Summer is upon us and it is time to plan that perfect beach getaway for the family. There are many beaches in the U.S and it is hard to know which locations are family-friendly. I have compiled a list of the Top 10 U.S. family beach destinations to help narrow your search and help you plan that unforgettable family trip.
1. Coronado Beach, California: An amazing backdrop for a great family vacation from late June through September. You can stay at infamous Hotel del Coronado (www.hoteldel.com) and enjoy all the activities that the hotel provides. Kids ages 6 and up can take 90 minute surf lessons year round Tuesday-Sunday. From late June-September kids age 9-16 can catch a wave with the Summer Surf Camp. If you have younger children, the hotel accommodates them too. Kidtopia is a child’s playground adventure for kids ages 4-12. The beach is expansive. Build the perfect sandcastle or play a game of beach volleyball with the family. The warm water makes for great boogie boarding and swimming. It’s a great place to visit!
2. Santa Cruz Beach, California: Seaside amusement galore. There will be something for everyone in the family at this beach attraction. Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk features live music events during the summer and has rides for kids of all ages. A cool place to visit while in Santa Cruz is the Natural Bridges State Park. This is one of the World’s last natural bridges and it extends out over a portion of the beach. It is also a popular place to view monarch butterfly migrations. If you are a kayak lover, you are in luck. You can rent a kayak at the Santa Cruz wharf and explore the Monterey Bay. Looking to learn about the local wildlife? Visit the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. For oceanfront accommodations, stay at the newly renovated Dream Inn (www.santacruzdreaminn.com) . All 165 rooms offer breathtaking views of the Monterey Bay. Watch the sunset right from your balcony. If you get tired of sand and surf take off on a wine tasting tour.
3. Kahalu’u Beach Park, Hawaii (Kona): This is an amazing family getaway. Many of the brochures refer to this magical destination as “snorkel beach”. There are colorful corals, over 100+ species of fish, and the water is always calm making this an ideal place to vacation with little ones. The entire family will create unforgettable memories swimming with the beautiful schools of fish and green sea turtles. If you are looking for something a little more exciting, you can head to the North end of the beach for body boarding and surfing. You can stay at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort (www.sheratonkeauhou.com) . This resort will only enhance your family vacation. The Manta Ray super pool and slide will amuse the kids for hours. There is a luau that the whole family can attend on Monday nights. Additionally, there are dozens of other activities available all within the resort.
4. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key Florida: This beach is known for the miles of powdery white sand that you can sink your toes into. The beach sand is 99% quartz and is some of the finest sand you will ever see on a beach. Kids will love the wildlife sightings of dolphins, manatees, and pelicans. Amenities include tennis courts, shaded picnic areas, snack bar, and playground. Siesta Key is a great place to participate in some water sports. You can do jet ski or boat rentals while visiting.
5. Coastguard Beach-Eastham, Massachusetts: This is the Cape Cod destination every family dreams of. From campfires at night to riding the beautiful bike trails and taking long nature walks, there is something for every member of the family. You can rent kayaks and surfboards and take surf lessons on the beach. The beach has white sand that is soft to the touch, gentle waves safe enough for the smaller kids and a great 18 hole mini golf course nearby for additional fun off the sand. Stay at the nearby Crown Pointe Historic Inn & Spa that is just gorgeous. Visit www.crownpointe.com for great deals and information on the hotel.
6. Coopers Beach-Southampton, NY: No top 10 beach list would be complete without a mention of the Hamptons in NY. This is a very wide, white sand beach with views of the Atlantic ocean that seem endless and a backdrop of mansions behind you. There is a great summer concert series that the whole family can enjoy. There are umbrella rentals to keep the little ones out of the sun. Build a great big sandcastle and relax in the gentle ocean breeze. When you are done with the sand and surf head in town to do some shopping. Get the true experience of the Hamptons by staying in a Bed and Breakfast close to the beach. A Butler’s Manor is charming and quaint and provides the real Hamptons experience. Get more info on the B&B; at www.abutlersmanor.com.
7. Kiawah Beachwalker Park-Kiawah Island Park, South Carolina: If you want to mix a little sand and surf with a round of 18 holes than this is your dream destination. There are five award winning golf courses surrounded by the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. Kiawah Island Golf Resort will take care of helping you plan your day at the beach, a spa treatment or golf instruction. This beach and resort has it all. Visit www.kiawahresort.com for more info on the private island sanctuary where you can get reinvigorated. The kids can spend some time at Kamp Kiawah to give the grown-ups some much needed relaxation. You can also stop by the Heron Park Nature Center to learn more about the surrounding plants and animals.
8. Lifeguard Beach- Ocracoke Island, North Carolina: Kite boarding, surfing, snorkeling, and parasailing are all activities that can be done at this beach. The only downside is that there are no major resorts or hotels located on the island, so you will need to do some research on the best place to stay while visiting. The 16 miles of beachfront gives you plenty of room to spread out and explore. Make sure you take the kids to Teach’s Hole. This is an exhibit on Blackbeard who hid out on the island prior to being killed by the British. There is also a historical lighthouse to get great family pics with.
9. Cannon Beach, Oregon: The water located off of this beach is often too cold to swim in. However, the activities you can do with the kids on this beach are what make it attractive. Kite flying and sand castle building are the favorite pastimes on this beach. The breeze always seems to be just right for an afternoon of flying those colorful kites. There are some tidal pools that will fascinate the kids, too. Every June, there is a sand castle building contest for all to participate in. This year it takes place on June 18, 2011. Take a family photo by Haystack Rock that you can cherish long after the vacation is over. You can stay at the Hallmark Inns at Cannon Beach and take advantage of all of their nice amenities. Visit their website at www.hallmarkinns.com for more info and to book reservations.
10. Daytona Beach, FL: A beautiful beach with serious activities to keep even the busiest families from getting bored. You can choose to relax on the beach with a good book or run through the surf, but if you want to do something that won’t get sand in your clothes, there is an amusement park nearby and a large movie theatre offering over 10 cinemas. Daytona Lagoon offers rides and thrills if you are looking for something more exciting than just a beach. There is also a Daytona 500 experience that will keep the boys in the crowd having fun. Daytona will serve as your one stop shop to a fulfilling family vacation. There is a wide variety of hotels and resorts that you can choose from. I would narrow it down by comparing amenities on orbitz.com or hotels.com.
Sources:
www.shermanstravel.com
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g51790-Cannon_Beach_Oregon-Vacations.html
