Anyone have a favorite ocean beach spot they go to?

[ClaraOswald]

Any beach in the Charleston SC area.

How does this area compare to the Hilton Head area?

Perdido Key Florida.

I've never heard of this area and a quick Google search shoes a fort and a museum that would interest my non-beach-loving husband. So thanks for this! I'd like to take a beach vacation someday but really want to find somewhere that also has things my husband would enjoy. I'll add this to my list.

 

[GSDGlitter]

We're an Outer Banks family, but it is definitely not airport-convenient. We also love the area in and around St. Augustine Beach.

 

[Lisa in WV]

Looking to travel to a beach somewhere late May. It will likely be just myself and my two 16 yr daughters.

• It doesn't have to be super touristy, just have some restaurants and some things to do close by
• Reasonable priced lodging is a bonus
• It does not have to be in Florida
• Must be close to an airport

We love Ocean City, MD, and Chincoteague Island, VA. They're close enough that you could actually visit both in the same trip.

 

[snappy]

We live in a community in the panhandle of Florida. We moved here because of the beautiful beaches. We go often by ourselves and with other couples. Lots of public beach access, busy during the tourist season, but we have workarounds for then. Particularly nice on those days when the water looks like glass.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We love Myrtle Beach for a quickie getaway weekend type of thing. So much to do! Of course, we live in Wilmington, NC--Myrtle Beach is about a 90-minute drive, we can do it basically on a whim.

We live right by Carolina Beach (15 minute drive). We have a beach pass (can drive on the beach) for Carolina Beach. FWIW, I like Carolina Beach, much better than the more famous/built up/pricey Wrightsville Beach. Kure Beach, just south of Carolina Beach, is also nice, but much quieter--good if you're looking for that sort of thing. My DD spent a couple hours on Carolina Beach today, and will go again tomorrow--we have a dog dying of cancer, DD's giving her "one last beach trip". The part of the beach you can drive on, also allows dogs year-round. We have many good memories of enjoying time with our dog there.

 

[Silver saucer]

Amtrak has a bus to seaside Oregon...PDX has a railway that will take you directly to the train station... beach bus use to leave at 6 West and leaves East before noon

But Atlantic beaches/water will be much warmer than Oregon ones.

 

[WorldWacky]

We love Myrtle Beach for a quickie getaway weekend type of thing. So much to do! Of course, we live in Wilmington, NC--Myrtle Beach is about a 90-minute drive, we can do it basically on a whim.

We live right by Carolina Beach (15 minute drive). We have a beach pass (can drive on the beach) for Carolina Beach. FWIW, I like Carolina Beach, much better than the more famous/built up/pricey Wrightsville Beach. Kure Beach, just south of Carolina Beach, is also nice, but much quieter--good if you're looking for that sort of thing. My DD spent a couple hours on Carolina Beach today, and will go again tomorrow--we have a dog dying of cancer, DD's giving her "one last beach trip". The part of the beach you can drive on, also allows dogs year-round. We have many good memories of enjoying time with our dog there.

I’m glad to see someone mentioned Carolina Beach. If you have any recommendations for restaurants or activities, I’d love to hear them. We’re going there for the first time this summer. I always loved the Outer Banks. We would stay in South Nags Head, but we just don’t need the types of houses that are available. They’re all too big for our needs and so expensive, so we’re trying Carolina Beach this year.

 

[citruscurtis]

But Atlantic beaches/water will be much warmer than Oregon ones.

Yep... that Humboldt current is not home to hurricanes, toxic tides nor tourists... but it does encourage the growth of dungeness crab and I will take those over any warm water ... anyhow... I just put it out there for lurkers wanting an easy mass transit system to the only Oregon beach life like the east coast.... though because of the geology of the seaside Oregon beach... the water is a tad warmer

 

[Cadiewampus]

Sanibel Island Florida

 

[QueenIsabella]

I’m glad to see someone mentioned Carolina Beach. If you have any recommendations for restaurants or activities, I’d love to hear them. We’re going there for the first time this summer. I always loved the Outer Banks. We would stay in South Nags Head, but we just don’t need the types of houses that are available. They’re all too big for our needs and so expensive, so we’re trying Carolina Beach this year.

The most important thing to know is that Britt's donuts opens tomorrow. "Legendary" does not begin to convey the reputation of Britt's! They're among the shops just off the boardwalk.

We don't eat there often, but the local favorite is Flaming Amy's. They mostly have burritos, which somehow go perfectly on the beach. Very fresh and delicious, and the vegetarians aren't treated like second-class citizens. Our family loves the aquarium, and the ferry to Southport is fun. My kids mostly like hanging out on the boardwalk--sometimes there's entertainment, fireworks on (I think) Thursdays, etc.

 

[HeatherC]

.

 

[pezgirlroy]

I've never heard of this area and a quick Google search shoes a fort and a museum that would interest my non-beach-loving husband. So thanks for this! I'd like to take a beach vacation someday but really want to find somewhere that also has things my husband would enjoy. I'll add this to my list.

So Perdido Key is a small area in between Orange Beach/Gulf Shores AL and Pensacola. The beaches are amazing and you can easily go over to Gulf Shores for the action there. Also the Blue Angels fly over often to do their practice runs when they are stationed at Pensacola. It is a lovely area. with amazing food.

 

[hertamaniac]

I'm going on 21 years living in FL. There are some favorite spots that we really enjoy (away from the more touristy ones). We find them to be more isolated, safe and most of all less crowded.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We have two-the Cape (Cape Cod to those outside New England). However, we've been in late May, and I definitely wouldn't recommend it then for beach time.
Our other favorite is Hilton Head, and late May would be great. Great beaches, lots of biking trails, lots of excellent restaurants, and Disney has a super resort there.

 

[Threehearts]

We've been going to the Cape (Cod) every summer for the past 30 years. We rent a beach house on an absolutely gorgeous stretch of sand. The house is directly on the ocean with multiple decks and we couldn't be happier. When we are not on the Cape, we are a sailing family so we have spent many wonderful weeks on the Vineyard(Martha's Vineyard) either on the boat or renting a place in the Katama area. My husband and I were married in Edgartown.
The water is not warm but the Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor scenery can't be beat. It's nature at its best and there are many activities available as well. My kids loved going there.
There are airports in all of these locations with rental car agencies at all of them as well.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Bermuda has great beaches and an airport.