Our Top 5 Tips for a Family Beach Vacation
August 9, 2022
No shoes, no shirt, no problems! It’s summertime, the temps are high (perhaps a little too high right now), the sky is blue, the water’s warm and welcoming, and it’s time to make priceless memories on an epic family beach vacation – sunshine on your shoulders, toes in the sand, fun free beach and ocean activities, and your nearest and dearest close by.
Whether you’re planning a summer road trip or are ready to embrace the challenges of air travel – the options for a beach vacation in the US are endless! Escape to the old-world charm of Cape Cod or the scenic South Carolina barrier islands, explore the colorful beach communities on Florida’s Emerald Coast, or book a bucket-list beach vacation in the islands of Hawaii. Here’s our top tips on the best ways to plan, prepare and experience an epic family beach vacation this summer.
Pick the Perfect Beach
Do your research wisely and pick the perfect destination that suits your family and meets the expectations of your beach vacation dreams. Are you imagining long stretches of natural, secluded beaches with nothing but the sounds of the waves lapping the shoreline and wildlife roaming the dunes, or are lively crowds, busting boardwalks and oceanfront attractions more suited to your family vibe?
Each beach destination has its own unique qualities – wide sandy beaches, gentle waves, and tidal pools for toddlers, famous big beach breaks for surfing teens, miles of calm ocean waters for thrilling water activities, and dog-friendly beaches to bring the whole family on vacation. Picking the perfect beach for your tribe is the beginning of an epic family beach vacation!
Stay Near the Beach
There’s nothing quite like sharing an ocean sunrise together as a family, packing up the beach gear, and heading straight to the beach from your vacation rental. If budget allows, staying oceanfront or near the beach on your family vacation is first prize! You avoid having to load up kids and beach gear in the car, sit in summer traffic, and fight for parking places while enjoying the convenience of spending a beach day close to home – very comforting for families traveling with young kids.
If you’ve always vacationed in hotels, think again! A family-friendly vacation rental offers so much more than a hotel room – far more square footage, privacy and peace for your family, separate bedrooms for the kids, a full-size kitchen for family meals, kid-focused amenities, outdoor entertainment areas, and pet-friendly options for your pooch! Families are fast making the switch from hotels to private vacation rentals.
Stay Organized
Gone are the days of just the two of you, a couple of light-weight sarongs, and a small beach tote! Packing for a family beach vacation requires a little extra thought and planning to pack light, be efficient, and avoid cranky kid (or parent!) meltdowns.
Protection: Sunburn is a sure way to ruin your beach vacation so stock up on ample waterproof sunscreen with a high SPF, apply generously before going to the beach, and continue applying frequently throughout the day (every 2 hours at least). Each family member should have good quality sunglasses with high UV protection (yes, even the kids!), a wide-brimmed sun hat, and beach-friendly shoes for exploring, and to save scorching your feet in the hot summer sand.
Preparation: A big wheel beach cart is perfect for lugging your beach gear and easy to load in the trunk, or wheel down from your beach rental. Pack a dry bag with towels, baby powder to dust off the sand, zip lock bags to waterproof your cell phones and camera, and a change of dry clothes for comfort. You’ll also need a separate wet bag for sandy clothes, soggy swimsuits, and wet towels at the end of your beach day.
Power Snacks: A day on the beach means lots of fun playtime, exercise, and burning extra calories in the heat. It’s very easy to dehydrate, pack a cooler with lots of water to stay hydrated, frozen juice cartons for slushies, and fun, healthy picnics and snack packs for power! Those boardwalk sweets and treats may be tempting but the reality of a sugar crash mid-beach day is miserable, so limit to a treat. Remember to throw in a trash bag to leave no trace and preserve our beautiful beaches.
Playtime: You’ve only got two bags and a cooler, now it’s time to load up the beach toys! Many beach vacation rentals include beach gear and toys so take this into consideration when choosing your home away from home for your family beach vacation. Essentials include a beach umbrella or beach tent for little kids, comfy beach chairs or loungers, buckets and spades to build sandcastles, and inflatable beach toys.
The Early Bird Gets the Worm!
Your family beach vacation is taking shape, now all that’s left to do is skip the lazy lie ins and get to the beach early! It’s always smart to check the tides and arrive early to secure a prime spot, build your beach fortress with space for the kids to play, and set up camp for a fun, family beach day.
Plan Your Fun Ocean Activities
Beach destinations are in high demand and so are the fun beach activities on offer. Don’t leave planning your watersports rentals or ocean activities to the last minute, you may be disappointed!
Book your vacation with an Xplorie partner and enjoy free beach activities and gear rentals every day of your stay! With free bike rentals for family beach rides, water sports activities, underwater snorkeling, dolphin cruises, fishing charters, or fun family surf lessons – the hardest part is deciding which activities to choose.
Summer is often the rainy season so be flexible in your vacation itinerary. Staying in a private rental offers all the comforts of home for rainy movie days, board games, and quality family time together, but scope out rainy day activities in your destination too. Xplorie’s free activities extend beyond the beach with complimentary passes for discovery centers, family-friendly museums, indoor arcades, and oceanfront aquariums.
Need inspiration? Xplorie offers a choice of over 10,000 private and professionally managed vacation rentals – with free beach gear and activities included! Pick the perfect beach destination, find the beach rental of your dreams, and maximize your family fun with free beach activities and unique destination experiences for the whole family, every day!
