Add this place to your list of must-sees in the our community.... it's one of a kind. Also check out our other Airbnb listing called "The Chicken House"-- another restored property just waiting to be explored. Both houses are in our backyard in the town of Yoder, the center of quaint charm.

Farm stay in Carthage

Old Missouri Farm

Newly remodeled, 110 yr old farm house and cattle ranch on 125 acres of Ozark fields and forest off historic Route 66 Highway. We welcome those who can stay just one night or those who want to stay longer. Hike in our woods, view wildlife, enjoy a bonfire, or just sit on the porch and relax! We have an Activity Barn with all sorts of outdoor gear/toys. The house has a fully equipped kitchen and we are close to the historic town of Carthage where there are several great restaurants.

Cottage in Scott

Relax in a Pecan Orchard 15 min. from Airport.

The Linden House is 15 min from Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport, & 20 min from downtown Little Rock, out in the country. Featured in "Arkansas's Greatest Getaways" on KTHV. Relax in a 10 acre pecan orchard with a seasonal rain-fed pond with tall willow trees and towering cottonwoods. From the 2 full length porches, you can watch flocks of migrating geese, ducks and egrets and enjoy beautiful sunsets. If you're lucky, you may catch a blue heron circling down to the pond at dusk.

Cabin in Mountain View

Sobe's-Upon-Sylamore ~Creek Cabin

NOTE: April 7-9, 2024 is a 3 night minimum stay to include the 7th, 8th & 9th. Our cabin on the creek features native stone, cedar, 2 covered porches & a massive deck reaching toward the Sylamore Creek. One of the best fishing & swimming holes is directly out the front door! ~5 miles to downtown to catch talented folk musicians on the square, head up to the famous Blanchard Springs Caverns & Ozark-St. Francis Forest for hiking/biking, or to Big Flat, AR for our award-winning brewery.

Cottage in Wheatland

Cozy Woodland Cottage

This cozy cottage in the woods (completed in June 2017) is perfect for a couple seeking a romantic getaway, enjoying a honeymoon, or celebrating an anniversary. (The sofa is a full convertible bed, if others plan to share the 400+ sq. ft. space.) Located in the Lake Hill (formerly Shadow Lake) Golf Course neighborhood (course is currently only open seasonally on weekends) about a mile from the NW shores of beautiful Pomme de Terre Lake, and about 6 miles south of Lucas Oil Speedway.

Cabin in Ponca

Lost Valley View Cabin

Enjoy this cozy cabin nestled in the heart of the Ozarks. With a view of Lost Valley and beyond, the front porch is a nice place to relax and unwind! With a full kitchen, fire pit, horseshoe pit, charcoal grill, and more we wish you to be able to vacation deliberately, comfortably, and affordably! Please hit us up with any questions and thank you! We do have Pyrenees dogs who watch over the farm, they are harmless and just part of the landscape. Firewood for sale, 5$ an arm load!

Home in Hot Springs Village

Private Lake Getaway

From the moment you enter this beautiful 2,700 sq ft home on Lake Segovia, you feel relaxed. Two large decks & lake views from almost every room. Updated w/ granite countertops, tile & hardwood floors, & antique lighting fixtures, this home is nestled on a private lake setting with azaleas, hostas & dogwoods. Two master suites, one with a fireplace & both with lake views. What makes this place really special is the private lake & dock - swim, canoe or relax.

Farm stay in Harrison

English Cottage in the Ozarks

Beautiful cottage surrounded by breathtaking views & manicured gardens in rural Boone County. 1 bed/1bath, kitchen, WiFi, Cable, BBQ grill (propane provided), fire pit (firewood provided), professionally decorated, & perfectly maintained. Near Buffalo River and many other attractions.

Vacation rentals for every style

Get the amount of space that is right for you

Popular amenities for United States family-friendly rentals

Family-friendly home rentals with a hot tub.

Cabin in Onia

Roper's Cozy Rock Cabin

Cabin in Omaha

Buttonwood cabin, Table rock lake, Branson area

Cabin in Springdale

Judy's Cabin in the woods

Guest suite in Talihina

Susie Q's Mountain View

Rental unit in Hot Springs Village

Lake front room, kayaks, dock, King / prvt hot tub

Tiny home in Seabeck

house upon the sand

Cabin in McEwen

Honeymoon Cabin outside Nashville

Treehouse in Newport

Treehouse on Walker Pond, Private HotTub, Canoes

Family- and pet-friendly home rentals

Cabin in the woods

Home in Matfield Green

Very Private Prairieside Cottage

Cabin in Walden

Moose Haven Cabin @ 22 West

Cabin in Grand Ronde

Cozy Woods Getaway with no Cleaning Fees/Chores!

Cabin in Ozark

The Christmas Cabin on a real Christmas tree farm!

Treehouse in Eufaula

The Hummingbird Treehouse

Guesthouse in Highgate

Beautiful lake-front cottage, Lake Champlain

Cabin in Oakridge

Lone Wolf Cabin, pet friendly

Family-friendly home rentals with a pool

Condo in Osage Beach

Lake Life Reimagined -best location best view 17mm

Guesthouse in Oklahoma City

Relaxing Getaway with Beautiful Lakeview in City.

Cabin in Holts Summit

Restful Rustic Comfy Cabin.

Guesthouse in Norman

Warm Getaway with a Poolside Patio in Norman, OK

Condo in Galveston

Infinity Ocean View from the 9th floor with patio.

Guesthouse in Hampton

Hampton Guest House

Home in Lake Hamilton Township

Cloud Nine-Breathtaking views of Hot Springs area

Guest suite in Southern Shores

Surfer's Bungalow

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Florida Vacation Homes | Orlando & Anna Maria Island Rentals

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Choose from a variety of vacation rentals to meet your needs & budget.

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Established in 2010, we welcome over 30,000 guests each year to Florida.

Location, Location!

Stay near the magic of Orlando or on beautiful Florida beaches

FloridaVacationHomes.com is your premier source for luxury vacation rentals throughout the sunshine state of Florida. Vacation Rentals offer space, privacy, value and amenities that hotel rooms can’t compete with. Perfect for single families or large multi-generation family groups traveling together. No matter where you choose to visit in Florida, you can relax and soak up the sunshine in your perfect home away from home.

Orlando Vacation Home Rentals

Visit the Orlando area with your family by booking one of our Vacation Homes in Davenport and Kissimmee resort communities close to Disney World®, Universal Studio’s®, Sea World® and other theme parks, shopping, dining and attractions Orlando is famous for. Browse our inventory, all with professional photographs, and we’re sure you will agree we have truly magical vacation homes. We offer some of the finest resort communities, such as Reunion Resort, Solara Resort, Windsor Island Resort, Windsor Cay Resort, Solterra Resort, Windsor at Westside, Storey Lake Resort, The Retreat at Champions Gate, Windsor Hills Resort, Bella Vida, Veranda Palms, Emerald Island, Solana, Encore Club, Sonoma, Formosa Gardens, Margaritaville Resort and more.

Florida Beach Vacation Rentals

Take time out to relax and unwind under the warm sunshine at one of Floridas stunning beach destinations. Discover crystal clear waters and miles of fine white sand. Enjoy shelling, surfing, sand-castle building, boating, snorkeling, fishing, incredible views and more. Paradise awaits in Florida gulf coast vacation destinations such as rentals in Anna Maria Island , Holmes Beach & Bradenton.

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Designed for your family vacation, games rooms, private pools, Gourmet kitchens and More!

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What better place to vacation than Florida, the sunshine state, if you’re looking for a getaway in the sun?!

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Florida, The Sunshine State!

50 Vacation Homes You Can Rent for Your Next Family Getaway

You'll want to book these incredible (and affordable!) homes ASAP.

If you haven't figured out your vacation plans yet, don't sweat it. Home rental sites are a great last-minute go-to for gangs of all sizes. You'll find cabins, cottages, even tree houses on this list.

Paso Robles, CA

Located on one of the area's premier wine trails, HammerSky is a beautifully restored farmhouse dating back to 1904. Try some of the area's wonderful wines, and then take a day trip to the Hearst Castle, Cambria and San Luis Obispo — all no more than 30 minutes away.

Farmhouse, sleeps 6, $575 a night on Airbnb.com .

Charleston, NC

Featured on Tiny House Hunters , this houseboat is a fun place to rest your head as you explore the hopping Southern town. The gentle rock of the marina waves will lull you to sleep — and, if you're lucky, you'll catch sight of a dolphin or two.

Houseboat, sleeps 3, $289 a night on Airbnb.com .

Big Island, HI

High up in the canopy near Volcano National Park, this secluded bamboo treehouse lets you live off the grid. Adventurous families only, please! The main living area is only accessible from a climbing ladder, and a few buggy friends may join you on your stay.

Treehouse, sleeps 1 family, $200 a night on Airbnb.com .

San Diego, CA

This gorgeous vacation home oozes SoCal vibes and is close to everything you'll want to check out: Coronado, La Jolla, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park and LEGOLAND. On the property, self-closing gates around the huge heated pool make it safe for young families.

Luxury Villa, sleeps 18, $932 a night on VRBO.com .

Ogunquit, ME

Historic towns, rocky shorelines, lobstah rolls — yes, you'll be able to check everything classically "Maine" off your list in this popular beach town. 

