Wakeboarding is the watersport that hooks teenagers fast. The pop-up, the gliding feel as the rope tightens, that first cut across the wake. It's the kind of activity that pulls older kids back into the family schedule when they thought they'd outgrown the trip.

The hotels in this collection have built genuine wakeboarding programs. Think proper wakeboard boats with tower and ballast, or cable-towed systems with their consistent pull and beginner-friendly speeds. Qualified instructors handle the teaching, and equipment is properly sized for kids from around eight. Kneeboarding alternatives are often available for younger children.

The properties on this list with serious wakeboarding offerings tend to be the same ones investing across a broad watersports program. For families with kids who like a challenge and a thrill, the wakeboard session quickly becomes the most-anticipated part of the day.

Below are the top family hotels with wakeboarding, sorted by overall score.