Beach

The best beginner snorkeling spot on the Kona Coast with a shallow reef protected by a natural breakwater. The water is calm and teeming with colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and even the occasional octopus. Kids can stand up in most areas which makes nervous snorkelers feel safe. Lifeguards are on duty and the Kahalu u Bay Education Center provides free reef education and lends reef-safe sunscreen. The sandy beach area is good for younger kids who just want to play in the water. Restrooms, showers, and shade pavilions are available.

Consistently rated one of the best beaches in America with soft white sand, turquoise water, and a gentle shore break that is perfect for kids. The water is warm and clear year-round and the beach stretches for 2.5 miles so you can always find space. Kayak rentals are available for paddling to the Mokulua Islands offshore. The park has restrooms, showers, lifeguards, and shady trees for picnics. Windsurfers and kiteboarders add entertainment for watching. The whole vibe is relaxed and family-friendly.

A stunning 3.5-mile coastal boardwalk and trail connecting several beautiful bays along Maui west shore. The trail is mostly flat and paved with sections of boardwalk over lava rock. Kids can spot sea turtles, whales in winter, and tide pool creatures along the way. Several beaches along the route offer swimming stops. Kapalua Bay at one end and DT Fleming Beach at the other are both excellent for families. This is one of the most scenic easy walks in all of Hawaii.

The last beach at the end of the road on Oahu west side with a wild, remote feel that is rare on the island. The long sandy beach is backed by the Waianae Mountains and rarely crowded. Summer brings calm water suitable for swimming and snorkeling while winter waves are for watching only. The Ka ena Point trail starts nearby for families who want to hike to the actual westernmost tip of Oahu where albatross and monk seals are sometimes spotted. The sunset from here is the last one on Oahu every day.

A well-maintained Catskills campground with 76 sites surrounding a beautiful 25-acre lake with a sandy beach. The swimming area is perfect for kids and canoe and kayak rentals are available. Sites are well-spaced and shaded. The campground is centrally located for day trips to Kaaterskill Falls, Slide Mountain, and Woodstock. The combination of lakeside camping, good swimming, and easy access to top Catskill trails makes this one of the best family base camps in the region.

A family-friendly state park on the shore of Keuka Lake, one of the cleanest and most beautiful Finger Lakes. The park has a sandy beach with a gradual entry perfect for young swimmers and a campground with sites nestled in the woods. The lake water is clean and warm by midsummer. Fishing is excellent from the shore and the park has a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. Hiking trails through the surrounding hills provide lake views. It is quieter and more relaxed than the bigger Finger Lakes parks.

Four man-made crescent-shaped lagoons with calm, protected water that is the safest ocean swimming on Oahu for young kids. The lagoons have sandy bottoms, gentle slopes into the water, and are sheltered from waves and currents. Toddlers can splash in ankle-deep water while older kids snorkel along the rock walls. Each lagoon has restrooms, showers, and some shade. Sea turtles frequently visit the lagoons which is always a thrill. Lagoons 1 and 4 are the least crowded.

A scenic state campground on the shore of Lake Durant in the central Adirondacks with 60 tent and trailer sites, many with direct lake access. The beach area is sandy and the lake is clean and calm for swimming and paddling. A short nature trail loops through the surrounding forest. The campground is centrally located for visits to the Adirondack Experience museum and the Blue Mountain fire tower trail. The sites are well-spaced and shaded. This is a solid, no-fuss family campground with great water access.

The most reliable spot on Oahu to see Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on the sand or swimming in the shallow water. Volunteers are often present to educate visitors and ensure people maintain the required 10-foot distance from the turtles. Kids are thrilled to see these gentle creatures up close on the sand. The beach itself is rocky and not ideal for swimming but the turtle viewing alone makes it worth the stop. Located on the scenic North Shore drive between Haleiwa and the Dole Plantation. The best viewing is usually in the afternoon.

The most family-friendly beach on Kauai with two large man-made rock pools that protect swimmers from waves and currents. The larger pool is great for snorkeling with tropical fish that enter through gaps in the rocks. The smaller pool is shallow and calm, perfect for toddlers. Fish and sea turtles regularly swim into the pools. The adjacent Kamalani Playground is a massive wooden play structure that kids go crazy for. Lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and picnic pavilions are all on site. This is the go-to beach for families with young children on Kauai.

