Family Surf Lessons
Mom, dad and the kids can all learn to hang 10 together. A family lesson gives you the benefits of a private lesson, with the time together that makes family vacations special. The Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy on Maui offers family discounts when you book three or more people together. Participants must be ages 8 and up, and know how to swim.
Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy
117 Prison St.
Lahaina, HI 96761
808-276-7873
royalhawaiiansurfacademy.com
Dig for Clams
Throw on a pair of clam diggers and try this traditional New England beach activity. Since you don't want to end up with a case of paralytic shellfish poisoning, it's a good idea to work with trained professionals. They can provide the needed gear---license, rake, dreener, and bucket---and show you what to look for and what to avoid. Hyannis and Barnstable on Massachusetts' Cape Cod are greats place to go clamming. The Barnstable Town Hall offers shellfishing permits and clamming classes for kids.
Town of Barnstable - Natural Resources
1189 Phinney's Lane
Centerville, MA 02632
508-790-6272
town.barnstable.ma.us
See Awesome Sand Castles
Beyond mere pail-and-shovel creations are the enormous and inventive sand sculptures on display each year at San Diego's U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition. The event spans an entire August weekend, and includes music, dancing, food vendors, arts and crafts, and the "Kidz 'N Kastles" sandcastle-building event.
The U.S. Open Sandcastle Committee, Inc.
P.O. Box 476
Imperial Beach, CA 91933
619-424-6663
usopensandcastle.com
Rent a Beach House
If you need to get away from it all, and bring the whole gang with you, consider renting a beach house. It will give you the freedom to take an extended vacation and often for much less than staying in a hotel. Plus, you'll have the advantage of a kitchen. By simply making breakfasts and lunches at "home," you'll save a lot of money.
VacationRentals.com
1011 W. 5th St.
Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78703
vacationrentals.com
Go Beach Camping
At the end of a perfect day at the beach, when you just don't want to go home, you don't have to... if you can camp. The next morning, when other families are struggling to get out the door for a day at the beach, you're already there, sipping coffee and watching the sunrise. Heck, at some places, you don't even have to pitch a tent. At Grayland Beach on the Washington Coast, you can arrange to stay in one of the state park's heated yurts.
Grayland State Beach Park
925 Cranberry Beach Rd.
Grayland, WA
360-267-4301
parks.wa.gov/yurtsandcabins/graylandbeach/
Article Written By Stephanie L. Smith
Stephanie L. Smith is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and editor. She got her start in 1996 while still a student at Harvard, researching Let's Go travel guides to California and New Zealand. Since then, she's written and edited travel, lifestyle, health and fitness content for a variety of print and online publications, including Citysearch.com, Pilot Getaways magazine, and Channel One News.
