Where to go South Coast for long weekend

[VivaVegas]

Looking for suggestions for long weekend in the Summer.
Visiting friends in Essex and want to combine with a few days away.
Initial thoughts are Whitstable but any other suggestions. DC are 8 so needs to be stuff for them, but would like nice places to eat. What's Margate like now, have seen (what was) Dreamland has reopened.
Ang suggestions welcome!
Thanks

Anyone? Broadstairs is now also on my radar.

Whitstable, broadstairz, Canterbury itself?
Rye

I personally like dymchurch but it's not a trendy town. It's stuck in time :) you can take the little train to Dungeness and other stops. I always found it rather sweet

Is Brighton too far for you? Loads there to fill a long weekend, and the Brighton Pavillion is stunning.

You could do Margate in a day I would say. Parts of it aren't great so I probably wouldn't stay there. The Turner Contemporary is definitely worth a visit and has activities that would suit 8 years olds (my youngest was 7 when we went). The Shell Grotto is also interesting but doesn't take long. Don't know about Dreamland.

Whitstable is lovely to wander around but if you want to make use of the seaside, then we love Minnis Bay at Birchington but there are other Blue Flag Beaches around Broadstairs - just beware of dive-bombing seagulls if you are eating chip! Broadstairs has nice places to eat and a good mini-golf place as well as Morelli's Ice cream shop. Ramsgate isn't particularly great although there are a few interesting places to see and you can walk to Broadstairs from there following the coast. It does boast an exceptionally good Indian restaurant though - Flavours by Kumar - which is worth a trip on its own. Canterbury is great - lots to do and see.

Owllady's Dymchurch recommendation is also good and you are close to Howletts and Port Lympne if your DCs like wildlife.

Thanks all, will have a look at those suggestions.