The Loft, sleeps 6, $325 per night on Airbnb.com .

Yosemite National Park, CA

Nestled inside Yosemite National Park, this newly built craftsman-style home has a farmhouse kitchen and covered front porch with rocking chairs. It's a little pricey, but Yosemite Valley and Wamona are just 20 minutes away, so you can't beat the location.

Craftsmen cottage, sleeps 8, $715 a night on Airbnb.com .

Palm Springs, CA

This mid-century home is directly on the golf course in Indian Canyon, and the views are simply awe-inspiring, especially at sundown. But the modern kitchen and ultra-chic art will lure you to spend some time indoors, too.

Canyon ranch, sleeps 8, $450 a night on  HomeAway.com .

Tahoe City, CA

Walkable to coffee shops, restaurants and the grocery store and near plenty of bike paths, this home is the perfect Tahoe pad for kids and adults alike.

Chalet, sleeps 9, $295 on Airbnb.com .

Isle of Palms, SC

Perfect for family reunions and milestone birthdays, this six-bedroom home has a private pool, an outdoor cooking cabana and dual master suites (no more family feuds!)

Luxury Home, sleeps 14, $654 a night on HomeAway.com .

Key West, FL

Steps from world-famous Duval Street, fans of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville vibe will be pleased with this colorful townhouse. It's a short walk to Key West attractions like The Southernmost Point, The Hemingway House Museum and Ft. Zachary Taylor Beach.

Kate's Krawl, sleeps 4, $388 a night on HomeAway.com .

St. George, UT

This Tuscan-style home is set into a tranquil hillside. Cook up a feast in the huge chef's kitchen, then take it to the courtyard for an al fresco family gathering.

Tuscan home, sleeps 16, $500 a night on VRBO.com .

Smuggler's Notch, VT

Outdoor pools, a spa and breweries make this an ideal spot for Northeast families. Grab a condo for up to 10, with access to all of the amenities at the Smuggler's Notch resort, including childcare.

Condo, sleeps 10, $216 a night on Airbnb.com .

Gulf Shores, AL

Your very own salt water pool with plenty of toys for the kids (and your pets!) make this a perfect base for your visit to the historic Fort Morgan Peninsula. Restaurants, live music and fun children's activities await in nearby Galveston, but you may just want to hang out on the property's cool pool deck.

Modern cottage, sleeps 10, $325 a night on VRBO.com .

Anaheim, CA

This cartoon-cute house is not only just a 20-minute walk from Disney, but its décor is also inspired by the most magical place on earth — down to the outdoor Mickey-shaped pool. The Minnie red polka dot room has bunk beds and is full of games, books, toys and dress-up clothes to keep kids busy for hours.

Suite Escapes House, sleeps 6, $260 a night on VRBO.com .

Point Reyes Station, CA

Described by some as a "tree-top fantasy," this six-bedroom home is the perfect perch to explore the area's beautiful natural resources, including the Point Reyes National Seashore's endless hiking trails and Tomales Bay State Park swimming beaches.

Treehouse, sleeps 12, $645 a night on VRBO.com .

Asheville, NC

Whether you're touring the area's breweries, the nearby Biltmore estate, or simply reveling in your very own swim pond on 20 acres of private land, this restored 1950s cabin will help you make lasting memories.

Sunset Hollow, sleeps 8, $275 a night on Tripping.com.

Gatlinburg, TN

After exploring every inch of Dollywood, you can retreat to this luxury cabin complete with a private sauna, movie room, Jacuzzi and queen-size bunk beds. Cook up trout from the nearby streams on the stainless steel gas grill, then take in the Smoky Mountain views from one of the three decks.

Basswood Lodge, sleeps 8, $230 a night on Tripping.com .

For families looking for something ultra-special, why not try your own private vineyard? This modern farmhouse high in the hills between Napa and Sonoma has a great room with 360-degree views and a pool overlooking the vineyard and pond below. Cheers to that!

Vineyard estate, sleeps 14, $1,850 a night on  VRBO.com .

Myrtle Beach, SC

Families with babies in tow, this is your spot. The homeowners provide a Pack 'n Play and beach toys to make things simple. 

Beachside cottage, sleeps 7, $85 a night on Airbnb.com .

Located just a little over an hour from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole, this luxury home is perfectly situated for taking in the area's incredible parks. Enjoy fishing, swimming, canoeing and paddle boating on the property's private lake.

Lodge, sleeps 30, $595 a night on VRBO.com .

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12 Best Family Lakefront Resorts in the U.S. – All Ages Love!

By: Author David Reeve

Posted on Published: March 23, 2020  - Last updated: June 29, 2023

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect family getaway, I’ve got just the thing for you: the best family lake resorts. 

Trust me, I’ve experienced these hidden gems firsthand, and they’ve left a lasting impression on me.

When it comes to planning a memorable family vacation, a checklist is essential. 

Picture-perfect landscapes? 

Check. 

These resorts boast breathtaking scenic beauty that will leave you in awe. 

Engaging activities for all ages? 

From water sports to hiking trails, there’s never a dull moment. 

And let’s not forget about the importance of a serene atmosphere that allows you to reconnect with your loved ones.

Check, check, and check.

So, get ready for a delightful journey as I unveil the top family lake resorts. 

Pack your bags, grab your loved ones, and let’s dive into an unforgettable adventure together.

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Best Family Lake Resorts Compared 

Discover our handpicked selection of the finest family lake resorts.

From serene waterfront retreats to action-packed getaways, we’ve got you covered.

Editor’s Choice

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, CA

For starters, the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe offers direct access to the shores of the lake.

• Kid-friendly Activities: 4/5
• Family Accommodations: 5/5
• Dining Options: 5/5
• Safety and Security: 5/5
• Value for Money: 4/5
• Location and Accessibility: 5/5

#2nd Best Choice

Mills Falls at the Lake — Meredith, NH

Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire is a scenic and secluded lake.

• Kid-friendly Activities: 5/5
• Family Accommodations: 4/5
• Dining Options: 4/5
• Location and Accessibility: 4/5

#3rd Best Choice

The Grove Resort and Spa Orlando Winter Garden, FL

Located on the picturesque Lake Austin, the vast expanse of this resort comes fully equipped with everything that you and your family need to make your vacation a success.

• Safety and Security: 4/5

Here are top 12 resorts in the U.S. for families.

1. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, CA (Editor’s Choice)

13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Ct Truckee, CA 96161 (530) 562-3000 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Ratings Criteria

• Luxury and quality: The Ritz-Carlton is known for its exceptional service and luxurious amenities. 
• Beautiful location: The resort is situated in Truckee, California, offering breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. 
• Price: As a luxury resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe comes with a higher price tag compared to other options. 
• Limited accessibility: Public transportation options might be limited, making it less convenient for those who prefer not to drive.

The private beach makes for a great spot for guests to sunbathe and even offers exciting water sports equipment rentals.

A great initiative undertaken by the property is the Ritz-Kids program, an interactive arts and crafts program designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Future Society to help kids learn about the natural surroundings.

And, if that’s not enough, and your little ones can have their own camping experience, just ask for a tent and s’mores to be brought to your room.

With all this and more in store, the Ritz Carlton at Lake Tahoe is sure to be a great lake vacation for you and your family.

Related: Places to Eat in Truckee

2. Mills Falls at the Lake — Meredith, NH

312 Daniel Webster Highway Meredith, NH 03253 (844) 745-2931 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

• Charming and picturesque setting: The resort features historic buildings overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, providing a picturesque backdrop for a family vacation.
• Variety of activities: The resort offers a range of activities suitable for all ages, including swimming, fishing, hiking, and exploring nearby attractions. 
• Seasonal limitations: Families looking for year-round options might need to consider this factor.
• Potential crowds: Being a popular resort, especially during peak seasons, Mills Falls at the Lake may experience higher volumes of visitors.

Set on this beautiful lake is the Mills Falls at the Lake.

The resort offers families a chance to unwind and relax on their private beach and the lake itself.

A breathtaking cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington, a rare 230-foot antique excursion ship and a touch of old school nostalgia in the form of a drive-in theatre where you could perhaps catch a double feature with the whole family.

3. The Grove Resort and Spa Orlando Winter Garden, FL

14501 Grove Resort Ave Winter Garden, FL 34787 (407) 545-7500 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

• Proximity to theme parks: It’s located near Orlando known for its numerous theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. 
• Family-friendly amenities: There are plenty of options to keep the whole family entertained.
• Potential crowds and noise: Some families may prefer a quieter and more secluded environment for their vacation.
• Distance from other attractions: If families want to venture beyond the theme parks, they may face longer travel times to reach other points of interest.

Apartment-style guest rooms with full kitchens, a shuttle service to the nearest Disney Transportation Center and kayak and paddleboat rentals to make sure that the children have their fair share of adventure.

It is the ideal lakefront getaway after busy days spent at adventurous theme parks and the retreat offers a serene setting in which to spend some quiet time with the whole family.

Just kick back and relax, or take a boat out into the middle of the lake and drop a fishing line with the young ones for a quality bonding experience.

