Life is a beach for the best family holiday, and there are many beaches all over the world that offer great vacation experiences for the entire family. However, when it comes to young children, there are some important things to consider before choosing a beach vacation.
A safe beach -Calm water with a gently sloping beach with gentle waves is the best for little children. Gentle slopes produce milder waves, and lagoons sometimes have none at all. Children gain confidence with consistent wave patterns.
Avoid beaches with single strong rolling single waves. Those indicate deep water close to shore. Also beware of seemingly calm areas of a beach that has strong waves, as these are usually indicating a rip-tide where the current flows swiftly out to sea.
Warm water -Warm water is not a prerequisite to having fun, but it does make for being able to spend more time in the water without getting chilled. However, there are many wet suits available for children now, and these can also help for sun protection, and aid flotation, as well as keep children warm.
A place to play– When not splashing and paddling in the water, the children need a place to have fun and play. Clean fine sand is by far the best, so they can build sand castles with moats and turrets. They might even try their hand at sand art.
A place with human interest– Deserted beaches might seem the perfect places for adults to get away from it all, but kids usually gravitate to places with other children. It doesn’t usually take them long to make contact with other potential playmates, and they learn social skills as they play together.
12 Fun Beaches Around the World
Maui, Hawaii
There is a trio of clear beaches, each separated by ancient lava-rock flows, and the beach known locally as Kam 3 is ideal for young children. The full name of the pristine beach is Kama’ole Beach Park III. It is easy to spot fish from the surface in the clear water, even without a snorkel. If you are lucky, you might even see a turtle below the waves.
The grassy area behind the beach is perfect for a game of Frisbee throwing, kite flying, or just lazing about. If you really need to chill, try a shaved flavored ice from a nearby stand.
Playa Norte, Mexico
Playa Norte beach on Mexico’s Isla Mujeres faces northwest, which protects it from the feisty Caribbean winds. The beach itself is shallow and warm; the cerulean blue skies and turquoise waters off setted with the white sand are simply stunning.
The bohemian atmosphere invites a quiet style, and everyone gets around on foot or by bicycle, making for a relaxed ambiance. You might just get lucky to see a harmless whale shark or turtle when snorkeling in the water.
Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay is one of those picture postcard perfect places that will leave you spellbound for its beauty. The azure blue waters are teeming with fish life that abounds on the coral reefs close by. This is the type of place you arrive and find everything is taken care of for you and the children.
Many of the resorts have small aqua parks as well when you want a lazy day by the pool. There also plenty of options for other water sports, such as wind and kite surfing, scuba diving, and jet skiing.
Tortuga Bay, Galapagos
For somewhere off the beaten track, but number one for interest and spectacular wildlife, head to the Galapagos Islands off the West coast of South America. Tortuga Bay is just twenty minutes walk from the main town of Puerto Ayora.
You can follow an easy path through bushes covered in flocks of Darwin’s finches and other rare wild creatures such as lava lizards, until you reach the fine sands of the bay. The water can be rough, but the wildlife is extreme with marine iguanas, pelicans, and turtles all on show.
Rio, Brazil
Ipanema-Leblon in Rio has the best of Brazilian beach life and culture for absolutely everybody, day or night. It has something for everyone from young families playing in the sand through to active body boarders and surfers riding the waves.
Even at night, the beach is well lit so anyone preferring a moonlight dip to avoid the harsh sun can easily see their way across the sands. The easternmost point at Arpoador has a rough rocky headland that offers expansive views west over the whole length of Ipanema Bay to DoisIrmãos mountain.
Margate, United Kingdom
If you are from London, you may already be familiar with Margate’s golden sands. Its beauty attracted the famous artist Tuner to produce many of his enigmatic paintings in the 19thCentury . Dreamland amusement park has now reopened close to the beach with its vintage rides to delight visitors old and young. There are carousels, chair-o-planes, caterpillars, and the UK’s oldest roller coaster for all the fun of the fair
There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops to explore once you have washed the sand off.
Naxos, Greece
The Greek Island of Naxos has some great child friendly beaches that cover all the best aspects for a fun family holiday. Those on the southwest coastline have the advantage of being protected from the ravaging northerly meltemi winds that blow in July and August. St George beach on Cyclades Island has shallow warm water for toddlers.
There are also plenty of other water sports for older children to try out, such as wind and kite surfing, wakeboarding, or waterskiing. Local tavernas line the beach to hire out sunloungers and offer refreshments, or Chora township is just minutes walk away.
Gozo, Malta
Malta is a favorite spot for many European holiday makers who want North African ambiance with western culture. Ramla Bay on Gozo is a charming relatively quiet beach that offers calm blue waters and golden sand.
As yet, it remains a best kept secret, so facilities are minimal with only few cafes, showers, and toilets. There is, however, an ice-cream van, some deck chairs, and umbrellas. What more do you need? The bay is a great place for snorkeling and exploring the Mediterranean sea life.
Goa, India
Goa has many beautiful palm lined beaches for you to relax and while away the hours looking out over the Arabian Sea. One of the best for children is Palolem Beach,which is in a protecting bay with little current. This beach still has rustic charm and plenty of sand for children to enjoy. Simple hotels and restaurants offer delicious local food all along the bay.
If you choose to do a little exploring, you might wander out to Canacona/Monkey Island at low tide to see the cheeky inhabitants there. Or negotiate a price on a local boat to see dolphins playing in the bay.
My Khe/China Beach, Vietnam
China Beach is south of Danang, and less crowded than other beach towns such as Mui Ne and Nha Trang. My Khe Beach was nicknamed China Beach by the U.S.A. troops that used to congregate there for rest and recreation during the Vietnam War.
The sand is clean and litter free, and the sea fresh and clear. There are no large resorts nearby, but there are small beach huts for cold drinks, ice cream, and seafood snacks – all very cheap and relaxed.
Bondi Beach, Australia
Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most popular beaches, in part because of its proximity to Sydney’s city center, but also because of its golden sand, turquoise sea, and regular surf. It’s a great place for kids to learn to surf with professional surf schools to ensure that they start with their right (or left) foot forward.
With beach safety a priority, always swim between the yellow and red flags where the water is patrolled by qualified life savers from the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. The latter was the first of its kind in the world formed in 1907, and children as young as 5 can start training to become surf lifesavers.
Bondi Beach has lots of different festivals to join throughout the year, such as kite flying, fun runs, and open air cinema.
Durban, South Africa
For another great southern hemisphere city beach, check out Durban on the East coast of South Africa. Durban is often referred to as South Africa’s playground because of its attractive beaches you can visit all year round.
Sometimes,there is more surf than strictly suitable for very young children, but Adding to end closer to the harbor is quieter. The sun shines almost every day, and the sand is great for building sand castles. From June to November, the southern winter, you might even get to see dolphins and whales feasting on migrating sardines!
There are certainly more than 12 great beaches in the world but these dozen are great ones to start with!
