Quiet warm water family beach
 

We would like to request destination and accommodation suggestions. We wish to travel in early June with our ten-year-old granddaughter to a continental United States beach next to warm ocean water. (The Pacific is a bit too chilly for us.) We are inlanders from the Southwest who are unused to ocean swimming, so we would prefer a beach with a lifeguard. We like to stay in small one to three story motels/hotels or low rise condominiums in small, rather quiet communities that are not too far from larger communities with airports. An island experience might be nice. Our granddaughter enjoys biking and seeing animals. Thanks for any suggestions you are able to provide.

I always give a nod to my favorite place, Kiawah Island, SC. You can find many condos on www.vrbo.com or through the many rental agencies that serve Kiawah - or Seabrook for that matter. Gorgeous beach and miles of paved biking trails. In the past, there has been only beach patrol - no lifeguards, however. The beach grade is very gradual so that at low tide it is very wide and does not get deep quickly. There are free 'family' type events every week put on by the resort and a free nature center with fauna from the island. The Kiawah is about 45 minutes from Charleston - history, great Aquarium. I've been vacationing there since I was under ten and my son (10 in April) loves it!

Think your ideal would be Gulf Coast of Florida (or maybe Alabama), either panhandle or further south, and I'm thinking Sarasota around Siesta Beach is perfect for you.

Or Naples or Ft. Myers or .... see what you can find somewhere along that part of the coast -- St. Pete might do it too.

Sanibel Island, Florida fits your description exactly. Caribbean ambiance, not too far from Ft. Myers airport, calm warm Gulf of Mexico water, nature preserve on the island, bike paths. A nice place to stay is Sanibel Inn, right on the Gulf, studios and 1 BR units with kitchens and screened porches with water view.

Yes, agree re: Sanibel.

Thank you all so much. Your suggestions are wonderful! We will begin researching the three or four places you have mentioned.

Definitely go to the Gulf of Mexico, which has warm, calm waters perfect for your granddaughter.

On the Gulf, you have zillions of options.

Consider the beaches west of Tampa, from Clearwater down to Pass-a-Grille. TPA is a major airport so it should be easy to get there.

Another vote for the Gulf of Mexico- check out Sanibel, Naples, and the panhandle areas of Destin, Seagrove Beach, Grayton Beach, etc.

Again, thank you. We are reading that some people complain that the Gulf of Mexico waters are too warm for them in the summer. That means the water will be perfect for us! Sanibel Island looks wonderful. We will also look into your other suggestions. We really appreciate your narrowing our search. We had been feeling lost and are now excited about the possibilities.

There are no lifeguards on the beaches in Naples. There may be on the Bonita Springs/Fort Myers beaches, though.

I find the water oo warm here in the summer. It usually hovers around 90.

Hilton Head meets all your qualifications. Sea Pines area has extensive bike paths, several life guarded beaches, an inland nature preserve as well as nature cruises where you are certain to see dolphins and more. A great family beach destination.