The beaches at Hilton Head Island are very popular yet remain relatively un-crowded. Hilton head is a barrier island located at the southeast tip of South Carolina. It is a very family-oriented beach vacation area with lots of safe natural attractions that are perfect for family exploration.
The coastal marshes are great for canoeing or kayaking. The Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge provides fourteen miles of trails for hiking and cycling. The Savannah National Wildlife refuge is 26,000 acres and has a winding road through it for a family nature drive.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #2:
Thirty miles off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, are the beaches of Nantucket Island. The beaches circle the small island and they are all free. Children’s Beach and Jettie’s Beach are the best ones for small children. But all the North Shore beaches are great for families as the water is calm and warm as well as easy beach access for families loaded down with all their beach paraphernalia.
It’s a good idea not to bring your car as the island is small and very popular. But there are lots of paved bike paths and dirt trails that are perfect for bikes and mopeds.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #3:
Head on down to the southern tip of Texas and you will find the beaches of South Padre Island. There are actually 34 miles of beautiful beaches on the island, all great for the family. The sand here is perfectly suited for building sand castles! The Gulf breeze is comfortable and provides a steady drive for parasailers and windsurfers. You can fish in the bay and the South Padre Island Aquarium is there to enjoy. Just be sure to avoid bringing the family in March. This is when the college students take over for the wild times of Spring Break.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #4:
Along the Atlantic coast of South Carolina is 60 miles of beach called the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach is the capital with loads of things to do for the family. Things like miniature golf, Myrtle Waves park, Wild Water and Wheels. Myrtle Beach can get pretty crowded but you can head a little north or south and find less-crowded beaches such as Crescent Beach, Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive and Windy Hill. Nearby are great family outing opportunities like Waccatee Zoological Farm or Alligator Adventure or tours of antebellum plantations.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #5:
Ocean City, Maryland, is known for its exciting boardwalk attractions and its clean white-sand beach. The boardwalk, piers and amusement park are at the southern tip. Take the family there at night after a day on the beach. The bay side offers charter fishing boats for flounder, trout, and sea bass. The bayside fishing piers are the place to catch your own famous Maryland blue crabs. Nearby Berlin, Maryland is great for am antiquing side trip as is Assateague Island where you can view the famous wild ponies.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #6:
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a top family vacation destination. There are some 26 miles of beach, all with excellent fine-white sand and a low-key atmosphere. The introduction of casinos in the area has drawn some attention here but they are spread out and the coastal beaches maintain their excellent family appeal. Just offshore are six barrier islands accessible by ferry. There are more beaches here and less people. Compared to many of the other top beach areas, the Mississippi Gulf coast beach area is one of the more affordable.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #7:
Fifty miles south of Los Angeles, California is Newport Beach. Much of the area is high end luxury with yachts and mansions. These are fun to look at but there are miles of unspoiled beaches that are great for your family vacation. The Balboa Fun Zone has been entertaining families since 1936 with rides like the Ferris Wheel and bumper cars. The area between Santa Ana River Jetty and the Newport Pier is called The Wedge and it offers some of the best body-surfing you can find anywhere.
Family Beach Vacation Idea #8:
Cape May, on the southern tip of New Jersey, has over six-hundred Victorian-era buildings and is classified as a National Historic Landmark. The city is quiet, tree-lined and provides a taste of times past. The beaches and the town are a more family-oriented atmosphere than some of the other more raucous beach destinations along the New Jersey shore. Sunset Beach is popular for their “Cape May Diamonds”. These are quartz pebbles that have been polished naturally by the ocean so that they resemble a real diamond.
