We Go With Kids!

Tag: beach

  • Things to Do in Kauai with Kids

    Things to Do in Kauai with Kids

    Kauai has long been high on my list of destinations to visit. Having just moved from the East Coast to the West Coast last summer, a trip to Kauai suddenly became much more feasible for our family of four when it was no longer a 12+ hour journey. When time came to plan our spring break, I did some quick research and within hours had my family of four booked (flights + hotel) for a week long stay in Kauai for next to zero dollars out of pocket.  A busy work schedule coupled with two kids in different schools prevented me from doing as much research as I would have liked, prior to our trip to Kauai. Thus, we ended up embarking on a relatively unscheduled and unplanned week in Kauai, with just broad notions as to what we would like to do, but not actually having activities scheduled in prior to departure. We ended up having a ast in Kauai and I would say it is one of my Top 5 Family Vacations – perhaps even Top 3!  Here’s my list of things to do in Kauai with kids!

    1. Shaka Guide North Shore Kauai Driving Tour

    Shaka Guide offers guided GPS tours on four Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. In 2013, my family visited Maui with our then 4 year old and did purchase a guided CD tour of the Road to Hana. I don’t believe Shaka Guide was available at the time, but given the rave reviews online, I decided to download the Shaka Guide prior to our trip to Kauai and it turned out to be a great decision. The Shaka Guide North Shore Kauai Driving Tour provides three hours of audio guidance and although my husband was skeptical at first, it ended up introducing us to some of the highlights of our trip, including the “Gilligan’s Island” Beach and our hike down to “Secret Beach,” all of which we likely would not have found had it not been for the Shaka Guide.

    Gilligan’s Island Beach; likely my favorite beach on the planet.

     

    The walk down to Secret Beach; we followed a woman carrying a surfboard on her head because, of course we did.
    Secret Beach

    The beaches we experienced as part of the Shaka Guide were so great that we ended up planning a whole day around a return trip to one of the featured beaches, Gilligan’s Island Beach. Our Shaka Guide tour ended up being approximately 3.5 hours, including numerous stops and hikes down to various places, like Secret Beach, so for $10, it was money well spent. Our kids enjoyed it as we were definitely off the beaten path in Kauai.

    2. Kayak Hanalei Bay

    One of the fun memories I have of my pre-college years is kayaking with my brothers. When I was in high school, we had some crazy kayaking adventures in Catalina Island and San Diego. Suffice it to say, kayaking is high on my list of things to do, anywhere we are, and my husband and kids have become accustomed to my building in kayaking time wherever we are.

    Kayaking Hanalei Bay was one of the kayaking adventures I was really hoping to experience in Kauai. Although my four year old has kayaked with us before (usually as the middle person on a two person kayak), I didn’t know if he’d be able to go the distance as part of a larger kayaking excursion. Kayak Hanalei offer double kayak rentals at $60/day for pre-1pm rentals and at a reduced price of $45 for post-1pm rentals.  After a morning spent exploring the North Shore, I decided that we might as well see how my four year old would do on the kayak. Given that it was after 1pm, we paid $90 for two, double kayak rentals, which came complete with wet bags.

    He was so comfy, he fell asleep on the ride down to the confluence and had to be shaken awake

    To my surprise, we had a fabulous time! We barely made it back by closing time, 5pm, as we decided to extend our little kayaking excursion from the bay to the confluence; but long story short, we saw sea turtles, disembarked to enjoy a snack (and beer for the adults),  and just overall enjoyed being out on the water. I highly recommend this adventure with kids.

    3. Spend the Day at the Beach

    My husband and I are busy people who like to be on the go when we are on vacation. Our kids, however, can happily spend the day at the beach. We made sure to build in plenty of beach time and Kauai’s unspoiled beaches were the perfect backdrop.

    To get the most of our beach days, we actually spent a few dedicated beach days going from beach to beach. Some beaches offered protected areas for snorkeling and others were just good for general lounging.  We simply packed a picnic lunch, stocked up on towels from the hotel, and took off for the day. Apply sunscreen as I definitely got a bit singed one day!

    4. Coffee Plantation

    Lyndgate Farms chocolate farm on Kauai offers a three hour “branch to bar” tour and tasting. Knowing full well that tour wouldn’t hold my kids’ attention, we skipped right to the important part: the chocolate tasting. Lyndgate Farms offers free tasting of all its chocolates and my kids each got to pick their favorite.  We purchased a number of bars and I was glad to see they came with complimentary cooler bags to keep them from melting. My kids also enjoyed swinging on the giant swing in the parking lot, before getting back in the car.

    5. Attend a Luau

    Although I’ve been to Hawaii a handful of times, I never attended a luau until this trip. Although hokey and probably not worth the money to experience again, I’m glad we did it this time. As an added bonus, my kids loved the fire dance.

    6. Take a hike!

    There are a number of great hiking opportunities in Kauai and we took full advantage of these great adventures. On a rainy morning, we took a short hike near our hotel in Kapaa, and the boys not only managed the whole thing on their own two legs, but had a great time as well.

    Anyone else hearing the Jurassic Park theme song here?

    7. Hawaii Shave Ice

    No trip to Hawaii is complete without Hawaii Shave Ice. We happened to stumble across Jo Jo’s, a Kauai classic, after a long hike up Waimea Canyon, and were happy to partake.

    8. Miniature Golf

    Mini-golfing at Kauai Mini Golf, located at Anaina Hou Park is a wonderful way to spend a few hours with kids. Not only is the course littered with native plants, but my kids really enjoy mini golfing, something that we rarely get to do in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

    9. Visit Waimea Canyon

    We spent a full day hiking Waimea Canyon and absolutely loved the experience even with our four year old in tow. But, for those who aren’t up for the day long hike, know that there are plenty of ways to experience Waimea by car. There’s not only a great lookout near the main parking area, but we took a tour down a road (that ended up leading to a restricted military base) and climbed a random hill (yes! all four of us) where we were treated to some amazing views. Do it. You won’t regret it.

    10. Sunset Cruise of the Napali Coast

    Experiencing the Napali Coast was a non-negotiable item on my list of things to do in Kauai. I’m glad we were able to find a vehicle in which to do it — Captain Andy’s Na Pali Sunset Cruise.   Click here for my review of Captain Andy’s Na Pali Sunset Cruise.

     

    Our family trip to Kauai was such an amazing experience that I really think I’ll be hard pressed to ever be persuaded to go on a beach vacation somewhere else. I hope our list of things to do in Kauai with kids will help inform your trip to Kauai!

  • Review of Courtyard Coconut Beach in Kauai

    Review of Courtyard Coconut Beach in Kauai

    With two young children, my husband and I typically opt against staying at a hotel when planning a week long vacation. Earlier this year, we found ourselves in possession of two seven night stay certificates at a Category 1 – 4 Marriott hotel that were set to expire in mid-July. After a few hours of online searching, we were happy to secure a seven night stay at the Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach during our kids’ vacation.  My review of Courtyard Coconut Beach in Kauai, however, is decidedly mixed. On the one hand, we paid zero dollars out of pocket for our stay (there was a $20/night resort fee that was waived for our stay) that would have otherwise cost just over $4,000; however, the level of construction the hotel was undergoing was well beyond what had been disclosed. While we found the initial appearance of the hotel and the noise to be jarring, at least we had some inkling of the construction. Many other vacationers had no idea that the hotel was under construction, much less that the hotel’s pool and dining facilities were largely nonexistent. While I heartily recommend the Courtyard Kauai Coconut Beach for its location and the amazing staff that did everything they could to accommodate its guests, Marriott’s handling of the situation was subpart and has me re-thinking brand loyalty going forward.

    The resort’s “entrance” during our stay.

    The Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach is located approximately 30 minutes from the Lihue Airport.  There is a large parking lot and it is easy to walk right into the resort. Given the construction, however, the main lobby was not open and thus, the makeshift lobby was all that was available during our one week stay. Upon checking in, I was somewhat dismayed that there were just folding tables set up for check in and that there were extra staff on hand to help guide guests. During the check in process, I also received no explanation of the amenities, which I guess should not have surprised me given that well, there were none available during our stay due to construction; I was not provided with a map of the “resort,” nor was I given a map to the nearby hotel with the reciprocal pool access. I was simply told “construction, 7 days a week from 9-5pm and the pool down the road at the — hotel is available for use.” This was definitely a sign of poor things to come in terms of both the level of construction, as well as the staff’s ability to manage disappointed guests.

    My four year old has extremely sensitive ears and the jackhammering was too much for him.

    After checking in, we went up to our room, which was located on the top (4th) floor.

    As described, it was a two bedroom, ocean view room. While surprisingly small (even my 9 year old commented on the small size and he’s not one to notice these things), it was newly renovated and as described. The view of the pool from directly from our balcony, however, left much to be desired.

