It was a wet and rainy day. We decided, if we couldn’t play at the beach, we would jump in the car and drive all the way to the west end of the island… We only made it as far as Nua.
Driving at the leisurely speed of 25 mph along the ocean, Holden pointed out a giant banyan tree with a rope swing hanging down and begged to give it a try. Nate (the cool parent that he is) pulled over and took Holden to the beach, to swing a few times before we continued on. After watching Holden laughing and having fun, Hadley and Kip couldn’t be contained. Without all our usual beach snacks and toys, we headed over in the pouring rain, for a few minutes of fun.
Hours later, now with the sun peaking out from between the clouds, we were still there, venturing to see what else this beach had to offer. And we’ve been back more times than I can count.
The Swings at Swing Beach

As this was the first thing that caught our eyes, I figured I’d highlight it first.


The Mighty Banyan Tree

Just like Samoans use every part of the coconut, our kids use every part of the tree.





Soft Sand at Swing Beach
Nua Beach is one of the best beaches on the island in terms of soft sand. This sand is a light, caramel color and perfect for building sand castles or burying someone.



Further down the beach are some rock formations that help shed some light on the way the island was formed.


Salty, Calm Seas
Due to the reef off-shore, the waves are usually gentle and calm.





So, there you have it!
Our kids’ favorite beach. You’ll come for the swings and stay for the rest- sea, sand, sun, and shade.
Tell me, what makes a certain beach a favorite for you and your family?
