The Best Family Beach Vacations in the U.S.
In past summers, you may have ambitiously planned a family beach vacation to the Bahamas, or a couple of weeks of soaking up the sun on the Amalfi Coast. But with those itineraries thwarted this year by the ongoing pandemic, now is the time to look closer to home for a summertime family getaway. The best family beach vacations shouldn't require much work either—they're mainly about finding the right place to plop down, so you can unplug from Zoom meetings and e-learning, and instead spend your days swimming, scavenging for seashells, unwinding in a hammock, and staying up late to roast s’mores and stargaze together.
As for where to find all of that, we've got a few ideas. We've rounded up the best family beach vacations, centered around great amenity-rich hotels and resorts, so that all you have to do is pick where to go. From a quintessential New England coastal retreat, to a rustic lakeside campground, to a luxury estate that channels the French Riviera, you'll find your perfect family beach vacation for the summer, below.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy Timber Cove ResortThe Sonoma Coast, California
Best for: Beaches with scenic vistas
In the 1960s, photographer Ansel Adams captured the rugged beauty of Timber Cove on the Sonoma Coast, about 15 miles north of the town of Jenner. Nowadays, you can take in the iconic scenery from the secluded Timber Cove Resort, a 25-acre, modern-bohemian enclave set on bluffs overlooking the Pacific. Its range of rooms include double bunk beds and spacious suites with soaking tubs and Smeg fridges. Access the beach from the property, or opt for one of the many on-site activities that showcase this stretch of California coast—hiking trails, wine tasting, and a fire pit with a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets, to name a few. On clear nights, ask to borrow the telescope at the front desk for some world-class stargazing.
Book now: From $299 per night, expedia.com
Courtesy The Lodge at Gulf State Park hotelGulf State Park, Alabama
Best for: Getting up close to nature
Staying at the Lodge at Gulf State Park—a partnership between Hilton and Alabama’s Gulf State Park—puts you beachfront, inside a 6,200-acre eco-preserve on the Gulf of Mexico. Get acquainted with each of the park’s nine ecosystems through interactive exhibits at the on-site Interpretive Center—Alabama’s most environmentally-friendly building. Borrow a bike to cruise some of the 28 miles of trails, go on a guided nature walk, visit the butterfly garden, rent kayaks, or just swim and hunt for shells along the property’s two-mile stretch of white sand beaches. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles; the endangered reptiles nest and hatch here from May to October.
Book now: From $450 per night, expedia.com
AlamyCape May, New Jersey
Best for: Families with young kids
On the tip of New Jersey’s Cape May, Congress Hall is America’s oldest seaside resort, welcoming guests for over 200 years. Modern amenities include plush rooms and a saltwater pool, while retro beach cottage vibes come care of the striped beach tents (available for rent). Classic carnival nights are also held on Mondays throughout the summer. Just steps from the resort’s lawn, find the beach with everything you need for the day—towels, umbrellas, lounge chairs, and even lunch service. Guests can borrow bikes and pedal over to sister property Beach Plum Farm to tour the 62-acre grounds, feed chickens, and pick up provisions for a picnic lunch. During the summer, the working farm hosts an adventure club for kids, with activities like archery, birdhouse making, and nature hikes.
Book now: From $189 per night, expedia.com
Courtesy Reynolds Lake OconeeLake Oconee, Georgia
Best for: Keeping the kids busy
This summer, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee launches its new Ritz Kids Clubhouse with a raft of immersive, summer-camp-inspired experiences to keep them off screens and boredom-free in the great outdoors—plus, it'll set parents to check out the adults-only infinity pool, Taylormade golf course, or 30,000 square foot spa. As part of the resort’s naturalist program, an environmental ambassador will lead educational activities like scavenger hunts and games. Beyond the club, there’s swimming—in the new family swimming pool, or the placid lake—jet-ski and boat rentals, fishing, and fireside s’mores every evening. At night, make bedtime feel like an adventure with an in-room tent and sleeping bags.
