Pier

Crash Boat takes its name from the rescue boats once stationed here for the airbase. The pier has largely collapsed, and the pilings left standing under the water have grown coral and sponge and now hold dense fish life - sergeant majors, snapper, wrasse - in water shallow enough to free-dive. That structure is why it snorkels better than the plain sand beaches nearby. The beach itself is colourful with fishing boats and busy with local families at weekends, and there are food kiosks. Conditions matter: winter north swells make the west coast rough and murky.

The Frederiksted pier is one of the most celebrated shore snorkels in the Caribbean, and what makes it special is not reef but structure: concrete pilings running down into sand, colonised by orange and purple sponge, with the strange creatures that come with that habitat - seahorses, juvenile drums, frogfish, octopus at dusk. The water is calm and clear on this leeward coast and mostly under twenty-five feet. It suits a child who is a strong swimmer and patient enough to look closely, more than a beginner. Access is from the beach beside the pier; cruise ship days close the water near it.

A well-maintained park on a 9,460-acre East Texas lake with excellent fishing and a roped swimming area that families appreciate. The lighted fishing pier is great for evening outings and the bike trail loop through pine forest is fun for kids of all riding abilities. Campsites are shaded and well-spaced with some sitting right on the water. It is less visited than many state parks which means weekend availability is usually good.

A classic Texas state park with a renovated swim beach and fishing pier on Lake Brownwood. The CCC-era stone cabins have been updated and offer a comfortable family overnight option. The Cross Timbers Hiking Trail connects to the nearby Cross Timbers Nature Trail with interpretive signs that teach kids about the ancient Post Oak Belt. The park store rents fishing gear which makes first-time fishing trips easy to pull off.

A peaceful state park on the shores of Lake Tawakoni about an hour east of Dallas with a sandy swim beach and shaded campsites that fill up fast on summer weekends. The 5.5-mile trail system is easy and well-marked through post oak forest. Kids love fishing from the lighted pier and the swimming area has a gentle sandy slope that is perfect for younger children.

Martin Creek Lake State Park is one of Texas’s best-kept secrets for family fishing. The lake receives warm-water discharge from a nearby power plant, which keeps water temperatures mild year-round and creates exceptional fishing conditions - largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and channel catfish are all reliably active even in winter when other lakes go quiet. Fishing: This is the main draw and it’s outstanding. Kids can fish from the shoreline, the fishing pier, or from a canoe or kayak on the lake. The warm water means fish are active and biting year-round, which is perfect for keeping kids engaged. Largemouth bass up to 10+ pounds have been caught here. The park has a fish-cleaning station and a boat ramp for those bringing their own watercraft. ...