A holiday at the beach can make for fantastic family fun! Even more so if it’s in a luxury self-catering beach cottage that lets you enjoy a home away from home. This kind of holiday is all about long, lazy days and time spent making memories on the sand.
The beach (like our gorgeous stretch at Ramsgate) is the perfect entertainment playground for the whole family. As long as you practice water safety and are properly prepared for a day of sun and sand, there’s endless fun to be had. Make the most of your beach holiday with our top ideas for family-friendly activities, sure to delight both parents and children. And they’re budget-friendly too!
Family-friendly activities for your next beach holiday
1. Build a sand castle
The beach is one giant sand pit. So, hand the kids (and the adults!) buckets and spades and let them dig, scoop, and build to their hearts’ content. They’ll love it and you’ll get some great pics at the end. Add a little water and some plastic trucks and you’ve got a construction site. Or bring along some plastic moulds and create a sand bakery, decorating your ‘cakes’ with sea shells.
2. Go on a scavenger hunt
Take little ones by the hand and explore the sand for shells, seaweed, sea glass and pretty stones. Let them collect their treasures in a memory jar and spend time later going through the jar and discussing their favourite finds.
3. Move, move, move
While lying on the sand catching some rays is always appealing, the beach is a great place to get active and there’s tons of ways to get everyone in your family moving. Run races, fly a kite, kick around a ball, throw a Frisbee, have a dance-off (or play musical towels), or do some gentle water aerobics in the shallows. You could even go low key with a long beach walk or play Pictionary in the sand.
4. Swim in the sea
The sea can be a dangerous place but it can also offer a beautiful and refreshing swim with numerous health benefits. If you do decide to swim in the sea, always practice water safety, never swim alone, and don’t go too far from shore. Respect the sea at all times and appreciate its beauty.
5. Learn something new
Try a new ball sport if you want to stay on the sand or, if you’re willing to get wet, ask someone in the know to teach you to surf, body board, or snorkel. On Ramsgate Beach, you can hire a paddle boat and paddle along the lagoon, enjoying the beautiful ocean views.
At Ramsgate Cottage, relaxation is at the top of our list but, if you want to do a bit more than laze on the veranda and watch the dolphins go by, then the beach is the perfect place to get busy. And, once you’re done with the sea and sand (at least for the day), you’ve got the cottage pool to enjoy as well as a host of nearby activities and facilities. Do as much (or as little) as you like – that’s what beach holidays are all about!