    Particularly when, during our stay, the hotel’s website and app still boasted about the “pool” features as one of its available amenities.

    Admittedly, we did not spend much time at the hotel, opting to leave early every morning after breakfast to explore the island. However, it would have been nice to have had the option to sit by the beach/pool and order drinks or even evening snacks. A few evenings, we simply picked up pizza before returning to the hotel and ate in our hotel room, since there was no suitable outdoor seating.

    Another aspect in which we were disappointed was that while the website/app advertised its “dining” options as “HIGHLIGHTS,” there was, in fact, only one very limited option for dining.

    Indeed, the main dining room was completely boarded up during our stay and the only option was this banquet/conference room that had been converted into a makeshift dining area.

    That said, my Titanium Elite Status provided us with a complimentary credit of $20/day to use towards food and beverages and kids under 5 eat free so we ate breakfast every single day before departing for our days’ adventures and the food, and the service, were both quite excellent in the dining department.

     

    Papaya/Granola bowl we requested one morning “to go.”
    The children’s menu offerings.

    During our stay, I briefly peeked into the gym, but it was small and not enticing in the least. I chose to spend my days kayaking and hiking instead, which I also encourage you to do if you find yourself in Kauai. Of course, the option of a treadmill or elliptical is always nice to have and at least this portion of the hotel was not under construction and available for use.

     

    As advertised, the hotel does have access to a beach which is a very short and easy walk from the rooms. We enjoyed the beach tremendously and it was the first place we went after dropping off our bags.

    Path down to the beach. Note the heavy construction.

    That said, the hotel did not have any feet washing stations or towels available at or near the beach. Instead, towels had to be picked up at reception and dropped back off at reception, so that was a tremendous hassle in terms of using the resort’s beach. Because we could not clean off our feat easily, we didn’t end up spending anytime with the kids at the beach.

    I would have loved the option of sitting in one of these chairs, ordering drinks, while watching the kids play in the sand, but alas! Not this time.

    At bottom, the hotel’s lack of amenities did not have any significant impact on our vacation, given that we were using a certificate for a free stay. A few nights into our stay, a group of new guests arrived and were clearly incredibly dismayed by the level of construction. There were angry words at reception and lots of disgruntled guests wandering around.  One group approached me and asked if we had been aware of the construction, in particular the pool closure, and it was clear that they had no idea prior to their trip and that the lack of amenities was going to significantly impact their stay. At that point, I spoke with the hospitality manager who was entirely sympathetic to our claims (and waived our $20/day resort fee without us even asking), but she noted, sadly that there was nothing she could do. My only guess is that there is some issue between the hotel being unable to finance construction while closing the hotel down for operation and that it is staying open during construction because it has to. Although I don’t know where the blame rests (Marriott or the hotel itself), and I imagine it to be some combination of both, I think the negative impact will be mostly felt by Marriott as anyone who stayed during this massive upheaval will likely negatively reflect about the Marriott experience. The hotel’s central location on Kauai’s eastern shore and it’s gorgeous beach access means that it will always have a steady supply of visitors, but I know that this stay definitely has me questioning the benefits of maintaining Marriott status.

    Final Thoughts?

    There are a number of things that the hotel did poorly, in particularly, failure to disclose the level of construction. But it would be unfair not to point out the things the hotel did well:

    • excellent food at the operating dining room, including incredibly patient servers, despite the fact that they were clearly understaffed and operating in sub optimal conditions;
    • availability of beach towels for use on and off property; and
    • availability of beach chairs and bicycles for use on and off property.

    The only ways we were truly impacted by the construction was that we couldn’t really enjoy the hotel’s beach as much as we likely would have had it been operating.  That said, we also probably saved money by not ordering expensive drinks at the resort and had there been a pool option, we likely would have had to negotiate with the children about spending a day hiking and kayaking and generally out and about as they would have definitely advocated for staying put and just swimming the day away.  In the future, I would definitely stay at the hotel again, on a return trip to Kauai, but I suspect this construction will bump the hotel from a Category 4 to a Category 5 hotel, thus raising significantly the redemption costs. And that is a real shame.

     

  • Kids’ Blog: Shelling in Sanibel

    Kids’ Blog: Shelling in Sanibel

    Thank you to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum for providing complimentary tickets for my family.  All opinions are my own.

    Guest Author:  Our kid blogger, Messi Jr., is an eleven year old fifth grader who loves travel and soccer.

    My family recently took a really fun trip to Sanibel, Florida.  Sanibel is known as one of best shelling beaches in the world. Over my trip, I went shelling many times and learned a lot about shells. Today, I will share to you all the best ways of finding and learning about shells in Sanibel, Florida.

    Shelling at sunrise
    Shelling at sunrise

    Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

    At the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel, my family and I learned about all the shells we were finding on the beach.  We went to the Tank Talk where a professional naturalist and sheller talked about the shells and what could be inside.  An important thing to know is that if you find something living in a shell, it should be carefully placed in the water and not thrown into the water as this could harm the creature living inside. After going to the National Shell Museum, I now have a clearer understanding of shells and could name almost all of the shells we collected.  With all that we learned there, I only wish we had gone to the National Shell Museum at the beginning of our weekend in Sanibel.

    World Record Shells
    World Record Shells

    Shelling at the Beach

    On our trip, I tried different ways of shelling.  On our first morning, we went to the beach at sunrise and looked in the water and on the shoreline.  We had our best result by far when went in the water early in the morning.  A good tip is to wade into the water and dig through the sand with your feet until you feel a shell.  Then, scoop it up with your hands.  When shelling in the water or on the beach, it is always a good idea to bring a mesh bag to keep all the shells you want to keep.

    Some of the many shells we found
    Some of the many shells we found

    Shelling After a Storm

    Although there weren’t any storms during our trip, we learned at the Tank Talk that the best time to shell is early in the morning after a storm. During a storm, all the big shells from farther into the ocean will wash up onto shore.  Some of these may include the rarest shell in Sanibel called junonia, which is a shell found extremely far and low in the ocean.  This shell is so rare that when someone finds one, it is often reported in the local news.

    Our path to the beach
    Our path to the beach

    Conclusion

    I had a really fun trip to Sanibel, Florida. I liked shelling and learning about all the shells at the National Shell Museum.  The best time to find shells is early in the morning after a storm or by wading a few feet into the ocean.  My family and I found such great shells.  I hope we go back to Sanibel soon.

  • A Family Weekend at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort

    A Family Weekend at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort

    Thank you to the Sanibel Island Beach Resort for providing a media rate for our stay.  All opinions are my own.

    We recently spent a lovely family weekend at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort.  When selecting a hotel in Sanibel for our family of five, our main criteria was that we wanted to stay at a beach-front property with an updated pool area.  Sanibel Island Beach Resort definitely ticked those boxes.  We arrived on Friday afternoon and checked out Sunday morning.  We wished our weekend was longer (or didn’t include the Spring Forward time change that made us miss an hour of precious beach time) and would definitely return to the Sanibel Island Beach Resort.

     

    Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Rooms

    Our room was large and comfortable with old world Florida charm and a beachy-feel.  It included two queen-sized beds, a small table and chairs, a big flat-screen television, dual sinks, a mini refrigerator, a microwave and plenty of options to hang wet clothes.

    We loved that our room was beach-front and overlooked the pool area.  Our proximity to the beach and pool was ideal.  Our goal was to spend as much time outdoors as possible during our weekend, and we really didn’t spend much time in the room itself other than showering and sleeping.

    The toiletries were Tommy Bahama brand, and the shower had wonderful pressure and unlimited hot water.

    Tommy Bahama toiletries

    Sanibel Island Beach Resort also featured a sink for guests to use specifically to wash shells, a business center and the Sandollar Kitchen & Bar.

    Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Pool

    Our family really enjoyed Sanibel Island Beach Resort’s pool area.  There were many inflatable rafts and rings, boogie boards and noodles for guests to enjoy.  The pool was large enough to accommodate at least 10-12 swimmers at one time comfortably.  The pool deck was updated with several different seating areas.  Even though the Resort was fully booked, we never had difficulty finding chairs.  The Tiki Bar was particularly popular with the Resort’s guests, and I enjoyed a Happy Hour rum runner while sitting on the edge of the pool.  Although we visited during Spring break time, the pool area was very relaxed and family-friendly with no college revelers.

    Our daughter was really hoping to make a friend on our trip, and she hit the jackpot on Saturday morning when she met another 4.5 year old girl with long brown hair who just happened to have the same first name.  Our daughter has never met another little girl who shares her name, so this discovery was very exciting.  This little girl also happened to be super sweet and asked her dad to take her to the beach to find a shell for my daughter.  The two girls became fast friends.

