5 Unique beach activities your kids will LOVE

Kids love the beach! So after spending two weeks on the beach during our last vacation, I discovered some unique beach activities that made my kids (and me) love the beach even more.

During out last vacation to South Padre Island, Texas, we hit the beach during the colder months and the water was a bit chilly. But that didn’t deter my kids from having a ton of fun anyway and getting a little bit creative in the process. Here’s some unique beach activities that are sure to please.

Beach activities: Build glop castles

This doesn’t require any tools or money. Just grab some went sand and water. Just dig a hole in the sand and dump in a bunch of water. Then grab a handful of sand and let it drip. Slowly the sand forms these crazy towers. It’s addicting to watch and build. The older kids from like ages 8 to 12 loved building these the most.

Go on a beach scavenger hunt

There’s always treasures to be found on the beach, so why not make a game of it? Just print out a few copies of a free printable beach scavenger hunt. Then let your kids explore the beach (preferably at low tide) and let them see what they can find. I couldn’t believe some of the things that my kids came back with. You can make it even more fun by offering a prize to the first person to complete their list.

Play with Tonka trucks

Our family has three huge Tonka trucks and they are a staple for camping. Then we realized how much fun they are on the beach too. Aside from being perfect for hauling water and sand everywhere, they’re good beach chairs and great for racing. I spray painted all of our trucks so it would be easy to tell which ones were ours.

Make giant bubbles

This one is my favorite by far. I love giant bubbles and the beach usually has the perfect updraft of breeze. It allows amazing bubbles to form and float gracefully across the ocean. They are addicting to make and play with.

Homemade giant bubbles are super easy to make and provide hours of fun. Adults and kids alike LOVE this activity and the beach is the perfect setting. You can make your own bubble wands or buy them here. I tested four of the top giant bubble recipes and found the best one. Check it out!

Do a puzzle

I know this sounds a little crazy, but it’s fun! During our vacation, we camped right on the beach with our camper. So, I pulled out a card table and rolled out my puzzle mat and got started. I could watch my kids play, enjoy the sunshine and have fun doing a puzzle all at the same time. It was awesome. Plus, with a puzzle mat, you can just pull out your puzzle for a half hour and then roll it back up. You don’t have to worry about finishing it all in one sitting.

Well, there you have it. I hope you liked some of these beach activities and hopefully you’ll try them on your next adventure with the fam.

Related link: Road trip with kids: Dos and don’ts