Beaches & Lakes

Best Beaches Near NYC for a Dreamy Family Daycation

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 06/22/2017 - 12:15pm

Summertime means beach time, but while there are lots of shores near and even in NYC, some are more family friendly than others. After packing up your gear and schlepping the kids by car, train, bus, or ferry, the last thing you want to find out is that your chosen beach has no bathroom or that bathing suits are optional. Skip the guesswork with our roundup of these seven beaches for NYC families, including detailed info on attractions, food, bathrooms, and hidden costs. Most are within two hours of Manhattan by car and are easily accessible via public transportation as well, so you can plot a great staycation for your brood.

Find more beach fun in our Beaches, Pools, and Water Playgrounds Guide, or check out these summer day trip ideas.

Best Beaches for Families Within an Hour of Boston

Submitted by Elyse Andrews on Fri, 06/16/2017 - 12:01pm

We’re lucky here in Massachusetts to have so many beautiful beaches to choose from when the temperature soars. With lots of room to dig, play, and swim, a stretch of sand on the edge of the salty surf might be the perfect place to take kids in the summer. But with so many beaches to choose from, it can be tough to know which ones are really right for families. So we’ve rounded up eight of our favorite sandy spots to visit each summer—all within an hour of Boston!

Carson Beach—South Boston

The Best Lakes for Swimming with Kids in New Jersey

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 06/16/2017 - 12:00pm

New Jersey is known for its outstanding beaches, but it also has some of the best lakes for swimming in the Northeast. This summer, if you want a break from the pounding waves, dive into the calm waters of one of these beautiful New Jersey lakes. And for more wet (and dry) summer fun, check out our NJ Kids Summer Activities Guide.

Best of Asbury Park Beach and Boardwalk for Kids and Families

Submitted by Andy Fenwick on Thu, 06/15/2017 - 4:50pm

Asbury Park’s current and continuing turnaround amazes anyone who remembers this New Jersey beach town’s disrepair in the late 1980s. A stroll on today’s Asbury Park beach and boardwalk reveals families, attractions, clean beaches, artwork, great food, and a free, city-supported playground—on the sand—halfway between Convention Hall and the old casino to the south. Asbury Park’s shoreline now counts as one of the highlights of Monmouth County, and the Jersey Shore.

Read on for our top tips for visiting this Jersey beach with the kids, and if you're looking to rack up warm-weather memories, wander over to our Jersey Shore Guide for more beach and boardwalk fun.