The Best U.S. Beaches for Families in 2014

PENNINGTON, N.J., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey*, summer beach trips are the most popular vacation choice for families traveling in 2014. With so many great beaches across the U.S., Family Vacation Critic narrows down the choices with its annual list of the Best Beaches for Families.

"Choosing a beach destination is much more complicated for groups traveling with kids," says Lissa Poirot, editor of Family Vacation Critic. "It's not just looking for sand, sun and water – families are looking for destinations that offer convenience, safety and cleanliness. Our readers have shared that their top priority is staying close to the beach – families want to be in the center of the action and close enough to easily walk to the beach. They also want to feel confident in knowing that the beach and its waters are safe and clean for the entire family."

This year's list of the Best Beaches for Families includes:

• Coronado, CA: Coronado Municipal Beach

Insider Tip for Families: There are tide pools located at the rocky sea break by the Hotel del Coronado, ideal for young swimmers. There are also fire pits located on the northernmost stretch of sand on Coronado Beach – perfect for S'mores.

• Ocean City, NJ: Ocean City Beach

Insider Tip for Families: Ocean City has numerous free and low-cost events for families throughout July and August – Funtastic Tuesdays (every Tuesday); Beach Walks (every Tuesday and Wednesday); Family Nights (every Thursday) and Character Nights (every Sunday).

• Zephyr Cove, NV: Zephyr Cove Resort

Insider Tip for Families: The M.S. Dixie is a 520-passenger paddlewheel sightseeing cruise that departs from Zephyr Cove daily, offering two-hour narrated tours. Lunch is available for purchase, and there are discounted rates for kids 11 years and under.

• Myrtle Beach, SC: Myrtle Beach

Insider Tip for Families: The downtown boardwalk area of Myrtle Beach hosts free "Hot Summer Nights" events throughout the summer – including concerts, festivals and kids' carnivals. There is a free fireworks display every Wednesday night at the 2^nd Avenue Pier.

• York, ME: Short Sands Beach

Insider Tip for Families: York Trolley runs between Short Sands and Long Sands, for an easy and inexpensive way to explore the area. The Shoreline Explorer's Purple Line picks up from Short Sands to go to Ogunquit – tickets are a few dollars, and kids under 18 ride free.

Other beaches named to this year's list of the Best Beaches for Families include: Crystal Beach (Destin, FL); Cannon Beach (Cannon Beach, OR); Mayo Beach (Wellfleet, MA); Humiston Park (Vero Beach, FL) and New Buffalo Public Beach (New Buffalo, MI).

For the full list of beaches and additional information, visit: The Best Beaches for Families in 2014.

* TripAdvisor survey results released April 3, 2014

About Family Vacation Critic
Family Vacation Critic^® is a comprehensive online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resort and destinations. The site features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travelers. Family Vacation Critic is published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 21 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com,  www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com , www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 260 million unique monthly visitors*, and more than 125 million reviews and opinions covering more than 3.1 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.

*Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, July 2013  

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SOURCE Family Vacation Critic