St Augustine Beach Is One Of The Calmest In The State
St. Augustine Beach is known for being one of the easiest for families in the state of Florida, especially families of young children, primarily because the waves are often calmer than most beaches. In addition to playing in the ocean, families can enjoy St. Augustine Beach by way of bicycle , surfing, and paddle boarding .
Spending a night or several nights at St. Augustine Beach is made easier by the number of family-friendly hotels that line the coast, including national and international hotel chains as well as local condos, private homes available for rent, and upscale hotel options .
The beach also boasts the St. Johns County Ocean Pier, which allows for sightseeing and fishing for locals and visitors alike. Day passes for those who want to fish from the pier are $6 per person for visitors, and the city also offers passes that are good for up to a year.
Enjoy The Sand And Surf On A Budget
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Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach. Beach vacations are the classic family vacation, but they’re also great for romantic getaways, trips with friends, or even solo trips. Whether you want to relax with your toes in the sand or try surfing and snorkeling, there’s a perfect beach destination for you. Thankfully, you can have an incredible vacation without spending too much. We’ve put together a list of cheap beach vacations in the U.S. and around the world so you can enjoy the sand and surf on a budget.
Club Med Sandpiper Port St Lucie Florida
Club Med’s only U.S. location, situated between Miami and Orlando, offers the same fabulous Circus School and Baby Welcome program as Punta Canaand you don’t need a passport to get there. Learn how to fly high on a trapeze, how to walk a tightrope, juggle, clown around and more for some amazing family bonding time.
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Vacation Idea #: Beach Vacations
Picture: Every water sport imaginable is included along with top-of-the-line equipment and professional instruction.
Beach vacations are often at the top of the list where family vacations are concerned. This option is highly ranked because chances of enjoyment are high, and this is a great way to bring all your kids together, no matter their age. The Caribbean is synonymous with beach vacations, and in this destination, youll find some of the best beaches in the world. Here, your teen can live the laid-back beach life and return home bronzed and refreshed. Islands like Jamaica and Turks and Caicos promise beach vacations that are well worth the investment.
Expert tip: Theres no beach like Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos. Powdery white sand meets turquoise waters. No wonder Grace Bay Beach has been voted the most beautiful beach in the world. Go on a snorkel adventure right from the beach!
How To Plan An Affordable Family Beach Vacation
Epstein’s biggest tip is that families travel in low, or shoulder, season for their beach trip.
“Traveling in the summer to the Caribbean, for example, can be a fraction of the price of traveling during winter breaks or spring breaks,” she said. “In addition to being a better value, there are more options as occupancies are lower, weather is warmer often with less wind, and the ocean is much warmer for swimming.”
Epstein added that planning ahead will also allow families to make choices for their trip and have the widest array of options, versus having to choose from whats left.
“The more you avoid traveling over a school break the better value and options you will have.”
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Vacation Idea #1: Introduce Them To More Grown Up Activities
In the mind of your teenager theyre all grown up already, but in actuality this may be far from the case. Though it can break your heart to see how fast theyre growing up, you can step in in a positive way, by introducing your teen to grown up things, like Broadway shows, sophisticated dining, trips to the museum or art galleries, and more. The intention of all of this would be to expand their horizons, and to show them that you do respect and appreciate that they are getting older. During a vacation, the best way to do this is with doses of teen-friendly endeavors sprinkled in as well, for the sake of their sanity.
Maho Beach St Maarten
With a French and a Dutch side, St. Maarten has plenty of European panache. In addition to cultural and linguistic diversity, vacationers will find scores of beautiful Caribbean beaches.
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At Maho Beach on the islands Dutch side, the sand is pure white and the waves roll in at a steady pace, but its the low flying planes landing at adjacent Princess Julianna Airport that draw plane spotters young and old. Aviation geeks make pilgrimages here to watch the jets as they approach the runway, passing just over their heads in dramatic fashion.
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Check Out These 10 Top Family Beaches In Michigan
Looking for the best family beaches in Michigan? Youre in the right place.
Visitors new to the Great Lakes State are always amazed at the gorgeous landscape that has made it a perfect vacation destination for visitors around the world.
Surrounded by the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Huron, Michigans lower peninsula is also known as the Michigan Mitten and offer endless miles of freshwater shoreline.
With miles of soft, sugar-sand beaches that meet clear, blue water, it is a perfect spot for family beach vacations.
An added bonus? These clear, blue lakes are both shark free and salt-freeso start making plans for your family beach getaway now!
Where To Stay Near Bvaro Beach In Dominican Republic
Located on this idyllic swath of sand and sea is the Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort, a beachside all-inclusive resort. Kids can splash at the waterpark, try a round of mini golf, aim for a strike at the bowling alley, and test their wits in the escape room. Tennis courts, a baseball field, and an array of non-motorized water sports provide more options for active families.
