beaches - Pitstops for Kids

The north shore of Kauai with babies and toddlers

August 5, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

The north shore of Kauai, Hawaii, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on earth for a Hawaiian holiday, but it can be tricky to manage a kid-friendly family vacation without a few insider tips! Kauai is a small island, but indirect, winding, two-lane roads and local traffic can slow families down, making outings longer than they appear on the map. We’ve put together a brief list of some of our kid-tested favorite beaches and attractions to help you chose activities that will cater to your babies and toddlers, and help you get a little relaxation while you’re at it!

Note: family travel with small kids is just easier when staying at a vacation rental, with room to spread out and a kitchen in which to prepare meals. Check out Kauai vacation rental options from VacationRoost.

Anini Beach (Anini Road, Kalihiwai, HI): As any guidebook will tell you, Anini Beach is one of the best beaches for very small kids. The beach is narrow, but there is a grassy lawn for ball games, and the water is more like a zero entry pool than a beach. No waves, soft sand, and some decent snorkeling make this a great beach for the younger set.

Ke’e Beach (HI 560, just past Ha’ena): This one surprised us—it’s not listed as being particularly kid-friendly in any of the guidebooks, and from the parking lot, it doesn’t look like much. It’s at the trailhead of the famous Kalalau Trail, at the start of the spectacular Na Pali Coast. We didn’t notice the beach until we were at the first lookout along the trail and looked down at a beautiful, sheltered beach with clear water and a protective reef about 100 yards off-shore. After our hike, we returned to stop at Ke’e Beach, and it was probably the calmest, most picturesque beach we visited during our vacation. It might be rougher in the winter months, but in late summer the water was calm enough for swimming with a baby!

Hanakapi’ai Beach and Kalalau Trail: About two miles in on the Kalalau Trail (trailhead located at Ke’e Beach, literally at the end of the road that travels across the north shore) is picturesque Hanakapi’ai Beach. Although not recommended for swimming (strong currents and a remote location make swimming extremely dangerous), this is a spectacular beach, with a freshwater creek and shallow caves to explore. The hike was steep and muddy in places, but we were able to arrive at our destination (Hanakapi’ai Beach) in the morning, eat a snack and explore, and make it back to Ke’e Beach in time for a midday lunch. The hike is extremely beautiful, but tough and often dangerous for kids, and I wouldn’t recommend it for the very young without a carrier of some sort (strollers are definitely not an option on the trail!). Keep in mind: a trip to Kauai isn’t complete without seeing the spectacular Na Pali Coast!

Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge (Kilauea Road, Kilauea): At the northernmost point of Kauai, the Kilauea Lighthouse sits on a bluff with views of the north shore all the way to the Na Pali Coast. There is a short walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse, with great views for bird, seal, and even whale-watching (in the right season). This is a fun toddler activity: everything is fenced in, and the walk is easy, so you can let the kids loose. There is a little information center at the lighthouse that even has coloring paper and crayons for the artists in your group! Note: Kilauea Lighthouse has a $5 entry fee for adults 16 and over; those under 16 are free.

Lydgate State Park (Nalu Road, accessed via Leho Drive off Route 56 in Kapaa): I was surprised to find that there were not many playgrounds on or near the beaches in Kauai. Of course, the beaches and hikes alone are enough entertainment for most of us, but for the very young (who might be too young to swim or hike in their own right), nothing beats a good old-fashioned playground. Kamalani Playground at Lydgate State Park is a huge wooden maze-like structure with slides, swings, and ropes to climb. It’s actually on the eastern shore of the island, but is only about a 20-30 minute drive from the north shore, and is by far the best playground around. We spent a blissful afternoon letting our three-year-old run wild while the baby happily watched from the swing. The only down side to this park is that the beach directly across the street from the playground is too rough for inexperienced swimmers, although heading north through the parking lot will reward you with a more sheltered swimming area. Tip! Be sure to stop for some shave ice in Kapaa on your way back to the north shore!

General information: All beaches in Kauai are public, and therefore free. The above (unless otherwise indicated) are located just off the main road that travels along the coast from Kapaa to Ke’e Beach (Rt 56/HI 560). Food services vary: none of the locations above have food available, but there are places to eat in the towns throughout the north shore. The Kilauea Fish Market and Foodland in Princeville are some that we enjoyed for lunch and dinner.

Kalihiwai on Dwellable

Pier Cove Beach, Fennville Michigan

August 5, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

A small, beautiful beach, Fennville’s Pier Cove Beach features a small creek that lets out into Lake Michigan, which is often warmer than the big lake. It’s perfect for small kids to splash in! Families can also find rocks and logs and make sculptures! In the big lake, kids (and adults!) will swim to their hearts’ content. Oh, and dogs are welcome! This is the perfect pit stop to escape crowds; the only drawback: there are no bathrooms or changing rooms, so plan accordingly!

Travel tip: Beware the poison ivy on the south side of the staircase! Stick to the right! No lifeguard on duty.

For more information on area beaches, head over to Top 10 Beach Towns on Michigan’s Sunset Coast at Wandering Educators.

Closest interstate or highway: US31, Fennville Exit (M-89).

Cost of admission: Free!

Hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Dining options: None; bring a picnic!

Directions: From US31, take the Fennville exit (M-89). Head West toward Lake Michigan. At the T, take a left (south) and drive to another stop. Take a right (west) and go around the curve. Pier Cove is about 25 feet down the road on the Lake side (right). There are about 10 parking spaces.