Book now: From $609 per night, kayak.com
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Courtesy HuttopiaSouthern Maine
Best for: Families who want to feel like they're at summer camp
Though the beaches of Southern Maine—including Kennebunkport and Ogunquit—are less than 30 minutes away, you may never want to leave the grounds of Sanford-based glamping resort Huttopia. Situated on 40 wooded acres, the property has a heated outdoor pool, plus a tree-lined, freshwater pond perfect for practicing cannonballs, paddling a canoe, or playing on the sandy shore. A host of activities will keep the whole family entertained, from the kids club, where five- to 12-year-olds can treasure hunt and do crafts, to lawn games, pottery workshops, and nightly outdoor movies or magic shows. If reading and lounging are more your speed, Adirondack chairs and hammocks dot the property. Accommodations, from wood and canvas tents to tiny houses, all have electricity and are dog-friendly.
Book now: From $120 per night, booking.com
Courtesy White ElephantNantucket, Massachusetts
Best for: Families with young, Lilly Pulitzer-clad kids
Thirty miles off the coast of Massachusetts by flight or ferry, Nantucket isn’t exactly the easiest to reach. But once you arrive, the trek instantly feels worthwhile. Situated between Children’s Beach and Brant Point lighthouse, the chic, gray-shingled White Elephant resort attracts families with small kids. The hotel exemplifies the island’s signature laid back luxury, with Radio Flyer wagons, stocked with boogie boards and beach toys, that guests can borrow and wheel to the little beach (the shielded harbor means it's ideal for small swimmers). Rooms can also be stocked with diaper genies, Pack N’ Plays, and strollers upon request. Dine at the restaurants on site or make the short walk over cobblestoned streets to town, where you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly eateries and Juice Bar, a creamery selling some of Nantucket’s best sundaes and homemade waffle cones.
Book now: From $194 per night, tripadvisor.com
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Courtesy Sanderling ResortOuter Banks, North Carolina
Best for: Reuniting with the cousins
If it’s been too long since the kids have gathered with their favorite gang of cousins, book a stay in the Outer Banks for plenty of outdoor entertainment and room to roam. Set on the sandy shores between the Currituck Sound and Atlantic Ocean, the Sanderling Resort has both private beaches and pools (one perfect for kids, with a sloping wade-in design, as opposed to steps), plus a roster of activities, from kayaking and surfing to guided snorkeling or shell collecting. Rooms are spacious, with soaking tubs and balconies, or small decks for catching some spectacular sunsets.
Book now: From $270 per night, kayak.com
Courtesy Rosewood HotelsMontecito, California
Best for: Channeling a European beach getaway any time of year
If Monaco or Saint Tropez have been on your travel list, head for Santa Barbara instead this summer. The sunny destination on California’s central coast has been dubbed the American Riviera for its stunning beaches, perennially perfect weather, and a general air of casual elegance. Perhaps no place showcases it all better than the oceanfront Rosewood Miramar. Reopened in 2019 after a full rebuild of the original historic property, the resort recalls an opulent private residence spanning 16 lush, manicured acres with gardens, a rolling green lawn, and a private beach. The host of kid-friendly offerings—a family pool, lawn games, beach toys, and even children’s robes and spa treatments—will make families feel right at home.
Book now: From $1,995 per night, hotels.com
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Courtesy AulaniOahu, Hawaii
Best for: Disney-obsessed families
Been there, done the Magic Kingdom? For a tropical Hawaiian getaway infused with some of that sweet Disney magic, book a stay at the Aulani Resort & Spa on Oahu. Accommodations range from standard rooms to three-bedroom villas—perfect for bigger families or for bringing along the grandparents. And while it’s not an all-inclusive resort, dozens of activities come with your stay, including sandcastle-sculpting classes, pool parties with Mickey and friends, nature walks, movie nights, and hula dancing lessons. (No wonder it's one of our favorite family resorts in Hawaii.) Don’t miss the evening Mo'olelo Fire Pit Storytelling, where a master storyteller weaves a tale that illustrates what Disney does best: unparalleled entertainment.
Book now: From $399 per night, expedia.com
Courtesy The HenderseonDestin, Florida
Best for: Families of adventurers
Known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin sits on the white sand beaches of northwest Florida overlooking the vivid green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At beachfront resort Henderson, there are plenty of ways to test that moniker—hop on a nearby charter boat, or cast off from the shores at the adjacent Henderson Beach State Park (guests of the resort get complimentary day passes). Other adventures include exploring the coastline on paddleboards from the resort’s private beach, or biking to the beachfront towns of South Walton on the 18-mile Timpoochee Trail. The lazy river, connected to the family pool, makes for a relaxing post-adventure wind-down.
