Which beach to take kids to near Houston

The Gulf of Mexico is an hour from Houston: warm water, small waves and wide sand, ideal for digging and wading. The downsides are murky water, summer jellyfish and rip currents, and the sun. The beaches here all have restrooms, showers or shade, and each says whether there are lifeguards.

Stewart Beach in Galveston is the easy family beach: lifeguards, a playground, concessions and showers, and no cars on the sand. For fewer people, Galveston Island State Park at the west end has beach on one side and a wetland boardwalk on the other. Sugar Land and Pearland families can take Hwy 288 to Surfside Beach, where you drive onto the sand and the shelling is better, and Quintana Beach County Park across the channel has covered picnic shelters and a playground, the best setup for toddlers. For an hour of seaside without the drive, Sylvan Beach in La Porte watches ships go by on the bay.

• 5 places
• 4 free
• 2 stroller-friendly
• closest is 55 min away