Tropical destinations for a kid-friendly beach vacation

The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the best kid-friendly beach vacations near the US. It includes the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays. Known for beautiful beaches with calm, shallow waters, it’s an ideal destination for families with small children. Coki Beach on St. Thomas is especially popular with kids because of its translucent waters, making it easy to spot the many tropical fish. Or, if you want a less crowded experience, Maho Bay Beach on St. John is ideal for babies and toddlers. Other child-friendly attractions include the Coral World Ocean Park, Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, and Pirates Treasure Museum, with actual treasures and artifacts recovered from old pirate ships.

Mexico is extremely kid-friendly, and Cancún offers many of the shops and amenities you’d find at home. Playa Marlin is a quieter public beach in the hotel zone that is great for young families, and Playa Langosta features a playground, calm waters, and beachside bars for easy access to snacks and drinks throughout the day. For toddlers, Xcaret Park offers lots of wildlife, cultural shows, small archeological sites, and even a replica Mayan village. All Ritmo is a smaller water park just north of Cancún that is fairly inexpensive, especially considering food and beverages are included with admission. It features toddler-friendly water slides and play areas along the side as well as mini golf.If you want to visit Aztec ruins, Chichén Itzá is easily navigable with a stroller. Just bring along a child carrier if you plan on climbing any of the stairs.

Known for its pink sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Bermuda has a safe and relaxed atmosphere that will appeal to families with young kids. Little ones will enjoy splashing in the calm waters of Horseshoe Bay, which feels more like a swimming pool due to a reef that runs around Bermuda just off the shore. Shelly Beach, just across the way, has even more extensive shallow waters — and a supermarket close at hand for snack runs. Bermuda is also known for its caves, and the Crystal and Fantasy Caves are a must-see with their otherworldly stalactite and stalagmite formations and underground lakes. The caves are not accessible to strollers, though, so they’re not ideal for babies and make sure all family members are prepared to descend (and climb) 80+ steps.