Book now: From $410 per night, expedia.com
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Courtesy The Sanctuary at Kiawah IslandKiawah Island, South Carolina
Best for: Multigenerational family vacations
With 10 miles of beautiful, quiet beaches, Kiawah Island Golf Resort on the barrier island just off the coast of South Carolina makes for a perfect seaside retreat. With accommodations that range from the oceanfront Sanctuary hotel to resort villas and rental homes that can sleep up to 20, it’s also an ideal place for gathering with extended family. A full spectrum of activities—five world-class golf courses (including one that will host the PGA Championship this spring), biking on the resort’s 30 miles of paved trails, kayaking, fishing, bird-watching, kids’ camps, a pool complex with water slides, and more—means there’s something to make everyone in your group happy.
Book now: From $605 per night, tripadvisor.com
Courtesy Moore HouseTiverton, Rhode Island
Best for: Families with older kids
If you’ve dreamed of owning a little beach bungalow on the New England coast, channel the experience by booking one of the waterfront Moore House cottages in Tiverton. A family-run operation, the collection of homes have been lovingly (and expertly—they’re designers) restored, with chef’s kitchens and plenty of windows to take in the bay views. The Boat House on-site sleeps six and comes with kayaks you can drag a few feet over the rocky shore right into the water, while the Harbor Side Cottage has its own private dock and two bedrooms that open up to sprawling waterfront decks. All come stocked with Apple TVs, Sonos speakers, games, and more creature comforts of home. (The waterfront cottages have an eight-plus age policy, making this a good option for families with older kids.)
Book now: From $260 per night, airbnb.com
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Courtesy Condado VanderbiltSan Juan, Puerto Rico
Best for: Families looking for a no-passport-required tropical getaway
At the historic Condado Vanderbilt, butler service will deliver a frozen piña colada to the resort’s oceanfront pools or white sand beach. (The drink was invented in Old San Juan, after all.) Take in sweeping, palm-tree-lined shore views from a standard room or a spacious one- or two-bedroom suite—all come with scenic views and in-room french press coffee makers stocked with Puerto Rico-grown beans. Former Blue Hill chef Juan Jose Cuevas oversees the resort's restaurants, where he combines his culinary prowess with the flavors and island-grown ingredients of his home town. Don’t miss the chef’s epic banana bread, made using fruit grown on the island.
Book now: From $389 per night, hotels.com
Courtesy Tides InnIrvington, Virginia
Best for: Foodie families
As both a stop on the Virginia Oyster Trail and a haven during Chesapeake Blue Crab season, the Tides Inn is a prime spot for sampling local seafood. Situated on Carters Creek with its own beach and a waterfront pool, families can take sailing lessons, borrow a canoe, or rent a sleek electric Duffy boat for a self-guided cruise. Thanks to the resort’s new waterfront restoration project, guests can also visit an oyster farm on a traditional waterman’s boat with the resident ecologist, or spend the day crabbing in the Rappahannock River before returning to taste the catch. Other immersive (and appetizing) options include a beehive experience, where the resort’s resident beekeeper guides a walk to the wildflower field and a honey tasting, or pedaling to the town’s Saturday farmers market to pick up fresh bread, local cheese, and produce for a picnic.
Book Now: From $289 per night, expedia.com
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Courtesy The Osthoff Resort on Elkhart Lake, WisconsinElkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Best for: Families in search of calm waters
Created by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago, Southeastern Wisconsin’s Elkhart Lake is known for its crystal clear water and sandy shores. The lakefront Osthoff Resort has countless ways to take advantage of those clear, tranquil waters. Beyond swimming, there’s kayaking, sailing, Hydro-biking, and more. During the summertime, kids ages four to 10 can enroll in the Pleasures Program for supervised fun, including ice cream making and scavenger hunts. Gather as a family for lawn games, a lake cruise tour, volleyball games, and beach bonfires.
Book now: From $255 per night, tripadvisor.com