    View of the Sanibel Island Beach Resort pool from our room

     

    Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Beach

    The beach at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort was unquestionably the highlight of the property.  Our room had a beach view, and we reached the sand by taking a short walk down a path past the pool.  After we dropped off our bags in our room and changed into beach attire, we grabbed towels from the pool and headed straight to the beach.  The Resort provided comfortable lounge chairs for its guests, and even at full capacity, we never had an issue finding chairs for our family.  There were no umbrellas, but we were able to purchase one from the Resort’s gift shop for $19.99.  Considering we had to rent chairs and an umbrella for about that amount each day at the beaches in Clearwater and Treasure Island last year, we thought the cost was extremely reasonable.  As an added bonus, the umbrella folded down and fit in our car seat bag, so we were able to bring it home with us.  Our summer beach trips to Lake Erie are going to be so much more comfortable….

    My shaded view of Sanibel Beach
    My shaded view of Sanibel Beach

    Our kids really enjoy playing in the sand on the beach.  They put the two buckets and a shovel that we brought with us to heavy use, often working in the shade of our umbrella.  They built a sand castle that survived overnight.

    The water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico was still pretty chilly in early March, but my husband and sons ventured into the water on Saturday morning in search of unique shells.  As part of the resort fee, the Sanibel Island Beach Resort provides guests with their own mesh shell bag upon check in.  This came in handy – at least until the weight of the shells made a hole.  My daughter and I preferred to relax in the shade, search for shells in the sand and just dip our toes into the water to fill our buckets.

    We woke up early both Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch the sunrise over the Gulf.   Even my first view of the ocean definitely made the early morning wake up worthwhile.

    The beach was quiet as the sun rose, but there were a few other shellers and walkers on the beach.  Sunrise over the Gulf was particularly stunning as the sky turned beautiful shades of orange and red.

    No one asked to go back to bed as the sun rose into the sky.  We brought out granola bars, squeezable yogurt pouches and water bottles to eat breakfast on the beach.  It was the perfect place to sip my morning coffee.

    My daughter met her new friend on the beach on Sunday morning, and the two girls discovered they also each had blue buckets and yellow shovels.  What else could possibly cement a new friendship between two girls who seemed destined to meet?  The two girls excitedly played in the sand together and decided to be pen pals before we each set off in separate directions for the day.  They have already sent each other some of the cutest notes through the mail.  I have to admit that it’s fun to use stamps for something other than Christmas cards and love that my daughter has a new understanding of how the mail works.

    While Sanibel Island Beach Resort’s beach is a wonderful sunrise location, it isn’t ideal for viewing sunset.  The sky may turn brilliant shades at dusk, but the sunset itself is out of view from the south end of Sanibel Island.  On Saturday night, we headed to Blind Pass Beach, which is on the western end of Sanibel Island right next to the short bridge to Captiva Island.  Sunset at Blind Pass Beach was breathtakingly beautiful.

    Sunset at Blind Pass Beach
    Sunset at Blind Pass Beach

     

    Restaurants Near Sanibel Island Beach Resort

    We did not eat at the Resort’s on site restaurants, Sandollar Kitchen & Bar or Tiki Bar, but we did have a number of great meals nearby.  Periwinkle Way is the main street through Sanibel and where all of the restaurants we dined at are located.  The fact that all the restaurants we chose had animal-themed names was completely coincidental.  Here are our Sanibel dining recommendations:

     

    #1:  The Island Cow

    We had dinner at the Island Cow on Friday night.  We heard this cute diner regularly seats 1,000 customers per day, and we believe it.  I think there is almost always a line for tables, and the Island Cow offers Adirondack chairs, corn hole and even a random skeleton to help pass the inevitable wait comfortably.  The hostess also handed us the extensive menu (including kids’ meals) upon our arrival so that we could make our selections before we were seated and expedite the service.

    My husband and I ordered drinks from the bar while we were waiting to be seated.  The drinks were unfortunately not so great.  My strawberry daiquiri was not well mixed, and I wasn’t sure if there was actually any alcohol in it.  My husband’s drink was also sub par and almost offensively strong.  The festive atmosphere made up for the unappealing drinks, and we were seated much faster than we expected.

    The interior décor at the Island Cow is a bright eclectic kitsch.  While knickknacks can be overwhelming, this collection was carefully curated, and we enjoyed looking at all the pictures and the cows on the walls and shelves throughout the restaurant.

    Fish is a specialty at the Island Cow, and we all enjoyed our meals.  We ordered the alligator appetizer, which was breaded like chicken fingers and tasty.  Our oldest is always adventurous when it comes to trying local specialties and thought it tasted very similar to chicken.  Our youngest spent the rest of the weekend slightly worried that the alligators might somehow know that we ate one of their friends.

    A live karaoke singer accompanied our dinner, and there seemed to be one birthday celebration after another in which the whole restaurant sang the birthday song to the special guest.  Over the course of these celebrations, my boys kept reminding us that the trip fell right between our sons’ birthdays and tried to claim birthday priority, mostly because of the large sundae that accompanied each celebration.  When our server came with our check, she overheard the conversation and brought out a sundae for the kids to share (no singing).

    We heard great things about the Island Cow’s breakfast service and decided to come back on Sunday morning for a hearty brunch.  The mimosas on the menu were tempting, but after our experience with the drinks on Friday night, I stuck with coffee.  The Island Cow’s brunch definitely lived up to our expectations and was a favorite for all.

    Breakfast burrito at the Island Cow
    My breakfast burrito

     

    #2:  The Blue Giraffe

    On Saturday, we wanted a quick and tasty sit-down lunch.  We called ahead to the Blue Giraffe in Periwinkle Place Shopping Center to make sure that they could accommodate our family with no wait for a late lunch and were thrilled to walk right in and sit down at our table.

    Blue Giraffe prominently features giraffe décor, but not all of the giraffes are blue!

    Blue Giraffe features typical American fare and kids’ menus, and we all enjoyed our sandwiches and hot dogs.  My kids actually chose fruit over French fries as well.

    Hot dog kids' meal at the Blue Giraffe
    Hot dog kids’ meal at the Blue Giraffe

     

    #3:  MudBugs Cajun Kitchen

    We had dinner on Saturday night at MudBugs Cajun Kitchen.  MudBugs just opened its Sanibel location in December 2018, and the airy, two-story building is exquisite with exposed bricks, outdoor patios and classic New Orleans architecture.  I noticed the Chihuly-style blown glass chandelier as soon as we walked in.  Later, my sons asked if it was a Chihuly, and knowing how expensive an original Chihuly might be suggested that it likely a “knockoff.”  Later, our server confirmed that the chandelier was an original Chihuly!  I wonder if the renovated building or the chandelier has a higher value.

    MudBugs offers kids’ meals, but our three kids split an adult-sized jambalaya and gumbo.  My husband and I each enjoyed a superb cocktail.  We all loved our meals, and now I can’t wait for our next trip to New Orleans for more crawfish etoufee and hurricanes.

     

    #4:  Pinocchio’s

    As our last stop in Sanibel before heading to the airport, we enjoyed Pinocchio’s original Italian ice cream.  Pinocchio’s has been a Sanibel staple since 1980 and features bright green walls and endless options of ice cream and gelato.  My daughter remembered Pinocchio from our trip to Italy and greeted the large namesake as an old friend.  We enjoyed our sweet treat on the store’s large front patio before bidding farewell to our island weekend.

     

    Planning a family trip to Florida?  Be sure to check out our entire category of blog posts on things to do and places to visit in Florida, including Sanibel.

  • WGWK’s Fun Family Beach Wrap Up

    WGWK’s Fun Family Beach Wrap Up

    Our series on Fun Family Beaches gave us the chance to live vicariously through our contributors and their idyllic beach destinations but also reminded us of some of our favorite beach visits.  Even if visits to any of those stunning Australian or South Pacific beaches have been only in our dreams, we have been fortunate to visit quite a few amazing beaches around the world and look forward to our next beach vacation.  Putting together our list of beaches reminds us that some beaches we visited pre-kids are not necessarily ideal family vacation destinations, and so we haven’t planned recent return trips.  While not all the beaches we’ve visited with kids are picturesque sand beaches, our boys have a lot of fun skipping rocks.

