Make lasting memories in the sand

By Editorial Staff

updated 1:41 p.m. ET May 18, 2007

Ahhh . . . the family beach vacation. It’s as all-American as apple pie, a time-honored tradition where some of the best childhood memories are made. Everyone has their favorite sands, but when it comes to family-friendly options, not all are created equal. We’ve picked ten great family beaches across the country that parents and kids alike are guaranteed to love – whether for their gentle surf, range of activities, sand-castle potential, or educational elements. So pack up the car, hit the road, and, whatever you do, don’t forget the SPF.

1. Cannon Beach
Set against verdant old-growth forests and punctuated by giant rock monoliths, including the 235-foot high Haystack Rock, quaint and kid-friendly Cannon Beach, lies just 80 miles west of Portland, Oregon. While the Pacific waters here are often too cold for swimming, kite flying, along with tide pooling and sandcastle building, reign supreme on this wide sandy beach – and the kites sold at the town's weathered cedar-wood-clad shops make the perfect summer vacation souvenir. Every June brings Sandcastle Day (June 16 this year), when kids of all ages can enter one of the West Coast's largest sandcastle-building contests.

2. Cape May
Victorian-house-lined streets might not be what comes to mind when you think of going “down the Shore,” but this National Historic District in southern New Jersey is full of surprises. Indeed, while Cape May has the beautiful expanse of beach and requisite ice-cream shops for little visitors, it also boasts boutique hotels, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a top-rated, seafood-centric culinary scene bound to please grown-ups. Plus, amusement park–style excitement awaits on the animated boardwalk of North Wildwood, just a short drive away.

3. Coast Guard Beach
It’s no wonder that after all these years, the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts still lures families in droves – after all, aren’t vast beaches, pounding surf, fried seafood, and ice-cream shops what vacation dreams are made of? But of all the Cape’s beaches, the National Seashore’s Coast Guard Beach stands out – not only for the large waves begging to be body surfed, but also for its educational and natural attractions. Spend a day at the beach showing the kids the endangered piping plovers that nest here in early summer months, plus the site of the Mayflower's first New World landing, all while enjoying fun in the sun.

4. Coronado

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Lather the kids with SPF and set 'em loose on the Coronado shore, a prime spot for fun-seeking families looking to boogie board, surf, and swim just a bridge or ferry ride away from downtown San Diego. Besides being the place to stay, the spectacular Hotel del Coronado (www.hoteldel.com) makes a fabulous backdrop for a family photo and has kids activities galore – think sandcastle building and kite making. If you visit in early winter, be sure to check out the gray whales breaching right offshore during their annual migration. Land activities like beach volleyball and biking can be enjoyed year-round courtesy of sunny San Diego’s near-perfect weather.

5. Daytona Beach

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Daytona Beach’s 23 miles of sparkling Florida sand promise plenty of surfside family fun to keep the kiddies content, plus a plethora of off-beach activities to keep them occupied away from the sun. Wildlife excursions on the Halifax River and the nearby Marine Science Center (www.marinesciencecenter.com) offer eco-education, while the race-car simulator at Daytona USA (www.daytonausa.com) thrills adults and kids alike. Don’t want to encourage your kids to be race-car drivers? Take them instead to the NASA Kennedy Space Center (www.kennedyspacecenter.com) in Cape Canaveral, or to Orlando to see Mickey and the gang; both are only about an hour’s drive away.

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