Related: Places to Eat in Orlando

4. The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa — Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI

269 Fontana Blvd Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI 53125 (262) 275-9000 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Situated on the scenic location of Geneva Lake in Wisconsin.

The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa is a great place to revel in the thrill of outdoor activities as the young and boisterous often do, such as kayaking and paddleboarding.

At the same time, the resort also offers a pool to relax in, bicycle rentals to explore the quaint surroundings and perhaps in an effort to provide a more modern twist to the traditional family lakefront retreat, a virtual reality experience as well.

The kids are sure to love this one and there’s plenty to help you unwind at the same time.

5. Tyler Place Family Resort, Swanton, VT

175 Tyler Pl Swanton, VT 05488, United States (802) 868-4000 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Also located on the scenic Lake Champlain, there are many reasons why the Tyler Place Family Resort is a big hit with families.

Some of these are the all-inclusive rates that cover a wide variety of options to make your family lakefront vacation exciting and relaxing.

As per your choice, or the mercy of the kids and the well thought and age-specific activity programming, which offers everything from fun adventures like the Banana Boat and Hobie Wave rides to the more exciting 10-mile bike trip that takes you all the way to Canada — a perfect way spend time with your energetic teens.

Do remember to take your passports along though, for it’s a long ride back if you forget it.

Also See: Best Luxury Family Resorts Best Family Resorts: The Midwest

6. Basin Harbor Resort, Vergennes, VT

4800 Basin Harbor Rd Vergennes, VT 05491 (802) 475-2311 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Nestled on Lake Champlain, Basin Harbor resort is one of the best options for family lake resorts in the USA.

Cozy cottages right on the lake, al fresco dinners on the water, kids’ programs for every age group, there’s nothing that Basin Harbor Resort would leave you or your family wanting for.

To add a touch of excitement to your stay here, they offer thrilling water sports such as the water trampoline and a man-made beach to help you relax and unwind.

What’s more, a quick boat ride across Lake Champlain takes you straight to New York State, in case you’re in the mood for some big-city exploring at any point during your relaxing lakefront family vacation.

7. Woodloch Pine Resort — Hawley, PA

731 Welcome Lake Rd Hawley, PA 18428 (570) 685-8000 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Located on the calm and serene Lake Teedyusking, the Woodloch Pine Resort is a popular choice for lakefront family vacations.

The resort offers something for everyone, from slow-paced kayak rides, golf and pools, to the more exciting stuff for the kids, such as water skiing, bowling, and well, if kids are to be left to their own devices, the pool.

The resort’s all-inclusive package also offers three meals per day and all the lakeside activities that it has to offer, making it a sure hit among parents and kids alike and guaranteeing a family vacation that won’t be forgotten any time soon.

8. Migis Lodge — South Casco, ME

30 Migis Lodge Rd South Casco, ME 04077 (207) 655-4524 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

The Migis Lodge, nestled on the secluded Sebago Lake in Maine is the stuff of dreams when it comes to lake resorts for families.

The New England lodge offers a vast variety of activities guaranteed to make your family vacation a memorable one.

Adorable cottages for families to stay in, kids programs, water skiing and wakeboarding for the children.

Disc golf and massage facilities for the parents and fun activities for the whole family such as boating, fishing and bonfires make the Migis Lodge a great choice for your next lakefront family vacation.

Also See: Family Reunion Locations Best New England Resort for Families

9. The Sagamore Resort — Bolton Landing, NY

110 Sagamore Rd Bolton Landing, NY 12814 (518) 644-9400 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Lake George has long been a popular choice for many families to spend their lake-front vacations on.

The traditional lakefront retreat experience, however, is only to be found at The Sagamore Resort, which boasts a spectacular view of Lake George and a wide variety of accommodations including a six-bedroom home aptly titled, The Castle.

At the same time, there are plenty of on-site activities to choose from, such as tennis, golf, lakeside pools and of course watersports.

The Sagamore Resort ensures that you and your family have a truly relaxing and memorable vacation from your busy lives.

10. Grand Hotel — Mackinac Island, MI

286 Grand Ave Mackinac Island, MI 49757, (906) 847-3331 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

If you’re looking for family-friendly lake resorts near you, then look no further.

The Grand Hotel in Michigan is one of the best options to spend a relaxed vacation unwinding with your loved ones.

The fun begins before you even get to the resort, for you have to take a ferry to the location of the picturesque retreat, Lake Mackinac.

Once you get there, it’s one long throwback to an age where time moved slower and the days are spent indulging in lawn games, afternoon teas, horse-drawn carriage tours around the island and live jazz music to end each evening with.

Also See: Kid Friendly East Coast Resorts Best Family Resorts in The Northeast

11. Big Cedar Lodge — Ridgedale, MO

190 Top of the Rock Rd Ridgedale, MO 65739 (800) 225-6343 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Located on the expansive Table Rock Lake in Missouri, the Big Cedar Lodge promises to keep all members of the family entertained throughout their stay here.

From exciting watersport activities such as water skiing, horse-back riding, hiking and kayaking, to more relaxing features such as the top grade spa, luxurious log cabins and fishing, the Big Cedar Lodge has everything.

And what’s more, if all these activities still leave you wanting for more.

A mere 10 miles away sits the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, Branson, with over fifty live performance venues offering a variety of live acts ranging from comedy to country music.

12. The Homestead — Glen Arbor, MI

1 Woodridge Rd Glen Arbor, MI 49636 (231) 334-5000 Visit Website Social Media Open in Google Maps

Set on the picture-perfect Lake Michigan beachfront and neighboring the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The breathtaking scenic beauty of The Homestead at Glen Arbor is enough to make it a top contender for family lakefront resort options you should consider seriously.

To further tip the scale in its favor, the retreat offers activities to keep the whole family happy, such as tennis, golf, kayaking and windsurfing.

With four restaurants within the property, a spa and a neighboring town (Traverse City) renowned for its wineries and microbreweries, The Homestead at Glen Arbor is sure to provide a fine lake resort vacation experience for you and your family.

Vacationer’s Guide 

Comparing resorts: which one is right for you.

Let me transport you to these remarkable family lake resorts that left an indelible mark on my heart. 

At The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in Truckee, CA, we felt like royalty as we relished the ski-in/ski-out access and soaked in the stunning mountain and lake vistas. 

Falls at the Lake in Meredith, NH enveloped us in a warm embrace, with its cozy ambiance and the endless fun we had by the sandy shores and in the quaint town. 

And The Grove Resort and Spa in Orlando Winter Garden, FL was an adventure playground, with its thrilling water park, engaging kids’ club, and proximity to the magic of Orlando’s theme parks. 

These family getaways were nothing short of extraordinary, each creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

How I Picked The Resorts 

Having personally explored numerous family lake resorts across the United States, my knowledge and experiences are backed by extensive research and insightful conversations with locals and fellow travelers. 

From breathtaking natural beauty to exciting water activities, I’ve uncovered the finest destinations that guarantee unforgettable family vacations. 

Let me guide you through these idyllic escapes.

Our Resort Rating Method 

I rate these properties based on the following criteria:

• Kid-friendly Activities: I use this to evaluate the availability and variety of family-friendly amenities at every resort. Does it feature water parks, playgrounds, and kids’ clubs? Does the resort organize events designed specifically for kids? I ask myself these questions whenever I rate this resort’s kid-friendly activities. 
• Family Accommodations: This is used to assess the family accommodations of the resort. Are the rooms spacious? Does it offer family suites with connecting rooms? Can it accommodate families of different sizes? Is there a crib or baby-proofing in every room? These questions are essential whenever I rate the resort’s family accommodations. 
• Dining Options: This evaluates the dining options at the resort. Are there kid-friendly menus or buffet-style dining at the resort? Can the on-site restaurants cater to everyone’s dietary preferences and needs? I use these questions to assess the dining options of every property. 
• Safety and Security: I use this criterion to assess the safety and security of the resorts. Are there lifeguards at the swimming pools? Are the premises secured? Is the staff trained to handle any emergency? I consider these factors when rating the property’s safety and security. 
• Value for Money: This is used to evaluate the value of money provided by the resort. Are the room rates reasonable? Are the services, activities, and amenities suitable for the price? I ask myself these questions to rate the value for money provided by the resort. 
• Location and Accessibility: This measures how accessible the resort is for families. How far is it from the popular family attractions? Is it easily accessible via public transportation? Does the resort offer airport transfers? These are the questions I ask myself when evaluating the property’s location and accessibility. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What types of activities can be found at family lake resorts.

Family lake resorts offer a variety of activities for all family members, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, water sports like kayaking or paddleboarding, and sometimes even organized kids’ clubs and entertainment programs.

What Amenities Can Be Expected At Family Lake Resorts?

Family lake resorts typically provide amenities such as swimming pools, hot tubs, lakeside beaches, playgrounds, sports courts, picnic areas, barbecue facilities, and sometimes even spa services or on-site restaurants for added convenience and relaxation.

Can Family Lake Resorts Accommodate Large Families Or Groups?

Yes, many family lake resorts offer accommodations suitable for large families or groups. They may have spacious cabins or vacation homes with multiple bedrooms, living areas, and fully-equipped kitchens, ensuring everyone can stay together comfortably.

Conclusion 

I have explored the best family lake resorts in the US.