    Some of our favorite beaches, both close to home and far away:

     

    Alleppey Beach – Kerala, India

    After a day on a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala, we stopped at a beach to dip our toes into the Arabian Sea.  Our driver did not understand my need to take the kids to this practically empty beach with no amenities, but I admittedly have a thing about dipping my toes in a new body of water and didn’t want to miss this chance for my kids to experience the Arabian Sea.  Years ago, I arrived in San Diego close to midnight and practically skipped down to the beach for my first touch of the Pacific Ocean.  The salt water even stained my pants in the process.  The boys are always up for a visit to a beach – new or old, and we were all glad we made the stop on the way back to our hotel. – CMD

     

    Boulders Beach – South Africa

    As part of our tour of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, we stopped at Boulders Beach, which is definitely one of my favorite beaches on earth. Definitely not your typical beach experience, Boulders Beach is an enclosed, protected penguin habitat. We enjoyed walking along the newly constructed enclosed boardwalk, which provided great views of the penguins and were in awe of just how amazing it was to see these beautiful birds in their “natural” habitat. – NKC

     

    Clearwater Beach – Clearwater, Florida

    We recently spent an afternoon at Clearwater Beach during a long weekend escape from the cold Ohio winter.  Clearwater Beach, which received the Traveler’s Choice Award for the best beach in the US by Trip Advisor in  2016 and 2018, had beautiful powdery sand and gentle Gulf Coast waves.  After a delicious lunch at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, we rented two lounge chairs and an umbrella.  The water was a bit too chilly to fully enjoy during our February visit, but the kids had a blast in playing in the sand and kicking around a beach ball.   We grabbed milk shakes from Ice & Cream on our way back to our hotel. – CMD

     

    Conneaut Beach – Conneaut, Ohio

    We make a day trip to Conneaut, Ohio each summer with my parents.  We always eat a picnic lunch at White Turkey and grab ice cream at Heavenly Creamery, which is housed in a former church.  However, the highlight of Conneaut is spending the afternoon at the beach.  Honestly, the safety of the water quality in Lake Erie is something that concerns me, but the numbers looked good on the day of our visit last year, so the kids enjoyed some time in the water with their seven cousins and also found some sea glass. – CMD

     

    Geneva Beach – Geneva, Ohio

    One of our favorite weekend day trip destinations is the Grand River Valley wine country in nearby Northeast Ohio.  After lunch at Ferrante Winery and Ristorante, we often visit the beach at Geneva State Park.  While this can be much rockier than a typical sand beach, our boys have a great deal of fun skipping (or throwing) them into Lake Erie. – CMD

     

    Kaanapali Beach – Maui, Hawaii

    Once named America’s Best Beach, Kaanapali Beach in Maui offers three miles of pristine white sand and blue waters. Even with a large number of resorts lining the shore, we never felt crowded and some of our favorite memories are of kite flying at dusk. – NKC

     

    Naples Beach – Naples, Florida

    I spent a weekend in Naples with a friend years ago.  We stayed at her parent’s beach-front condo and split our days between the beach in front of their condo and the pool behind.  The Gulf water was warm during our March visit, and the white sand was particularly soft.  I’ve been dreaming about retiring to beach front property ever since this trip. – CMD

     

    Playa Bavaro – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

    The first all-inclusive my husband and I visited together was Punta Cana’s Iberostar Bávaro, which has recently been renovated and rebranded as Iberostar Bávaro Suites.   The Iberostar Bávaro included the preferred club rooms of three affiliated resorts.  So, we had access to the facilities on the other two resorts, but guests of those resorts could not use the Bavaro’s facilities.  The Caribbean Sea water was a crystal clear blue, and the sand was pristine white.  I thoroughly enjoyed the week of rest and relaxation bouncing from the beach to the pool and read a record four books during the trip. – CMD

     

    Playa Nacascolo – Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica

    Located just a few minutes away from the Andaz Papagayo Peninsula Resort, the Andaz Beach House located on Playa Nacascolo offers beautiful white sand beaches and stunningly clear, blue water. It’s truly the perfect place to enjoy a drink or two while watching your children splash safely in the mild waters. – NKC

     

    Puerto Morelos Beach – Riviera Maya, Mexico

    We so enjoyed our visit to Riviera Maya during my maternity leave with our second child that we repeated it when our third was born.  The all-inclusive Now Jade and Now Sapphire were ideal resorts for our family.  Between meals, we spent most of our days lounging at the pool or the beach.  The Caribbean Sea was warm, and the waves were calm.  The Now Sapphire had sailboats available for guests to use, and my husband took our oldest on an extremely memorable snorkeling trip.  These resorts also offered nighttime family entertainment and on-site local marketplaces so that it was not necessary to leave the resort to purchase handmade souvenirs. – CMD

     

    Reynisfjara Beach – Southwest Iceland

    Reynisfjara Beach is one of the most stunning beaches we have ever visited, even though it is not one where visitors spend the day lounging in the sun.  We didn’t actually see the sun when we were there during a typical June day, which was cold, wet, gray and windy.  Nevertheless, this a black sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, which featured the stunning Reynisdrangur sea stacks and phenomenal basalt sea cave, Halsanefshellir, was breathtakingly beautiful.

    It’s important to note that Reynisfjara was also the most dangerous beach we ever visited.   We took note of the cautionary signs regarding recent tourist deaths that occurred in 2016 and 2017 due to the dangerously unpredictable waves and strong undertow.  We thought we were keeping more than a safe distance from the water’s edge, but our nine-year-old tripped and fell running away from a sneaker wave that came inland much further than previous ones and was immediately covered by the water. My husband was able to safely pull him out before the wave retreated, but it was a very scary experience for all of us.  Luckily, the only casualty was the pair of shoes he was wearing that had to be discarded due to the overwhelming stench of sea water. – CMD

     

    Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica, California

    The Santa Monica Pier was my favorite spot in Los Angeles.  The Pier adds a great deal of excitement to the otherwise typical Pacific Ocean beach.  Pacific Park, the amusement park, features the world’s first and only solar paneled ferris wheel and eleven other rides, including a roller coaster.  I particularly loved how the bright colors of Pacific Park popped against the ocean and sky.  On our stroll down the pier, we passed musicians, artists, magicians, souvenir shops, carnival games and various food stalls.  My son was particularly intrigued by a magician doing tricks for a crowd and a painter who was painting the pier on a piece of slate.  As the sun began to set, we headed off the Pier and onto the beach.  It was a pretty amazing end of a quick trip to feel the sand between our toes while we stood at the water’s edge and listened to the waves ebb and flow.  We really savored those moments as we waded into the Pacific. – CMD

     

    Treasure Island Beach – Treasure Island, Florida

    During our recent visit to Treasure Island, we stayed at Treasure Island Beach Resort, a new beach front property.  The sand is not quite as pristine as it is at the nearby Clearwater Beach, it was still great for sand play and also much better for collecting shells.  The Gulf Coast waters are relatively calm but were still pretty chilly in February.  We spent time on the beach each of our days in Florida but only rented an umbrella and chairs on the one day that we really dedicated to Treasure Island beach.  We definitely enjoy the quieter beach as our home base, especially with the amenities of a resort nearby. – CMD

     

    Vieques Beach – Vieques, Puerto Rico

    My husband and I honeymooned on Puerto Rico’s Vieques Island years ago.  Vieques’ Mosquito Bay is the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay and a remarkable nighttime experience.   We recently saw Mosquito Bay featured in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s recent special exhibit, Creatures of Light.  While we would love to take our kids to Mosquito Bay, we have not prioritized Vieques as a family travel destination because of the challenges associated with its remoteness.  We rented a Jeep so we would could travel on the unpaved roads that lead to some of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in the Caribbean.  These beaches were certainly pristine and breathtaking, but ultimately, we decided that we prefer beaches with nearby services, particularly when traveling with kids. – CMD

     

    Villa Caletas Beach – Jaco, Costa Rica

    My husband and I traveled to Costa Rica pre-kids and spent a lovely few days at Hotel Villa Caletas, which is probably our favorite hotel ever.  Hotel Villa Caletas is a small resort, and we saw the most fantastic spider webs, macaws and other exotic birds during our stay.  The beach is extremely secluded and accessible by an hourly hotel shuttle or rented 4×4 vehicles.   While we were often the only guests at the beach, services were available.  I enjoyed relaxing on a sun bed while my husband explored the wildlife in the rock pools, including the crabs.  Even though the beach was rocky, our kids would absolutely love the animal sightings on this luxurious property.  Unfortunately, Hotel Villa Caletas does not offer rooms that accommodate families with three children. – CMD

     

    White Sand Beach – Paia, Hawaii

    One of our favorite ways to to travel is to rent a vacation home and stay for a few days. It’s a great option when traveling with kids as you generally have more space and can cook some meals at home, without always having to rely on restaurants or take out. One of the most unexpected surprises of our vacation rental in Maui was access to a private beach. My son’s favorite memories of Maui are of running from the ocean in his pajamas every morning.  – NKC

    Now, we really wish we were headed to a beach vacation.

  • Best Beaches in Central America and South America With Kids

    Best Beaches in Central America and South America With Kids

    With so many miles of coastline, there are so many breathtaking Central America beaches and South America beaches to visit with kids.  As an added bonus, they are pretty accessible for US travelers.  We have traveled to Costa Rica but desperately need to explore the region more.  Here are some of our fellow family travel bloggers’ recommendations for best beaches in Central America and South America with kids.

