Family Beach Vacations

Everyone knows the basic family beach vacations menu. Relaxing in the sun, building sand castles, burying each other in the sand and cooling off in the water. Here are a few other fun vacation ideas.

Take along a Frisbee! This is always a popular beach game and is also fun if you’ve brought the family dog. (Make sure that pets are allowed on the beach you have chosen).

Other good games to bring include football and badminton. Any ball at all is great for tossing around and making friends.

Look for shells, starfish, sand dollars or driftwood. This is great adventure for all and makes great holiday souvenirs. Some places it is illegal to remove living creatures or live shells so check first what’s allowed. Some places have charter-shelling cruises that will take to the best shelling spots.

If there are rocks that lead out into the water, investigate the nooks and crannies for interesting little creatures like mollusks or crabs. Be careful not to harm their homes and please don’t kill them for sport!

Buy a cheap metal detector and look for lost coins and jewelry. It’s a fun family beach vacation idea and people actually do find valuable items occasionally.

Bring a pair of binoculars and do a little amateur bird watching. You could even prepare a little ahead. Get an inexpensive book on birding that covers the area you are in. This is an especially good idea if the beach you have chosen is part of or near a wildlife refuge or park.

Bring or rent some fishing gear and try your luck. Look for a fishing pier to make it easy to drop your line in a little deeper water. Many beach areas will have charter boats available to take you out for some deep sea fishing. Many of these will provide all the equipment you need. No experience necessary to have a good time.

Depending your family beach vacation destination there may be nature trails nearby or historic sites and buildings to investigate. Lighthouses are interesting places to visit. These can be an excellent choice when the sun gets to be a little too much.

Rent some bicycles and tour the beach area. Scout around for local antique shops and craft boutiques.

Many beaches have calm areas that are great for snorkeling. Bring a mask, snorkel and fins and enjoy the wildlife below the surface.

Look for a place to go horseback riding. Some beach areas have great trails for this and provide the horses for you to ride.

Rent a jet ski or two and have blast racing across the surf.

Get the family together and relax on the beach as you watch the evening sunset. This can be a really nice quiet time for family togetherness after a hard day of play.

Swimming is great fun but there are dangers. Please investigate the beach you have chosen and find out about any potentially dangerous currents or other hazards. Avoid beaches that do not have lifeguards especially if you have children.

Some beaches have sections that are naturally protected from the waves and make a safer swimming area for small children. Best is when the tides is low. Many times there will be small pools of water left in low sections of the beach. These make great play areas for the small kids. Seek these areas out.

Please make every effort to leave the beach without a trace of your presence. This means carry out every piece of your trash. Don’t pick flowers or grasses from the sand dunes. If you find a shell with a living sea creature inside leave it alone.

If you are bringing your pet, find out before you go if she is allowed on the beach. If not you will need to make proper arrangements for her care. Some beaches allow pets on the sand but not in the water. Many require dogs to be leashed. Be prepared.

Don’t forget to bring – plenty of +30 or higher sunscreen, plenty of water to drink, sunglasses, camera, lots of big beach towels, a big beach umbrella, balls and water toys, bucket and shovel, and books and magazines.

There are many choices for accommodations on your family beach vacation. You can rent a house, condo, beach cottage or stay in a hotel or motel. Your budget and family size will determine which is most appropriate for you. Wherever you stay you better make reservations well in advance. If you are planning a summertime family beach vacation at a popular beach, you may need to reserve a whole year in advance to get the accommodations you want.