12 Fun Beach Games for Families

Looking for something else to do besides make sand castles? Here are 12 fun beach games for families!

The Caribbean has plenty of beaches, and plenty of space to stretch out on the sand. But not everyone likes to just lie there and get a tan! Here are 12 awesome beach games to keep both kids and adults entertained for hours.

1. Ping Pong Race

Supplies needed: Ping-pong balls.

Divide your family members or friends into teams. Each team must dig a channel to the water’s edge as fast as possible. Once their channels are ready, they must dump water into them to push the ping pong balls to the ocean. The first team to do so wins!

2. Beach obstacle course

Supplies needed: Beach towels, buckets, whatever else you have on hand!

Use objects like beach towels and backpacks to create an obstacle course. You can jump over beach chairs, run around beach towels, and spin around an umbrella. Time each other to see who can complete the course the fastest!

3. Towel volleyball

Supplies needed: Beach towels, a beach ball, or water balloons

This version of beach volleyball is easy and super fun for everyone! All you need to do is grab a few towels, divide your family into two teams, draw a line in the sand, and start volleying! Two or more people can grab the sides of one towel and use it to catch and fling a beach ball or water balloon over to the other side. Play using general volleyball rules, or make up your own!

4. Scavenger hunt

Supplies needed: None. Paper and pencil are optional.

Scavenger hunts are super simple to set up, and can be fun for all ages! You won’t need any supplies at all, unless you want to use paper and pencil to jot down the items each player needs to find.

To play, simply decide what items players must hunt for– a giant shell, something green, a leaf, something living, etc. Set a time limit. The person who finds the most items on the list wins!

5. Kite flying

Supplies needed: a kite

Flying a kite at the beach can be loads of fun for kids and adults alike. Getting a kite to fly is something that parents and children can do together, since it often involves teamwork.

There’s no reason to purchase an expensive kite– you can find cheap ones at the dollar store. Or, make one of your own as a family project!

6. Build a “Sandman”

Supplies needed: none.

Everyone’s heard of snowmen– but have you ever built a sandman? You won’t need to bring any materials; just use wet sand to build a person, animal, or even a sand monster! Hunt down some shells for eyes, some driftwood for arms, and maybe some seaweed for a scarf!

Building a sandman is an activity that the whole family can do together– even the littlest kids. So get creative, and get everyone involved!

7. TriCrosse

Supplies needed: A TriCrosse set. (Get one here)

TriCrosse is a relatively new game created for adults and kids alike. According to the company’s website, it can be played at the beach, backyard, camps, indoor gym, turf fields, parks and while tailgating. There are 3 different game sets available, and different game variations allow 2 to 20 people to play at once.

TriCrosse is a fast-paced game involving stands with three nets, small balls, and lacrosse-like rackets.

8. BucketBall

Supplies needed: A BucketBall set. (Get one here.)

BucketBall is an outdoor game similar to beer pong, but family-friendly. Portable and lightweight, this game set is perfect for the beach. The inflatable cup holders float, so you can even play in the pool! Ultra-durable buckets can be filled with sand and water in order to stay put at the water’s edge.

To play, players divide into two teams and toss balls into the opposite team’s cups. If they succeed in tossing a ball into a cup, that cup must be removed from play. The first team to remove all of the other team’s buckets wins! It’s so simple, even young children can play.

9. Frisbee games

Supplies needed: a frisbee (or two!)

Frisbees are lightweight and portable. You can even pack them in a suitcase if you’re headed to a Caribbean beach that’s a flight or two away.

Pick one made of light-weight plastic that will float if accidentally tossed into the ocean. Try these ones from Activ Life; they’re up to 80% lighter than standard disks. They are easy to toss and catch, and won’t hurt kids’ fingers. In addition, they’re easier to throw straight.

10. Sand pictionary

Supplies needed: none.

Sand pictionary is a spin-off of the popular drawing/guessing game that you can play using wet sand by the shore! Divide into two teams, and have players draw in the sand using their fingers or sticks, one at a time, while their teammates guess what they’re drawing. Set a time limit, and assign points when a team guesses correctly within the time limit.

11. Musical beach towels

Supplies needed: Beach towels, a smartphone. Optional: a small portable speaker.

You’ll probably bring towels to the beach anyway, so why not make good use of them for this fun game! Play it the way you would with musical chairs. First, lay the towels down in the sand in a circle. Place one towel less than the number of players you have.

The players must walk or run around the towels as music plays (use a smartphone to play your favorite tunes). When the music stops, each player must lie down on a towel. The player who doesn’t have a towel is eliminated. Remove a towel each time, until there are only two players and one towel left. The player who lies down on the last towel when the music stops wins!

12. Drip castles

Sand castles are certainly a beach staple. However, drip castles are much easier to make! Simply scoop up some wet, drippy sand and let it drip slowly out of your hands or bucket to form a “pancake” on some dry sand far from the water. Keep dripping more sand on top to form a tower. Set a time limit and see who can make the tallest tower or biggest castle just by “dripping”!

Main image: Storyblocks Video

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