5 Tips for the Best Beach Days With Children

Taking your children beach hopping on St. John can be one of the most memorable experiences of your family vacation! With a little planning, here are some tips on making the most of your beach days. With more than 25 beaches on island, how do you know which one to choose? How can you make family beach day go smoothly for all ages?

1. Choose the Right Beach

Every beach on St. John has its own personality. Several are generally more family-friendly with calm waters, and amenities such as restrooms and shaded areas. Avoid beaches with strong currents or steep drop-offs, especially if your children are young or inexperienced swimmers. A few pretty safe bets are Maho (shallow water, refreshments, swim gear across the street), Trunk (rental gear, refreshments, underwater snorkel trail), and Cinnamon (concession, rental gear, souvenir shop, showers, St. John’s longest beach).

2. Set Up a Base Camp

Find your spot and set up a headquarters full of the essentials like sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, towels, change of clothes for each child, water, healthy snacks and beach toys. Find shade, whether you hunker under Seagrape trees or bring an umbrella, you’ll be glad you have a place sheltered from the sun. Our villas are stocked with everything you need for a day at the beach so check our list before you pack. Hang bags in the trees to keep sand ants out.

3. Play In the Sand

Bring shovels, molds and buckets to create sandcastles together as a family.

4. Wildlife Watch

Keep an eye out for sea turtles, hermit crabs, pelicans, stingrays, octopus, tons of fish and even an occasional donkey sighting.

5. Water Sports

For those seeking more adventurous activities, there’s a range of water toys available for rent at many of our beaches such as kayaking, paddle-boarding and windsurfing.

Overall, St. John offers many serene and idyllic settings to relax and reconnect with family in the heart of the Caribbean. Whether you’re seeking adventure or simply looking to soak up the sun, St. John has something for everyone!