And I can confidently say that The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in Truckee, CA takes the crown as the best choice for a memorable vacation. 

From the moment we arrived, the staff greeted us warmly, making us feel right at home. 

The resort offers a wide range of activities for all ages, including a fantastic kids’ club where my little ones had a blast. 

The breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe are simply unparalleled, and the nearby hiking trails provided endless adventures. 

We indulged in mouthwatering meals at the on-site restaurants, and the spacious rooms ensured everyone had their own comfortable space. 

If you’re looking for a top-notch family getaway, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is the ultimate destination.

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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico

Key points .

• There have been reports of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in people traveling to the United States from Tecate, in the state of Baja California, Mexico.
• RMSF has been found in urban areas of several states of northern Mexico, including but not exclusive to Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo León (see map).
• Ticks spread the bacteria that causes RMSF. Ticks can live anywhere that dogs live. This includes close to peoples’ homes and in their yards.
• Dogs can carry the infected ticks that can bite humans. RMSF is NOT spread from a person to another person.
• Using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellants on exposed skin and clothing.
• If you find a tick on your body, remove it as soon as possible.
• Ticks can be tiny and their bites may be painless, so you may not always notice a tick bite.
• If traveling with your dog, you can protect yourself and your dog by using tick-preventatives on your dog. Talk to your vet for further guidance.
• RMSF can be deadly. Seek medical attention if you or a family member has traveled to Tecate or another city in northern Mexico and develops symptoms during travel or within 2 weeks of returning to the United States.

Traveler Information

• Health Information for Travelers to Mexico
•   Prevent Tick Bites
• About Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Clinician Information

• CDC Health Alert Network (HAN): Severe and Fatal Confirmed Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever among People with Recent Travel to Tecate, Mexico
• Rickettsial Diseases  (CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel)
• RMSF: Clinical Overview of Transmission and Epidemiology
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment for Health Care Providers (Continuing Education ) [Available in English and Spanish]
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Training Video [Spanish Subtitles]

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a potentially deadly bacterial disease spread through the bite of an infected tick.  

RMSF is spread by the brown dog tick ( Rhipicephalus sanguineus ) in parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Symptoms of RMSF include fever, headache, and rash. The rash usually appears about 2–4 days after onset of symptoms, however, some patients never develop a rash. The disease can rapidly progress and be deadly if not treated early with the recommended antibiotic. Children younger than 10 years old are five times more likely than adults to die from RMSF.

Doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic treatment for RMSF in adults and children of all ages.

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Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city, Russia

The capital city of Sakhalin oblast .

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Overview

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a city located in the southern part of Sakhalin Island in the Far East of Russia, the administrative center of Sakhalin Oblast.

The population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is about 201,700 (2022), the area - 164 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4242, the postal codes - 693000-693904.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city flag

Yuzhno-sakhalinsk city coat of arms.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city map, Russia

Yuzhno-sakhalinsk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

29 October, 2019 / Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - the view from above .

History of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Foundation of yuzhno-sakhalinsk.

The Russians first visited Sakhalin Island in 1742. In 1805, the Russian-American Company sent Adam Johann von Krusenstern, a Russian admiral and explorer, to Sakhalin to hoist the Russian flag on the island. Officially, neither Russia nor Japan claimed Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. In 1855, a treatise on friendship and the border was signed in Shimoda, which marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between Russia and Japan. According to it, Sakhalin remained jointly owned by the two countries.

The settlement of Sakhalin by Russians was mainly due to exiled convicts. In 1869, Sakhalin was officially declared a place of exile and hard labor. In 1875, the St. Petersburg Treaty was signed between the Russian Empire and Japan, according to which Sakhalin completely went to Russia and the Kuril Islands - to Japan.

In 1881, according to the order of the military governor of the Primorsky region, Major Vladimir Yantsevich was appointed head of exiles in South Sakhalin. He received the following instructions: “For the settlement of those who are finishing their terms of hard labor, a place that is quite convenient for arable farming should be chosen. The selected site, if possible along the main road from south to north, should be planned, divided into sections and, as a new settlement, named by some permanent name.”

In 1883, Yantsevich applied for the approval of the names of four new villages founded in the south of Sakhalin: Solovyovskoe, Mitsulskoe, Vladimirovka (future Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), and Vlasovskoe. In 1885, 57 people lived in Vladimirovka, in 1895 - 130 people. In 1897, there were 150 residential and commercial buildings here: a church, a school, a post office, a hospital, a mill, trade shops, a number of government buildings, and a lot of residential log houses.

More historical facts…

Japanese period in the history of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

In 1905, after the defeat of the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War, according to the Treaty of Portsmouth, part of Sakhalin south of the 50th parallel was ceded to the Japanese Empire and became the Karafuto Prefecture. The northern part of Sakhalin remained under the control of the Russian Empire.

In 1908, Vladimirovka was renamed Toyohara (“bountiful plain”). In 1915, the settlement received the status of a town. The Japanese made their own plan for the development of the town with a clear rectangular planning system with the direction of streets along the railway and perpendicular to it.

The building density was high, as a result, a significant number of residential buildings were without outbuildings, sheds and other ancillary buildings, as well as yards. On the outskirts of the town there was a well-maintained park with an artificial reservoir. In 1920, the population of Toyohara was 14,176 people, in 1935 - 28,459.

On February 11, 1945, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill signed an agreement in Yalta on the conditions for the USSR’s entry into the war against Japan. Among the conditions were the return of South Sakhalin to the USSR and the annexation of the Kuril Islands. In August 1945, Soviet troops entered Toyohara.

This is what Toyohara looked like from the words of Dmitry Kryukov, head of the civil administration of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, who arrived in the town in September 1945: “The town mainly consists of wooden buildings. The houses are adjacent to each other, timber-frame, plastered. Many of them look good, but they are cold.” The majority of the population were Japanese and Koreans.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - the capital of Sakhalin Oblast

On February 2, 1946, Yuzhno-Sakhalin Oblast was formed on the territory of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. On June 4, 1946, Toyohara became its administrative center. It was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (“South Sakhalin City”).

On January 2, 1947, Yuzhno-Sakhalin Oblast was liquidated and its territory was included in Sakhalin Oblast, a separate region of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. On April 18, 1947, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk became its administrative center.

In the spring of 1947, the mass repatriation of the Japanese began. By August 1, 1947, 124,308 people left Sakhalin, almost half of the local Japanese. During 1947-1949, about 400 thousand people were brought to Sakhalin from the central regions of Russia, Primorye and the Far East. By 1949, only 2,682 Japanese remained on Sakhalin - those who managed to obtain a Soviet passport. The Koreans from Sakhalin were not forcibly evicted, so most of them stayed. In 1959, the population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was 85,510 people.

In subsequent years, the appearance of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk changed again - the frame houses built by the Japanese were demolished. Today, except for the railway and some buildings of that time turned into museums, almost nothing reminds of the Japanese period in the history of this city.

General views of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from above

Author: Vladislav Yarowind

General view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk cityscape

Author: Shinya Ichinohe

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Features

Sakhalin Oblast is the only region in Russia located entirely on the islands. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk stands at some distance from the sea coast, about 25 km from the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Chekhov Peak (1,045 m), one of the highest peaks of Sakhalin, rises to the north-east of the city. Locals call the city simply Yuzhnyy.

Sakhalin Island is part of the temperate monsoon zone. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located on a plain surrounded by hills, due to which its climate has certain peculiarities. In summer, it can be very hot in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and in winter, due to the lack of wind, severe frosts. The coldest month is January with an average daily temperature of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius, the warmest month is August with an average daily temperature of plus 17.3 degrees Celsius. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is equated to the regions of the Far North.

The city is located in an earthquake-prone area. The probability of strong earthquakes is relatively high. The distance from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Moscow is 9,140 km by road and 6,640 km in a straight line.

The majority of the population is Russian, but the proportion of Koreans is also high (about 20%). Out of 43 thousand Sakhalin Koreans, most of them live in the capital of the region. In the city you can also find representatives of the indigenous peoples: Nivkhs, Ainu and Oroks, but their number is very small.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the largest transport hub on Sakhalin. Anton Chekhov Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport offers regular flights to such cities as Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Moscow, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Seoul (South Korea), Sapporo (Japan), Tokyo (Japan).

In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is a high level of air pollution due to the high motorization of the population and the location of the city in the valley, which slows down the dispersion of harmful substances.

Today, it is one of the dynamically developing cities of the Far East, the production and intellectual center of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Oil and natural gas production, as well as their processing, are the most important components of the local economy.

This is one of the most visited cities in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is often visited by cruise ship passengers (mostly Japanese citizens). Restaurants of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk offer dishes of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Uzbek, Georgian, Italian cuisines.

The architecture of the period of the Karafuto Prefecture gives a special flavor to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Today, in the city there are about 40 objects of cultural heritage of this period. In the future, tourism should become the basis for the economic development of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Special thanks to Vladislav Yarowind for the photos of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Main Attractions of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore - the central museum of Sakhalin Oblast founded in 1896. It is housed in a very picturesque Japanese building constructed in the Imperial Crown Style in 1937. This is the only such building on the territory of Sakhalin and all of Russia, the most significant architectural monument of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Its diverse expositions are devoted to nature, history of the indigenous peoples of the islands, culture and development of Sakhalin. Kommunisticheskiy Avenue, 29.

