If you are trying to pick a location for your next summer vacation or day trip deciding between lake vs beach is often the question at the top of your list. I know for our family we are always trying to decide between the two.
The decision of lake vs beach comes down to four areas. Firstly, what are the activities available. Secondly, how safe it is. Thirdly, is it going to be accessible to all the amenities we need and finally what kind of accomodation is available
Ultimately the final outcome of the lake vs beach debate comes down to personal preference and that can totally change depending on the day, age of your children, or even just the experience you are after.
Activities
For the Lake
The lake wins hands down when it comes to activities. We love being at the lake because there are always and abundance of activities for all ages and all thrill levels.
Our favourite activity at the lake is taking out our little blow up raft. This is always something special that my husbands loves doing with the kids. He has way more power in his arms and can take them on long leisurely cruises around the lake.
Paddle boarding and kayaking are also great activities to do at the lake due to the calm waters. We prefer inflatable paddle boards because they are a lot easier to deal with and transport. When you have a bunch of kids, space in the car is usually limited to where ever you manage to squish things in. Check out this post on how to get started paddle boarding with kids
The lake is also where it is at for water sports like waterskiing and wake boarding. One of the best vacation experiences is hiring a boat for a week and honing those wake boarding skills. Younger kids will love being towed behind the boat in inflatable donut.
Many popular lakes set up inflatable obstacle courses during the summer months that always prove popular with families.
For the Beach
The beach tends to offer a few less options when it comes to activities. The obvious activity being surfing which invites families of all ages to give it a go. I would reccomend a surfing lesson or two before investing the money into purchasing a surf board though.
Most popular surf beaches will offer lessons for an affordable rate especially midweek. Check out sites like Groupon for discounts too!
While in water activities are a little limited, on land beach activities are a little less illusive. As a child our family had dune buggies to ride through the sand dunes with. These were some of my all time favourite memories from childhood, in particular the time we completely rolled the buggy. We never told my mum about that day!
My own little family love having sand castle building competitions which can get quite competitive. I love seeing the kids creativity coming out and the memories it creates.
Rock pools are the perfect way for young children to enjoy the beach. The shallow water is usually a little less scary compared the large crashing waves. Our toddlers find so much joy in searching the rock pools for marine creatures.
Finally a simply walk along the beach with an ice cream in hand can be the perfect way to end a gorgeous summers day.
Safety
Lake
In general the lake is going to be safer than the beach, especially for children. The calmer waters of the lake provide a safer environment for families to swim and partake in water sports.
There are situations when swimming in the lake and other fresh water areas however. When the water temperature is high there is a greater risk for amoeba growth. The amoeba Naegleria fowleri is particularly dangerous and can cause amoebic meningitis. This disease is caused when the amoeba travel into the body via the nasal passage.
Another warning to watch out for when swimming in lakes is the be sure there are no storm drains emptying into the lake. Drains the empty into lakes can bring an untold amount of pollution with them. This is particularly noticeable and of concern after big rainstorms.
Using common sense can also help you in deciding if a lake is ideal for swimming in. Strange smells, obvious polution, dead fish or over grown algae are all signs the you should look for a better place to swim.
If there are a multitude of people swimming in the lake and it is well maintained by state parks or other management you are usually good to go.
Beach
One of the benefits of swimming at the beach is the presence of life guards. I always feel a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that there are an extra set of eyes on my kids and should the unthinkable happen there is help close by.
We tend to swim at beaches with life guards and always teach out kids to swim between the flags at heavy surf beaches no matter what. Our only exception is when we visit beaches that are more like lagoons and have no waves. In this situation we do treat them more like lakes.
Calm and shallow beaches are an ideal middle ground for families who love the beach and the lake. One of our favourite beaches offers very shallow crystal clear water and no waves. The water only reaches our 10 year olds waist. This beach is perfect for our family as I feel like I can relax a little and allow the kids a little more freedom to explore. Beaches like this are perfect for getting out the paddle board too.
Beaches come with some serious risks hence the ever present life guards. Rips and under tows can quickly pull you in to danger. It is often very scary for all involved should you become trapped in a rip. If you are frequenting a beach be sure to teach your kids basic beach skills. This will give them a little more confidence in case the find themselves in danger. If you or your children are not strong swimmers be very careful and don’t push your limits.
Accessibility
Lake
Lakes are generally a little less accessible due to their locations. You will usually find lakes hidden out of large cities or towns. The more rural the lake often the better the lake!
The remoteness of most lakes makes it a little trickier to find items you may have left behind or emergency items you find you need. In these instances you will likely have to drive into town to a store and give up you all important car park!
If you are making a trip to the lake be sure to have everything you need plus extra. If you forget the sunscreen don’t bother going into town to buy some just ask another family who will mostly likely be willing to share.
Beach
As a general rule beaches a quite accessible for families. They are even becoming increasingly accessible to those with families with wheelchair users. We think this is such a huge blessing to those families as the beach is such an incredible place to spend the summer.
If you do have a family member who uses a wheelchair search for accessible beaches in your area. These beaches will have specially designed ramps right down into the water.
On an other branch of accessibility at beaches is how well appointed they are in relations to stores and food locations. Many large cities and towns are developed right on the beach. This means that a supermarket, drugstore or cafe are generally in walking distance.
Accomodation
Lake
Lake houses are the ultimate in lakeside accomodation. Accomodation options are usually a bit limited when it comes to lake accomodation. This is simply because there just isn’t the infrastructure or demand to build huge hotels, and apartment complexes like many beach towns have. Many lake visitors simply make it a day trip rather than a weekend away.
If you are heading to the lake with your family or a group of friends a great idea is to rent a lake house. These are ideal for big groups as they offer room to spread out as well as fully equipped kitchens. This comes in handy when the closest town is a drive away and the food always costs more.
There are often campsites near lakes if you enjoy camping this could be perfect for your family. Lake Powell is well equipped for camping and is a great lake to visit!
Beach
The accomodation at beaches is expansive especially at popular beaches. You can have the option of a beach house with all the home comforts. This is my favourite especially if it is right on the beach. Other options feature camping, hotels, apartments and hostels.
The accomodation you choose is going to be entirely dependent on both your budget and your families needs.
Different beach towns will have different options but you will likely be able to get something suitable and walking distance to the beach.
When choosing your beach accomodation consider other attractions in the area. The beach is often not the only point of interest. We live in a very popular beach location but also have some of the most stunning waterfalls, hiking trails and theme parks. Sometimes it’s a good choice to pick accomodation a bit further away from the beach in order to take advantage of all the area has to offer. Accomodations slightly more inland can be a little cheaper also.
