Nothing beats the feeling of drying off with a big, fluffy towel after a dip in the lake, pool, river, pond, or ocean–or even a run through some well-placed sprinklers! And parents know that towels are inevitably a life-saver when it comes to chilly kids at the beach and the damp and/or sandy car ride home.
To kick off summer in the coziest way, we’ve rounded up our fave beach towels on the market–there’s a style for every child, and even a couple chic picks for mom and dad!
Keroppi Extra Large Beach Towel: Everyone’s favorite frog is ready to hit 
the beach in cool shades with a backdrop of summery stripes. This 100 percent cotton towel is perfect for growing kids (ie: “how did they get so tall?!”), as it measures up at 67 inches in length. $35, sanrio.com
Savanna Beach Towel: Crafted from luxe Turkish cotton and sporting a 
modern and chic update on the tribal pattern trend, Nine Space’s towel is just for mom. The alluring color combo is sure to offer an oasis from salt water and sand castle chaos as you sit back with a beach read and keep an eye on the kiddos. $84, shopninespace.com
Sailboats Beach Towel: Land’s End’s take on a preppy pattern is shore to 
make a splash this summer. With a color palette that’s trendy enough for tweens and sophisticated enough for moms, there’s no reason not to snap one up for each member of the family–afterall, the option to embroider a name at the bottom will ensure there are no mix-ups come beach time! $39, landsend.com
Cape Cod Turtle Beach Wrap: A personalization option, cool trutles, and a 
cozy hood? Pottery Barn Kids’ Turtle Wrap truly has it all! With a pattern and colors sure to delight both boys and girls, this towel does double duty as a beach blankey, thanks to its hood. Plus, it has a UPF 50+ rating for UV protection. $29, potterybarnkids.com
Tide & Pool Montauk Beach Towel: Designed in partnership exclusively 
with Serena & Lily (one of our fave purveyors of home and leisure picks), this luxurious towel–which just happens to be reversible–is a must for any Hamptons-
bound mama. Whether you’re taking a moms’ trips or supervising the fam, this is the towel to go with! $98, serenaandlily.com
Ibiza Elephant Icon Beach Towel: Though your mini jet-setter-in-training 
may not be headed to Ibiza this summer, she’ll sure feel like a glamorous world-traveler when you plop her down on this stylish towel (even if you’re just having a lazy family day at the park). Opt for the monogram option to make it extra special! $20, potterybarnkids.com
Lilly Pulitzer Sister Florals Towels: Available in three iconic Lilly 
prints, this trio of anything-but-garden-variety towels is perfect for pleasing stylish sisters (or cousins, or BFFs) as they spend all summer long together. Whether its a pool party or a day spend on the beaches of Cape Cod, your girly-girls will love that they towels that match, yet are still individually unique! And the fact that the loops of terry get softer with every washing doesn’t hurt either! $30-46, garnethill.com
Kids’ Lobster Shaped Beach Towel: Is there any surer sign of summer than 
the sight of a lobster? We love the bright red crustacean on this specially-shaped towel from Land’s End. The print will have your kiddos dreaming of New England beach trips while the personalization option at the top of the towel will make them feel extra-cool at the pool. $17.99, landsend.com
Rainbow Beach Towel: Lacoste’s iconic croc smirks happily on this fun, 100 percent cotton 
towel! The whimsical rainbow stripes are the perfect nod to the vibrance of the summer season–plus, make this designer item appropriate for both kids and adults. And of course, it will make it so easy to spot on the beach as it stands out in a sea of neutral hues. $42, shop.lacoste.com
Indigo White Anchor Beach Towel: Fresh from J.Crew’s amped up swim 
and beach collection is this plush towel, just for dad! The understated nautical motif are sure to complement any dad’s style–be it rugged, preppy, or both! And did we mention that it makes for a lovely Father’s Day gift (especially when combined with the promise of fun family day by the sea to celebrate)? Add a monogram for extra panache. $60, jcrew.com
