Ready for more family travels in the new year? Try one of these museums, resorts, theme parks, or hotels that is set to open in 2019.
CocoCay Private Island | Bahamas
Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas is unlike any island you’ve ever been to. That’s because it’s a private island exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests — and designed to bring the thrill (and chill) for every age. The attractions and experiences at Perfect Day at CocoCay are set to open in phases, with plans to have everything open for December 2019. Guests can start enjoying features like Thrill Waterpark, the Zip Line, Splashaway Bay aqua park, Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool and more as early as May 2019. Most of the experiences at Perfect Day at CocoCay are complimentary, and there are plenty of free beach chairs and beachside activities — not to mention five new complimentary dining venues located throughout the island.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park | London
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is in the midst of completing a multi-million pound renovation of the entire hotel. Inspired by the natural beauty of neighboring Hyde Park, internationally renowned designer, Joyce Wang, is overseeing the new design of all the rooms, suites and public areas, including the addition of elegant new suites. The stunning reimagining of The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London has been under the guidance of celebrated design guru Adam D. Tihany. The hotel is set to reopen Spring 2019.
JW Marriott Turnberry | Miami, Florida
This new world-class waterpark, Tidal Cove, will include a FlowRider® Triple, kids’ splash park, lazy river and 25 luxury cabanas as well as two distinct dining options, Surf House Bar & Grill and FreeStyle. Tidal Cove is set to debut Spring 2019. This will be in addition to the new 16 story Orchid guest tower and overall updated and additions to the common spaces all throughout the 300 acre property.
Statue of Liberty Museum | New York City
Scheduled to open in May 2019, the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island will be home to the statue’s original torch — to be housed behind 22 feet high glass walls — and have unobstructed views of Lady Liberty. The $70 million museum will contain interactive displays, museum galleries and an immersive theater experience. As for its building materials, the Statue of Liberty Museum is being constructed with the same granite, bronze and copper that 19th-century architect Richard Morris Hunt incorporated in the statue’s pedestal. Its roof is planted with native meadow grasses to create a natural habitat for local and migrating birds.
Jurassic World, Universal Studios Hollywood | California
Colossal, dimensional dinosaurs will roam the Earth and astound guests when Universal Studios Hollywood debuts an all-new “Jurassic World” ride, an epic adventure inspired by Universal Pictures’ blockbuster film Jurassic World. Drawing from favorite elements of the original “Jurassic Park—The Ride,” this next-generation thrill ride will be a fully reimagined iteration of the ground-breaking adventure, elevating every facet of the experience.
The First Hotel | Rome
The First Hotel in Rome is opening its second and third properties in 2019 (Dolce and Sensi). All properties are located in the main historic district of Rome, and a reservation at one property gives guests access to all properties. Try the kid-friendly Michelin star restaurant, cooking classes for kids, pool, spa and more. Baby-sitting services are available and the concierges help tailor guests’ stay for their preferences and interests.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park | Kansas
Much-anticipated Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park near Oakley is expected to open to the public by mid-2019. The mile-long valley of 100-foot-tall spires and cliffs encompasses the state’s largest Niobrara Chalk formations, which previously had no public access. Trails cross the historic territory that once saw the likes of “Wild Bill” Hickok and “Buffalo Bill” Cody pass through, and today is home to wildlife and plants rarely found anywhere else in the world.
Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement | St. Petersburg, Florida
Anticipated to open in the summer of 2019, this privately funded museum will celebrate the late 19th- and early 20th-century artistic movement by showcasing the collection of local businessman and collector Rudy Ciccarello. Pieces will encompass metalwork, lighting, pottery, tile, furniture, photography and other decorative arts. The museum is said to be comprised of granite from South America and feature bronze detailing. Its interior will contain an atrium, a circular staircase and 40,000 square feet of gallery space along with a 100-seat auditorium, resource library, children’s education center, 9,000-square-foot destination restaurant, café, retail store, graphic arts studio and event space.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland | California
Guests will experience intergalactic adventures in the highly-anticipated Star Wars–themed land, “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” at the Disneyland Resort. The 14-acre land will open in summer 2019 with two anchor attractions – one that gives guests the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and another that puts guests right in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Guests will also encounter characters, including BB-8, Chewbacca, Rex and Kylo Ren.