Oval Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan

August 3, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Saugatuck’s Oval Beach is a popular pit stop along the coast of Lake Michigan for a reason: ranked by Conde Naste traveler as one of the 25th best beaches in the world, it boasts wonderful dunes (including Mount Baldhead), family amenities such as a playground and concession stand, and picnic areas complete with grills and a deck. It features two beach areas (one that is flatter, and one that is accessed by stairs). Sometimes you’ll get huge waves, and sometimes very calm waters. It’s all fun: bring some sand toys, a Frisbee, a kite, and plenty of towels and sunscreen. The only drawbacks? It can get crowded in summer, and the faucets only run cold water (brr!).

For more information, head over to Top 10 Beach Towns on Michigan’s Sunset Coast at Wandering Educators.

Closest interstate or highway: US31

Cost of admission: Park fees apply.

Hours: Sunrise to sunset.

Dining options: Oval Beach does have a seasonal concession stand, but more dining is available in nearby Saugatuck.

Directions: From Highway US31, take the Blue Star Highway exit, and head west. Turn left at the Kalico Kitchen, and follow that along for several miles until you see a sign on the left for Oval Beach.

Nantucket with kids: guide to beaches and biking

July 18, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

The island of Nantucket, Massachusetts is well-known as a summer playground for travelers of all ages, but with so much to do in the immediate vicinity of the harbor, the further reaches (only a few miles in any direction!) are often overlooked. Ferrying your car to the island is expensive, rentals even more so, but that’s ok: biking is more affordable, more fun, and easy to do on such a flat and manageably-sized piece of land.

Because biking is such a great mode of transportation on Nantucket, there are many rental outfits ready to provide you with bikes during your stay. On our most recent visit, we chose Young’s Bicycle Shop, located conveniently near the Steamship Authority dock one block from the harbor. Even more convenient? Young’s will deliver your bikes to your hotel or vacation home for a flat $10 fee. Bike rentals range from $20-50 per 24-hour period, depending on the bike type, and they carry everything from baby seats to ‘tag-alongs’ to trailers.

Finding your way around the island is easy with so many well-marked bike and pedestrian paths. Trails stretch all the way from Madeket to ‘Sconset, Jetties Beach to Surfside, Cisco to Brant Point light, and where the trails don’t lead, biking on the streets is safe and easy. In town, it’s necessary to walk bikes over the cobblestones and on sidewalks to avoid pedestrians, but out of town, biking with the flow of traffic is hassle-free and often faster than fighting traffic in your car.

We could easily carry our beach equipment on the backs of our rented bikes and in backpacks, and as a result, biked nearly everywhere we went on the island. Nantucket boasts close to a dozen distinct beaches along its miles of coastline, each one with a different personality. Below is a run-down of our favorites for all activities, ages, and interests:

Jetties Beach is perfect for families of all ages. Close to town without being crowded, it’s easy to bike to, the calm water is shallow and warm (you can walk for what seems like miles along a submerged sand bar), and the sand is dotted with seashells. Also appreciated by families are its clean bathrooms, lifeguards, playground, and full restaurant, complete with beach store for all the essentials, like sand buckets, towels, and paddle board. We loved their ‘leave a book, take a book’ shelf, where Nate found great summer reading!

Surfside Beach is located directly opposite of the town of Nantucket on the island’s unprotected south shore. The lack of the harbor means large waves (which have a habit of breaking nearly on shore). Wide and sandy, Surfside is a great beach for a game of Frisbee or paddle ball, sunbathing, and playing in the surf. Be advised, however, that the depth of the water greatly increases just yards from shore as the sandy bottom drops out abruptly. Lifeguards are on duty during daytime hours, and a snack shack serves fare such as hot dogs, drinks, and ice cream. One of the island’s many bicycle paths deposits visitors directly into the Surfside parking area.

Madaket beaches are great for visitors seeking isolation, crashing waves, and sunsets. A long bike ride from town, the journey to Madeket is beautiful and can be accessed entirely by bike path. Located at the end of the island on the western tip, Madaket is comprised of solitary vacation homes and windswept beaches; don’t expect many more services than a port-a-potty and a bike rack. Bring your own picnic, however, and you might forget you’re on a busy vacation island in the middle of high season on Madaket! Expect big, crashing waves, wind, and
frequent fog!

‘Sconset beaches are located at the end of another long bike ride, this time to the eastern side of the island. The town of ‘Sconset (short for Siasconset) is far less commerical than the heart of the Nantucket harbor area, but unlike Madaket, some services, such as a small grocery store stocked with ice cream, drinks, snacks, and souvenirs, do exist near the beaches. You’re likely to encounter more company as well; the homes nestled near the shore are almost always occupied in the summer months. Come to ‘Sconset beaches for picturesque beauty (think sand dunes, shingled cottages, and well-kept gardens), the family-friendly atmosphere (there’s almost always a kite or two flying), and the smaller (but still existent) surf.

Children’s Beach is located in the center of the harbor area, just west of the wharfs. Easy to bike or walk to from town, Children’s Beach is always busy due to its protected (though limited) beach access, views of the harbor (kids love to boat watch), and playground right on the beach. With virtually no waves, kids can splash and play in the warm water to their hearts’ content, and parents are within strolling distance to downtown shops and restaurants.