Surfing

Rincón is where surfing in Puerto Rico is centred, and Domes - named for the decommissioned nuclear reactor dome beside it - is its most recognisable break. In winter it produces serious waves for experienced surfers and is not a place for children in the water. In summer the swell drops right down and the same beach becomes a reasonable place to take a first lesson, with several schools operating locally. The other winter draw is watching rather than swimming: humpback whales pass close to this coast between January and March, and the lighthouse park above the beach is a good vantage point.

Jobos splits neatly in two, which is why it works for a family with mixed ages. The western end has the surf break that made Isabela a surfing town, with schools running beginner lessons through the calmer months. The eastern end is protected by a limestone shelf that creates shallow pools and calm water where small children can potter about safely while everyone else is in the waves. Above the beach the rock is undercut into arches and a blowhole. Food kiosks and surf shops line the road behind. Winter brings serious swell that closes the whole bay to casual swimming.

The inlet concentrates fish moving between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic, which makes the north jetty the busiest and most productive shore fishing platform in the state - snook, redfish, tarpon and Spanish mackerel all run through here. It is a real walkway with railings rather than a scramble, so children can fish it safely. On the lagoon side there is a protected shallow beach for swimming. The north side has the best surf break on the Florida east coast. Two small museums sit within the park - the McLarty Treasure Museum on the 1715 Spanish fleet wrecked off this coast, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum. A bait and tackle shop opens daily except Wednesdays. Note that bridge construction on the highway began in 2026 and can affect the campground entrance and reservations, so confirm before booking a site.

Learning to surf in Hawaii is a bucket-list family experience and the North Shore in summer has perfect beginner waves. Multiple certified surf schools operate out of Haleiwa Beach Park with patient instructors who get kids standing on their first lesson. The summer waves are small and gentle, nothing like the giant winter swells the North Shore is famous for. Most kids are riding waves within the first hour and the pride on their faces is priceless. Group lessons are the best value and typically last 2 hours.

The most famous beach in Hawaii and still one of the best for families. The water is calm and warm, the sandy bottom slopes gently, and beginner surf lessons are available all along the shore. Kids can build sand castles, take a catamaran cruise, or try stand-up paddleboarding. The beach is backed by hotels and shops so everything you need is within walking distance. Lifeguards are on duty and the Duke Kahanamoku statue makes a great photo spot. Yes it is touristy but kids do not care about that.