A successful holiday means children coming home in the evening with salty hair and their heads full of stories. In July and August, Dinard and the Emerald Coast are packed with activities for all ages. Here are our ideas, tried and approved by families staying at Bella Cruz, sorted by age to help you plan a programme everyone will enjoy.
Beach clubs · for the little ones
In summer, beach clubs set up on Prieuré beach (100 metres from the apartment), Saint-Énogat and Longchamp. Games, trampolines, sandcastle contests and supervised activities: the youngest make friends in a single morning while parents enjoy a coffee facing the sea.
On Prieuré beach, the seawater pool revealed at low tide makes for calm swimming, and free outdoor fitness equipment will delight the older ones.
Sailing, catamaran and windsurfing · ages 6 to 15
Dinard is a sailing town. At the Wishbone Club, on Écluse beach, summer courses are organised by age group:
- Ages 6–8: a multi-activity course to discover the sea while having fun (small boats, kayaks, water games).
- Ages 8–11: junior catamaran, to learn to helm as a team.
- Ages 12–15: teen catamaran, sportier, with great sensations off Pointe du Moulinet.
- From age 8: windsurfing, for the most daring.
Courses usually run over a week, with one session a day: ideal for keeping free time as a family. Places go quickly in July and August, so we recommend booking before you arrive.
Surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking · kids and teens
10 minutes from the apartment, Longchamp beach in Saint-Lunaire is the Emerald Coast's surf spot. Several schools offer lessons and courses for kids and teens, with waves that are often gentle in summer, perfect for standing up on a first board (the minimum age varies between schools). You can also hire sea kayaks there to explore the coast as a family.
For stand-up paddleboarding, the Rance estuary offers sheltered waters, ideal for a first outing, with an instructor or on your own with hired gear.
For thrill-seeking teens · ages 12–17
- Sand yachting on the huge beaches of the bay, near Hirel (about 40 minutes): speed and laughter guaranteed.
- Kitesurfing in Lancieux, with schools offering supervised introductions for teens.
- A first scuba dive with a Dinard dive centre: discover the Emerald Coast's seabed with fins, mask and tank.
- Cycling the Dinard–Dinan greenway along the Rance, for an independent day out with a picnic.
Nature, tides and animals · all ages
The Emerald Coast has one of the biggest tidal ranges in Europe: at low tide, it becomes a huge playground.
- Rock pooling on the rocks of Saint-Énogat: crabs, shrimps and periwinkles, respecting the minimum sizes and permitted areas. The tourist office also runs guided nature walks on the foreshore, fascinating for children.
- Port-Breton park, right opposite Prieuré beach, with its animals and playground.
- The pony club, within walking distance of the apartment, for a ride or a riding course.
- The Saint-Énogat mini-golf, a late-afternoon classic.
Outings that make memories
- A cruise to the forts and islands of the bay with the Compagnie Corsaire, or simply the shuttle boat to Saint-Malo: always a highlight for children.
- Saint-Malo's Grand Aquarium, with its shark ring and touch pool, a safe bet on grey days.
- The Étoile du Roy, a corsair frigate moored in Saint-Malo, to explore from deck to hold.
- The Rothéneuf carved rocks, hundreds of figures carved into the cliff: children love spotting them.
- The lock at the Rance tidal power station, where you can watch the sailing boats go through with the tides.
