Malindi, an Italian tourist enclave, is ideal for families in search of a beach vacation destination with atmosphere. From bustling local markets hawking funky curios to high-end galleries and boutiques selling African arts and crafts, the shopping in Malindi is hard to beat. Restaurants, both Swahili and Italian, serve everything from samosas and curries to pizza and pasta. Yet the real draw at this once important trade center a 2-hour drive north of Mombasa is the beach. Here, the extensive white sand beaches give way to turquoise waters and miles and miles of marine park. While the quality of the reef may not compare to other Indian Ocean destinations, shallow waters and proximity to shore make the Malindi Marine National Park an ideal place to snorkel and scuba dive with kids.