    Best Beaches in Central America With Kids

    #1:  Ambergris Caye, Belize 

    Ambergris Caye is lined with white fine sand beaches. Now slowly being developed, there are some small hotels and residences, rather than a row of large, high-rise hotels and condominiums.  The beaches are less crowded and most times, we found only a couple of people relaxing in the shade of the coconut trees.  The water is aqua green and filled with sea life. Protected by the world’s second-largest reef, the calm, warm waters are great for kids to wade in and snorkel right off the shoreline.  Local vendors sell local hand-made goods, and the general pace of life is very laid back.

    Visitors are able to snorkel among nurse sharks, eels, rays, and a variety of tropical fish while appreciating the structures and sights of the coral. Searious Adventures offers packages from half day snorkeling to full day excursions both at sea and on the mainland.  A single road that is not well maintained connects the Caye. Visitors can travel around by golf cart, water taxi, or hotel boats. The town of San Pedro, while a bit grimy (but safe), has some solid restaurants and shops, including handmade chocolates and soaps.

    Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers.

     

    #2:  Mal Pais Beach – Costa Rica

    When it comes to traveling with our young family, the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica have been one of our favorite spots. We loved our adventure in Mal Pais, Costa Rica, which is known as a surf destination on the Costa Rican Pacific coast. The beaches are expansive and great for little ones to wander and play in the sand. Although perhaps not known as a “family destination,” Mal Pais and neighboring Santa Teresa were so welcoming to our little family!  This area boasts lot of fun outdoor adventure and has seriously some of the best restaurants I have ever been to!

    Of course, as a surf destination, the water is rough, so keep that in mind if you are traveling with kids. We traveled with a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old, so they weren’t doing much ocean swimming. We rented a Villa with a pool to get our water fix. If you have older kids, surfing is a blast! Definitely check out some beginning lessons, which are fun for the whole family.

    Recommended by Kate from Tear Free Travel.  Find out more from Kate about Mal Pais.

     

    #3:  Playa El Coco – San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

    San Juan Del Sur is the most popular beach destination in Nicaragua. It’s a short drive from the Costa Rica border, and conveniently connected to Ometepe Island and Granada. The tourist numbers mean that it is well suited to families, with many cafes and restaurants that line the beachfront.  It’s a very wide beach, so there is plenty of space for the kids to run around.  There is also a range of affordable accommodation options.  Famous for its sunsets, make sure to dine on the beach at least once during your stay.

    The best family beach for a day out is a short drive from San Juan Del Sur – Playa El Coco. This beautiful and secluded beach is situated in a U-shape, which means that the waves are much calmer than other nearby beaches. Being a little away from San Juan Del Sur, the beach is not crowded and the wide sand area makes it a perfect family day out, where visitors can enjoy activities such as horse rides, soccer, and beach volleyball.

    Recommended by Riki Cribb from Kiwis in Barefeet.

     

    #4:  Playa Samara – Costa Rica

    Playa Samara is an idyllic, off the beaten path little beach town on the Western side of Costa Rica.  It is sheltered by a bay and a large coral reef. Situated where the Pacific Ocean water deepens very gradually, the waves are small and friendly for the littlest swimmers.  The sand at Playa Samara is soft and not rocky at all. There is a good variety of hotels and restaurants on and near the beach for convenient access for naps and other mid day breaks (and for a beachy cocktail every now and again for mom or dad!).  For visitors who want to get out and about, there are a number of tour companies in Playa Samara that can easily arrange family tours. There are suitable tours for all ages, ranging from adventurous to tame. The town itself is small and there really are no big resorts, so it has a very laid back feel to it.  Its small size also makes it easy to get around with  kids.

    Recommended by Shanna from There and Back Again Travel.

     

    #5:  South Water Caye – Belize

    There are few places in the world where visitors can feel like they have a pristine beach all to themselves.  Those who visit South Water Caye in Belize, a teeny island in the Caribbean Sea dotted with palm trees and soft white sand that a five-year old can circumnavigate in about 20 minutes, will feel like they are the only human beings in the world.  The water is clear and shallow near the beach, and it’s easy to sit back and relax and let the kids splash in the cool water and look for crabs in the sand.  Those who tire of being in the water can kayak around the island and spot rays and fish.  My kids loved the beach at South Water Caye, and it’s high on their list of places they want to revisit one day.

     Recommended by Terumi Pong from An Emerald City Life.  Find out more from Terumi about South Water Caye With Kids.

     

    Best Beaches in South America With Kdis

    #1:  Bendita Beach – Cartagena, Colombia

    On our last visit to Colombia, we went to Cartagena. Located on the Caribbean coast and hot year-round, the beaches there aren’t the prettiest. But, the Rosario Islands are just a short boat trip away and they boast  pristine, warm, and calm water beaches.

    We visited Bendita Beach, which is a bit far from the others and still in need of development – but that meant that it was just as it should be: clean, clear, and perfect!   It’s a perfect beach for families with kids!  There are almost no waves and super calm clear blue waters, filled with little fishes. For newbies at snorkeling, it was just great!  When we were there, we were the only ones on the whole island: a paradise!

    Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries.

     

    #2:  Ilha Grande – Brazil

    Ilha Grande in the South of Brazil was a pleasant surprise for us. From the very beginning we fell in love with the island.  There are no cars on the island, and boats are the main method of transportation.  The many Atlantic Ocean beaches are beautiful and sandy with crystal clear warm water and very friendly people.  The lush jungle has butterflies and birds flying around.

    Unlike some places in Brazil, Ilha Grande is a safe place. Its very clean beaches are great for children as it is covered in soft sand and surrounded by calm warm water.  It’s almost like swimming in a pool.  There are small fish swimming around, and no dangerous animals. We enjoyed several walking trails on Ilha Grande, both through the jungle and along the beaches.  There are several hikes that are short and easy for children, who will enjoy watching small cute monkeys and squirrels in the forest. The island doesn’t have a party vibe, but there are many restaurants and cafes that serve local and European food.

    Recommended by Campbell and Alya from Stingy Nomads.  Find out more from Campbell and Alya about Ilha Grande.

     

    Visiting Fun Family Beaches With Kids

    We’d love to visit these best beaches in South America and Central America with our kids. Ready to hit the beach right now?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

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  • Best Beaches in Australia With Kids

    Best Beaches in Australia With Kids

    Australian beaches are ideal to visit with kids.  There are thousands of beautiful beaches in the Australian continent, which borders the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean.  We can’t believe we have yet to visit one of these stunning beaches and can’t wait for our first trip there.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers to nominate the best beaches in Australia with kids and came up with this amazing list.  (Note that while we realize that New Zealand may not technically be part of the Australian continent, it fit here best.)

    Best Australian Beaches With Kids

     

    #1:  Barwon Heads Beach – Victoria, Australia

    Barwon Heads has always been a very popular place for beach goers in Melbourne. It’s about a 90 minute drive and is located just before the start of the world famous Great Ocean Road. One of the reasons I love it is because the Barwon River connects with ocean and has created a beautiful, safe beach that is perfect to take the kids.

    Beaches off the coast of Victoria can get a bit wild and are often rough.   The water is generally freezing until February, but the Barwon River beach is protected and thus, does not have waves and is really shallow. When the tide is low visitors can almost walk to the other side of the river.

    The local council has done a great job of making this area is all about kids. They have put in an amazing kids’ playground, public bathrooms and a number of barbecues that visitors can use. We spent Easter Sunday down at the Barwon Heads River beach, and the kids played and we put the kayaks in and did a bit of fishing. As per usual, that one nibble got away!

    Recommended by Sally Lucas of Our 3 Kids v the World.  Find out more from Sally about Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

     

    #2:  Emily Bay Beach, Norfolk Island

    When it comes to beaches, Norfolk Island boasts one of the most beautiful in the world. The Island’s Emily Bay features a protected lagoon with a double reef, making it perfect for a family beach adventure. It is safe, gloriously warm in summer and has the squishiest, golden sand to walk upon.

    The reef itself is home to a wonderful array of fish and corals. Lucky visitors may even spot a resident sea turtle on a snorkel excursion or a trip out on the glass bottom boat. Throughout the year, this sheltered reef lagoon offers incredible visibility, warm water and an opportunity to enjoy a glorious natural spot with the kids.

    Free from nasty stingers, and with such spectacular water to swim in, it is no wonder Emily Bay was named one of Australia’s top ten beaches!

    Recommended by Leah Smileski from The Kid Bucket List.

     

    #3:  Fatumafuti Beach – American Samoa

    American Samoa is full of picturesque beaches, some more well-suited for kids than others; Fatumafuti is one of those ideal kid beaches. The beach has soft sand and scurrying hermit crabs, perfect for building sand-castles and crab villages. There are two small islands and a barrier reef, just off the coast, that are teeming with colorful, tropical sea-life. With shallower areas, ready for budding swimmers, and deeper holes adjacent to large boulders, just right for jumping from, there’s something for everyone. Fatumafuti is just off the main road and one of the few beaches on the island that you don’t need to ask permission to use. Also, there are never crowds, so you’re sure to enjoy your day, with plenty of room to stretch out. Just jump out of the car, grab your buckets and snorkels and discover a piece of the South Pacific that most people have only dreamed of.

