Lodging in Plymouth and the South Shore runs the full gamut from motor lodges and historic hideaways to elegant luxury hotels. Ocean view or not you won't miss with this these choices.

South Shore Sleepovers

Plymouth is a popular family destination, and reasonably priced accommodations abound. The kids will adore the Pilgrim Cove Indoor Theme Pool at the John Carver Inn (25 Summer Street, 508-746-7100 or 800-274-1620, www.johncarverinn.com), which is on the site of the original Pilgrim settlement; the John Carver's Beach Plum Spa is kid-friendly, too, and a perfect place for moms and daughters to enjoy manicures or pedicures. The Best Western Cold Spring (188 Court Street, 508-746-2222 or 800-678-8667, www.bestwestern.com) offers comfortable accommodations within walking distance of waterfront attractions, plus free breakfast and a heated outdoor pool. The Governor Bradford on the Harbour (98 Water Street, 508-746-6200 or 800-332-1620, www.governorbradford.com) features ninety-four guest rooms and an enviable location overlooking Plymouth Harbor. At the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor (180 Water Street, 508-747-4900, www.radissonplymouth.com), enjoy the indoor pool and proximity to Plymouth Rock and other attractions.

For Nantasket Beach vacations, Clarion's Nantasket Beach Hotel & Conference Center (45 Hull Shore Drive, 781-925-4500, www.nantasketbeachhotel.com) offers an ideal waterfront location, plus an indoor/outdoor pool with a retractable roof and an on-site restaurant with an outdoor deck.

In the Fall River/New Bedford area, try the eighty-four-room Comfort Inn New Bedford/Dartmouth (171 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth, 508-996-0800 or 800-228-5150, www.comfortinndartmouth.com) or the Best Western Fall River (360 Airport Road, Fall River, 508-672-0011 or 800-780-7234, www.bestwestern.com), which has free breakfast and an indoor pool.

Family Resorts on Cape Cod and the Islands

Cape Cod has lodging establishments of every conceivable size and type, from family motor inns to chain hotels to rental homes to distinctive B&Bs to elegant inns to exclusive resorts. For a first-class stay, there are a number of fine resorts with amenities galore, from private beaches and golf courses to supervised children's programs and even an indoor water park.

The 400-acre Ocean Edge Resort & Club (Route 6A, Brewster, 508-896-9000 or 800-343-6074, www.oceanedge.com), has a private beach, four outdoor pools, two indoor pools, an 18-hole golf course, four restaurants, two tennis complexes, a fitness center, bike trails, and five hot tubs. In the summer, the optional half-day or full-day Ocean EdgeVenture program keeps kids ages four to twelve active and entertained. Kid's Night Out-themed dinner programs are also offered on select summer evenings. The whole family can enjoy a variety of offerings, from beach bonfires to bingo nights to barbecues on the front lawn of the historic mansion. The focal point of the resort, the mansion was a private estate. Accommodations range from hotel-style mansion rooms to one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. They are situated on both sides of Route 6A, and shuttles provide transportation around the resort.

The Red Jacket Beach Resort (1 South Shore Drive, South Yarmouth, 508-398-6941 or 800-672-0500, www.redjacketresorts.com) is a smaller-scale property, but it has three amenities that can really enhance your family's vacation: a private beach and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Choose from a full range of accommodations, from hotel-style rooms to multibedroom cottages. A supervised children's program is available in the summer, and guests have access to an on-site spa, tennis courts, water sports, and a restaurant, as well as facilities at other Red Jacket properties on the Cape, including the Blue Rock Golf Course.

At the Cape Codder Resort & Spa (1225 Iyanough Road, Hyannis, 508-771-3000 or 888-297-2200, www.capecodderresort.com), year-round water fun is on tap. That's because the property is home to an indoor water park featuring a wave pool, whirlpool, waterfalls, and two water slides. The resort also features a spa, an on-site Hearth'n Kettle restaurant, a wine bar, a tennis court, and a playground. A full schedule of activities and entertainment for kids and families is also offered in the summer months.

The centrally located Bayside Resort Hotel (225 Main Street, West Yarmouth, 508-775-5669 or 800-243-1114, www.baysideresort.com) has 128 rooms and suites, a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness and fun centers, free wireless Internet access, and a customer rewards program that can earn you a free stay. Sea Crest Resort (350 Quaker Road, North Falmouth, 508-540-9400, www.seacrest-resort.com) offers a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, an arcade, a fitness center, and a summer day camp program for children ages three to twelve.

For family getaways on Nantucket, Harbor House Village (South Beach Street, 508-228-1500 or 866-325-9300, www.harborhousevillage.com) makes a good home base; you can even take your dog and board him at the Woof Hotel. If you're taking the kids to Martha's Vineyard, the Winnetu Oceanside Resort (South Beach, Edgartown, 508-310-1733 or 866-335-1133, www.winnetu.com) was just built in 2000 and caters to families with well-furnished suite accommodations and organized programs for children in the summer.

Budget-Friendly Cape Cod Lodgings

If your family vacation budget is limited, don't rule Cape Cod out. There are many independently owned hotels and motels with reasonable rates. Rates are always highest during the peak summer season, but the Cape is lovely year-round. So take advantage of off-season discounts and a quieter Cape if you're looking for value.

The centrally located Seacoast Inn (33 Ocean Street, Hyannis, 800-466-4100, www.seacoastcapecod.com) offers basic motel-style accommodations with a few perks, including complimentary continental breakfast and wireless Internet access. Best Value Inn & Suites (206 Main Street, Hyannis, 508-775-5225 or 866-327-9416, www.bestvalueinncapecod.com) is another affordable and central choice with indoor and outdoor pools and a free continental breakfast.

For an extended family stay, Cape Cod Harbor House Inn (119 Ocean Street, Hyannis, 800-211-5551, www.harborhouseinn.net) offers eighteen mini-suites with kitchenettes.

A stay at Centerville Corners Inn (1338 Craigville Beach Road, Centerville, 508-775-7223 or 800-242-1137, www.centervillecorners.com) may save you some money on beach parking fees if you're up for the half-mile walk to Craigville Beach. The budget-priced, pet-friendly, WiFi-equipped motel also has an indoor pool and free continental breakfast.

In South Yarmouth, All Seasons Motor Inn (1199 Main Street, 508-394-7600 or 800-527-0359, www.allseasons.com) has heated indoor and outdoor pools and a game room for the kids, plus prices that will please parents.

If you're headed to the Outer Cape, Cove Bluffs Motel and Efficiencies(25 Sea view Road, Eastham, 508-240-1616, www.capecodorleans.com/covebluffs) is a rare Cape property with motel rooms priced under $100 in-season; kids will like the swings, sandbox, and outdoor pool. Or, insure yourselves against rainy days by booking an affordable room or efficiency unit at Mainstay Motor Inn (2068 Route 6, South Wellfleet, 508-349-2350 or 800-346-2350, www.mainstaymotorinn.com), which has an indoor heated pool.

Cape Cod is home to a number of campgrounds, which offer families another affordable alternative in the summer months. Two of the largest facilities are Bourne Scenic Park (370 Scenic Highway, Bourne, 508-759-7873, www.bournescenicpark.com), located on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, and Peters Pond RV Resort (185 Cotuit Road, Sandwich, 508-477-1775, www.peterspond.com), which has two sandy lake beaches for swimming and other recreational facilities.

Visit the Massachusetts Association of Campground Owners Web site (www.campmass.com) for more options.

Be sure to call the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce (888-33-CAPECOD) to request your free guide to the area, including extensive accommodations listings. You can also download the guide from the Chamber's Web site (www.capecodchamber.org).