Coronado Beach, California

This beach is an excellent spot to take the kids on vacation as it is located approximately one mile from San Diego as this peninsula is connected to the mainland via a small strip of landscape called Silver Strand. The island offers visitors a small town feel and is so small that those who want to get a bit of exercise can walk to almost any location on the island without much problem. For those that have very small children and would rather not walk around the island, the Coronado 904 Shuttle is the perfect transportation mechanism as a ride on the shuttle costs only $1. The best place to stay is by far the Hotel De Coronado which has been serving guests and providing excellent rooms since 1888. Coronado Central Beach offers families the chance to sprawl out on the 1.5 miles of beach and enjoy the sun and surf. The beach can also offer great educational opportunities as whale watching is a popular attraction between the months of December and February which can be an awesome experience for a young child.

Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach is a great place for families as many of the hotels offer discounts to children in the form of free or discounted meals and provide child friendly activities. The area is also home to great educational locations such as Gulf World which is an amusement park that focuses on incorporating learning into the many animal based attractions. The water at Panama Beach is beautiful and gives kids and parents a chance to cool off when not playing on the 27 miles of sandy beach located in Panama City. Parents should be warned that Panama City Beach is a favorite among college kids looking for a party during Spring Break. Therefore, families might opt to avoid this area during Spring Break. Otherwise, Panama City Beach is the place to go for families.

Duck, North Carolina

This is a vacation spot perfect for the family wishing to stay out of the limelight as the area is very quiet and does not offer the hyped-up atmosphere of night clubs and luxury hotel skyscrapers. Duck is more geared to those visitors looking for a peaceful vacation often a welcome getaway for parents. Kids will enjoy the space that they have to maneuver on the beach as crowds are generally small and the waves are excellent for boogie boarding or body surfing.