    Recommended by Melinda Clayville from Traveling Outside-the-Box.

     

    #4:  Green’s Pool, William Bay National Park, Denmark Western Australia 

    Un-touristed and with naturally clear waters, the entire Southern Coast of Western Australia is a traveller’s dream.  For those with kids, there are literally miles of unspoiled pure white sand beaches to explore and really connect with nature.  The naturally protected swimming area at Green’s Pool, in the William Bay National Park ticks all the boxes and makes it a top contender for one of the World’s Best Beaches.   The turquoise waters are naturally clear year round, the beach is protected with no waves, making it easy for small children to paddle and swim, and the sand powdery white sand is completely clean of debris. Perfect for endless sandcastle building! Nearby the stunning Green’s Pool are other coves for beachcombing and exploring, including a mammoth rock formation, which closely resembles a herd of elephants dipping their toes in the ocean.  We’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending more than a whole day at this extremely kid friendly, yet stunning beach.

    Recommended by Ariana of World from Travels With Kids.  Find out more from Ariana about the Southern Coast of Western Australia.

     

    #5:  Little Beach – Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia

    Little Beach is one of the most stunning hidden gems along the southern Western Australia coast, about 30 minutes drive east of Albany.  It’s remoteness is where it’s beauty lies.  So far from a capital city or major airport, only the most ardent of travellers make it this far along the coast, but they are rewarded with some of the most pristine white sand in the world.

    Sitting in a small bay, the waves from the Southern Ocean are gentle, but big enough for jumping and in warmer weather, swimming (no life guard).  Conditions are perfect for sandcastle building or taking kids off exploring in the rock pools nearby – just be careful, the cliffs to the ocean below are sheer! It’s BYO food and supplies, and it’s in a state park, so remember to take everything away.  Other than the peak of summer, visitors can pretty much secure this little slice of paradise all for themselves. 

    Recommended by Keri from Our Globetrotters.  Find out more from Keri about Albany Beaches. (ask about preview picture)

     

    #6:  Mount Maunganui Beach – Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

    Nestled in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand’s North Island, Mount Maunganui beach is my all time favourite beach with kids. The town of Mount Maunganui stretches along a peninsula, Tauranga Harbour on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. At the tip and overlooking the harbour entrance is Mauao (The Mount), a 262 meter high lush green mountain, an iconic landmark.

    On the ocean side is a long white sand beach starting under The Mount that stretches as far as the eye can see. A strip of cafes serving delicious food, great coffee, smoothies and ice creams are across the road from “Main Beach”. There is also a boardwalk, which leads in one direction to the fantastic Mount Drury playground and in the other to the stroller friendly walk around the base of The Mount.

    Confident kids can body surf and boogie board on Main Beach.  Lifeguards are on duty here. Toddlers can safely paddle in the shallows or head further down the beach where Moturiki (Leisure) Island shelters the beach and tames the waves.

    To avoid waves, walk a few hundred meters across to Pilot Bay. The calm waters of the harbour are perfect for babies to splash and play while the rest of the family can try paddle boarding, kayaking, wind surfing or optimist sailing.

    For visitors who aren’t lucky enough to visit in the warmer months between November and March, head to the Mount Hot Pools, where natural thermal energy heats the salt water in these stylish outdoor pools, keeping them the perfect temperature year round.

    Recommended by Kaylie Lewell from Happiness Travels Here.

     

    #7:  Noosa Main Beach – Australia

    The Noosa Main Beach is one of the best beaches on the Sunshine Coast and absolutely perfect for kids.  Located along the famous shopping strip of Hastings Street and just outside the entrance to the Noosa National Park, Noosa Main Beach offers soft gentle waves perfect for swimming, boogie boarding as well as a great place to learn to surf.  Being just off Hastings Street there are various places to grab something to eat and drink for the kids as well as plenty of places to hire beach equipment like boogie boards and stand up paddleboards.

    In addition to the popular Noosa Main Beach, there are so many other great beaches to explore in the area.  There are numerous beaches in the Noosa National Park such as Tea Tree Bay, Winch Cove, Granite Bay and Little Cove.  The calm crystal-clear waters of the Noosa River are also the perfect place for little ones and an ideal location for getting out and exploring in a kayak.

    Recommended by Melissa of Thrifty Family Travels.  Find out more from Melissa about Noosa.

     

    #8:  Tamarama Beach, Sydney, Australia

    Next to crowded Bondi Beach is Tamarama Beach,  conveniently close while giving the feel of being more quaint and less frequented. We found it to be kid approved with its soft pristine sand that made it easy to move around and play in.  Our kids spent hours building sand castles and taking turns burying each other.  Nearby shallow tide pools made for a convenient way for the kids to get in and out of the water without getting overwhelmed by crashing Pacific Ocean waves. Bathrooms were nearby, which is always a plus when traveling with little ones. The stunning cliff views with charming homes above made it all the more memorable.  As parents, we spent our time playing with the kids and also relaxing while they enjoyed the safe environment.  Definitely a great beach spot for a family getaway.

    Recommended by Anabel Newell from Amor for Travel.

     

    #9:  Torakina Beach – Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, Australia

    The quirky riverside town of Brunswick Heads has been a family favourite for 50 years, but never more so than today. There are so many things to do here with kids, but top of the list is a visit to the safe swimming spot of Torakina Beach.  Torakina Beach is a delightful family beach near the entrance to the river’s mouth.  Protected by giant boulder groins, the cute beach has gentle waves and is the ideal place for beginner swimmers and those who are not so fond of open water.

    The water is crystal clear, as good as any tropical island, except after big storms when the river takes the deluge and debris out to sea. Visitors can see tiny fish swimming around their toes, pelicans above, and the odd dolphin that drops by to say hi.  Visitors can access Torakina by crossing the car bridge and walking through the parklands on the left. There’s a designated car park, but it fills up quickly, so go early.  There’s plenty of shade up along the dunes, or bring your own beach umbrella to set up camp.  Make sure to bring buckets and spades, boogie boards and a picnic to stay all day.

    Recommended by Amber Greene from Roam the Gnome.  Find out more from Amber about things to do in Brunswick Heads.

     

    #10:  Whale Beach – Sydney, Australia

    Visitors looking for a kid friendly beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches can’t go past Whale Beach. More secluded than the main beaches such as Avalon or Palm Beach, Whale Beach on the Southern Ocean is a kids’ delight. There is a small park and BBQ facilities for families, but the rock platform and rock pools are where the best fun lies. The rock pool at the south end is relatively shallow and small, and on either side, there are natural rock pools. The ones before the pool are perfect for babies and toddlers to wade and play in. On the other side, at the base of the rock platform, is a larger rock pool that gets quite full at high tide.  Bigger kids can play for hours as the waves rush in and out.

    The rock platform at the northern end is also a great place to visit. It is accessible either along the beach or down a set of steep stairs, but it has a lot of rock pools where visitors can see a variety of sea creatures, up close and personal (once we even saw a baby shark waiting for the tide to come back in!). At low tide we like to walk around the headland to Palm Beach on the rock platform and pass the car grave yard, where cars went over the cliff (before they made it safe).  Whale Beach has so many areas to explore, visitors could spend days there while visiting the Northern Beaches. 

    Recommended by Maraya, a Northern Beaches local, from Stuff Mums Like.

    Find Out More About Fun Family Beaches With Kids

    Ready to hit the beach right now?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Europe and Central and South America.

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  • Best Beaches in Europe With Kids

    Best Beaches in Europe With Kids

    Europe’s capital cities may attract more attention than its beaches, but sun and sand makes for an ideal vacation with kids.  Travelers in search of picturesque beaches often focus more on the Caribbean or South Pacific.  However, it is possible to combine both beach and city visits into the same European vacation.  Most importantly, these are kid-tested and recommended by other traveling families.  If that sounds appealing, here are some of the best beaches in Europe to visit with kids(including one technically in Africa) from some of our fellow family travel bloggers.

    Fun Family Beaches in Europe With Kids

    #1:  Barceloneta Beach – Barcelona, Spain

    It can get crazy hot in Barcelona during the day, so we decided to take a day off and head to the beach! Once we arrived we realised that it was just about everyone else’s plan as well. There were so many families around that I knew we had made the right choice in coming to this Mediterranean Sea beach. There are nice calm waters that just lap up onto the beach, which was great for the girls to paddle in. Unlike a lot of beaches at home there wasn’t a huge drop, it just gradually got deeper as we went out but it was still not very deep. One of the best bits is that because there were so many kids, everyone looked out for each other, and all the kids played nicely together building castles and splashing. It made for a great day as the kids got to play with other kids…even if they didn’t speak the same language! It is a bit of a hike to get supplies if you need ice cream as we decided we did, but there was lots to choose from once you got back onto the street. And just a heads up, there was lots of topless sunbathing going on!

