We'd prefer a lively town center, easy access to a decent beach and 4 - 5 hours from Albany. Cape Cod isn't really our scene (been to Falmouth, Hyannis, Truro)
Maine is lovely but the ocean is freezing. We lived Newburyport/ North shore.
I'm so picky. Have I missed any kid friendly beach destinations?
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I still vote Maine! I remember it being freezing as a kid but when we went as a family last year it seemed so much warmer so you might be surprised. I personally like Ogunquit the most for kids because of the calmer water and the awesome tide pools. We went to 4 different beaches in Maine last year and my kids can’t wait to go back.
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The lakes in Maine are not nearly as cold as the ocean, but the lake areas don't necessarily have lively town life.
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NJ beaches have a lot of kid friendly beaches. You can try Point Pleasant, Asbury Park, Long Beach Island, Lavalette....I mean, the list of kid friendly places is super long, haha. Long Branch is also nice. Slightly further away is Wildwood and Cape May.
Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, and Wildwood have the biggest boardwalks. Point Pleasant is more geared to littler kids (like 8 and under), While the others have more rides and stuff for older kiddos. But all of these places have a big rental economy and lots to do for littles (ice cream shops, bakeries, mini golf, beach)....even if you stay somewhere that doesn't have the typical bustling boardwalk.
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@Becky: @brownepiano: we really do love Maine. And lakes. My kid can't even swim much so I guess we could try it!! Thanks for the suggestions.
@Anagram: I was thinking NJ. These are great suggestions! -
@Becky: agreed about Ogunquit. We went last summer and the beaches are awesome, and the water wasn’t terribly cold. Plus you get all the attractions of the town and nearby Kennebunkport and Wells.
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What about CT? There are beaches (and lakes) in areas of Milford, Madison, Fairfield, Old Saybrook, Groton, Mystic, Wesport, Greenwich, Milinocket, Norwalk ... the list goes on.
Also, you can visit Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Sleeping Giant Mt Park (Cheshire/Hamden line) right near my undergraduate alma mater (Quinnipiac U), the Yale Peabody museum in New Haven (another college of mine), Mystic Pizza (yes, from THAT movie), the Mystic Aquarium OR the Aquarium at Norwalk, Lake Compounce and the Carousel Museum (oh, and the clock museum, too) which are all in Bristol. There are also a couple wineries AND 2 well-know casinos where you can shop, eat AH-MAZING food and catch shows (Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) if you don't wish to gamble. There is always a local craft show or fair going on as well! Also, there are SOOO many B&B's and cottage rentals (by the beaches) that you wouldn't have to pay for a tiny hotel. -
@Kaohinani: my sister lives in Orange CT so this could work.... How are the beaches in CT tho?
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@pachamama: That would be perfect!!! To respond: The beaches are nice (not the white sand beaches with crystal clear warm water of Hawaii) but depending on the beach, the sand varies (baby fine grain sand at Ocean beach [which also has water slides and pools] to grainy coarse sand at Hammonasset). The water also varies from dark blue to murky (due to the silt) and is tepid but definitely swimmable (* this coming from a woman with circulatory issues
). I have always had a great time at all of the beaches.
Here are a few links:
https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-beaches-connecticut/ -
We stayed at Wells beach in Maine last summer and it was really good. When the tide went out there were tons of little tide pools that the kids played in for literally hours, and they were plenty warm since there were 6-10 inches feels mostly. The husbands and kids also went into the ocean for real, but it was a little cold for me.
Town was perfectly fine for our needs but not what I would call super lively I guess.
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@pachamama: Rhode Island is great . There are a ton of small beach towns nearby Kingston and good seafood, carosel and cute shops in wave hill nearby Newport. You can get a house on vbro and walk to the beach
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I also realize Rhode Island probably isn’t that different from cape cod but I’ve never been to cape cod so I’m not sure. North shore
Of Long Island is nice although the beach can be rocky. I’ve stayed near Mattituck and greenport -
@magnolia: We used to have a summer home on Rhode Island (right off of the beach) and it was spectacular! My favorite restaurant growing up was "Spain's" (* I don't know if it is still there) and for ice cream, Nana's was the best. I remember the Breakers and going on a ferry to Block Island. RI holds so many fond memories for me
... I am glad you suggested it.