A beautiful beachfront campground on the North Shore with a long sandy beach, calm water, and a small offshore island you can wade to at low tide. Goat Island (Mokuauia) is accessible by wading across the shallow channel and kids think it is the coolest thing ever to walk to their own island. The beach is quiet and uncrowded compared to town. Tent camping is available right behind the tree line. Cabins and yurts are also an option for families who want more comfort. This is beach camping at its finest.

The most popular public beach on Lake George with a wide sandy shoreline, lifeguards on duty, and crystal-clear mountain water that stays shallow for a long way out. Kids can splash in the roped swimming area while parents relax on the sand with views of the surrounding Adirondack peaks. Changing rooms, restrooms, and a snack bar are right on site. The beach gets crowded on hot summer weekends so arriving early is the move.

A beautiful state park with a sandy beach on Moreau Lake, campgrounds, and trails that connect to the nearby Palmertown Range. The lake is small and warm and the beach has a gradual entry that is perfect for young kids. Canoe and kayak rentals are available. The campground has 148 sites in a wooded setting. Hiking trails range from easy lakeside loops to a more challenging climb up to the ridge for Hudson River views. The park is close to Saratoga Springs and Lake George making it a great base camp.

Despite the name, this rocky cove on the North Shore is one of the best tide pool and snorkeling spots for families on Oahu. In calm summer conditions the water is clear and full of tropical fish, sea turtles, and interesting rock formations. The tide pools on the outer edges fascinate younger kids who can find sea urchins, crabs, and small fish. The name comes from the shape of the rocks, not from actual sharks. Waves in winter make it unsafe so this is strictly a summer destination.

One of the longest white sand beaches in Hawaii stretching nearly 3 miles along Molokai west shore. The beach is vast, wild, and almost always deserted giving families an experience of having an entire beach to themselves. The scale is impressive with wide golden sand and crashing waves. Swimming can be rough in winter but calmer in summer. The empty expanse is perfect for long walks, sand castle building, and just feeling the freedom of wide open space. Sunset here is spectacular with views toward Oahu.

Rated America Best Beach and it lives up to the hype. A natural tombolo (sand bar) creates two separate swimming areas: a protected keiki (children) pool on one side that is perfect for toddlers and a more open area for older swimmers on the other. Monk seals occasionally haul out on the beach which is a rare and exciting wildlife encounter. Lifeguards are on duty and the park has restrooms, showers, and a grassy area with shade trees for picnics. The south shore location means sunny weather even when the rest of Kauai is rainy.

A dramatic descent from a cliff-top lookout down into a remote valley with a black sand beach on the Kohala Coast. The lookout alone offers one of the most stunning views on the Big Island with rugged green cliffs plunging into the ocean. The trail down to the beach is about a half mile but steep and muddy. At the bottom, the wild black sand beach is backed by dense forest and ironwood trees. The swimming is dangerous due to currents but the beach and valley scenery are incredible. The hike back up is a good workout.

A jet-black sand beach where Hawaiian green sea turtles regularly haul themselves onto the sand to rest. Kids are amazed seeing these ancient creatures up close, basking just feet away on the dark sand. The black sand is made of volcanic basite and feels unlike any beach they have ever been to. The swimming conditions are often rough so this is more of a wildlife viewing and wading beach than a swimming beach. A small park with shade trees and picnic tables makes it a comfortable stop. Always maintain the required 10-foot distance from the turtles.

A small public beach on one of the most beautiful lakes in the central Adirondacks. The beach is sandy with a gradual entry into clean mountain lake water. It is never as crowded as the Lake George beaches and has a relaxed, old-school Adirondack feel. Kids can swim, build sandcastles, and explore the shoreline while parents enjoy the quiet mountain setting. Nearby, the village has a general store for supplies. The lake is also a great launch point for kayaking and canoeing.

A family park on the St. Lawrence River and Barnhart Island with a sandy beach, nature center, campground, and boat launch. The swimming beach on the river is excellent with warm shallow water and lifeguards. The nature center offers programs for kids and the park has trails through riverfront wetlands that are great for birding. The campground has 168 sites in a wooded setting. Watching the massive ships navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway from the observation area is an unforgettable experience for kids.