The Best U.S. Beaches for Families in 2015

Family Vacation Critic names the best family-friendly beaches of the year, and shares insider tips for each destination

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Apr 01, 2015, 05:30 ET

EWING, N.J., April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Vacation Critic, TripAdvisor's family travel site, has announced the winners of its annual Best Beaches for Families list, naming the top family-friendly beaches of the year, along with fun, insider tips for each destination.

Virginia Beach -- Photo Credit: Virginia Beach CVB

"When choosing the top family-friendly beaches, we consider a number of factors – it's not just beautiful sands and picturesque views," explains Lissa Poirot, editor-in-chief of Family Vacation Critic. "Beyond clean, safe beaches, we're looking for beaches that offer a well-rounded experience for families – accommodations, dining and entertainment within close distance of the beach, and plenty to keep the whole family entertained while in town."

According to the editors of Family Vacation Critic, this year's list of the Best Beaches for Families includes:

Lincoln City Beach – Lincoln City, OR
Insider Tip: Search the sand for glass floats – they're part of a program called Finders Keepers, in which "Float Fairies" disperse beautiful ornaments on the beach for vacationers to find and take home.
Virginia Beach -- Virginia Beach, VA
Insider Tip: Don't leave Virginia Beach without a photo in front of King Neptune, a 34-foot-tall statue of the mythological sea god. Families can also enjoy free concerts and live entertainment across the boardwalk in the summer.
Ogunquit Beach – Ogunquit, ME
Insider Tip: Use the Ogunquit Trolley to get to the beach and around town – fare is just $2.00 per adult and $1.50 per child (ages 10 and under).
Manatee County Beach – Holmes Beach, FL
Insider Tip: Reserve a Nesting Beach Tour at the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch to join federally permitted volunteers as they analyze nests and hatched (and unhatched) shells during turtle nesting season.
Carlsbad State Beach – Carlsbad, CA
Insider Tip: Historic Highway 101 has free parking – get there early to snag a spot. The City of Carlsbad also offers family events, classes and camps throughout the year – including surf school, S'mores parties and more.
Fort De Soto Park – St. Petersburg, FL
Insider Tip: Head to North Beach to enjoy a shallow, calm lagoon – perfect for new swimmers.
Rehoboth Beach – Rehoboth Beach, DE
Insider Tip: Bring or rent bikes to take advantage of the scenic trails that connect Rehoboth Beach with Lewes, Delaware.
Crescent Beach – Block Island, RI
Insider Tip: Take the Mobile Bike Tour of Block Island. At the island's most popular attractions, families can use their smartphones to scan QR codes and hear about each featured attraction.
Cape May Beach – Cape May, NJ
Insider Tip: Enjoy free "Movies on the Beach" on Thursday evenings, mid-July through late-August. Showings are presented on the beach near Convention Hall (or inside Convention Hall when it rains).
Kings Beach – Lake Tahoe, CA
Insider Tip: Visit the Tahoe Central Market for picnic food to enjoy on the beach. The market features local, organic products, plus delicious smoothies and sandwiches.

For the full details of 2015's winners, visit Family Vacation Critic's list of the Best Beaches for Families.

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 24 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com and www.iens.nl), 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.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, www.viator.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and www.kuxun.cn.