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@pachamama: Also, I forgot to mention Dinosaur State Park (in which you can see Dino exhibits, see fossils/dino foot prints, create your own fossil, and watch movies in the planetarium).
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@pachmama I would recommend RI beaches, Narragansett or Westerly would be the recommendations. You could also do Middletown/Newport. Charlestown is probably too sleepy for what you are looking for. Water is definitely warm enough.
I am just not sure on rentals that would be walking distance to the beach in Middletown/Newport which would be a requirement for me. I grew up on the beaches in Westerly, that is where we still go, and love it.
Both Westerly and Narragansett have parts that are walking distance to the beach or hotels on the beach, if not doing a rental, and restaurants other attractions (shops, carousels) in walking distance. Some beaches are more protected surf wise depending on what your family likes. Watch Hill is the more upscale section of Westerly with a quaint downtown area and a very protected beach that is great for kids.
Plus Mystic aquarium and the seaport are not far or other fun attractions for kids if beach all the time is not your thing. There are several CT wineries very close by, you could easily do a day in Mystic exploring (20 min from Westerly, closer to 40 min from Narragansett). RI is so small that it makes it easy to explore other activities outside of the beach if you want to or need to.
What did you not enjoy about the Cape towns? That might help, these are beach towns I recommended so don’t want to suggest anything that is too similar to the Cape.
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I was also going to suggest Rhode Island... Newport doesn't have the best beaches ever, but they're decent and there is a TON to do.
Narraganset is great... Or Westerly/Watch Hill... There is Misquamicut state beach which is huge and theres a bunch of fun beach stuff going on, boardwalk like.... If you want to go fancier - Watch Hill is right there. Gorgeous beaches and the little downtown is ADORABLE. There is a great merry-go-round that's been there forever, ice cream shop, candy shop, and lots of cute stores. Watch Hill & Westerly both have a bunch of good restaurants too. If you could find a house to rent in Watch HIll that would be great. especially if you could walk to town/beaches. Westerly would be good too - but the vibe is a bit more jersey shore over there.
You could also do a day trip (or a night over) to Block Island on the Point Judith ferry. the beaches there are gorgeous and you can get around the whole island by bike!
And lastly, Nantucket is an excellent, albeit very expensive, getaway. We did a week there two years ago, and I loved it, BUT we wen the Labor Day week (kids weren't in school yet) so it was much quieter. We had a great house we could walk to the beach and there is a bus that can bring you to town. The YMCA there has a day rate so if it rains you can go use the pool. The town is awesome, excellent restaurants. Maritime museum for kids. It's really amazing there. Wish it wasn't so expensive or I would go all of the time,!
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NJ is a nice option although it isn’t close to being as charming as Maine. In addition to what @Anagram said, try Bay Head (the town just south of Point Pleasant). It is charming and has a small downtown with a bakery and some shopping and restaurants.
Seaside Park is nice too and within walking distance to a boardwalk.
Montauk? (It’s crazy expensive though)
Newport?
Cape May?
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Lake Champlain/VT. We go every year and love it. Burlington is awesome. We stay in a lake house near St. Albans which is actually a really cute little town.
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I'm in PA outside Philadelphia so I've grown up going to NJ beaches. LBI and Ocean City are more family friendly and quiet but Wildwood will always be my fave. We've been staying at the same motel since I was a kid in North Wildwood, two blocks from the beach. It's much quieter and the beaches are short unlike the half mile walk down by the boardwalk. There's a lively bar scene and so many restaurants. The boardwalk is the highlight for the kids with tons of rides and games. It can be a little honky tonk and you get all kinds of people but I love the nostalgia.
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It’s probably too far, but Prince Edward Island is incredibly kid-friendly and has beautiful beaches. Last year our waters warmed quickly and were easy to swim in by mid-July. Great little restaurant and downtown scene in Charlottetown and numerous popular tourist and locals beaches as close as 20 min from downtown.
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Jersey shore. It actually feels like a warm, summer beach vs beaches further north. Or the hamptons if you want to venture out to Long Island.
... I am glad you suggested it.
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