Sports and Tourist Complex “Gornyy Vozdukh” (“Mountain Air”) - a ski resort and sports complex, existing, according to one version, since the days of the Japanese Karafuto Prefecture (1905-1945). Today, it is one of the most dynamically developing ski resorts in the Far East of Russia.

The unique location of the complex - in the center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - allows guests to find themselves in the world of winter sports in just a few minutes. The ski resort offers 10 slopes of various difficulty levels for both beginners and professionals. Their total length is over 23 km. The ski season lasts from December to the end of April.

It is one of the main organizers of excursion tours in Sakhalin Oblast: sports, excursion, business tourism, as well as ecological tourism. The complex has a network of hiking and cycling routes. There are also restaurants and cafes here.

Museum and Memorial Complex “Pobeda” (“Victory”) - a square with a cultural and educational center, where you can find historical expositions dedicated to the Russian-Japanese and World War II. A T-34-85 tank is installed on a pedestal in front of the building. Pobedy Avenue, 1.

Museum of the History of the Sakhalin Railway . This museum is dedicated to the history of railway construction on Sakhalin. The exposition has a lot of interesting and rare exhibits. In the open area of the museum, Sakhalin railway equipment is exhibited: steam locomotives, carriages of various types, etc. Vokzalnaya Street, 55.

Sakhalin Regional State Art Museum - the only art museum in Sakhalin Oblast with over 11 thousand works of art. On the ground floor, temporary art exhibitions are held, the art of artists from Russia, Korea and China is presented. The second floor houses permanent exhibitions: “Contemporary Korean Art”, “Christian Art”, “Russian Art of the 19th - early 20th centuries.” Lenina Street, 137.

Museum of the Book of Anton Chekhov “Sakhalin Island” . This museum is dedicated to Anton Chekhov’s trip to Sakhalin in 1890, as a result of which he wrote the book “Sakhalin Island”. Here you can find the following collections: “Painting”, “Graphics”, “Written Sources”, “Photo Materials”, “Numismatics/Phaleristics”, “Household Items, Arts and Crafts”, “Sculpture”. The personal belongings of Chekhov’s family members and various items belonging to exiles are exhibited here. Mira Avenue, 104.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Park of Culture and Rest named after Yuri Gagarin - the most beautiful recreational area of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk founded in the Japanese period of the city’s history in 1906. In 1968, when the famous cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin died in a jet crash, the park was renamed in his honor. Today, this place attracts visitors with its amazing landscapes and an abundance of entertainment. Sakura blooms here in spring. Detskaya Street, 1.

Resurrection Cathedral - the first church in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk built in the 1990s. This one-domed cathedral in the pseudo-Russian style looks surprisingly graceful and is located in the immediate vicinity of Gagarin Park. Svyatitelya Innokentiya Boulevard, 3k1.

Cathedral of the Nativity . The height of this church, consecrated in 2016, is 77 m, which is why it effectively dominates the surrounding landscape. Accommodating up to 1,000 people, it is built in the Novgorod style with a gilded dome surrounded by four bright blue ones. Inside, you can admire the five-tiered iconostasis in the Russian style, decorated with 98 icons. The outer walls are decorated with mosaics created in Jerusalem. Ilarion Troitsky Street, 1.

Chekhov Peak . Several picturesque mountain peaks are located in the vicinity of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The highest one (1,045 m) is named after the famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov. The trip to the top takes several hours. From the height of Chekhov Peak you can admire the city itself, the waters of Aniva Bay and the Sea of Okhotsk. On a cloudless day, you can even see the northern tip of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. There is a small Japanese temple at the top of the peak.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city of Russia photos

Architecture of yuzhno-sakhalinsk.

Winter in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk architecture

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk modern architecture

Author: Alexander Mikhalev

Churches of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Wooden Church of St. Nicholas in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The Roman Catholic Church Parish of Saint James in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Resurrection Cathedral in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Author: Snejanna Baggerovski

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

The main building of the Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

Old Russian 11-inch gun (1867) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

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Sakhalin: Your Essential Guide to Russia’s Enigmatic Eastern Island

• January 14, 2024

A Journey Through Giant Burdocks, Wild Bears, and the Echoes of Ancient Japanese Temples

From the most dreaded place of exile in the Russian Empire to a Japanese industrial base and one of the most attractive and inaccessible places for domestic tourism in Russia.

Table of Contents

An island that was Russian, then Japanese, and then Russian again

From the 17th to the mid-19th century, it was believed that Sakhalin was a peninsula. This misconception firmly established itself on the maps of the time, as navigators failed to circumnavigate the island. The proximity of Sakhalin’s southern tip to the mainland created a false impression of being impassable for ships. An additional complexity arose from the fact that the route taken by ships from the Russian Empire involved passing through a narrow strait, which Nevelskoy managed to navigate only in 1849.

For a long time, people did not believe Nevelskoy, but he insisted that he had discovered a route through the strait, for which he became something of a hero in Primorye. Monuments and plaques dedicated to him can be found in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk. The H4H creative association created a graphic novel based on this story, which won a cultural initiatives contest and became part of the interior of the Khabarovsk Airport. By the way, the Sakhalin region is the only Russian entity entirely located on islands.

The remote and isolated location of the island during the Russian Empire was used as a natural barrier, and it became the site of penal colonies for hard labor prisoners. Its geographical position led to Sakhalin’s hard labor being regarded as particularly cruel.

During the period of the island’s development, Russian ships followed the Amur River and reached the island from the north, where the oldest port, Alexandrovsk, was founded. The Japanese attempted to develop the island from the south, entering through the Kuril Islands (part of the Sakhalin region) and Aniva Bay. For a long time, the Kurils were inhabited by the Ainu, representatives of a small indigenous people. The very word “Kurils” comes from the Ainu: “kuru” means “man.”

In the 17th century, Japan conducted its first expeditions towards the islands and began their development. Russia reached them later. The first mentions of the islands in Russian language date back to the late 17th century. For a long time, Russian, Dutch, Japanese, and Anglo-French navigators studied the islands, landed on them, and disputed their territorial ownership. However, only Russia and Japan managed to establish a foothold. To end the territorial disputes, the governments of the two countries signed an agreement under which the Kuril Islands went to Japan, and Sakhalin to Russia, which continued to develop the island mainly from the north. After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, which ended in Russia’s defeat, the southern part of Sakhalin became part of Japan as the Karafuto Prefecture.

Until the second half of the 20th century, the island was owned by Japan and was quite successful in developing its resources. A huge number of mines were opened, several cities and lighthouses were built. In particular, the current regional center, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, was the former Japanese city of Toyohara. The famous Aniva lighthouse, now considered a symbol of Sakhalin, was built by Japanese engineers. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the island passed to the Soviet Union. Contrary to history, the main life of the island moved from the north to the south. Alexandrovsk, which was convenient to reach by water, lost to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with its infrastructure built by the Japanese, connections to neighboring cities, and airport. Interestingly, before leaving, the Japanese buried and hid the mining sites, and locals say that not all the old mines have been found yet, and they are sometimes stumbled upon during walks.

Because the island belonged to three different countries in just over a hundred years, it did not have time to develop any significant urban infrastructure. The cities lack outstanding architectural monuments and unique museums. However, some unusual Japanese architecture has remained. Meanwhile, Sakhalin compactly houses incredible natural attractions. Here, one can climb through forests and bamboo thickets to breathtakingly beautiful mountains as if outlined in graphite, and through a mountain pass reach the sea, into which clear mountain rivers flow with fish splashing in them.

The Ainu and Nivkh: Inhabitants of Sakhalin

For a long time, the island was mainly inhabited by the Ainu and Nivkh peoples. These ethnic groups are very different, making their coexistence as unusual as the neighboring of birch and bamboo on the slopes of Sakhalin’s mountains. Both are isolate peoples . However, the Ainu belong to the Australoid race, while the Nivkh are Mongoloids (the main population of Asian territories). It’s fascinating how representatives of different races have coexisted for ages on a small piece of land at the edge of the world.

There is no single version regarding the origin of the Ainu, leading to a multitude of theories — both scientific and conspiratorial. One theory suggests that the Ainu are the ancestors of the indigenous population of Australia, remaining in the north after continental migration. Some researchers write that the Ainu are the forebears of the Japanese. This theory is supported by the fact that before Japanese expansion, the Ainu mainly inhabited the Japanese island of Hokkaido. However, the Ainu suffered greatly from Japanese imperialism, and their culture and language were almost completely destroyed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Now, there are just over two thousand Ainu living on Sakhalin.

The Nivkh are among the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the north. They suffered less from Japanese rule. However, during the Soviet era, they experienced a difficult phase of literacy development, destruction of tribal communities, and relocation to cities. About 2,200 Nivkh live in the Sakhalin region and another approximately two thousand in Khabarovsk.

During the Karafuto period, Japan brought captured Koreans to Sakhalin for hard labor. By the mid-20th century, the Korean population of the island was about 45,000 people. For comparison, the current population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is 180,000. This large number of people, deprived of their homeland, was forced to adapt to life first under Japanese and then Soviet rule. In the USSR, Koreans were issued passports, and there were national kindergartens and schools. However, Sakhalin Koreans did not feel part of the larger community of Soviet Koreans (Koryo-saram) and struggled to integrate. Moreover, they were considered members of an ‘unreliable nation’ because they had lived in the Japanese Empire.

