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.