National Museum of African American Music | Nashville, Tennessee
Music City’s 2019 arrival is said to be the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the accomplishments of more than 50 music genres created, influenced or inspired by African Americans. A place of education and preservation for this influence, the 56,000-square-foot museum will welcome visitors with a Rivers of Rhythm Pathway where they will be taken from the beginnings of American music with Southern religious and blues traditions to hip-hop and Rhythm & Blues.
Chase Center | San Francisco, California
A first-of-its-kind in San Francisco, Chase Center will serve as a world-class sports and entertainment destination. Scheduled for completing in August 2019 – in advance of the 2019-20 National Basketball Association season – the center will be the new home of the Golden State Warriors, while offering visitors a tremendous culinary and retail scene.
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana | Dominican Republic
Opening in the private community of Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic this year is the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. For multi-generational travel that guarantees togetherness with an adults-only escape for the people in your entourage who can swing it, it’s an ideal family resort in the Caribbean. Beyond the multiple pools, the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana will have a water park with slides for adults and kids alike, a lazy river and a splash pad for the youngest ones in your crew. Dining options will include a wide range of cuisine to suit every taste bud at the table: from Italian to Asian/Mongolian — plus an old-school diner outlet with ice cream sundaes. The resort is expected to open in November 2019.
Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito | California
Santa Barbara’s highly anticipated beachfront resort, Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito, will open in February 2019. The expansive resort will offer 124 guestrooms and 37 suites, many of which will be located in single-story cottages and bungalows. Guests will enjoy amenities including an oceanfront bar and restaurant, two swimming pools, a Sense® spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, and one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in Santa Barbara.
Cartoon Network Hotel | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Yet another kids TV network is preparing its own experiential offering for fans. The Cartoon Network Hotel & Resort will open next summer in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Cartoon Network has teamed up with Palace Entertainment for its first hotel. The nine-acre Cartoon Network Hotel & Resort includes 165 hotel rooms and suites, all of which have interchangeable show theming that’s customizable around kids’ preferences. It will feature characters from popular Cartoon Network shows like Adventure Time, We Bare Bears and The Powerpuff Girls.
AMERICAN EVOLUTION™ | Virginia
1619 was a pivotal year in the establishment of the first permanent English colony in North America. It was the year of the first representative legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first recorded Africans to English North America, the recruitment of English women in significant numbers, the first official English Thanksgiving in North America, and the development of the Virginia colony’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. AMERICAN EVOLUTION™ commemorates the 400th anniversary of several key historical events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured events, programs, and legacy projects inspire local, national, and international engagement in the themes of democracy, diversity, and opportunity.
Islas Secas | Panama
Officially opening this January, Islas Secas Reserve & Panama Lodge is an elevated outpost of adventure on Panama’s Pacific Coast. This Panama lodge, located in a private archipelago of 14 islands, is a secluded and sustainable destination for world-class fishing, diving and other marine adventures. Islas Secas is the vision of American conservation philanthropist Louis Bacon who wanted to share the wonders of this archipelago with fellow adventurers and nature lovers.
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos | Mexico
Scheduled to open in May 2019, this all-inclusive Hard Rock hotel is bringing families a new lodging option along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. All rooms here will have beach views, and the Los Cabos property will boast five swimming pools, as well as the rockin’ Roxity Kids Club, complete with tennis courts, a bowling alley and basketball courts. Family suites have two connecting rooms, but the luxe splurge on the property is the swim-up oceanfront suite, also with two bedrooms, and with direct pool access.
Calico River Rapids, Knott’s Berry Farm | California
A new expedition awaits eager explorers with the upcoming debut of Calico River Rapids, opening at Knott’s Berry Farm in Summer 2019. Knott’s whitewater raft ride, currently known as BigFoot Rapids, will undergo a major renovation with the addition of new features including new animatronics, themed show scenes, a new story overlay and dynamic water effects. The circular raft ride, which seats six passengers, will take rafters through a variety of wild surprises, such as roaring rapids and indigenous wildlife.