    Recommended by Bec Wyld from Wyld Family Travel.  Find out more from Bec about Barcelona.

     

    #2:  Derrynane Beach – County Kerry, Ireland

    The scenic route along the Ring of Kerry boasts some of the best beaches in Ireland. Our favourite was Derrynane Beach, 2 miles from the village of Caherdaniel, in the Iveragh Peninsula and along the Derrynane Bay. On a long white powdery stretch of sand dotted with giant stone, our children happily splashed away for hours in the shallow pools of this natural playground, safely sheltered from deeper waters by the smooth rock formation.

    Thanks also to the mild summer climate, we did not have to worry about +50 SPF suncream and summer caps, and thus, this beach immediately turned out to be a winner with us.  We parked at the nearby Derrynane house, ideally located nearby, which helped us avoid the weekend traffic due to the main car park, which was more likely created by the narrow roads than by number of vehicles. Derrynane house is also a good place to stop for ice cream, water and coffee as there is no coffee shop along the beach. But there are toilets located near the main parking area, and during the summer months there is a lifeguard on duty.

    Recommended by Cris from Kids in Travels.

     

    #3:  Durdle Door Beach – Dorset, England

    The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site and one of England’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.   The best part of it has to be the beautiful Durdle Door beach along the English Channel.  Durdle Door is most famous for its incredible arch that frames one end of the beach, and it draws photographers from far and wide.

    But, the beach itself is a great place to spend the day with kids.  While it’s a pebble beach, the pebbles are small enough to be really comfortable.  Children can paddle and swim as the sheltered cove is usually calm and the sea is clear and clean (although I can’t promise it will be warm!).  Visitors might also be lucky enough to find fossils in the pebbles.

    Just next to Durdle Door is another beautiful sheltered cove, Man O’War Bay; so it really is two beaches for one here!   The clifftop walks are also stunning.  Just make sure to pack a picnic as there aren’t any shops nearby, and wear good shoes to walk down the cliffs to the beach itself.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Durdle Door.

     

    #4:  Isle of Harris and Lewis – Outer Hebrides, Scotland

    When travelers think of stunning white sandy beaches, there are many places around the world that come to mind.  Interestingly, Scotland is not normally one of them.  The Isles of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides in the North West of Scotland have some of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches I’ve ever seen.  The islands are fairly remote, and the biggest town, Stornoway, has a population of only 8,000 people.

    The remoteness and peacefulness of the island and its beaches make it the perfect place to visit with children.  The weather isn’t too hot for children and there is probably nowhere else in the world where visitors can have miles of golden sand all to themselves.  We never worry about losing sight of our children as we are often the only people there.  One of the things I love so much about the beaches on these islands is the way they really help children understand nature.  My daughters and I once sat and watch an Oxbow Lake (of geography lesson fame) form right in front of us as water ran off the hills behind the beach and out into the sea.

    Recommended by John Franklin of From Real People.

     

    #5:  Manta Rota Beach – Portugal

    Manta Rota beach in the Eastern Algarve is probably one not many people will have heard of. But it is a great beach for families. It is one of few beaches in the East Algarve on the Ria Formosa natural reserve that is accessible by foot rather than by boat. There is a boardwalk from the square next to the car park which leads visitors to a beautiful sandy beach. During summer, there are sunbeds and parasols for rent. What makes it family-friendly is that it has toilets on the boardwalk, next to a great restaurant. There are foot showers for cleaning feet of sand after a visit and even a playground, too. Although it gets busy during summer, it’s a beach where parents can easily keep an eye on children, and the water is lovely and warm for little ones to happily play in for hours. It is a little gem of a beach with easy access and great facilities around it.

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.

     

    #6:  Paleokastritsa Beach – Corfu, Greece

    The Greek Island of Corfu has so many amazing beaches for families. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea with calm little waves and stunning clear water, it is just a little paradise to spend all day in the sun and swim, snorkel and play. We have visited many beaches together, and even though it is hard to pick one we think that Paleokastritsa beach in Corfu is the best child friendly beach around. It is stunning and very easily accessible, perfectly for families with young kids. There is a parking space just on the opposite side of the road and a few restaurants and shop to get souvenir or beach products. Visitors can also take boat tours from this beach and explore the island coast further. One thing to keep in mind though is that water shoes may be necessary as the beach has a mix of sand and pebbles, like many other Greek beaches.

     

    Recommended by Thassia from Family off Duty.  Find out more from Thassia about Corfu.

     

    #7:  Playa de Maspalomas – Canary Islands, Spain

    Our favourite beach in the Canary Islands (and perhaps in the world) has to be Playa de Maspalomas. The sand is fine and soft, perfect for little feet. The water is warm. The beach stretches for 3.5 kilometres and is divided into sections. The first 1.5 kilometres on the west side is where most families choose to spend their time. Restaurants and amenities are all close by.  But the reason why we fell head over heels for this magical place is that it is not a typical beach. What is special about Maspalomas is that visitors can check these items off their bucket list in one day:

    • Play in the Maspalomas Dunes:  These dunes, a nature reserve, under protection since 1897, are located right behind the beach, and are a perfect playground for the entire family. Just avoid the midday heat. Our 9-year old literally spent hours playing in the dunes.
    • Visit an African island … in Europe. That’s right, Canary Islands, even though politically part of Spain, are geographically an African archipelago.
    • Ride a camel. After all, Gran Canaria is an African island with its own miniature dessert! This is another fabulous way to see the dunes with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop and the volcanic mountains in the distance.

    Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags.

     

    #8:  Playa Pollensa Beach – Mallorca, Spain

    Anyone who sees the beautiful turquoise waters of Mallorca, Spain won’t want to vacation anywhere else again! Mallorca is a popular beach destination for many European families. The whole island in the Mediterranean Sea is welcoming to kids, and the beaches are no exception.  Known as an ideal spot for young families, Playa Pollensa is perfect for little kids. With epic views of the coastline, the beach is a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view. The water is calm, which is perfect for kids to splash and enjoy a swim. There are even paddle boats (with built-in slides!) available to rent right from the beach.  Kids hungry?  Grab a quick bite from the restaurants right on the beach.  It’s not uncommon to see a row of strollers walking the famous ‘pine walk’ in this charming town.

    Recommended by Kate from Tear Free Travel.

     

    #9:  Rock Beach – Cornwall, England

    Rock Beach, on the north Cornwall coast along the Celtic Sea, is a beautiful stretch of sand on the Camel Estuary, adjacent to the more well known harbour town of Padstow. The sand stretches for miles, right around to Daymer Bay, further along the coastline. Rock is a perfect ‘bucket and spade’ type beach. Take a picnic, deckchairs and beach toys, and spend the day. Golden sand, great for sandcastles, and a calm sea for splashing about makes Rock Beach a perfect beach for children. The beach never gets crowded due to it’s vast expanse and the relatively small carpark available. There’s always plenty of space for a game of cricket or football.

    For the more adventurous, there is a popular watersports centre, offering sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. Behind the beach, sand dunes stretch for miles, perfect for a walk or some sand boarding (usually on a piece of cardboard!).

    Recommended by Nicky of Go Live Young.  Find out more from Nicky about Cornwall.

     

    #10:  Zavial Beach – Portugal

    We are a full time traveling family and while RVing in Portugal, we loved to go to Praia do Zavial on the Atlantic Ocean. This little beach in the Algarve has stolen our hearts! It is perfect for kids as the beach is very broad. Children can play freely on the sand without getting near to the water. Our three year old especially liked climbing on the rocks at the edge of the beach. While taking a break from climbing, he loved watching the surfers doing their tricks. The beach has a restaurant with a few facilities; however, it was closed when we visited in the winter. We didn’t mind, though, as we had everything with us in our RV. The parking area is small, but perfect for boon docking. We stayed a total of seven nights at Zavial, and we always felt safe.

    Recommended by Nanouk from Digital Nomad with Kids.  Find out more from Nanouk about RVing in Portugal.

    Visiting Fun Family Beaches With Kids

    Does a beach vacation with kids sound perfect?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Australia and Central and South America.

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  • Best Beaches in Asia With Kids

    Best Beaches in Asia With Kids

    Asian beaches are world-renowned for seemingly endless coastlines, and many of Asia’s impeccable beaches are particularly affordable for tourists.  We asked fellow family travelers to share the best beaches in Asia with kids and now have to restrain ourselves from booking one way tickets to any one of these unbelievable beaches.

