Coquina Beach Park, Bradenton, Florida

Coquina Beach Park, Bradenton, Florida

This beach, on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island, about 40 minutes from Tampa, is famous for "coquinas," colorful mini seashells. Every morning, there's a row of shells on the shoreline for kids to scoop up. Another activity: kayaking. You can rent one on the beach or sign up for a guided eco-tour; either way, you're likely to see dolphins, manatees, and stingrays. Shady Australian pines, warm water (it averages 74?F year-round), and a 1?-mile paved nature trail also make Coquina fun.

Spend the Night
The Tradewinds Resort, just a 1-mile trolley ride from the beach, gives families a seashell guide and loans out buckets, sand tools, and floaties. A great money saver: Each room has a full kitchen.

Mayflower Beach, Dennis, Massachusetts

 Mayflower Beach, Dennis, Massachusetts

Cape Cod has more than its share of beautiful beaches, but it’s especially lovely here. "It has huge tidal flats that are teeming with sea life," says Karen Flam, who makes the trek to Mayflower every year from Philadelphia. "My 6-year-old daughter, Allison, sits out there for hours digging for sea snails and hermit crabs." Make plans to come to the beach for the annual sand-sculpture contest in late August -- there are six categories including those for kids 3 to 6 and 7 to 11, as well as for families working together.

Spend the Night
The Lighthouse Inn, about 9 miles from Mayflower Beach, offers family entertainment such as sing-alongs, movies, and magicians. 

West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter

West Beach at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter

On the southern tip of Lake Michigan, this beach has great views of the Chicago skyline. But what draws families here are the normally calm water and Junior Ranger program. Kids can earn a "beachcomber badge" by completing a dozen or so family activities on a sheet handed out by park rangers. "We ask kids to do things like find three different-colored types of rocks near the shoreline, and look at the plants in the dunes and point out which kind they saw the most," says Bruce Rowe, the supervisory park ranger. When the kids are done at the beach, head to one of the four nearby nature trails, each about 1? miles long. The stroller-friendly Long Lake Trail takes you past forests and marshes.

Spend the Night
The closest place to stay: The Duneswalk Inn, about a ten-minute drive from the beach, is a renovated 1881 mansion. The rooms aren't froufrou, and one suite even has bunk beds.

Coronado Central Beach, San Diego

Coronado Central Beach, San Diego

This 2-mile stretch of beach -- just over the bridge from downtown San Diego -- has everything families could want: perfect weather (it rarely rains in the summer), spotless white sand (the town even invented an environmentally-friendly rake to clean up the kelp), and warm, gentle water. Plus, there's no smoking allowed on this beach -- or any in California. Tide pools filled with sea creatures form in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado, where you cool off with a cone at MooTime Creamery.

Spend the Night
The only resort along this stretch of sand, the Victorian-style Hotel del Coronado offers a kids' program for 4- to 12-year-olds, and babysitting.A lower-cost resort: Ten minutes away, the Loews Coronado Bay has a nature-themed kids' club for 5- to 12-year-olds plus loaner baby equipment.

North Beach at Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida

North Beach at Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida

Warm, clear water, seashell-dotted white sand, and nature activities galore helped this beach, located in a county park, rise to the top of our list. Protected by a sandbar, North Beach, near St. Petersburg, has a large lagoon that doesn't get above 3 feet deep. "It's like a natural kiddie pool," says Justin Hamilton, of Bardstown, Kentucky, who visited last summer. "My 2-year-old loved chasing minnows." 

When you're ready for shade, walk over to the playground, where your kid can steer a pretend pirate ship or cool down with a snow cone from the snack bar. If your family is up for more, drive to the park's Gulf Pier, a great area for spotting dolphins. From there, explore the fort and cannon built for the Spanish-American War or take a surrey-bike ride along the nature trails.

Spend the Night
Sleep in a pink castle! The Loews Don CeSar is a ten-minute drive. Families keep busy with poolside movies and toys, books, and DVDs to borrow. There's a drop-off kids' club for 4- to 12-year-olds, and babysitting. 

Kama'ole Beach Park III, Maui, Hawaii

Part of a a trio of pristine beaches separated by lava-rock outcropppings, this one, nicknamed Kam 3, is ideal for young kids. "The water has only small waves and it's so clear you can even see the fish from the surface." says Lindsey Ahrary, who was vacationing from San Jose, California. Kids might spot sea turtles or even puffer fish (remember Bloat from Finding Nemo?). For a better view, you can rent snorkeling gear across the street from the beach, usually for less than $2 per person. The large grassy area behind the beach is perfect for kite-flying, tossing a Frisbee, or eating shaved ice (Hawaii's version of sorbet) from one of the nearby stands.