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Carolina & Kure Beaches North Carolina
On the southern coast of North Carolina, Carolina Beach and nearby Kure Beach are less commercially developed than many other beach towns in the Southeast and offer a relaxed, family-friendly vibe. Both towns deliver a classic beach town experience, with lovely stretches of sand, fishing piers, and boardwalks.
Podaca Beach Makarska Riviera Croatia
Stretching nearly 40 miles between Makarska and Split is the Makarska Riviera, which boasts a number of beach towns with palm tree-lined promenades, ice cream shops and pedal boats to take out onto the delightfully blue water. Book a villa or stay in a family-run campsite along the pebble beach. Off the beach, kids will love hiking around nearby Biokovo Nature Park.
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Kohala Coast Hawaii Usa
Melissa from The Family Voyage
The Kohala Coast of Hawaiis Big Island is an amazing area for families! Its home to some of Americas most pristine white sand beaches and offers plenty of calm waters for everyone.
Some of the areas most popular spots are world-famous Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach and Spencer Beach Park. There are numerous others as well, but throughout the Kohala Coast youll find generally calm waters with shallow entries, its easy to grab a car rental on Big Island and beach hop between them. These beaches also have services like well-stocked bathrooms and shower stations.
Spencer Beach Park is generally regarded as the best for youngest kids thanks to its extremely flat water. It also offers a few big shade trees for crucial sun protection . Hapuna Beach has the prettiest sand in the area and lots of parking. There are a few shelters with picnic tables but theyre up the hill closer to the parking.
Mauna Kea Beach is mostly used by guests of the wonderful Mauna Kea hotel, but there are also a handful of free first-come-first-served parking spaces available, and the limited access keeps crowds down. In addition to some intro-level boogie boarding in the center of Mauna Kea beach, youll also find plenty of nice snorkeling on the far left and you can spot manta rays near the hotel once the floodlights are turned on at night!
Nicci from Trip Chiefs
Amanda From Patsey Family Travel
The United States is full of some amazing beaches, and some of the best family-friendly beaches can be found on the Gulf Coast in Florida. There are numerous options for beach towns that provide great access to the beach, resorts/rentals, restaurants, and other things to do for families.
One of the best areas for families to visit is Sanibel Island. This island on the Gulf Coast in Florida has some of the best beaches for shelling in the whole state. There are also tons of great places to eat, and easy to get around with just a bike!
Another great family-friendly beach in Florida is Siesta Key. The water is clear, the sand is some of the softest ever, and the waves are not big, which is perfect for kids. Siesta Key has a great town, too, where you can walk around the various shops and restaurants after a day at the beach.
In addition to Sanibel Island and Siesta Key, a few more popular areas for great family-friendly beaches on the FL Gulf Coast include Marco Island, Fort Myers, Anna Maria, and Clearwater Beach the closest west coast beach to Orlando and the theme parks.
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The Cove Beach Cape May New Jersey
The Cove Beach is one of Cape Mayâs most popular beaches, known as a prime spot for surfers throughout the year. Gently-sloping sands make the beach a favorite summer spot for families, with changing tides creating constantly-changing shoreline views from any relaxation spot. Beachcombing is a popular visitor activity, as ungroomed sands hide a myriad of unusual seashells, fossils, and pocket-sized beach artifacts. Each evening, a flag-lowering ceremony is visible from the beach, which is considered to be one of the Capeâs most striking sunset-watching locations. Nearby in the town of Cape May, visitors can dine at restaurants to suit any tastes, shop at charming boutiques and antique stores, or take children to attractions such as the Cape May County Zoo.
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The Worlds Best Family Beach Vacation Destinations
With warmer weather just around the corner, surely there are tons of families looking for a getaway and well, where better to enjoy the sun than at the beach? Sandcastles, dip your toes in the ocean and even indulge in the odd ice cream cone.
There are plenty of choices, from the beaches of Miami to the tropical islands of the Caribbean. However, with lots to consider when picking a destination for the family, it can become quite a laborious and even overwhelming task.
To make things easier and so you can get down to the beach quicker, we have compiled a ranking of the best beach destinations for your family this summer. We considered family-friendly accommodation and facilities, public restroom availability, family activities and some costs to determine the best options for your family beach vacation.
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Fort Pierce Port St Lucie
This under-the-radar Florida beach destination offers a great location for young children to play in quieter environs than some of the cities to the south on Florida’s Atlantic side. Spend your perfect day at Ft. Pierce Inlet State Park spotting gopher tortoises or surfers plying the coastal waters. Nearby, you’ll find the National Navy SEAL Museum and beach horseback riding at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park.
