Great Family Beach Vacation
If you love the beach, then what could be better than a great beach vacation for your family? As someone who’s been to a lot of beaches all over the world, I’ve learned that it’s important to find out what places are going to suit your particular tastes. You should make sure the beach you go to has activities that your family likes best. There are so many family beach vacations destinations in the world. Many will give you a memorable time if you look for them properly. You can start by looking on the Internet for some great family beach vacation ideas.
It seems like everyone is hectic these days, which is why we’re all looking for low stress activities. When I think of vacation, I usually think of a long trip to somewhere exotic where I can relax in the sun and take in the culture. However, with family, this is obviously not going to happen. You might find yourself searching instead for short getaways with your significant other and maybe even your kids. This article will help you plan and enjoy a family beach vacation in California!
Whether you’re bringing the kids for a family beach vacation or planning for a romantic getaway with your significant other, you want to make sure you consider all the aspects of the trip.
Great Family Beach Vacation
After an in-depth review of more than 200 resorts in the U.S. and Caribbean, Parents uncovered these 20 family-friendly beach getaways. Some pump up the energy, others have a laid-back vibe, and all are great fun for both you and the kids! (Rates and offerings are subject to change. Contact each resort for the most up-to-date information.)
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Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui, Hawaii
Treat your family to the “aloha” spirit at Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui, Hawaii. The resort features luxurious one- to four-bedroom amenities, multiple swimming pools, and access to the pristine Kapalua Bay Beach.
While parents are lounging poolside or at Spa Montage, kids can spend the day at Paintbox children’s program, specifically designed for those ages 5 to 12. Half-day and full-day sessions are available, where your little one might explore tide pools, make instruments, observe sea turtles, and more. Kids can also compete for “Montage Merit” badges by completing Hawaii-focused activities.
The entire family will enjoy Hawaiian cultural offerings—such as lei-making, “Talk Story sessions, and ukulele lessons—led by the Montage Kapalua Bay’s onsite Cultural Ambassador. When it’s time to eat, families can dine at a variety of onsite restaurants, including the signature Cane & Canoe. They may also choose to cook in their full-sized kitchen or travel merely ten miles to the historic town of Lahaina.
Traveling to the island just got a whole lot easier for those flying from the east coast, too, with United Airline’s direct flight from Newark to Kahului, Maui—a must for parents eager to skip the layover.
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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. Not too long ago, South Seas Island Resort completed a $140 million renovation of the entire property, overhauling all accommodations and the popular pool area. 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.
The Tiva Kids Club for children 4 and older takes every advantage of the setting, with trips to the on-property nature center and visits from the resort’s own naturalist. Guided evening beach walks and daytime tide-pool excursions are also available.
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Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Club Med’s imaginative circus school teaches kids 4 and up how to juggle, ride a unicycle, walk a tightrope, swing on a trapeze, and learn magic tricks. This and the property’s numerous other supervised children’s programs, meals, and sports activities are included in the price.
While the kids are having the time of their lives, you can enjoy the coconut tree-lined beach, sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing, and fitness classes. Club rooms (the least expensive type) are comfortable, and families with infants automatically receive a changing table, baby bathtub, and bottle warmer in their room as part of the resort’s “Baby Welcome” program.
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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 Cana—and you don’t need a passport to get there.
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Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
When you rent one of the 2,000-plus rooms at this tropical resort, you gain access to the mind-blowing water park and aquarium—attractions that would add up to at least a couple hundred dollars daily in the States. In the resort’s underwater tunnels and nine open-air lagoons, there are more than 50,000 sea creatures from more than 250 species, a number that rivals the grandest U.S. aquariums. Many of the 100 acres of water attractions are thrilling—like the 50-foot water slide in total darkness—but require kids to be at least 48 inches tall. Smaller children will have a blast at several shallow pools and at Splashers, a Mayan-themed water-play area with a pirate ship and water canyons that is just for tots.
If you and the kids need to take a break from the sun, you could retreat to the Atlantis Theatre for a free G- or PG-rated flick, or to the new pottery studio. But this resort is really best for families who never seem to tire of the water and who have at least one child who is 6 or older so you’re not paying for attractions that your children are too small to use.
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Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Florida
Two hours from the hustle and bustle of the Orlando theme parks, Disney offers a family experience that’s easier on your feet and your wallet. Although Vero Beach is part of the Disney Vacation Club line, you don’t need to buy into a time-share to stay there; a one-bedroom with a full kitchen and washer-dryer starts at runs a couple hundred per night for nonmembers.
Free activities—including sing-alongs, a campfire with s’mores, family beach walks with a nature expert, a craft hour especially for toddlers, and an “unbirthday” party with cupcakes, games, and a pinata—center on old-fashioned family fun rather than on meeting Disney characters. In fact, only Goofy makes a regular appearance at the resort and that’s at special breakfasts on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A Mickey Mouse-shaped swimming pool plus a splash area for preschoolers round out the fun—and, yes, life jackets and pool toys are free.
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Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Jamaica
Set on what’s arguably the best beach on the island, Beaches Negril is all about giving parents and kids an amazing vacation. While you take advantage of tennis, kayaking, windsurfing, the “Lazy River”—or simply collapse on the white sand—your kids can join a supervised program. Babies hang out with trained counselors in a comfortable nursery setting while toddlers and preschoolers absolutely love Sesame Street-themed activities, as well as shell collecting, face-painting, and magic shows.
Since all your meals, most activities, and the kids’ club are included in the price, you really need to take advantage of everything to get your money’s worth. So this resort (and others like it) are best for parents who are looking to spend a couple of hours alone every day.
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Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii
This family favorite spreads across 22 acres on Oahu, the easiest (and usually cheapest) Hawaiian island to get to from the States. The hotel’s four pools, including a specially designated one for children, are the hub of the action here: There is free snorkeling instruction for kids who know how to swim, plus lei-making classes and hula lessons for the whole family on the deck. Other no-cost activities include Friday-night fireworks, lawn bowling, and ukulele lessons. The resort is home to about 60 wildlife species such as flamingos, turtles, and koi fish.
Camp Penguin for kids offers field trips to the nearby Honolulu Zoo, Bishop’s Museum, or Waikiki Aquarium as well as fun activities around the resort. Just be sure to bring along your child’s birth certificate or passport; Hawaiian law requires proof of age for admittance into the club.