There is nothing like the family energy of a welcoming coastal city to help you enjoy the last weeks of summer. Think of sandy toes, bicycle bikes along water and ice cream that melts faster than you can eat it. But don’t stop at the beach. In the best coastal cities in America, you will also find city center-accessible walks filled with local stores, seafood huts and galleries, as well as practical museums, aquariums and cultural centers that keep entertained children while sneaking in a little learning. Whether you have a relaxed atmosphere or a lively seaside town, these seaside exhausts are exactly what any family needs.
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1. Cape May, New Jersey

The very first inhabitants of this flourishing beach community would be the Lenni-Lenape tribe, as recorded by the Explorer Henry Hudson in the early 1600s. Appointed for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, which founded the city in 1621, Cape May is also revered as the oldest seaside resort in the country. The streets are lined with colorful Victorian houses which give off a kind of old -fashioned grandeur and charm.
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Cape May has many leisure activities for families. Its walk extends over two miles, with beautiful views of the sandy beaches and many stores and restaurants along the way. The virgin poverty beach is a favorite for families on vacation with toddlers, because it is a quiet place further from the crowd (it also has a street car park and bathrooms). Children will also benefit from an afternoon at the County Cape May Zoo, which is free and relies on donations. Some of the animals you might expect to see are American black bears, cheetahs and giraffes.
Install the camp at Beach Plum Farm Cottages, where coastal accommodation is delivered with washers and dryers, full kitchens and programs intended for young. From educational programs of educational nature to Hayrides, camp fires, archery and the art of dye, there is something to occupy everyone in this rustic station. Everyone will enjoy taking a break at the Orchard swimming pool or driving on a golf cart. The complex of the complex, Farm Kitchen, uses products cultivated on the farm.
2. Seabrook, Washington


Located along the Côte de Washington about two and a half hours from Seattle, the Seabrook idyllic seaside town is perfect for families seeking to be close to water. Founded in 2004 by Casey and Laura Roloff, this carefully designed community is a picturesque coastal city surrounded by forests and hiking trails. With hundreds of vacation rental homes of your choice, Seabrook can easily become your home far from home.
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Families can enjoy interior and outdoor pools, playing a game or two tennis and pickleball, or rent a bicycle and meander in town. Everything in Seabrook is accessible on foot. The city has more than 30 parks and more than two dozen traders and restaurants, as well as a Saturday farmer market where you can take goodies to take advantage of your comfortable rental. You can also attend a series of authors by the sea, where the authors of beloved children’s books visit a reading.
3. Shelter Island, New York


A small island of around 27 square miles, the New York Refuge Island is only accessible to cars of cars that deviate from the cities of Greenport and North Haven. Only 90 miles east of New York, it houses six unique beaches where families can play, swim and walk in the breeze of the salty Atlantic. The classic hunting hobbies of the coastal city include the mini golf course in the Shelter Island’s Tale dessert Cafe and the miniature golf course (an 18-hole course), exploration of the 2,100 acres Mashomack reserve and learning the history of the island on the Sylvester Manor farm.
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Stay at the Pridwin and Cottages hotel, a property by the water that opened in 1929. Here, children can participate in treasury hunts, water sports and kickball and tennis games. A games room with board games, toys and activities will keep the spirits top down, and parents can await the treatments impatiently in the elegant hotel spa.
4. Laguna Beach, California


California is home to several of the best coastal cities in the United States, but Laguna beach is an essential absolute destination for families. Known for its flourishing artistic scene, the city also has long beach sections, a practically perfect weather all year round and a unique topography of sea caves, ocean cliffs and natural tidal pools rich in marine life. It is a holiday destination in California perfect for diving, scuba diving, kayaking and swimming (on certain beaches).
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This seaside town also offers many activities in addition to lounging near the beach. Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center to learn more about the rescue and rehabilitation of marine lions and other marine mammals, or spend an afternoon at the Laguna art museum adapted to children, where there are many programs specially intended for families and children of all ages.
Ideally located at a pâté of beach houses, Art Hotel Laguna Beach offers rooms adapted to the family with a free breakfast. There is also a seasonal swimming pool and laundry rooms for these non -liached days.
5. Port Aransas, Texas


Only 30 minutes from Corpus Christi, Port Aransas on Mustang Island is a discreet seaside town which is an excellent choice for families who want less agitation than a typical seaside city. To get to the island, you will have to get on a ferry (they run frequently throughout the year). But don’t worry if your children are not great on the boats, because the ferry is a quick 10 minutes. Once arrived, there is no shortage of swimming, padding and kayak beaches on this small island. You can even drive your car along the ocean.
Stay at the Port Royal Ocean Resort, which welcomes family activities such as sand construction lessons and “dive-in” films. There are slides and a large swimming pool as well as volleyball courts that can keep everyone active for hours. Stop at the jelly station for an ice cream treat or the food truck for fast and relaxed dishes. The accommodation is suitable for condos from one to three bedrooms with a fully equipped kitchen and a washer and dryer.
6. Key West, Florida


The southern point of Florida, Key West owes its popularity as a coastal city for families with its sparkling blue waters, its white sandy beaches and its heaps of children adapted to children. Take the children to the Key West aquarium for an immersive introduction to local marine life, then visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum to see vestiges of shipwrecks and other artifacts of the 17th century such as pieces and cannons. And for children (or parents) who need a break in walking, the Conch Train Tour is a 75 -minute journey that takes you to a visit around Old Key West.
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Book your stay at the sensational Pier House Resort and Spa, which is located in the heart of the city center and has access to a private beach and an outdoor swimming pool. The complex offers one and two bedrooms, some with kitchens and a nicely fitted dining room, and the concierge can organize activities such as apnea diving, kayak and fishing. Alternatively, Beth Luberecki of Familyvacationist recommends the southern seaside resort of Key West, which is ideal for families and couples.
7. Block Island, Rhode Island


No coastal city in the United States evokes a feeling of charm par excellence in New England that Block Island, located about 10 miles off the Rhode Island. Accessible by a long ferry walk, this seaside town is seven miles of hills and bucolic views. The emblematic red flagship at the top of Mohegan Bluffs offers a spectacular view of the ocean, and the city center where DOCK ferries is an activity hub with many restaurants and shops to take care of you.
And although Block Island can be tiny, there are 15 beaches and five parks here, with many hiking trails to discover. In meander through Rodman’s Hollow, a 230 acres ice cream plain offering a breathtaking view of the ocean, or visit the National Wildlife Refuge of Block Island, which extends over around 127 acres, to identify a variety of birds.
Stay at 1661 Inn, which has 24 rooms distributed in four buildings and a children’s zoo with camels, lamas and yaks. Practical on -site catering options include restaurant 1661, which serves breakfast; And the farm, offering sandwiches, smoothies and various snacks.