In the late 1990s, three countries – Russia, South Korea, and Japan – began a repatriation campaign for the first generation of Sakhalin Koreans (born before August 15, 1945) to their historical homeland. Now, about 3,500 repatriates from Russia live in South Korea. Under the program, the Korean government provides medical insurance and a monthly allowance to the repatriates. The Japanese government, in turn, buys housing (apartments up to 40 m²) and covers transportation costs. Additionally, every two years, Sakhalin Koreans who have moved to their homeland have the right to visit Sakhalin for free, funded by the Japanese government. Most Sakhalin Koreans settled in the city of Ansan , where 500 apartments were specially built for them.

Korean influence is weakly traced on Sakhalin: many Sakhalin Koreans no longer know the language and do not associate themselves with Korea. However, there are several authentic restaurants (for example, “Koba” ) on the island where you can try traditional dishes.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — the capital and base for exploring the island

The city is predominantly characterized by typical Soviet architecture, with almost no remaining Japanese buildings. This is because during the Soviet period, the city was radically rebuilt after being liberated from ‘imperialist Japanese rule.’ Many buildings were demolished, and from the few that remained, some were turned into museums. Perhaps the main thing that has been preserved from the Japanese period is the layout. The city was founded from scratch near the Russian village of Vladimirovka, and Chicago was chosen as the model for its layout. Toyohara was divided into four parts by two main streets, O-dori (now Lenin) and Maoka-dori (Sakhalinskaya).

Japan established itself thoroughly on the island. In Toyohara, trade routes converged, new bays were developed, and roads were built. The city’s population grew steadily. Initially due to the military garrison, and later due to a paper mill, a sugar and distillery plant. Now, the buildings of the former Japanese factories are abandoned. Many of them can only be accessed with rare tours, while others are completely closed. However, their presence is still recalled by street names, such as Paper Street.

Another building in the Neo-Japanese style is the Karafuto Governorate Museum built in the 1930s (29 Communist Avenue). It now houses the Sakhalin Regional Museum . And in the former bank of colonial development, there is the Art Museum (137 Lenin Street).

Several other iconic buildings constructed by the Japanese have been preserved: the central hospital of Toyohara (41 Chekhov Street), the conference hall of the Karafuto Governorate (30 Dzerzhinsky Street), and the Toyohara City Hall (41 Communist Avenue). The Sakhalin Railway Museum in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is distinct from many similar museums in Russia due to its exhibits. This is because the island long maintained the Japanese standard of railway gauge, which differs from the Russian standard. Accordingly, the rolling stock was entirely different.

If in Vladivostok everything is named after the Far Eastern explorer and writer Vladimir Arsenyev, then in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, mentions of Chekhov are everywhere. At the end of the 19th century, Sakhalin was both the most dreaded place for exile to hard labor and one of the most tempting corners of Russia, which was not so easy to access. Chekhov received an editorial assignment and embarked on a ship along with prisoners, military personnel, and sailors to the most remote point of the empire. In his notes, which Chekhov compiled under the title ‘The Island of Sakhalin,’ the writer talked about many things: the geography and climate of the island, the life of the convicts, and ordinary residents. This book caused a great resonance at the time, and even now it was very interesting to read it while traveling to Sakhalin: some things have changed drastically, while others have remained the same. Now in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is even a museum dedicated to this one book, which turned out to be so significant for the island.

GoSakhalin is the website of the Sakhalin Tourist and Information Center. And in their official Telegram channel , you can find announcements of affordable excursions shortly before they start.

In any case, for travelers, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk remains primarily a hub and a place of rest. Here they return for the night and dinner, and it seems that real adventures begin outside the doorstep.

Surrounding Area

10–20 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The main reason people visit Sakhalin is for its unique nature. Mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and the sea, all on a small piece of land. In one day, you can travel from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Sea of Japan, cross several climate zones, see bamboo groves, birches, and spruces in one place, spot a running fox and a swimming orca. The island’s landscapes can boldly compete in Instagram appeal with Iceland or Norway.

Within Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk alone, there are about 30 kilometers of marked ecotrails, with brief descriptions and routes available on the official tourism portal. I also found an ecotrail in Nevelsk, which is not mentioned on the official website.

The ecotrails in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk start from the ‘Mountain Air’ ski center on the sopka (a term for mountains in the Far East) Bolshevik. There are five in total: ‘Children’s’ (2.7 kilometers), ‘Eight’ (8 kilometers), ‘Northern Ring’ (9 kilometers), ‘Russian’ (3.2 kilometers), and ‘Yelanka’ (5 kilometers). You can take a cable car to the start of the trails and then slowly descend through the forest and park to the city. However, the lift does not operate in rainy and windy weather.

Hiking the ‘Eight’ trail took me no more than three hours, including stops to catch my breath and take photos. Every kilometer and a half along the route, there are benches. From the top of the mountain, there is a view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and it seems you can see a piece of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Chekhov Peak

The route to Chekhov Peak is a high-mountain trekking path that requires a certain level of physical fitness. Chekhov Peak has an elevation of 1045 meters, with an absolute altitude gain of 752 meters. The trail is narrow and slippery in places, hardly suitable for children or people with limited mobility.

Chekhov Peak is part of the Susunai Range, which supports Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from the southeast. You can exit from Gagarin city park to the foothills in about half an hour. The ascent to the peak itself cannot be missed: a marked trail and informational signs lead to it. On particularly steep ascents, ropes are hung for safety, but it is possible to walk up the slope without them.

In late spring, the forest trail has many streams, as well as May primroses and butterflies. The foothills are scattered with rare, incredibly large, and wonderfully fragrant marsh callas. Halfway to the peak, bamboo thickets are encountered, through which birches break through. This is also a kind of magic because, as a biologist friend explained to me, birch and bamboo are not supposed to coexist in the natural environment, but somehow they manage to do so. Occasionally, spruces are encountered — not tall, but very fluffy. Closer to the top, the vegetation becomes sparser, and the impressive views of the sea, mountains, and lakes open up from the height.

• The entire hike takes five to six hours.
• Even in summer, there is snow on the summit. In the afternoon, it starts to melt, making it more difficult to walk.
• Don’t forget to bring food and water.
• Wear boots with covered ankles, a jacket, and a head covering.
• Inform your family and friends, and someone living in Sakhalin, before setting out on the route. If you’re traveling alone, you could notify, for example, the hotel receptionist or roommates in a hostel.
• Snakes and bears are found around the trail. Watch your feet and try to make as much noise as possible. For example, play music on your phone and sing along occasionally.
• The ascent to Chekhov Peak can be the start of a journey to the village of Lesnoye on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. The distance to the village is 27 kilometers. With good preparation and an early start from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, this distance can be covered in one day.

Mud Volcano in Klyuchi

A mud volcano is an eruption on the earth’s surface of clay masses, mineralized waters, and gases. The mechanism of formation of these volcanoes is not fully understood. According to the existing theory, such volcanoes are formed near oil fields.

The mud volcano in Klyuchi consists of a mud field about 200 meters in diameter. There, you can see about 20 points of activity, resembling miniature volcano craters. This mud volcano became active in 1959, 1979, 2001, and 2011 (the last time due to a strong earthquake in Japan). During these eruptions, mud columns reached several tens of meters in height. Bus 189 goes to Klyuchi from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The distance from the village to the top of the volcano is nine kilometers and takes about two and a half hours to walk.

Ecopark in the Vestochka area: Frog Rock, Aikhor Waterfall, ‘Sunny Glade’ Recreation Park

Not far from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is a fairly large ecopark, known primarily for the Frog Rock outcrop. An outcrop is a remnant of harder rock around which softer rock has eroded over time. Outcrops are often known for their unusual shapes and are natural monuments. Frog Rock is part of a series of rocks standing one behind the other. This was once the seabed of an ancient sea, and fossilized shells can be found in its vicinity. From the top of the rock, amazing views of the Aniva Bay, Tunaycha and Changeable Lakes open up. This place was sacred to the Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the island.

The trail to the ‘Sunny Glade’ ecopark begins behind the ‘Electron’ culture house. Despite its name, it is not a city park, but a full-fledged forest with laid-out paths. There are houses, glades with tables for rest where you can cook barbecues, and wooden walkways leading to various attractions. These are all paid services.

The path to Frog Rock outcrop goes along the Komissarovka River. In areas of spring flooding, callas bloom and bamboo grows. The outcrop is located on a hill, with a total elevation gain of about 300 meters. The road is quite challenging, usually taking from an hour to an hour and a half. The higher you climb, the more you can see: the sea, the mountain gorge, the road to Vestochka. In the same park is the Aikhor Waterfall, which is also a short climb away, but along a less well-maintained trail. You can plan a whole day to visit Vestochka and even spend the night, without returning to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Vestochka is three high-rise buildings on one side of the road and a cottage settlement on the other. It is part of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, though located 15 kilometers from the main part of the city. A taxi there costs about 1000 rubles and takes 40 minutes. About a kilometer after turning off the main road, the asphalt ends and a terribly dusty dirt road begins. If you’re lucky, you can catch a bus that runs three times a day.

