To the Beach! Discover the best seaside spots for family fun around the world.
Atlantic Landmark: Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida PHOTO: © SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM
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BY TERRY WARD
hen it comes to what makes a beach ideal for family fun, the factors to consider depend on what you and your family most enjoy doing. Some crews like to sit under an umbrella and be served beside a body of water as calm as a lake (and with bathtub-temperature waters to splash in), while others prefer exploring tidal pools in more rugged surrounds. As a mother to two young beach-loving children, I look for places that offer a good mix of things to engage them both on and off the sand. This list is by no means exhaustive — after all, the world abounds with incredible beaches that prove just as much fun to seek as they are to stroll across, barefoot. Let these suggestions fill your bucket with all the options in the
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world for beaches that put family fun first … and do it naturally. COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA
It’s impossible to talk about amazing stretches of sand for families without mentioning a few on Florida’s vast coasts, with more than 825 miles of accessible beaches to explore along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Cocoa Beach remains a perennial favorite for its gentle and consistent surf and long, dune-backed sands. Surfing champion Kelly Slater grew up riding the waves here, and you can get the kids on a similar trajectory with lessons from several local surf shops, including Ron Jon Surf Shop and smaller outfits, too. Visit the nearby Indian River Lagoon to kayak through bioluminescence during the summer months and keep your eye on the sky for commercial rocket
