While you could go through the whole ado of planning a big family beach vacation abroad somewhere like the Bahamas or the Amalfi Coast, sometimes there’s no place like (closer to) home. The best family beach vacations don’t need to cost you an arm and a leg—and your sanity. That stretch of sand that’s just right, water that’s calm enough to wade in with your toddlers, and a landscape that’s ripe for scavenging for treasures like seashells and sand dollars with your adventurous little ones, are scattered all over this country. Prolong your days on the shore into the night through stargazing and marshmallow roasting should you choose to set up camp.
Luckily for you, we at Traveler know just where to find these family-friendly, sun-soaked spots. Here, the best family beach vacations home to amenity-rich hotels and resorts where you won’t be left wanting on those precious days off. From a quintessential New England coastal retreat, to a rustic lakeside campground, to a luxury estate that channels the French Riviera, timeless summer memories are waiting for you just a stone’s throw away.