Nice, Menton or other Cote d'Azur?

[drspouse]

We have flights to Nice in August. We've been twice before (pre DC, and with a crawling DS) but now we have a 6yo and a will-be-4.
We are planning to go to the aquarium in Monaco, the steam train up in the mountains, but previously we mainly did walking/sightseeing/museums.
We are wondering about Menton as the beach seemed a bit more family friendly.
We would mainly go for a morning or evening sandcastle session rather than a full day sunbathing.
But we'd also like to be able to take the DC to the park etc (I remember one at the top of the castle?).
Other recommendations welcome!

Parc Phoenix is a giant exotic garden located on the western edge of Nice. There's a huge glasshouse with several climate zones full of bright and wacky tropical plants and iguanas that wander about freely. There are other animals on the site such as otters, lemurs, flamingoes, crocodiles, wallabies...Picnics are allowed and there is a small café too.
The ferry across to the island of Sainte Marguerite takes 15 minutes from Cannes. The island is home to a 17th century fort where the man in the iron mask was imprisoned, a bird reserve and beautiful rocky coves all linked by shady walking paths. There is a restaurant and a snack bar (not always open, depends on the season) but this is the perfect place to take a picnic and spend a day on your own little beach, paddling, rock pooling or swimming away from the crowded beaches along the coast.
Le Bois des Lutins is an adventure playground so original you can't help but be charmed. The main attractions are the netted walks high in the trees, linking tree-houses and platforms. They're suitable from age 3. To get down you have enormous slides and tunnels. You'll also find giant inflatables, including the "hamster wheel", toboggans in the woods, zip wires, an underground troll cave, traditional wooden games and unusual swings. Because most of the park is in the woods it makes a great day out even on the hottest days.

Lovely ideas thanks! Those all look to be Nice or west so maybe Nice would be more convenient.

I'm sure you've been already if you're familiar with the area but the beach at Villefranche is far more kid friendly than Nice. Get there early though & it's only a short train ride. The promenade de paillon water fountain park is fun in Nice as well for small people

I think the water park may be new since we first went, and that beach looks very convenient (we weren't really looking at beaches last time - the first time it was just us and the second time it was late autumn)

The beach in Nice slopes really sharply into the sea and isn't great for kids - Villefranche is much better. It is popular though so to get a good spot you really need to get there early! The town of Villefranche is pretty, nice to go in for lunch after a morning on the beach. They've spent a fortune in Nice tarting it up and the waterpark is part of that - good fun and there's lots of benches to sit and watch your kid running around. If you don't mind a train ride (about 1hr 30), take a trip over the border to Sanremo. The old town is nice and the promenade is pretty.

Right that would be one for a day when the DCs wake us up at an ungodly hour!

Currently looking at apartments in Vielle Ville with bunk or twin beds... getting excited!

Menton is lovely but the beach is not good for young children, neither is Nice. Absolutely no sandcastles. Villefranche is very nice with good beaches but not that much to do for young children. I would go further along the coast to Antibes, Juan Les Pins, Cannes or Mandelieu La Napoule, lovely beaches for young children, and more to do around there. Nice and Monaco are still a short train ride away. Going the other way along the coast to St. Raphael is also beautiful. I live in the area and have a 12 year old DS and before we lived here have visited since he was 4 or 5, so have got to know most of the child activities here

I think we are more likely to do non-beach things most days and have one or two beach days.

We visited Cannes for the day but found it really packed! But we did like Antibes (with baby) though I think we will probably stay in Nice and visit.