Top Family-Friendly Beaches
Flaunt your best DryFins gear at a fun vacation spot
The best family beach vacations are the trips that make memories and that offer plenty of stuff to do for everyone that’s packed in the car. Luckily, the east coast is home to several fun vacation spots that are family-friendly, helping keep the kiddos occupied while also giving the adults some time to unwind. Check out our top five list of family-friendly beach destinations that boast a hefty assortment of activity options like water sports, restaurants, aquariums—and dare we say mini golf if you’re the competitive type.
1.) Clearwater Beach, Florida
Flaunt your DryFins gear at TripAdvisor’s 2018 US Best Beach while soaking up some rays in the sunshine state. Bring the whole family to enjoy a fun vacation spot that offers a long stretch of picture perfect water, soft, white sand and loads of fun that will keep the whole family occupied. Take the kids for a walk on the plank during a Pirate Cruise hosted by Captain Memo for a chance to spot some dolphins during an unforgettable experience. Or, if you’re into the more affluent dolphins, like the kind who have starred in their own movies, meander over to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to slap fins with Winter the dolphin from the film Dolphin Tales. But whatever you do, don’t let your family miss out on the Clearwater Beach slide. The Hippo Slide is the world’s largest inflatable water slide reaching heights that are four stories tall. Perhaps that’s not high enough your family, so take a glide on the wild side and parasail above the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of what you choose to do, Clearwater Beach is guaranteed to be a memorable time.
2.) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach’s ocean breeze and salty air welcome the entire family to a vacation that will keep you begging for more time in this busy beach town. Soar through the clouds on the SkyWheel, the country’s tallest Ferris Wheel, for jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic Ocean that will amaze the kids. Or, take advantage of Myrtle Beach’s 60-mile wide expanse of sandy beach to build a sandcastle or play a game of beach volleyball. But, we all know that the best family beach vacations include a good round of mini golf. Take your pick from mini golf sites like Mount Atlanticus Miniature Golf filled with tiki huts and blue lagoons (and a chance at free mini golf for life on the 19th hole), or MayDay Miniature Golf where golfers roleplay as plane crash survivors who are just thankful that they can still putt.
3.) Tybee Island Beach, Georgia
Just 18 miles outside of Savannah, Georgia lies this relaxing beach destination that’s made for a family looking for a peaceful getaway. Tybee Island Beach is part of an island, which lends itself to the secluded nature of this oceanside town. Spend quality time with your family picking up seashells as the ocean splashes your ankles or soak up the sun in your DryFins for a comfortable, lounge-filled, chafe-free day. Don’t miss out on a chance to bring the entire crew to sitesee the Tybee Lighthouse and Museum, Georgia’s tallest and oldest lighthouse, standing at 145 feet and built in 1736. Whether you opt for a traditional beach day with the family, or you choose to go on an excursion, Tybee Island Beach promises to deliver one of the best family beach vacations ever.
4.) Crescent Beach State Park, Maine
Take a trip up north for a beach spot nestled in a quaint New England town riddled with wooded walking trails and picturesque picnicking opportunities. Break away from the chaos of overcrowded beach spots and take the kids nature watching, or rent paddle boards and kayaks to casually cruise your way around the coast. If you’re a foodie family, Maine is a prime spot for fresh catch, so check out restaurants like Bite into Maine for out-of-this- world lobster creations like the Lobster BLT or the Lobster grilled cheese. Whatever you do, don’t forget to treat the kids to ice cream at the Kettle Cove Creamery & Shack which has been a family owned operation for over 30 years—a testament to how family-friendly this beach community is.
5.) Ocean City Beach, New Jersey
Ocean City Beach has best family beach vacation written all over it. Stroll the beach-lined shopping area for local eateries and mom and pop shops—a perfect opportunity to show off your DryFins gear to passerby. Take a minute to relax as a family and go crabbing, kayaking, or even kite flying to introduce the kids to a classic. This Jersey beach doesn’t fall short of attractions, either. The kids will love splashing around at the OC Waterpark, touring Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum and racing their folks at the Seaside Go-Kart Speedway.
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