Best US Beach Vacation
When it comes to the best US beach vacation spots, some say the Bay Area boasts the best of them all. But the Bay Area is just one area that is blessed with wonderful beaches. From Key West to Kodiak Island, each beach location carries with it its own unique attributes. If you’re researching places to travel and want to find beaches, then look no further than this list of beach destinations.
Sandy white sand, crashing waves, and romantic sunsets are what you might expect from your ideal beach vacation. However, the best US beach vacations contain a few more things when it comes to finding that perfect spot. The best beaches in America include family-friendly beaches to make your children’s stay more enjoyable. In addition, the best US beach destinations offer a variety of water activities — even during the winter — for all ages and interests. With that being said, here are some suggestions of places to visit to find your next ideal beach vacation spot.
Vacations are always a good time to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Some people like tropical getaways while others enjoy traveling across the country in pursuit of some snowy fun. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a relaxing and fun experience. If you’re looking for one of the best US beach vacations, here are some great coastal destinations that will put you in an island state of mind for less than $200 (a bargain compared to most Hawaii vacations).
If you’re looking for a vacation that will make you feel like a kid again, then the best US beach vacation is just what you need. There are many different kinds of beaches, but they all have one thing in common: they’re full of fun!
The best US beach vacation should be relaxing and exciting at the same time. The sand and water will help your muscles relax while the waves and sun warm them up again. You’ll enjoy the salty air as it blows through your hair and dries off your skin after swimming in the ocean or lake. The best US beach vacations also offer plenty of activities to keep everyone busy throughout their stay.
With the popularity of beach vacations rising, we decided to find out which beaches are the most popular. We looked at various factors including:
-Location
-Safety
-Water temperature
-Nightlife
-Nature and wildlife
We narrowed it down to 5 beaches that are perfect for a relaxing vacation:
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod, Massachusetts Shutterstock
Few beach vacation spots are as quintessentially New England as this hook-shaped island. Its scenic sand dunes and shingled cottages have made it an annual summer vacation favorite for generations of Americans. A succession of charming beach towns — including Hyannis to the west, Chatham at the easternmost point and artsy Provincetown at road’s end — offer house rentals, B&Bs and hotels or motels with pools and spa facilities.
And any Cape Cod beach experience must include lobster-roll lunches and sunset clambakes to make for one of the best beach vacations in the U.S. It’s all wicked cool.
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach, California Shutterstock
For summer R&R that includes gallery hopping, wine sipping and spa going, this upscale beach community, located about 90 minutes north of San Diego, is ideal. Several of the best beach resorts in the U.S. — Montage Laguna Beach, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and Surf & Sand Resort, among others — are set along the area’s picturesque cliffs and are perfect for a romantic couple’s escape or a girlfriends’ getaway.
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The town is a longtime art colony (with more than 100 galleries), so it’s easy to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir. The region’s focus on healthy California cuisine means you’ll eat well in every sense, along one of the best vacation beaches in the country.
Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida
Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida Shutterstock
Some places just make you go, “Ahh…” and these neighboring islands on the west coast of Florida are among them. Their endless white-sand beaches — many scattered with delicate sea shells — offer panoramic views of the clear, calm waters and golden sunsets of the Gulf of Mexico.
Sanibel has a distinctly casual charm with small, traditional beachfront motels. Captiva, on the other hand, is golf-cart friendly with legendary eatery the Bubble Room and the large South Seas Island Resort offering activities of all kinds, making for one of the best beach vacations.
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Outer Banks, North Carolina
Outer Banks, North Carolina Shutterstock
Historic lighthouses, wild horses and scenic flights in open-cockpit biplanes above the spot where the Wright Brothers first flew — beach family vacations in the Outer Banks can include all this and more.
With a large inventory of beach-house rentals (and quite a few resorts and inns, too), towns such as Duck, Corolla, Hatteras, Nags Head and Kitty Hawk are scattered along this series of sand dune-studded barrier islands, making it a top spot for leisurely getaways with friends and multi-generational family vacations. Fresh seafood is plentiful, and activities include hang gliding, bike riding and deep-sea fishing at one of the best family beach resorts.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach, Oregon Shutterstock
To experience nature at its finest, it’s hard to top Cannon Beach, a wide, wild swath of sand on the Oregon Coast about 90 minutes from Portland. Known for its dramatic rock formations (235-foot-tall Haystack being the most famous), lush rainforests (complete with waterfalls), large artist population (galleries abound) and wildlife (you can easily spot nesting puffins and grazing elk), Cannon Beach is ideal as a romantic-getaway spot for eco-loving couples.
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Aside from beachcombing and surfing, hiking is the activity to do (the views from Ecola State Park are sublime), and accommodations include dozens of inns to suit all budgets.
The Hamptons, New York
The Hamptons, New York Shutterstock
Each summer, this string of charming villages, located on the southeast coast of Long Island, plays host to New York’s A-listers — from Wall Street bigwigs to music moguls — who escape the city to weekend at beachfront estates worthy of an Architectural Digest cover.
But, if you plan ahead, more modest house rentals are also available in Southampton, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Amagansett and Wainscott. Besides sunning and socializing, the Hamptons are known for farm stands offering fresh, local produce, restaurants specializing in Long Island seafood and farm-to-table cuisine and vineyards ideal for lazy afternoons sipping wine.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui, Hawaii Shutterstock
Maui is nicknamed “the Magic Isle” and with good reason.
In addition to its famous beaches (Kaanapali, Wailea and Makena, to name a few), this Hawaiian island is home to Haleakala (a surreal volcanic crater that’s 10,023 feet above sea level), Molokini (a crescent-shaped, offshore lava formation offering superb snorkeling), Upcountry (a lush area with historic cowboy towns and lavender farms) and Hana (a remote spot perched on black-lava landscape and accessible solely via the twisting, turning Hana Highway).
Add in humpback whales (from November to March), spinner dolphins and a half dozen golf courses, and Maui has something for everyone.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island Shutterstock
Whether you’re into surfing, sailing or touring Gilded Age mansions, Newport is a beach vacation destination with a star-spangled pedigree. Its largest beach, Ruggles, is sweeping crescent of sand favored by surfers. Its historic Thames Street is lined with antique shops, pubs and seafood restaurants.
Choose from an array of romantic inns (the Chanler at Cliff Walk and Forty 1 North, for instance) or full-service hotels (Newport Marriott or Hotel Viking). For active sightseeing, stroll or jog the scenic 3½-mile Cliff Walk with grand mansions on one side and the sailboat-studded waters of Narragansett Bay on the other.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores, Alabama Shutterstock
Want to tick another state off your visited list? Then make it Alabama, where Gulf Shores offers nature (it’s home to 6,500-acre Gulf State Park), entertainment (outdoor concerts) and foodie fun (from shrimp to barbecue).
In total, there are 32 miles of white-sand beaches that let you explore the region’s beautiful landscapes, as you spy on seabirds and eagles, alligators and even black bears. Accommodations include condo rentals, B&Bs, motels, hotels and campsites.