BEST FAMILY BEACHES

To the Beach!

Discover the best seaside spots for family fun around the world. BY TERRY WARD

Atlantic Landmark:

Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida

PHOTO: © SPACE COAST OFFICE OF TOURISM W 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 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

launches, regularly scheduled at nearby Cape Canaveral.

Don’t Miss: Sip something frosty with a lively crowd of locals and visitors and tuck into mahi mahi tacos with ocean views at Coconuts on the Beach, a favorite, no-frills haunt overlooking the sand.

FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Within easy striking distance of downtown Charleston’s great food scene and historical sights (just 20 minutes away), Folly Beach remains a family favorite for a good old-fashioned beach vacation along the Atlantic Seaboard of the United States. You’ll find six miles of mellow beaches to explore with your crew as well as ecotours through the Lowcountry’s marshes and rivers and a long pier from which you can toss out a fishing line.

Don’t Miss: When the kids need a break from the sand, let them run off some energy at one of several playgrounds and parks near the beach, including the surfboard-themed Wave Watch Playground.

JOSÉ IGNACIO, URUGUAY One of the best beach towns in all of South America, the oncesleepy fishing village of José Ignacio offers a more laid-back alternative to flashier Punta del Este, with rustic-chic beach houses and ranches for rent and miles of sand to explore. You can delve into a back-to-nature vacation with the family during the Southern Hemisphere summer while enjoying the region’s renowned local wines and gourmet gastronomy scene.

Don’t Miss: Head to Parador la Huella, one of the buzziest beachfront restaurants, where you can sample fresh seafood and a glass of vino while the kids rustle about on the sand.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI BEACH, NEW ZEALAND On New Zealand’s North Island, less than three hours southeast of Auckland along a sweeping stretch of the Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui is a Kiwi favorite for family fun. With the harbor on one side of the isthmus and the ocean on the other, you can usually find somewhere calm to let the kids splash and play in cobaltcolored waters. Feeling sporty? Embark on a family hike along the two-mile, round-trip Mauao Summit track for wondrous views of the Kaimai Ranges and surrounding waters.

Don’t Miss: Kiwi café culture is in full effect in The Mount, as locals call their beach town. Sit to sip a flat white behind the dunes someplace scene-y, like Tay Street Beach Café.

Unspoiled Beauty:

Folly Beach, South Carolina

PHOTO: © CVANDYKE | DREAMSTIME.COM

Rugged Adventure:

Big River Beach, California (top); and a man jumping off a cliff into Cenote Cristalino in Mexico

PHOTO: © VISIT MENDOCINO COUNTY, © ADAM MELNYK | DREAMSTIME.COM PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO Along Riviera Maya, south of Cancún, Playa del Carmen’s golden beaches brim with full-service and all-inclusive beach resorts that make it easy to maximize effortless family fun on the sand. When it’s time for a switch-up from the salt water, head south toward Tulum to enjoy a refreshing dip in one of the many freshwater cenotes hidden off the main highway. Cenote Cristalino proves a favorite for snorkeling and swimming, with water as clear as a swimming pool.

Don’t Miss: One of the newest family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts along Riviera Maya, Nickelodeon Hotel & Resorts Riviera Maya fronts a beautiful beach and caters to families with oceanfront swim-up suites, encounters with the Paw Patrol characters and a waterpark with more than 20 slides. POIPU BEACH, KAUAI, HAWAI’I Expect almost always perfect weather along Kauai’s sunny south shore, where lifeguards on duty at Poipu Beach make these spectacular sands an island favorite for safe swimming with the family. The semi-sheltered cove at Poipu Beach means the waters are usually calm. And Brennecke’s Beach Deli, just back from the sand, lets you grab shave ice to enjoy in the sunshine with your entourage, offering scores of tropical flavors daily including coconut, passionfruit and mango.

Don’t Miss: Treat the family to an oceanfront stay at the boutique Ko’a Kea Hotel on Poipu Beach for direct access to these splendid sands.

BIG RIVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA For rugged California beaches where all kinds of discoveries await intrepid families, beeline it to Big River Beach in Mendocino, about three hours north along the coast from San Francisco. The beach on the inland side of the bridge offers a protected place to let the kids splash in the (admittedly chilly) shallows. And just south, at Van Damme State Park, make a scavenger hunt out of spotting anemones and crabs in the tidal pools at low tide.

Don’t Miss: Set on 37 gorgeous cliffside acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Heritage House Resort & Spa in nearby Little River features luxury rooms with views and one of Northern California’s finest spas.

Picture-Perfect:

Llafranc, Spain (top); and Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

PHOTO: © OLEH PANASENKO | DREAMSTIME.COM, © BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS GRACE BAY BEACH, TURKS AND CAICOS Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos sets the standard for postcard beachy perfection with a beach that looks more like a powder-lined lake (it’s that calm!) but with those singular Caribbean hues you’re after. Kids can enter the warm waters with the same ease as if swimming in a tropical, zero-entry swimming pool. And with no shortage of ultra-luxury hotels lining the sand, rest assured you’ll discover ample options for a comfortable stay in these parts, too.

Don’t Miss: Beaches Turks & Caicos resort offers a paradise for kids and parents alike, with an included kids camp that features autism-focused offerings. MIRAMAR BEACH, FLORIDA The beaches of South Walton in northwest Florida, known as the state’s Panhandle, come as close as possible to Caribbean sands and waters in the mainland United States. When you’re not building sandcastles and wading into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico at Miramar Beach, just east of Destin, head to nearby coastal dune lakes (found only a few places in the world, including New Zealand, Madagascar and here) for paddling a kayak and exploring miles of biking trails. Did we mention craft breweries and watersports galore? Something for every beachlover in your family, in other words.

Don’t Miss: Luxury gulf-front beach rentals abound in South Walton, making it the perfect place to plan an old-school beach vacation where you can sip your morning coffee on your own private deck overlooking the sand.

LLAFRANC, SPAIN Spanish families would love to keep this idyllic Mediterranean beach on the Costa Brava, about a 1.5-hour drive north of Barcelona, to themselves. But if you find your way to Llafranc, prepare for a truly European family beach experience among the best of them. Calm waters the gentlest shade of turquoise lap against a golden beach backed by pretty whitewashed fishermen’s cottages and boat houses lining the shore. Tapas restaurants, wine bars and ice cream shops all lie within a few steps of the sand.

Don’t Miss: The family-run Hotel Casamar offers spectacular views and an on-site Michelin-starred restaurant featuring seasonal menus that pull from the sea and surrounding agricultural hinterlands.