The idea of going on vacation with small children can be pretty daunting, especially once you factor in long haul flights & tedious hours spent hanging around the airport. But family leisure time is essential; staying at home together can get claustrophobic, too. The ideal compromise is to find a resort within four hours from home, door to door. The East Coast isn’t quite so internationally famous for its beaches as California, say, or Florida, but its beautiful shoreline boasts a unique coastal culture that’s perfect for a calm, sunny family break.
Maine
With a texture closer to talcum powder than sand, & sedate breezes drifting in off the Atlantic, Maine is full of fantastic beach spots. York Beach in particular is ideal for a family craving sun & sand, with convenient free parking, static beach umbrellas, lifeguard patrols, beautifully fresh seafood & cheerful extras like bowling, mini-golf, the Fun-O-Rama arcade. We like to play at Captain Jack, & search for iconic Cape Neddick Lighthouse through the telescopes dotted along the waterfront. Ogunguit Beach offers isolated stretches of sand, ideal for kids still learning to swim, with a wide range of activities available once they get tired of splashing around. You can try your hand (or sea legs) at deep sea fishing, sailing or whale watching; lessons in lobster trapping are even available from the local fishing Captains.
Rhode Island
With 400 miles of coastline, Rhode Island is definitely not the smallest state when it comes to beaches. The facilities available throughout its 100 beach spots are capable of entertaining every member of the family. Many Rhode Island beaches lie along the protected Narrangansett Bay, where breakwater barriers make the waters ideal for novice swimmers & children. Easton’s Beach in Newport holds family nights every Tuesday & Thursday, featuring magic shows, live music, & puppet acts. It’s easy to add group activities like canoeing, kayaking, boating & fishing to your day. When it’s time for a little unstructured playtime, Rhode Island’s beach sand is particularly well suited to building castles (or burying Mum & Dad).
New Jersey
Renowned for shorelines of the whitest sand, New Jersey offers some of the best 127 miles of beach vacation on the East Coast. Families particularly love Sunset Beach, suspected to be the oldest beachfront resort in the USA. Although its activities aren’t so comprehensive as Rhode Island’s, Sunset is lovely if your kids are mini treasure-hunters & explorers. Explore Cape May lighthouse before taking the short walk to Sunset Beach, where everyone hunts for the largest “Cape May Diamond” (don’t get too excited – they’re pebbles of pure, rounded quartz). The Sunset flag ceremony, held from June through September, is a nice way to unwind before eating at one of the many good snack bars or restaurants. Take a scenic bike ride to the south end of Sunset to reach the ceremony, or perhaps your mini Rory or Rickie might enjoy the 18 hole miniature golf course down there instead. Keep your eyes peeled for the remains of the experimental concrete ship “Atlantus” too, although your kids may not believe that she actually used to float…
Images by Uncle Catherine
Would like some travel destination ideas for my family.