Traveling with my kids: 10 beaches I'd love to visit

My family loves beach-time. Whether it's in Maui, here in B.C., or even in Sweden, we always enjoy hanging out at the water's edge. Of course, there are lots and lots of gorgeous beaches around the world, and here (in no particular order) are 10  beaches that I'd love to explore with my kids.


1. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia
I'd love to go here because the photos I've seen show a magnificent, long stretch of white sand and turquoise water. Also, going here would mean we were visiting Australia, and that is something I'd love to do with my kids.


2. Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
Great snorkelling, white sand, crystal clear water, all far away from the rest of the world. A beach-dream come true.


3. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
What can I say? I'm a sucker for turquoise waters and white sand. Safe swimming and easy snorkelling also sounds extremely appealing!


4. Plaka Beach, Naxos, Greece
It's been far too long since I was in Greece, and this beach makes me ache to go there again.


5. Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA
Sand dunes, light houses, ocean, hiking, wild horses, and "wild and natural beaches". Yes, this is definitely a place for my family.


6. Siesta Key, Florida, USA
One of the features mentioned in the online articles about this beach is that it's a great place for finding seashells. Which means my kids would fall in love with this place.


7. Khao Lak, Thailand
Snorkelling, scuba diving, and 12 km of beach? Sounds good to me.


8. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
I've never been to the Caribbean, and I feel this is definitely something I need to remedy. This beach looks amazing in photos and sounds very appealing in the write-ups I've read.


9. Playa Samara, Costa Rica
Sand, ocean, fishing, jungle, and coral. A winning combination in my mind.


10. Lamu, Kenya
This island off the Kenyan coast sounds amazing. And if I could combine a visit here with a safari, it would be a definite dream come true.

Love song to Third Beach, Vancouver

Third Beach in winter

I am a self-confessed beach-aholic. And in our neck of the woods (the Lower Mainland/Vancouver area, in BC, Canada) one of my favorite beaches for a day trip with the kids is Third Beach, located in Vancouver's Stanley Park. In the summertime it is my favorite beach to go to.

There are a few reasons why I love taking the kids to this beach:

• It's good for swimming - A few of my family's other favorite beaches like Tsawwassen's Centennial Beach and Spanish Banks in Vancouver, are awesome but the water is pretty shallow for a loooooong stretch (forever almost). At Third Beach you can really get into the water. This is great for the my now when they are a little older and more ready to get into the water to play than when they were younger.
• There's lots to look at - Ships go in and out of the harbor, seagulls strut and forage, C-planes fly overhead, people walk and bike by on the Seawall, and in the water there's always lots of activity with sailboats, speedboats, kayaks, jet-skis, and more.
• Lots to do - Third Beach is great for beach-combing for shells and rocks. The sand is good for digging in and squashing your feet into, and writing your name 8 feet high in. Depending on the tide, there are critters in the tide pools and on the rocks to look at.
• It's versatile - In the summer it's great for swimming and playing in the sand. In the winter we still come here just for the view and a walk and the scenery.

And, of course, Third Beach is located right inside glorious Stanley Park where there is lots to do for tourists and locals alike: several playgrounds, the Vancouver Aquarium, hiking trails, Beaver Lake, Prospect Point, and the Sea Wall.

Tips: In the summer, arrive before noon to get a good parking spot, a good log, and avoid the rush. There's lots of parking just above the beach. Facilities at this beach include change rooms, bathrooms, showers, and a concession. There's also a big grassy picnic area next to the concession.

Beach-time with kids: 9 favorite beaches around the world

This is a list of 9 beaches around the world that I love. Some of them I haven't brought my kids to yet, but I would love to bring them to each and every one. Of course, I've been to many other gorgeous beaches that are not on this list, and there are many, many more fabulous beaches that I have not visited... yet. Something to do in the future, right?

1. Makena Beach State Park, aka Big Beach
This is the most gorgeous beach I know in Maui and that's saying something, considering how many beautiful beaches there are on that island. It's a very long, very soft, very sandy stretch of beach, and it can get some very big waves (depending on the season and time of day). The water was definitely too rough for my kids when we went there on our last Maui visit, but I hope that one day, when the kids are a little older, I'll be able to enjoy the beach and the waves with them.

2. DT Fleming Beach Park
Another fantastic beach on Maui: lots of rocks with sea life to explore in the shallows, turtles and fish swimming by if you're snorkelling, nice waves, good sand, and even some shady trees. Just beautiful.

3. Pu'unoa Beach, aka Baby Beach, Maui
The perfect beach in Maui if you're bringing little kids or even babies. Grass and sand to sit on, a reef protecting the shore from big waves, and a fun place to just relax and hang out without worrying too much about your little ones getting tumbled by rough waves. 

4. Meia Praia, Algarve, Portugal
Many years ago I lived and worked for a while on the Algarve coast and Meia Praia was my favorite beach. It's a loooooong stretch of sand with beautiful water for swimming, boating, and windsurfing. I really hope to bring my kids there in the future: haven't been there for so long and would love to re-visit that stretch of sand! 

5. Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
This beach is very busy and very crowded, especially certain parts of it, and that kind of stuff usually turns me off. But there are some very good reasons why this particular beach is that crowded: it has beautiful sand and great water for swimming and playing in. My kids loved this place and so did I, once I got over the crowds. Just put your beach towel down away from the worst crush of people, or grab some of those rental sun chairs, and enjoy.

6. Third Beach, Vancouver, Canada
My favorite beach in the Vancouver area (though it's a close call: check out my other local favorites here). Great view of the mountains, lots of ships and boats and planes to look at, and lots of sea-life to explore on the rocks and in the sand. Also, the sand is perfect for playing in, and the water is good for swimming (if a little colder than in Maui!).

7. Spanish Banks, Vancouver, Canada
Another beautiful Vancouver beach. It's very long, the water is shallow, and there are stunning views of the North Shore peaks (where you can go skiing in the winter) as well as of downtown Vancouver (bring a camera if you're so inclined!). There's also a nice path for riding bikes or going for a walk along the beach if the weather isn't good enough for just sitting around in the sun and sand.

8. Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada
This is an absolutely stunning beach. There are lots of hiking trails around it, there's rich ocean life to explore, water sports like kayaking and windsurfing are available, and it's just a wonderful place for beach-combing.

9. Tällön, Burvik, Sweden
This tiny stretch of sand outside my parents' summer house in Sweden is heaven for me and the kids when we visit in the summer. Tiny fish play around the dock, the kids swim and splash in the water (even when it's not that warm), and the sand is great for digging and rooting around in. To me, this is a little bit of paradise.

My 5 favorite beaches in & around Vancouver

C-plane over Third Beach

1. Third Beach
Location: Stanley Park, Vancouver.
Facilities: change rooms, washrooms, showers, picnic area above the beach, & concession (in the summer season).
This is probably my favorite beach to take the kids to in Vancouver. The water is deep enough for swimming, whether the tide is out or in, which is good now that they're a little more sure of themselves in the ocean. The beach is great for making sandcastles, and beach-combing (bring a bucket for shells and rocks if you've got a collector in the family!). Also, if the tide is out you can spot some sea-life on the rocks.

Third Beach is also a great beach for just relaxing. There are lots of logs to set up camp next to, and lots to look at: ships, C-planes, kayaks, seagulls, and more.

Winter walk at Centennial Beach

2. Centennial Beach
Location: Boundary Bay, Tsawwassen
Facilities: washrooms, change-rooms, beautiful playground, concession (in summer), hiking trails, lots of picnic tables and fire pits.
This beach makes for a fantastic day trip with the kids. The playground is one of the best around Vancouver, and the beach is fantastic for kite-flying and beach-combing. The water is quite shallow, and if the tide is out it will take you quite a while to even get your ankles wet. But there's lots of ocean critters to look at: seagulls, clams, shells, crabs, even fish if you look carefully. Also: parking is free and plentiful.

Looking at a very tiny dead crab on Crescent Beach

3. Crescent Beach
Location: White Rock
Facilities: washrooms, change rooms, shower, several restaurants and cafes.
We usually go for a walk along this beach, making a stop on the pier to watch someone crab-fishing, and sometimes heading all the way out to the end of Blackie Spit. If your child likes collecting rocks: beware! They might end up bringing home a truckload from this beach. It's a great place for a leisurely stroll, and I even like to bring the kids here when it's raining. They'll put their boots and rain-gear on and run along the seaside trail, jumping in the puddles. Great way to burn off energy on a rainy day!


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4. Spanish Banks
Location: Vancouver
Facilities: change-rooms, washrooms, showers, free parking, concession (in summer).
We used to go to this beach a lot when the kids were smaller. The water is shallow for a looooong stretch so you don't have to worry much about the kids getting in too deep. The beach is nice and huge with lots of space even if it's quite busy. Also, easy access to showers and washrooms, and a short walking distance from the parking area to the beach is very nice when you've got little kids. Fantastic views of Vancouver's downtown, and the North Shore mountains is a big plus as well.

At the lagoon on Harrison Lake

5. Lake Harrison
Location: Harrison Hot Springs
Facilities: washrooms, change rooms, showers, small playground, waterfront walkway, lots of restaurants & cafes, various water-sport and boat rentals.
I did a write-up on this beach recently, and it's a wonderful place for a day-trip. It does take a while to drive there from Vancouver, but the payoff is a beautiful, big lake with placid water and nice sand for digging moats and building sand-castles. The man-made lagoon is perfect for very small kids with shallow, warm water. If your kids are older, they'll probably enjoy the beach along the lake more: water is a bit colder, but also a little deeper for splashing and swimming.

Photographic memories: beaches

Stick-town, Centennial Beach, Tsawwassen.This is a great, lazy parent beach-activity to do while the kids are off splashing and digging. Just use scraps of bark and sticks and rocks to build your own city. Totally useless, but kind of addictive.

