literal, littoral

Literal or literal means conforming exactly to the meaning expressed--
The literal meaning of  "freeze" is to solidify in the cold. The figurative meaning is to stop in your tracks.
Literal also means to construe the meanings of words in a strict and matter-of-fact way--
Don't be so literal! You wouldn't make a sponge cake out of sponges, would you?
Literal also means plainly true, without exaggeration or embellishment--
Many fundamentalists believe int eh literal truth of the Bible.

Littoral or littoral means pertaining to the land near a river, ocean, or lake--
The littoral region was fertile because it flooded every spring.
The inland mountains end at a littoral plain.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The littoral sands of the lake were a literal summer paradise to the children."