The quiet village of Garciems is seldom visited by tourists, but is easy to reach from the Riga central station. It’s only another two stops after Vecāķi, but be sure to take a Saulkrasti or Skulte bound train as some trains only go as far as Vecāķi. Garciems has some of Latvia’s highest sand dunes and the walk to the beach through the pine forest is picturesque to say the least. A kiosk or two are available along the way, but you shouldn’t expect much in the way of amenities here. The beach is often deserted and is the perfect place for a family outing. Locals often choose to have picnics among the dunes for extra privacy. On windy days Garciems is also popular among kiteboarders.