     

    Agonda Beach – Goa, India
    The palm-fringed Arabian Sea beaches of Goa are an eclectic mix catering to the raver, the yogi, the package sun-seeker and everything in between. So it can be a bit tricky finding the best one for families. After a year living in India, we decided that our favourite was Agonda in South Goa, which features a golden crescent of powder soft sand, dotted with colourful fishing boats and patrolled by meandering cows that congregate in the same spot for sunset every day. It’s a quiet beach, and the sea has  just the right amount of gentle surf for a good boogie-board session  (Sea Star Resort where we stayed, lent the boys theirs). There are also a handful of restaurants serving kid-friendly food (e.g. pancakes, omelettes and chips). But, the best thing is that these restaurants are right on the beach, so visitors can enjoy a Kingfisher whilst the little ones play in the sand. And, those who fancy peeling themselves away from the beach can take a fishing boat out to see the dolphins.

    Recommended by Jenny from Travelynn Family.  Find out more from Jenny about Agonda With Kids.

     

    Choeng Mon Beach – Koh Samui, Thailand

    In choosing a place to stay on Koh Samui, we wanted a swimmable, kid-friendly beach, away from the backpacking and party scenes of Thailand. Choeng Mon Beach is the quintessential horseshoe shaped beach for a tropical getaway. Less crowded and tranquil, Choeng Mon is perfect for families with children of all ages as the Gulf of Thailand waters are shallow, warm, and there are plenty of tide pools to hunt for sea creatures. Kids can spend all day in the bathtub-warm waters.

    Locals sell sliced mango and corn and ice-cream to cool off visitors. At thatched huts along the beach, an hour-long massage costs $8.00USD. Put toes in sand and watch the sunset while eating dinner at Honey Seafood.  A short strip of restaurants also line the road. Walk over in flip-flops for seafood at Garland Samui or enjoy surprisingly authentic Indian at Akbar.  Also, we enjoyed the highly professional 100 Degrees East tour for a day trip to see the Angthom Marine Park and the coral and fish-filled shores of Koh Tao.  Choeng Mon Beach is a great destination for families!

    Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers.

     

    Dahican Beach – Philippines 

    Dahican Beach in Mati City, Davao Oriental is a relatively unknown and unspoiled beach in the southeastern portion of the Philippines.  Our stay there was short-lived as the mosquitoes were notorious at night, but it is an extremely beautiful place to be. It’s most popular among skimboarders and even surfers so it’s not an obvious “kid” destination. One of the reasons we love it as a family is that it isn’t crowded, and there’s plenty of beach – as in, actual sand, to play in. I has been compared to Boracay, maybe better, though I haven’t been to Boracay. Haha!

    Kids can play in the sand or in the water (with some adult supervision, as the Pacific Ocean waves can be rough at times). Lucky visitors may be able to see turtle eggs hatch! We came a few weeks too late, sadly. There are plenty of local kids for visiting kiddos to play with (and they are pros at skimboarding). Plus, camping is free (or only a minimal fee), which we absolutely loved.  Another way to see the beauty of Dahican Beach is to go flying in an ultra light plane. Children must be at least seven to do this, though.

    Recommended by Pam from Hey, Miss Adventures.  Find out more from Pam about Dahican Beach.

     

    Double 66 Beach – Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia 

    Seminyak is one of Bali’s most well-known tourist spots. It offers plenty of opportunities to go shopping, grab a coffee or to get a taste traditional Balinese food. Above all, it has a prime beach spot for anyone who would like to sunbathe, enjoy the picturesque sunsets or to try out for the very first time: Double 66 Beach. Even kids will have fun here: whether it’s playing in the sand, joining the locals with their daily match of sunset footie or just jumping through the water – with or without a bodyboard or a surfboard. Double 66 beach is home of Bali’s famous beachboys, who do not only rent out sunbeds, but also love taking care of kids. They are the perfect buddy for the day and will keep the kids entertained, promise!

    Recommended by Anne Steinbach and Clemens Sehi from Travellers Archive.  Find out more from Ann and Clemens about Indonesia.

     

    Juara Beach – Malaysia

    The most beautiful beach we visited in South East Asia was on an island off peninsular Malaysia’s east coast. We stayed in Juara Bay on Tioman Island, to volunteer on the turtle conservation project with our children. Juara Beach is on the South China Sea and is perfect for kids: it is protected by the bay so the water is always calm, there are no harmful predators around, and there are several snorkeling areas close to the shore. It is also absolutely stunning and still quite
    un-spoilt too.

    School groups come regularly to stay near the turtle project, but when they weren’t there, we often had the beach all to ourselves! Further along there are hotels and resorts, but it still isn’t a crowded beach by any means. We felt incredibly lucky to experience such a beautiful part of the world together.

    Recommend by Emma Walmsley from small footprints, big adventures.  Find out more from Emma and her family’s Volunteering Experience at the Juara Turtle Project.

     

    Kamala Beach – Thailand

    Kamala Beach in Phuket, Thailand is just a 10-15 minute drive north of infamous party-beach, Patong, but a world away in atmosphere.  It is one of our favourite beaches for families in Phuket. This beautiful two-kilometre stretch of white sand on the Gulf of Thailand has a laid-back vibe, with shallow waters perfect for kids to splash around in, and sunloungers for parents to kick back on. There is a good selection of bars and restaurants lining Kamala Beach that serve up well-priced local Thai and western food, and there are also several beach stalls where visitors can order fresh juices, coconuts, cocktails and beers and have them served directly to their sunlounger. Sunsets are particularly amazing at Kamala Beach!

    Recommended by Marianne from Mum on the Move.  Find out more from Marianne about Kamala Beach.

     

    Koh Rong Samloem – Cambodia

    Koh Rong Samloem, an island off the coast of Cambodia, offers pure white sand and picturesque vistas of the Golf of Thailand.  It’s beauty is comparable to Thailand’s beaches but without the heaving crowds, and although its infrastructure is now well on its way to supporting the tourism of Thailand’s busy beaches, it’s still relatively quiet in comparison and undiscovered by the masses.  It makes a great add on after visiting Angkor Wat. Pro-Tip: I highly recommend taking the sleeper bus to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap by Giant Ibis so you can get the boat over to the island… my two children aged four and seven months slept comfortably on the floor beds.  

    While the island is more expensive than the majority of Cambodia, it’s still inexpensive in terms of western prices, so visitors can get a great hotel that leads straight out onto the pristine white sands.  What makes Koh Rong Samloem particularly kid friendly is the shallow waters.  It is possible to walk a fair way out to sea before it starts to get deep, which means that toddlers can safely play by the water’s edge.  We stayed at Moonlight Resort on Paradise beach, which was a great stretch of beach.  And, with rooms right on the beach front, nap time becomes a breeze.  A bucket and spade were all we needed.

    Recommended by Donna from Mamas Travel Tribe.

     

    Palawan Beach – Singapore

    When locals and travelers want to escape the city, they head to Sentosa Island, which is only a 10 minute drive by taxi from downtown. Sentosa is also reachable by cable car, bus and even a colorful monorail that’s free for kids under three. Sentosa, which is built on reclaimed land is home to multi-million dollar mansions, beautiful beaches as well as Universal Studios and a casino. The three beaches on Sentosa: Tanjung, Palawan and Siloso have soft, powdery sand brought in from nearby Indonesia and Malaysia. All of them are located in protected lagoons so the water is clear and gentle, which is perfect for young kids.

    Each beach has a slightly different feel, but Palawan Beach is definitely the preferred one for families. Palawan has the largest beach, yet it’s not as crowded so you’ll usually be able to find a quiet spot in the shade. When kids tire of playing in the sand or swimming, check out the fantastic free water park called Palawan Pirate Ship or walk across the rope suspension bridge to the islet, which claims to be the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia. Definitely drop by the Palawan Amphitheater for it’s free afternoon animal shows where kids can see and pet animals and birds. The presenters are knowledgeable and make the 20 minute show fun and educational for the kids.

    Recommended by Scott & Nori Brixen of Two Twins Twavel.

     

    Sunday’s Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

    Arriving at Sunday’s Beach Club in Bali can be quite confusing for the kids. Visitors arrive at the flash 5 star clifftop resort with a pool. The only way to the Indian Ocean beach is down the cliffs, and the adventure starts with a ride down the inclinator. Finding a bean bag on the sand is a lot of fun, and there is great service for all food and drink needs throughout. Swimming, playing with provided beach buckets, stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling and kayaking are sure to the keep the kids entertained all day. The kids’ menu is a huge hit, and for the younger ones, high chairs are available. Once the sun starts to set, there are bonfires and regular live music. It’s like being on a deserted island but with all the comforts of home.

    Recommended by Kate Comer from Rolling Along With Kids.

    This list of best beaches of Asia makes us want to hit the beach right now.  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Europe,  Australia and Central and South America blog posts.

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  • Best Beaches in North America With Kids

    Best Beaches in North America With Kids

    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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