Being bird-watched, Centennial Beach, Tsawwassen. Better not leave any food items unattended: the crows are very attentive.

Stanley Park, Vancouver (near the totem-poles). Demonstrating a favorite kid-activity at the beach: chucking things in the water!

Harrison Hot Springs, BC, Canada. More wood-chucking! The only problem is when someone wants to retrieve their stick and is wearing running shoes rather than boots...

Natural driftwood sculpture, Crescent Beach, White Rock. I love how all kinds of rocks have lodged in the twisty old roots.

Tällön, Sweden. Racing the remote controlled boat down by the beach. This is just in front of my parents' summer house and is definitely one of my favorite spots in the entire world.

8 beach tips when you're traveling with kids

Baby Beach, Maui.

I've said it before: I'm crazy about the beach. Summer or not, bikini or not, swimming or not, it's the best and most fun destination for family travel. Here is a list of my top 8 tips for how to make a beach-visit with kids even better, whether you're just heading down to the local beach, or going on a far-away holiday.

1. Bring beach toys
One bucket and one shovel per child is enough, but more can make for more fun. Buckets are especially important since they can be used for collecting rocks and shells, as well as for building sand castles, filling moats with water, and various other purposes.

If you're on holidays, far away from home, and didn't bring any shovels or buckets (seriously, they do not fit well into suitcases!), then pick up some cheap buckets and shovels from a local store. Then leave them behind or donate them to another family when you go.

Long Beach, Vancouver Island.

2. Scout out the bathrooms before you need them
I sometimes think I have a bathroom obsession, and maybe I do, but in that case it's simply because I have children who really need to go once they need to go. Take a look around when you arrive, see if there are any facilities, and then at least you'll know which way to run if there is an emergency.

Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria.

3. Bring a change of clothes for your kids to wear after they're done at the beach
This is especially important if your kids go in the water (or if they like to bury themselves in the sand). Swimsuits and beach-wear can end up a frightful mess after a day on the beach. If you have a nice, reasonably dry and clean change of clothes for your children, they will not only feel better but will also leave less sand in your car.

Dresses rule when it comes to a good change of clothes at the beach, because they are so easy to put on without getting all sandy (try to put a wet sandy foot into a pair of shorts without getting messy and compare...).

4. Bathrobes are great beach-wear
I discovered this on our latest family vacation to the Canary Islands. I had brought these nice bathrobes for my kids (Christmas presents from my mom), and they were fantastic to use on the beach. If the kids were cold, the robes helped warm them up, and they also provided some nice sun protection.

One really nice detail on the robes my kids had, were that the belts were attached to the robes at the back rather than just being strung through the belt-loops. No chance of losing a belt! Hooded towels are great too.

5. If you can, get a beach-chair and an umbrella (especially if traveling with a baby)
In the Canary Islands, almost every beach featured beach-chair and umbrella rentals. I sometimes thought this was unnecessary, but after a while I got used to the convenience: less sand to deal with, and some nice shade too. If you have a baby with you on the beach, the chair and the umbrella can be really useful, helping you keep the baby from eating half the beach, making it easier to let them nap, and providing some much needed shade.

Bring your own beach umbrella and chair, or one of those little beach tents for shade.

6. Bring snacks and drinks
At the very least, always bring water. Some kind of snack is always nice on the beach too, though the sand tends to get into everything when kids eat at the beach. (For example, slices of water melon can get very crunchy when dropped in the sand!) Pretzels work good, and so do non-sticky, non-chocolate covered snack bars.

If you can (and if you feel like packing more stuff to bring) take a small cooler with snacks and drinks along. Hard-sided coolers might not be a possible option if you traveled by air to your beach destination, but small, soft coolers can work well too. I forgot to bring one along to the Canary Islands, and kind of regretted that. Even a small cooler with just enough room for some fresh fruit, and juice boxes is nice to have.

7. Bring beach towels
I love my big, thick, colorful, soft beach towels. Bought them at Costco a couple of years ago. They are bulky as all heck to pack, but I still squashed them into our suitcase when we went on our latest trip.Turned out the hotel we stayed at in Gran Canaria supplied beach towels for the stay, but they were not as fancy-schmanzy as my own of course.

Beach towels that are big enough for an adult to lay down on at the beach, and thick enough not to disappear into the sand immediately if your kids decide to lay down or sit or on them, are just a great addition to a beach visit in my opinion. They also worked well to cover up the beach-chairs, when we had them.

DT Fleming Beach Park, Maui.

8. Do not forget the sunscreen!
Apply it to your children and yourself (and your spouse if they'll let you) before you go to the beach, when you get there and every now and then while you're there too. After spending a lot of time at different sunny beaches with my kids, I'm starting to have some firm opinions on sunscreen and other forms of sun protection too.

Sun burn is just one of those things kids should not have to deal with. It's painful and can ruin several days of your holiday, and of course, in the long term, there's the whole issue of skin cancer as well.