What else to see on the island

40 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The oldest city in the south of Sakhalin, founded by Nevelskoy’s expedition. Here you can find a huge number of monuments dedicated to sailors, naval battles, and ships. The most significant monument in the city in recent decades has become the stele dedicated to ‘Koreans interned by the Japanese in Sakhalin, who never returned to their homeland,’ located on Mount Sorrow, created through the efforts of three countries’ governments (Russia, Japan, and Korea).

In Korsakov, some Japanese heritage has been preserved: the former building of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, a colonial development bank (Sovetskaya Street, 3), trade warehouses in the port, a document storage facility ‘Bunsyoko’ (Krasnoflotskaya Street, 1), a couple of rusty fire hydrants, and remnants of Shinto temples in the form of pillars with hieroglyphs. One of the local nighttime entertainments is watching the lights of the gas processing plant.

How to get there. Three electric trains a day, the journey takes just over an hour, and the ticket costs 75 rubles (0.75 euros).

Bird and Giant Capes

90 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Two capes, recognized as natural monuments in 1990, along whose coasts are many wind and wave-carved grottoes, caves, arches, and columns of various sizes and whimsical shapes, among which colonies of sea birds reside.

The place is not very close, but it’s very picturesque at any time of the year. In the area of one of the rocks, there is a pool where, during the salmon spawning period, you can observe a fascinating spectacle — a huge gathering of pink salmon.

Many tourists stay on the coast overnight to witness the sunset and sunrise. Near Cape Giant, there is a toilet, parking, and a rest area with benches.

How to get there. The journey from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk goes through the village of Okhotskoe, where you can buy fresh crabs, and takes about three hours one way. The road is fully passable only by high vehicles like Mitsubishi Pajero, Suzuki Jimny, as the last ten kilometers of the route have deep puddles, potholes, small cliffs, and rivers.

Nevelsk and Steller Sea Lions

Nevelsk is nestled between mountains and sea. The rocky mountains and the coast, which consists of small stone needles and shells, in every way explain why Chekhov so often mentioned in ‘The Island of Sakhalin’ how harsh the land of Sakhalin is.

Steller sea lions are the largest of the eared seals. One of their habitats is the breakwater in Nevelsk. As soon as you arrive in the town, the smell from the Steller sea lions’ haul-out site hits you. ‘They eat there, live, give birth to their young – that’s why it smells,’ the locals explain. Another feature is the noise. Steller sea lions are very loud!

You can view the sea lions from the central square, where binoculars are installed. However, tourists usually hire a boat and approach the haul-out site to get a closer look at the seals. You can see how the Steller sea lions bark, lie in the sun, jump into the sea and, most interestingly, try to jump back. The views from the square through binoculars are not as detailed and impressive. A place on the boat will cost 1000–1500 rubles (10.01 – (15.01 euros). You can also buy a tour from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for 3500 rubles (35.03 euros). The most animals are present in spring and early summer. In autumn, there may be a couple of dozen individuals left.

From the embankment, you can observe the huge kelp laminaria floating in the sea. Some travelers catch them themselves and eat them. Although dishes made from seaweed are found in cafes and also sold in stores. Signs are installed on the shore indicating where to run in case of a tsunami. The last major earthquake with waves was recorded in 2007. Many houses were destroyed and two people died. The most famous Sakhalin tsunami was the 1952 tragedy , when the aftermath of the earthquake almost completely destroyed Severo-Kurilsk.

How to get there. From the bus station (Karl Marx Street, 51b) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, buses go to Nevelsk, the ticket costs 300 rubles (3.00 euros), and the journey takes about an hour. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station ticket office or from the driver (cash or transfer). It’s not possible to board the bus somewhere in the city, as the bus does not make stops. It’s better to buy a return ticket immediately upon arrival in Nevelsk at the Nevelsk bus station ticket office (Lenina Street, 1). The bus is popular with locals, and there may simply be no seats left.

Remnants of structures from the Karafuto period include the Maoka-Jinja temple with a Japanese-style garden and an abandoned railway built by the Japanese. It used to connect Kholmsk with Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Tourists usually come to see two photogenic bridges – Devil’s and Witch’s – and a tunnel in the mountain that makes a full circle inside it. The trail passes along the old rails, and there are many vipers, so one needs to watch their step.

How to get there. The bus to Kholmsk takes two hours, the ticket costs 450 rubles (4.50 euros), with 14 trips a day.

Slepikovsky Cape and Lighthouse

120 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

At Slepikovsky Cape, there is the only relic grove of Korean cedar on Sakhalin. Also located here is the functioning Slepikovsky Lighthouse, which is a 27-meter tall round tower, connected by corridors to utility and residential buildings.

The cape and lighthouse are named after the commander of the Russian partisan detachment Bronislav Grotto-Slepikovsky, who operated in Southern Sakhalin during the 1904–1905 war. The route to the lighthouse goes through the villages of Yablochnoe and Sadovniki, where some of the best beaches on Sakhalin are located — with the cleanest water and white sand.

How to get there. The cape is located 29 kilometers north of Kholmsk. From Kholmsk to the turn towards the lighthouse, there is asphalt with dirt sections. From the turn to the lighthouse, there is first a dirt road, then beach sand, which is recommended to be driven on with deflated tires. Visiting time is from spring to autumn, as the road to the cape is not cleared in winter.

110 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

In 1891, when the island had a penal colony, this was the Russian village of Siraroko, named after a nearby Ainu settlement. In 1905, the south of Sakhalin was given to the Japanese, and the village was renamed Higashi Shiraura. Here there were a railway station, a brick factory, and a coal mine. 40 years later, the settlement was renamed Vzmorye.

During the Japanese times, there was the Shinto shrine Higashi Shiraura Inari-Jinja. Only the torii gates remain — P-shaped gates without doors that are placed on the path to a Shinto shrine. These are the only torii on Sakhalin. On the torii, there is an inscription ‘In honor of the 2600th anniversary of the foundation of Great Japan’ — this mythological date was widely celebrated in 1940.

On the way to the torii, you can see the famous giant burdocks and bear’s garlic. Vzmorye is also known as a place where poached crabs are sold along the highway.

How to get there. Two electric trains and one train that start from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk stop in Vzmorye. Unfortunately, all three are in the evening. You can also get there on passing buses that go to the north of the island.

Tikhaya Bay

140 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

On one side, the bay is framed by Mount Smely, and on the other side, the majestic Zhdanko Ridge begins. To the left in the bay itself is an island-kekur, which can be reached during low tide, as well as the epic cliffs of Tikhaya Cape. By the way, behind this cape, there are waterfalls that become icefalls in winter. At the base of the bay is the mouth of the Tikhaya River, where during the season you can see the spawning of pink salmon and chum salmon. Bears are aware of this, so they are often encountered here.

How to get there. Buses going to Poronaysk stop in the village of Tikhoye, near which the bay is located. There are four trips a day.

Aniva Lighthouse

The lighthouse has a complex history: there were attempts to maintain it under Soviet rule, but Aniva was so remote from inhabited areas that it was not profitable. Eventually, the lighthouse was switched to autonomous mode, bringing in a radioactive isotope to sustain its operation, and then it was completely closed. To this day, you can find signs on the walls reading ‘Caution, radioactive’. But now this warning is outdated, as the radioactive isotope was removed when the lighthouse was decommissioned. The lighthouse is very beautiful, offering views of the island and sea, and inside you can explore the remnants of rooms and working areas.

On the return trip, tourists are also taken to Mramornaya Bay, where you can also climb a mountain and view the jagged coast of Sakhalin from above. Orcas and whales are often encountered in these areas, most frequently in summer. I would also recommend taking a combined tour in summer to Aniva Lighthouse, the Blue Lakes, and Busse Lagoon, where you can see the amazingly blue waters and try sea urchins.

A kilometer from Novikov is Cape Tri Kamnya (46.320342 143.373006), which can even be reached by car. Four kilometers from the cape is the small Strelka waterfall , which requires a walk. If you stay in the village overnight, you can take a hike to the Blue (turquoise) Lakes (46.359603, 143.471909). On the way, there’s an abandoned Japanese power station. You can extend your route by another 15 kilometers and reach the opposite shore of the peninsula – to Cape Evstafiya. The road from Novikov to Cape Evstafyeva through the Blue Lakes can be driven in a jeep, if there hasn’t been prolonged rain before. But it’s better to ask in advance those who have recently been there, and get the phone number of a local tractor driver in Novikov, so that if something happens, he can pull you out.

How to get there. Getting there independently is almost impossible. The lighthouse is located on a rocky outcrop in the sea, and the nearest land is a high cliff. However, some people do reach Novikovo (the nearest village) by bus or car, and then walk 44 kilometers on foot to Aniva (the name of both the lighthouse and the bay). It takes about one and a half hours to drive from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Novikovo. And then another two hours of rough dirt road to the boat dock. A tour from the company ‘Friends-Hikers’ costs 6000 rubles (60.05 euros) in May (in summer – 7000 rubles (70.05 euros)).

