Greece // Crete

What Greek island do you pick when you want to: (1) stay in one place for more than a few days, (2) entertain a group of people whose age, interests, and activity level range run the gamut (albeit most were on the same napping schedule), and (3) is accessible via airplane from Athens which cuts down on travel time?  The answer is Crete.

We went back on forth on whether to visit the Ionian or the Cyclades Islands on this trip.  All of my primary travel companions (with the exception of Mila who is all of three years old) had been to Greece before (some more than once), and liked the idea of visiting uncharted territories.  I was behind this idea for a bit too (who doesn't want to go to Ship Wreck Bay in Zakynthos?).  

After a lot of Lonely Planet reading, I finally decided that the Ionian Islands would have to wait because I didn't want to pass up Santorini.  Anyway, back to Crete.