F Le Galion Beach, also known as Embouchure or Coconut Grove, on the site of the long-defunct Le Galion Hotel, is the island's best windsurfing beach and is ideal for children because of its shallow, calm waters near shore. Windsurfing rentals available. Always keep an eye on your kids any time they're near water - even if it's only two inches deep. Le Galion is topless with some clothing-optional use weekdays, though gendarmes patrol and frown on it. D Pelican Beach , at the sprawling Pelican Resort complex, remains very popular.
Beach chairs are for Pelican timeshare owners.
D Maho Beach , at the southern end of the runway of Princess Juliana airport, is an almost equally attractive strand, as long as you don't mind the 747s and 757s approaching the airport only about 50 feet above your head. If you want serenity, this is NOT the place. D Great Bay Beach , which encompasses the Philipsburg waterfront, is crystal-clear, huge, and inviting. When you get tired of shopping, you can always relax on this mammoth downtown beach. Sand dredged for the new cruise ship pier has been deposited here, turning this into a wonderful, natural, very popular white-sand beach, very convenient especially for cruise ship passengers.