Family Beach Vacations

Taking a family beach vacation is just the tonic for late days in the office, long days shuttling children around town and a humid hot summer. The waves are medicinal, the ocean spray is therapeutic and seeing a five year work a boogie board is priceless.

The first and most important decision to make is to actually take the vacation (and choose the destination), after that, it is to stay on or off the beach. Our last beach vacation, we stayed at an ocean front beach property. I have since been informed that that is now the standard.

The pros and cons come down to convenience and cost. In general, it cost more to stay on the beach, however, not necessarily significantly more. Do your home work and use a hotel search engine (search multiple hotels) and compare.

Beach Vacation Basic Needs
Food

As a general rule we do not eat on the beach. We do take a small cooler with bottled water.

Clothing
In addition to wearing our swimming attire, we bring loose fitting, long sleeve t-shirts. This helps if the sun gets too hot or the ocean breeze creates a chill for the little ones. If you wear sunglasses use a lanyard (much cheaper than replacing sunglasses two years in a row).

Shelter
We (family of four) stake our beach claim with the following:

* two large beach umbrellas (positioned accordingly as the sun progresses);
* two folding beach chairs;
* one pop-up shelter 10′ X 10′ (not extended to maximum height);

Test sunscreen on the little ones before leaving home. Definitely required, it may take some searching to find the right one for sensitive skin.

[Tip: For the little ones, bring the beach to them. Dig a hole, place a shower liner in it, put a few buckets of water in it and you have a private toddler beach.]

Taking a family beach vacation is magical – bring a camera. A disposable one will do, capture those memories.

Back to Family Vacation Destinations Home

No related posts.