We spend way too much time looking at other people’s beach vacations on Instagram and wishing we had sand stuck between our toes. While some of the best beaches in the world are known for surf and parties, families generally look for more low key beaches with calmer waves. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, there are so many great beaches for families in North America. We asked some fellow family travelers to share with us their recommendations for the best beaches in North America with kids and came up with this amazing list:
Akumal Bay Beach – Mexico
One of the most kid friendly beaches in all of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera might be the beach on Akumal Bay. Known as one of the best places in all of Mexico to easily swim with sea turtles right from the shore, Akumal Bay Beach is also great for kids of all ages. As an added bonus, it is fairly easy to reach as it is located between the major tourist centers of Playa del Carmen and Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
With silky, fine white sand and almost no waves due to the natural reef protecting the area, Akumal is a great place for turtles and also your little ones. With many palm trees and places to throw down a towel, it’s a fun beach to spread out water toys and let the little ones enjoy the calm waters.
There are also a few restaurants, plus washrooms just off the beach, so it is easy to grab something to snack on while enjoying a day at the beach.
Recommended by Micki and Charles Kosman from The Barefoot Nomad. Find out more from Micki and Charles about Akumal.
Destin Beach – Florida
Destin, Florida is home to an amazing white sand beach with emerald colored ocean water on the Gulf of Mexico. It is the perfect beach for kids since the sand is super soft and the water is crystal clear. Families can spend all day at the beach building sandcastles and playing in the gentle water and then finish the night off with a beautiful sunset over the ocean. Beach life at it’s best!
For some non-beach action, Destin is filled with great family friendly restaurants, pirate cruises and dolphin cruises, fishing expeditions, go-carts and arcades – Destin has it all!
Recommended by Bryanna from Crazy Family Adventure. Find out more from Bryanna about Destin.
Fort Myers Beach – Florida
Fort Myers Beach is fun for all ages! The northern end of the island is home to numerous bars and restaurants that let visitors dine or drink beachside. The southern end of the island is mostly home to condos and quiet beaches. North or south, a sunset view is on the horizon (literally), and anyone will be glad to pull up a chair. While nearby Sanibel Island is known for being a sheller’s dream, we found numerous sand dollars on Fort Myers Beach that were just washed up on the shore. Beach access points are throughout the island but they do contain metered parking and it’s $2/hour.
Fort Myers Beach is family-friendly because the sand is spacious with no major drop-offs. Being on the Gulf of Mexico, the calmer water makes it easier to watch small children! In perfect weather conditions, it can be as smooth as a warm bathtub. We traveled in November, and there were few tourists, but do note that November is hurricane season.
Recommended by Leah Yoder from Yoder Toter Blog. Find out more from Leah about Fort Myers.
Ko Olina Beach – Hawaii
Ko Olina beach on O’ahu does kid friendly better than any other beach on the island. What sets Ko Olina apart from the other Pacific Ocean beaches are the four manmade lagoons. Instead of waves crashing right on top of swimmers, they crash into a rock wall before gently moving to the shore. This calm water makes Ko Olina the ideal beach for kids of all ages.
For a short trip to the beach or an all day excursion, Ko Olina is set up to accommodate the whole family. Each lagoon comes equipped with showers, restrooms, and changing rooms. If visitors happen to forget sunscreen or sand toys, there are convenience stores within walking distance of each lagoon.
Ko Olina also offers a wide range of kid friendly entertainment. For an authentic Hawaiian experience, head over to the Paradise Cove Luau for arts and crafts, dinner, and a wonderful show. For a more laid back experience, stick around Lagoon 1 for Ko Olina’s Disney Movie Night under the stars.
With everything this beach has to offer, kids and parents of all ages are sure to have an excellent experience at the wonderful Ko Olina.
Recommended by Casey Harkleroad from Our Happy Place.
Lewes Beach – Delaware
Lewes is a Mid-Atlantic beach on the bay; the sand is coarse and the water cool. Houses line up right along the beach and the local Dairy Queen has been the only place to buy food on that beach for 30 years. Everyday, a sand bar pops up at low tide.
Nearby family-friendly activities include:
- Grab an ice cream at Kings Ice Cream and stroll to the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Cemetery, which features tombstones dating back to the early 1700s.
- Let the kids pretend to be pirates and head out to the Pirates of Lewes Expeditions.
- Fisherman’s Wharf provides head and charter boats for fishing excursions, including gear, bait and fishing assistance.
- Cape Henelopen State Park has a surf-filled public beach. Hike the World War II bunkers, climb the observation towers, and pretend to search for enemy submarines. Buy gear, bait, and a fishing license from the store at the end of the pier, and then drop bait.
- Walk Rehoboth’s boardwalk to Funland, a family-owned carousel. Enjoy its original rides and a few thrill ride for older kids. Afterwards, head for a walk and dinner on the boardwalk.
Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers. Find out more from Alison about Lewes.
Martha’s Vineyard – Massachusetts
The Island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of the Cape Cod peninsula offers a beach for every type of taste and family. From calm waters and big waves, to beaches only accessible by hiking, families will find a different beach experience to fill their days and nights while on The Vineyard. The cliffs and lighthouse of Aquinnah (aka Gay Head) is an experience unique to The Vineyard. No trip to Martha’s Vineyard would be complete without heading out to the fishing village of Menemsha to eat fresh lobster and watch the sunset. Lastly, families can incorporate history by taking their kids to swim at The Inkwell Beach and watch the famous Polar Bears of Martha’s Vineyard as they engage in their ocean exercise (daily at 7:00 a.m. early July until Labor Day) which is deep in history, community and culture. The Polar Bears are a group of African American men and women who swim and pray each morning in the waters of The Inkwell Beach. Once families experience what the regulars call being on vineyard time, the kids will be asking to make an annual pilgrimage to the island.
Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.
South Beach, Miami, Florida
Even though many may not consider South Beach somewhere to bring children, it is an amazing, kid-friendly beach. At South Point Park, parking, playground, bathrooms, splash pad and a snack stand are available before even hitting the sand! The beach isn’t as large, so pulling a stroller is just a small workout. There are a lot of locals on the weekends, so come early for a good spot or consider visiting on weekdays. Because there are no chair or umbrella rentals on this section of the beach, it’s necessary to come prepared.
A few more things to do with kids in the South Beach area include:
- Flamingo park with an amazing water park area for the kids
- Bike path following the whole stretch of Ocean Drive
- Lincoln Road shopping, dining and street performers
- Parrot Jungle shows and snacks
- Miami Children’s Museum for a break from the sun or a rainy day activity
Have fun, and pop into Mangos for a salsa show and mojito!
Recommended by Izzy Rixon from New York Nomadic Project.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
The Outer Banks of North Carolina (or OBX as locals call it) is super kid friendly because there is literally something for everyone. With over 100 miles of coastline, kids can surf, skim board, boogie board, and swim to their heart’s content. If they’re not into waves, they can play in the sand or head over to the sound side where adults can fish, crab, kayak, paddleboard, or rent a boat or jet ski. For families looking for a more rustic experience, there are areas to drive a 4×4 onto the beach, camp, or look for wild horses. And when the children get tired of the sun and sand, there is also the aquarium, water park, lighthouse, or the local historical sites. The possibilities are endless!
Recommended by Julie from More than Main Street. Find out more about why Julie’s family loves this area in her kid friendly Outer Banks guide.
Vanderbilt Beach, Naples, Florida
We are lucky enough to travel to southwest Florida every year, and our favorite beach in the region is Vanderbilt Beach. Located in North Naples, at the end of Vanderbilt Beach road, this beach, known as “Vandy” by the locals is such a great family spot! Access to the beach is free, and there is a parking garage adjacent – with only a $7 parking charge. From the garage, it’s a short walk to the sand. The beach is beautiful and clean, with warm, calm and clear Gulf of Mexico water. It’s a great spot to rent a Stand Up Paddle Board, a kayak, or as we always do – a jet ski!
This beach has clamshells and chairs for rent, life jackets for use (free), bathrooms and a little snack bar. It does get crowded, but go early and/or walk down the beach a bit for a more empty spot to lay your blanket. Also, plan to spend the day – Vanderbilt Beach is a very popular place to watch a beautiful, southwest Florida over water sunset!
By Harmony Skillman from Momma To Go. Find out more from Harmony about Naples.
Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Few beaches carry a cachet the way Waikiki does. Mention the name, and the listener immediately pictures hula dancers, royal Hawaiian surfers, and a mile long silky stretch of golden sand slowly melting into the warm embrace of the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii, and the island of Oahu where Waikiki is located, does not need any introduction. This is where people go to enjoy the sun and the sea, to see and feel the tropics and the legendary hospitality of the islands. This is the land of Moana and Lilo, of play and plenty.
It is almost true, at least the part of the silky sand and the warm ocean. Since Waikiki beach literally is located in front of several great hotels – and condo complexes behind them – it is easily accessible for people who want to enjoy the ocean. The beach is accessible with a stroller, but there are not too many public restrooms available on the beach itself.
Although the big surfing waves are not suitable for small kids, a toddler will run and laugh an entire day, trying to avoid the waves (or catch them). There are also several wavebreaks along the beach, creating calm pools where smaller kids can play. The water is shallow, and the sand is silky and smooth.
Those mild breezes rustle palm trees and banyans behind you. The tropical sun illuminates the holiday landscape, coating everything golden. Just remember sunscreen on the kids. The sun is a lot stronger than it seems.
Recommended by Wisterian from Wisterian Watertree.
Xpu-Ha Beach – Mexico
There’s no question that the Mayan Riviera is littered with stunning white sand beaches with turquoise water; however, it was Xpu-Ha Beach that impressed us the most. What we loved most about Xpu-Ha Beach was how shallow the water was for a long time and how small the waves typically were. It was also pretty quiet, with only one major resort and a few other boutique hotels along the beach. As parents of two young children, we enjoyed having the space to let them run and also being able to let them play in the water without worrying they would be knocked over by the waves. With the calm water, it was also a great spot to try stand-up paddleboarding for the first time and letting the kids get out on the board for a ride.
Xpu-Ha beach is located approximately 35 minutes south of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The beach is public and free, but there is a small fee to drive on the access road to get to the beach.
Recommended by Celine Brewer from Baby Can Travel. Find out more from Celine about the Mayan Riviera.
We definitely can’t wait to visit more of these top beaches in North America. Ready to hit the beach right now? Check out our Fun Family Beaches in Asia, Europe, Australia and Central and South America .
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6 comments
Such a great collection of beaches! We don’t get to the coasts, but I’d love to go. It is something my whole family would love. I saw a picture of sand dunes near Destin, and I swear it looked like snow!
A beach trip sounds amazing right now! I’ve been to Waikiki Beach, but none of the others on your list. We’ve been talking about a Miami trip, so maybe South Beach will be next!
This is such an awesome list! I have been to many of these. Love the OBX – need to get back down there! Thanks for having me. Excited to read more of the world-wide beaches!
Beach vacations are the best!! Love these photos!!
I’ve been to Destin and Ft. Myers and can attest to their beauty!
I’m a total beach bum, so this post completely speaks my language! I’ve sadly not been to any of these and I need to change that fast.