When we got to Kauai, I had big plans to visit all the different beaches. I researched different beaches, I made lists of different beaches, I made an itinerary of different beaches. My son had other plans.
He’s six. And to him, he doesn’t care how many different beaches we see. He just wants to go to the beach. Just to enjoy the beach. Not to check a bunch of beaches off of a to-do list. So I took a lesson out of his six-year-old playbook, and we stuck to the first beach we checked out in Kapa’a: Lydgate State Beach Park.
Here are the three things we loved about Lydgate State Beach Park and why it’s SO great for kids:
1. There are two enclosed areas that kids can safely swim in.
Waves still come in and out, but since the areas are enclosed it’s a little more mellow and you don’t have to worry about currents. My son was not quite swimming on his own, so this was a great way for him to enjoy the ocean without me having to hover.
2. There are bathrooms and showers.
Enough said.
3. There’s a really big playground just across the way.
My son – who usually is a big playground fan – never made it there. He had too much fun at the ocean. But it was a great option to have nearby.
Other Kid-friendly Beaches we Liked:
Shipwreck Beach
This is at the trailhead near Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail. It’s MUCH rougher than Lydgate State Beach Park, but my son had a ton of fun jumping the waves at the shore line! It’s a nice start or end if you’re doing the coastal trail.
See more on Maha’ulepu Trail here
Hanalei Bay
On the north shore, this is my idea of the quintessential Kauai island experience. It’s a bay, so the water is very calm, even though it’s not enclosed.
See more on our visit to the north shore at Hanalei Bay here.
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