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SpecialGlobe Top 10 Beaches (So Far!)
As a family, we are passionate about the water! Whether it be beaches, pools, lazy rivers, water parks, lakes or rivers, we love it all! The kids and I have been fortunate to swim in some very special spots in our travels and we wanted to share our top 10 favorite beaches with you(so far). |
Coopers Beach -
268 Meadow Ln,
Southampton, NY 11968
This beach is by far one of the loveliest I’ve seen! Long stretches of white sand and the day that we were there the waves were enormous, which was fantastic for body surfing! They have a great concession area and you can also rent umbrellas. The parking is quite costly at $40.00 per day but it is really so worth it!! The quaint village of Southampton, NY is less than 2 miles away and filled with wonderful shops and restaurants.
268 Meadow Ln,
Southampton, NY 11968
This beach is by far one of the loveliest I’ve seen! Long stretches of white sand and the day that we were there the waves were enormous, which was fantastic for body surfing! They have a great concession area and you can also rent umbrellas. The parking is quite costly at $40.00 per day but it is really so worth it!! The quaint village of Southampton, NY is less than 2 miles away and filled with wonderful shops and restaurants.
Buxton Beach -
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Buxton, NC 27959
What a beautiful drive down the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to arrive in Buxton. All along the Seashore are stretches of gorgeous beach with many different openings to enter. We had stayed at the Cape Hatteras Motel and so the beach was literally out our front door. This is a great walking beach with lots of treasures to be found. The swimming was fantastic too!
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Buxton, NC 27959
What a beautiful drive down the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to arrive in Buxton. All along the Seashore are stretches of gorgeous beach with many different openings to enter. We had stayed at the Cape Hatteras Motel and so the beach was literally out our front door. This is a great walking beach with lots of treasures to be found. The swimming was fantastic too!
Sand Beach -
Acadia National Park, ME
I may be a little biased as this one is in my own back yard! Sand Beach is located inside Acadia National Park in Maine. The beach is actually not made up of sand at all but mostly comprised of crushed shells. The beach is nestled down between the granite mountains and is strikingly beautiful. You will want to be sure to come on a warm day as the water temperature rarely rises above 55 degrees!! It is incredibly refreshing though! Sand Beach is also known to be a great spot for Winter surfers! The entrance fee for the park is $25.00 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. The parking to the beach fills up quickly so it’s best to come early or later in the afternoon in order to get a spot. This beach is also not accessible for wheelchairs as there are multiple steps down to access the beach. This is a stunning beach!
Acadia National Park, ME
I may be a little biased as this one is in my own back yard! Sand Beach is located inside Acadia National Park in Maine. The beach is actually not made up of sand at all but mostly comprised of crushed shells. The beach is nestled down between the granite mountains and is strikingly beautiful. You will want to be sure to come on a warm day as the water temperature rarely rises above 55 degrees!! It is incredibly refreshing though! Sand Beach is also known to be a great spot for Winter surfers! The entrance fee for the park is $25.00 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. The parking to the beach fills up quickly so it’s best to come early or later in the afternoon in order to get a spot. This beach is also not accessible for wheelchairs as there are multiple steps down to access the beach. This is a stunning beach!
Long Sands Beach -
189 Long Beach Ave,
York, ME 03909
Located in York, Maine, This is such a fun body surfing beach! The beach spans 1.5 miles and offers lots of space for your kiddo’s to play and explore. There are designated areas for surfers and there is a restroom in the center of the beach. They also have umbrella rentals. There is a surf shop across the street that rents boogie boards, paddleboards and surf boards for the adventurous families and kids will love the ice cream shop across the street from the beach on those hot days. Long Sands Beach offers a great view of the famous Nubble Lighthouse and the beach is only about a mile aways from York’s village where there is Short Sands Beach, York Wild Kingdom, a great playground and an arcade.
189 Long Beach Ave,
York, ME 03909
Located in York, Maine, This is such a fun body surfing beach! The beach spans 1.5 miles and offers lots of space for your kiddo’s to play and explore. There are designated areas for surfers and there is a restroom in the center of the beach. They also have umbrella rentals. There is a surf shop across the street that rents boogie boards, paddleboards and surf boards for the adventurous families and kids will love the ice cream shop across the street from the beach on those hot days. Long Sands Beach offers a great view of the famous Nubble Lighthouse and the beach is only about a mile aways from York’s village where there is Short Sands Beach, York Wild Kingdom, a great playground and an arcade.
Nye Beach -
Newport, Oregon
Located in the small town of Newport, Oregon this beach feels like it stretches for miles! We stayed at The Hallmark Resort and had a lovely room that faced out to the beach. We had so much fun watching the Humpback Whales swimming just off the shore from our deck!! The water temp was a bit cool but being from Maine it felt just like home. Newport has multiple Beaches, each with it’s own personality and tons of history. They also have one of the top aquariums in the country which is filled with hours of delight for your kids. This beach and area are a must see!
Newport, Oregon
Located in the small town of Newport, Oregon this beach feels like it stretches for miles! We stayed at The Hallmark Resort and had a lovely room that faced out to the beach. We had so much fun watching the Humpback Whales swimming just off the shore from our deck!! The water temp was a bit cool but being from Maine it felt just like home. Newport has multiple Beaches, each with it’s own personality and tons of history. They also have one of the top aquariums in the country which is filled with hours of delight for your kids. This beach and area are a must see!