Spend the Night
Since there isn't a resort on this beach, stay at a budget-friendly vacation-rental condo. A mile away, the Palms at Wailea Maui by Outrigger offers a full kitchen, a pool, and washer/dryer. 

Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head, South Carolina

 Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head, South Carolina

You can't go wrong with any of the 12 miles of shoreline in Hilton Head, but Coligny stood out for its shallow, calm water. "You'd have to walk out 30 yards for it to get above 3 feet deep," says Steve Riley, the town manager. Your little swimmer will love to peek in the tidal pools that form during low tide and hunt for beach treasure -- sand dollars and seashells. And the beach's hard-packed sand is perfect for building castles and biking. You can rent three-wheeled dune bikes that are similar to tricycles from a nearby Shore Beach Service stand. At the end of the day, head across the street to the Coligny Plaza, which hosts free entertainment such as magic shows four times a week.

Spend the Night
Steps from Coligny Beach Park, the newly renovated Beach House (a Holiday Inn resort) organizes free pool- and beachside games.All rooms have a small fridge, and some offer bunk beds for kids.

Club Med Sandpiper Bay

Club Med Sandpiper Bay

Port St. Lucie, Florida

Paradise for parents! This 307-room gem, sparkling after a recent $25-million renovation, is set on a beach with cozy cabanas (ideal for a snooze with your b?b?) along the picturesque St. Lucie River. Club Med's staff is famous for its friendliness, so you'll be invited to a golf or tennis lesson, yoga class, and even a swing on the flying trapeze. If you came strictly to loaf, they'll leave you to lounge by the two pools (one is for adults only) and the large Jacuzzi situated for glorious sunset-gazing. Relish yummy food (white chocolate bread served daily) in two restaurants, one with an adult section so you and your hubs can have an uninterrupted conversation. Remember those?

Baby Love: Caregivers engage infants and toddlers with games, songs,toys, and books, both indoors and out, at Baby Club Med. It's for 4- to 23-month-olds, and it's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day but Wednesday. For date night, let Peewee conk out in the Pajama Club, open from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. every night, then carry him back to your room. At the Baby Care Center, Mom and Dad are free to use the sterilizer or pick up teething biscuits or fruit 24/7. You can pack light: A crib, infant tub, changing table, stroller, and high chair are available in your room if you're traveling with a child 2 or younger.

Book It! Rates start at $1,064 per person, based on double occupancy, for a seven-night stay, which includes food, beverages (alcohol too), entertainment, and most sports. Children younger than 2 stay and eat for free, but Baby Club Med is $90 a day, and the Pajama Club is $28 per night

A rugged playground in Kauai,hawaii

Don't let the name fool you. The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has a lot to offer adrenaline-fueled families. It's so kid-friendly you can take your tot and still get out and explore Hawaii's wildest island. It's also breathtaking: The Hyatt sits on 52 acres (21 hectares) of the southern coast, overlooking the Pacific.

Just make sure to take a break from golf and tennis to explore the island’s 552 square miles (1,430 square kilometers): hike sections of the rugged Nā Pali Coast's Kalalau Trail for access to dramatic oceanside cliffs or paddle the Hanalei River to the mountain-ringed Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. Sign on for a guided coastal kayaking trip or blast by bike from the rim of Waimea Canyon to the Pacific (12 miles/19 kilometers) of paved downhill. Use the resort as your adventure launchpad—the concierge can help you set up anything from helicopter tours to surfing lessons.

Where to Play

Toddlers experience pint-size thrills splashing in a two-tiered pool and saltwater lagoon, and kids who are tall enough get to ride the 150-foot (46-meter) waterslide. Outside the resort's gates, hike, kayak, cliff-jump, and swing like monkeys on the Kipu Falls Zipline Safari ($138 for children ages 7 to 14; $178 for adults; 

At Day's End

Book a babysitter with the concierge or enroll kids three and up in Camp Hyatt for a day of koi fish feeding, hula lessons, lei-making, and palm-frond weaving, then go explore Kauai. End the day in private lava-rock showers at the resort's 45,000-square-foot (4,180-square-kilometer) Anara Spa before hula dancing at the resort’s Kauai Luau.