Bring On the Beach

While on a day trip to Kensington Metropark the other day, my family and I stumbled across Martindale Beach. In the middle of a June heat wave, the packed parking lot and 250-feet tall waterslides make it difficult to miss.

We didn’t have the gear for a full-on swim, but we decided to check it out anyway.

Shoes off and sunhats on, we started at the small playground near the shore. It’s a nice little play structure surrounded by sand, which is a welcome change from wood chips or concrete. But it wasn’t long before my son, who’s 14-months-old, was drawn away from the familiar slides and stairs to the intrigue of the water and splashing kids.

Except for a handful of swim lessons, a few dips in his grandparents' pool, and a trip to Lake Michigan when he was 4-months-old, he hasn’t had much experience negotiating large quantities of water.

A little anxious, I stripped him down to his onesie and held his hand tighter than ever as he lunged toward the water. A little shocked at its temperature, we both hesitated upon entry, but the newness of the sensation drew my son in. We were soon off on a stroll of the water’s edge.

After getting his footing on the uneven bottom of the lake, my son soon bent to pick up rocks and other debris.  Still somewhat worried, I held tight to his hand. He tugged, squirmed, and grunted, so I took the hint.

A second later, he fell on his bottom in the water. I gasped; he laughed and stood up again, assuring me that I could relax a little. Further exploration—falling, laughing, splashing, wading—proved that the water is shallow enough that he can safely explore a few yards from shore.

Martindale Beach turned out to be a great first beach for a baby. It’s clean, and the water is shallow and calm. We were back two days later, and my husband and son popped over again today for a quick dip after a few hot hours on the disc golf course across the street.

Martindale Beach is more than a beach though. It’s also home to Splash ‘n’ Blast, a miniature waterpark that boasts two waterslides and a sprayscape, complete with sprinklers and water cannons. With a height requirement of 48 inches, the waterslides are a few years off for my son. And my husband and I opted not to take him into the sprayscape as the beach offers enough charms for him at this point.

With a sandy beach, waterslides, and a row of sprinkling palm trees, it’s easy to pretend you’re a world away at Martindale Beach.

Admission to the beach, which is open daily until Labor Day, is free with admission to the park. Admission to Splash ‘n’ Blast is $4 for adults and $3 for children under 15 and is $1 off after 5 pm.