Klokovsky Waterfall

190 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Klokovsky Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls on Sakhalin Island. Its height is variously reported to be 48–49 meters, with a width of up to nine meters. The waterfall is accessible year-round, but is most full in late spring and early summer.

Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky

The ‘Tri Brata’ (Three Brothers) rocks are definitely a symbol of Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, and perhaps of the entire island. They are located in the Alexandrovsk Gulf almost opposite Cape Zhonkiyor. From the cape, there is a stunning view of the vast Tatar Strait and the Three Brothers. At low tide, it’s possible to calmly explore all the attractions of the gulf, collect seaweed and shells, see hermit crabs scuttling along the seabed with their shells on their backs, or watch the leaves of laminaria sway. At the strongest low tide, you can even walk to the Three Brothers through the water.

In the 19th century, convicts carved a 90-meter tunnel through Cape Zhonkiyor to service the lighthouse. To reach the tunnel by land, you need to come at low tide. Otherwise, you’ll have to climb the rocks. The tunnel is lined with logs, but there is almost always water at the bottom and a strong wind howls through it. If you pass through the tunnel, you will see the ‘Tri Sestry’ (Three Sisters) rocks and an old lighthouse from the end of the 19th century. All these places are described by Chekhov in ‘The Island of Sakhalin’: ‘Most often we went to the lighthouse, which stands high above the valley, on Cape Zhonkiyor. During the day, the lighthouse, if looked at from below, is a modest white house with a mast and lantern, but at night it shines brightly in the darkness, and then it seems that the penal colony looks at the world with its red eye. The road to the house climbs steeply, winding around the mountain, past old larches and firs. The higher you climb, the freer you breathe; the sea spreads before your eyes, thoughts gradually come, having nothing to do with the prison, the penal colony, or the exile settlement, and only then do you realize how dull and difficult life is down below.’

How to get there. From Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is one bus trip per day – at 12:10. The ticket costs 2200 rubles (22.02 euros), and the journey takes nine hours.

600 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The main transit point on the way to the oil refineries. The village might be of interest to those curious to see a harsh northern town living off production: low-rise buildings made of siding and unexpectedly bright murals on the walls of five-story buildings. There is a local history museum in the village (Sovetskaya Street, 3) – it is praised for its excellent exhibition of the Nivkh culture and a monument to Nevelskoy. Also, one of the longest rivers of Sakhalin, the Tym (which translates from Nivkh as ‘spawning river’), flows through the town.

How to get there. A night train goes to Nogliki every day, taking almost 12 hours. The cheapest ticket in a seated carriage costs 1100 rubles (11.01 euros), a compartment – 4100 (41.03 euros). There is even a luxury (SV) carriage for 12600 rubles (126.09 euros).

Where to Stay

Hostels in the Far East are divided into work and tourist types. The former will also accommodate tourists, but the atmosphere there is like a dormitory where their own rules are already established, and you may feel like an uninvited guest. To avoid such a hostel, it’s important to carefully read the reviews, not book the cheapest hostels, not stay on the outskirts or near airports and train stations.

In the Islander hostel , mainly travelers stay, it’s very cozy, with convenient kitchen and showers with toilets. A double room costs 3000 rubles per day, and dorms – from 900 rubles (9.01 euros) per night. If you book directly through the website and for a long term, you can get a good discount.

The ‘Moneron’ hotel is located near the railway and bus stations. It’s a classic budget hotel with small clean rooms. The ‘comfort’ class rooms have a bath, and the hotel provides a complete set with slippers, towels, and a hairdryer. Prices start from 2800 rubles (28.02 euros) per night for a single economy room, while ‘comfort’ costs 4900 rubles (49.04 euros). Breakfast is included in the price.

The ‘Belka’ hotel building is made using Finnish technology in a wooden style from milled timber. The cost of large rooms with wooden walls and huge beds starts from 5800 rubles (58.04 euros). Breakfast is also included in the price. The hotel complex includes a sauna, spa, tavern, and gym.

Near Bussé Bay is the island’s only dome-shaped glamping site. A night for two costs 8000-10,000 rubles (80.06 – 100.08 euros). An extra bed is 2000 (20.02 euros). Each dome has a shower, toilet, and electricity. On cooler days, you can light the stove and sit by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa.

In other towns, apart from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the choice of hotels is quite modest and usually limited to one or two hotels, which cannot always be booked online. They have to be found on the map and booked by phone.

Transport on the Island

Car. If you’re only traveling between cities, there won’t be any problems – the roads between them are mostly paved, and the dirt roads are of more or less good quality. It gets more complicated with natural attractions. Almost all of them are accessed by dirt roads, which not every car can navigate.

In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, ‘Yandex.Taxi’ and ‘Maxim’ operate (also in Korsakov and Kholmsk). A trip within the city limits will cost a maximum of 300 rubles (3.00 euros).

Railway. From Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, about 30 electric trains depart daily. Most of them go to nearby areas like Dalnyaya, Khristoforovka, and Novoaleksandrovka stations – 8–23 minutes travel time.

To other cities, there’s only one electric train per day. It takes an hour to Korsakov and the ticket costs 80 rubles (0.80 euro). To Tomari, it’s four hours and 300 rubles (3.00 euros). To Poronaysk, it’s five hours of travel and 500 rubles (5.00 euros) for a ticket. Long-distance electric trains depart in the evening, as these routes are used by residents of the province who return from work in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to their homes.

There is also one train on the island – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Nogliki, 12 hours of travel and 1100 rubles (11.01 euros) for a ticket in a sitting carriage.

Buses. It seems you can reach even the most remote settlements by bus. Often there’s only one trip per day, but at least it exists. To Kholmsk, Nevelsk, and Korsakov, the journey takes about an hour and a half, with tickets costing around 300 rubles (3.00 euros); to Poronaysk and Uglegorsk, it’s four to five hours and 1200 rubles (12.01 euros) for a ticket. You can check the current schedule on avtovokzaly.ru . But it’s always better to double-check by phone: +7 (4242) 72-25-53. The address of the bus station is Karl Marx Street, 51b.

Airplane. Sakhalin has a quite extensive network of airports, and you can fly from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Okha, Zonalnoye, Shakhtyorsk, Poronaysk, Smirnykh, Yuzhno-Kurilsk, and Iturup. Flights are operated by the Far Eastern airlines ‘Aurora’ and ‘Taiga’ . These routes are served by small propeller planes Bombardier and Mi-8 helicopters. Such a flight is an interesting experience in itself. Moreover, some flights are quite inexpensive. For example, to Zonalnoye, Shakhtyorsk, and Poronaysk, tickets cost 2000–3000 rubles (20.02 – 30.02 euros) one way. To Okha and the Kurils – from 6000 rubles (60.05 euros).

Ferry. From Korsakov, ferries run to different settlements in the Kurils every three to four days. The ferry to Kurilsk takes about 22 hours, to Yuzhno-Kurilsk – 22–30 hours, and to Malokurilskoye – about 40 hours. Interestingly, a ticket to any of these settlements costs from 2800 rubles (28.02 euros), available on the website of the ferry company.

How to get there

By plain. To travel to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from Europe, passengers typically fly through major transit hubs. Common routes involve flying from a European city to one of the major Russian airports offering direct flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, such as Moscow’s Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airports. In 2023 it is only possible to fly to Moscow from major transit hubs such as Istanbul or Erevan. From there, travelers can catch one of the direct flights to the island. Some routes might also include stops or transfers in other large cities in Russia or Asia, depending on the airline and the flight itinerary, for instance, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Blagoveshchensk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Sovetskaya Gavan, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There is even one international flight from Harbin, China.

In good weather, on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, you can see the Tatar Strait, the Western Ridge, and the city itself. The airport is located within the city limits, and from there, you can easily reach any point by public transport (buses 63 and 3) or taxi.

Ferry. Vanino (Khabarovsk Krai) to Kholmsk (Sakhalin) . Passenger tickets for the ferry are sold at the Vanino railway station or at the ticket office in Kholmsk (Lenin Square, 5). They can also be reserved by phone: +7 (42137) 74088 (Vanino), +7 (42433) 50880 (Kholmsk). The ferries run daily, with a journey time of 18–20 hours. A seat costs 650 rubles (6.50 euros), while the cheapest cabin spot is 1400 rubles (14.01 euros). There is a dining room on board.

I was on the island in early May, and this has its pros and cons. On one hand, it’s already not very cold in Sakhalin at this time, and you can walk around in a light jacket or sweatshirt, and sometimes even just in a T-shirt. At the end of spring, you can catch the largest number of Steller sea lions in Nevelsk (closer to summer they migrate towards Avacha Bay). Also at this time, you can see the forest awakening: streams penetrate it from all sides, in their floodplains swamp callas bloom, meadows fill with primroses, and the hills are covered with bright green bamboo shoots. On the other hand, there is still snow in the mountains, in which you can get stuck while climbing, and the sea, which is not very warm in these areas, is completely unsuitable for swimming.

In summer, Sakhalin is not very hot, the coast blooms with wild roses, the sea warms up a bit, and there is less chance of bad weather when visiting remote attractions. Also, it’s precisely at this time you can see orcas (June – July) and whales (July – August), as well as the salmon spawning.

In winter, snowboarders and skiers come to Sakhalin. The mountains on the island are not high, so they are suitable even for beginners.

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