Isla Verde Beach Puerto Rico
Isla Verde feels like a resort beach, yet San Juans urban attractions are right at your fingertips, too. This three-mile stretch of playa is composed of three beautiful beaches, each with glistening golden sand and tall palm trees swaying in the breeze. There can be sizeable waves, which makes it a favorite Caribbean beach spot for body surfing and boogie boards.
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Clearwater Beach Clearwater Florida
Clearwater Beach is a laid-back beachfront city located conveniently between Tampa and Orlando, serving as a popular launching-off spot for family vacations to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Busch Gardens. Its pristine white sand beach has been consistently ranked as one of the top beaches in America by international publications such as USA Today, stretching 2.5 miles along the Gulf of Mexico on a barrier island off the Florida coast. Jetskiing, parasailing, and stand-up paddleboarding are popular activities in the water, while rollerblading and cycling paths span a beautiful beachfront promenade area. A plethora of family-friendly attractions line the lively Pier 60, which hosts nightly street festivals featuring craft vendors, musicians, and performers. Family attractions include the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which offers Sea Life Safari eco-tours giving young ones up-close experiences with marine life.
Vacation Idea #1: Theme/amusement Park Vacations
If kids could make rules, theme park visits would be a critical component of every childhood. If your teenager has yet to visit a theme park, or just wants to experience it once more, consider going on a vacation centered around an amusement park.
You can choose from mega theme parks, movie inspired locations and everything else in between, all of which will keep them engrossed and entertained. Though this can be costly if you dont plan right, theme park memories are something your teen will hold close for years to come.
Other options are vacation experiences that include horseback riding, photography, scuba diving, cave explorations, and more. If you cant find a package tour around the theme you think your teen will get into, simply create your own!
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Sunset Beach Cape May New Jersey
Sunset Beach is one of a handful of spots on the east coast where you can see the sunset from the beach. Come for the Victorian homes, the free parking and the crab cake sandwiches at the Sunset Beach Grill. Kids will love splashing in the surf and hunting for Cape May diamonds . Bring a camera to snap photos of the S.S. Atlantus, which sits just offshore.
Where To Stay In Sicily With Kids
In addition to some of the best European beaches, families will also find plenty of kid-friendly hotels in Sicily. Located near Sciacca on the southwest coast, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel has a beautiful property with a pool, spa, and a ton of restaurants. Located in Sampieri, close to Ragusa, VOI Marsa Sicla Resortis another fantastic option for a beachfront stay. Other great hotels for families include Serenusa Village,Hotel Baia Samuele, and the Modica Beach Resort. Families can also rent a home using Airbnb or Vrbo.
Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, is one of the best beach destinations in Europe for families to visit this summer. Each part of the island has its own appeal, from the rocky beaches near the capital of Valetta to the golden sand of the northwestern coast. Mellieha Bay is one of the biggest beaches. Its also a fantastic destination for water sports such as windsurfing, water skiing, and kayaking. Plus, theres a family-friendly swimming zone with shallow water. Golden Bay Beach has also clear, warm water for swimming and snorkeling. Expect an even more dramatic coastline at Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, which is framed by steep cliffs. Less popular than Golden Bay Beach or Mellieha Bay, its often quieter.
Book these highly rated tours and things to do in Malta here with Viator!
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Silver Beach In St Joseph
Named a top 10 family beach by Parents magazine, Silver Beach in St. Joseph is the perfect destination for families seeking a busy beach vacation spot.
The famed Silver Beach Carousel is just yards from the beach and has been a family favorite of beach goers for more than 100 years.
This clean, wide Lake Michigan beach offer public access to the South Pier and iconic structure extending into Lake Michigan perfect for walking and fishing.
With 1,600 feet of Lake Michigan beach frontage for swimming and sunbathing, Silver Beach also features a splash pad, beach volleyball, concession stand and more.
Its also located just across the river from another great family-friendly beach in St. Joseph, Tiscornia Beach.
South Seas Island Resort Captiva Island Florida
Practically all beach resorts in the Sunshine State offer summertime specials, and this charming one located at the edge of the Gulf Coast is no exception. The South Seas Island Resort offers an impressive array of accommodations from the amazing tennis courts to nature activities, and family outings to luxury rentals a stone’s throw from the beach. Speaking of the water, the waves at the beach are mild, the white sand is teeming with shells, and chances are good that you’ll see dolphins and manatees offshore at least once during your trip. In fact, this 330-acre resort, more than half of which is preserved, is a nature lover’s paradise.
Kids have their own pirate adventure when they use the Scout About Treasure Map to explore the island or sign up for the Sanibel Sea School where little ones can make fun ocean discoveries.
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