Clearwater Beach -
Clearwater Florida
Located in beautiful Clearwater Florida. We happened to visit in January and it was a little too chilly to swim. Regardless, we enjoyed the beach with kites and building sand castles. The beach is within walking distance to the small town which is filled with adorable shops and restaurants. Be sure to stop by the Clear Sky Cafe for an amazing lunch! And of course, no visit to the Clearwater area would be complete without a visit to The Clearwater Aquarium, home to Winter, the Dolphin who was made famous in the hit movie Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2. Actually a visit to Winter was our entire purpose of coming to Clearwater and to this day my daughter asks when we will be going back!
Clearwater Florida
Located in beautiful Clearwater Florida. We happened to visit in January and it was a little too chilly to swim. Regardless, we enjoyed the beach with kites and building sand castles. The beach is within walking distance to the small town which is filled with adorable shops and restaurants. Be sure to stop by the Clear Sky Cafe for an amazing lunch! And of course, no visit to the Clearwater area would be complete without a visit to The Clearwater Aquarium, home to Winter, the Dolphin who was made famous in the hit movie Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2. Actually a visit to Winter was our entire purpose of coming to Clearwater and to this day my daughter asks when we will be going back!
Crescent Beach -
6900 Point of Rocks Road
Siesta Key, FL
Located in Siesta Key, This is one of three beautiful beaches in the area. The famous Siesta Key Beach, voted Best Beach in the U.S. in 2017 by TripAdvisor is located just north of Crescent Beach. What I loved about Crescent Beach is it was a little quieter. With only one public access road it is a little more secluded but still offers the amazing white sand. Also, at the southern tip of the beach is Point of Rocks, an area rich with coral formations and colorful marine life that is perfect for snorkeling or diving. There is also great opportunity for the kids to find huge starfish and beautiful shells. There is an access to this part of the beach at 6900 Point of Rocks Road. This is a perfect family beach!
6900 Point of Rocks Road
Siesta Key, FL
Located in Siesta Key, This is one of three beautiful beaches in the area. The famous Siesta Key Beach, voted Best Beach in the U.S. in 2017 by TripAdvisor is located just north of Crescent Beach. What I loved about Crescent Beach is it was a little quieter. With only one public access road it is a little more secluded but still offers the amazing white sand. Also, at the southern tip of the beach is Point of Rocks, an area rich with coral formations and colorful marine life that is perfect for snorkeling or diving. There is also great opportunity for the kids to find huge starfish and beautiful shells. There is an access to this part of the beach at 6900 Point of Rocks Road. This is a perfect family beach!
Iguana Island Beach-
Turks and Caicos
This is actually a cay in the Turks and Caicos and the place that dreams are made of! Never in my life have I been to a more beautiful beach. Also called Little Water Cay, this island is a wildlife habitat, particularly for the endangered Rock Iguana, which inhabit the cay. Also found here are many species of birds and in the waters off the south shore you may see Southern stingrays and Lemon sharks while snorkeling or diving. There are multiple boat tours that can take you out to Iguana for a quick stop or a whole day expedition. This is an experience your whole family will remember for a lifetime!
Turks and Caicos
This is actually a cay in the Turks and Caicos and the place that dreams are made of! Never in my life have I been to a more beautiful beach. Also called Little Water Cay, this island is a wildlife habitat, particularly for the endangered Rock Iguana, which inhabit the cay. Also found here are many species of birds and in the waters off the south shore you may see Southern stingrays and Lemon sharks while snorkeling or diving. There are multiple boat tours that can take you out to Iguana for a quick stop or a whole day expedition. This is an experience your whole family will remember for a lifetime!
Waikiki Beach -
Honolulu, Hawaii - Oahu
How could you visit Oahu and not go to the world famous Waikiki Beach! What I loved about this beach is that they have a section that is sheltered by a Break Wall. Oahu is well known for it’s huge waves and under current and this section allows for gentle swimming for your little ones. The beach is also located just across the street from all of the intown shops and restaurants so if you need a break from the beach there is plenty to do! Oahu is such a family friendly island with so much for your family to see and do.
Honolulu, Hawaii - Oahu
How could you visit Oahu and not go to the world famous Waikiki Beach! What I loved about this beach is that they have a section that is sheltered by a Break Wall. Oahu is well known for it’s huge waves and under current and this section allows for gentle swimming for your little ones. The beach is also located just across the street from all of the intown shops and restaurants so if you need a break from the beach there is plenty to do! Oahu is such a family friendly island with so much for your family to see and do.
Dolphin Cay Beach -
Atlantis Resort
Nassua, Bahamas
This beach is located at the amazing Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. This beach is unique in that you can’t actually go in the water. That is unless you book an experience to swim or interact with the dolphins. The beach sits on the edge of the dolphin lagoon and so what you can do is lounge the day away on the white sand beach while your kids watch the dolphins swim and play all day! The Dolphin Cay beach pass is $33 per person. The beach pass package include use of chaise lounge with umbrellas and towels. We had opted for a shallow water experience with the dolphins which was the highlight of the trip for my daughter and something I highly recommend. This is truly a beach like no other!
Atlantis Resort
Nassua, Bahamas
This beach is located at the amazing Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. This beach is unique in that you can’t actually go in the water. That is unless you book an experience to swim or interact with the dolphins. The beach sits on the edge of the dolphin lagoon and so what you can do is lounge the day away on the white sand beach while your kids watch the dolphins swim and play all day! The Dolphin Cay beach pass is $33 per person. The beach pass package include use of chaise lounge with umbrellas and towels. We had opted for a shallow water experience with the dolphins which was the highlight of the trip for my daughter and something I highly recommend. This is truly a beach like no other!