22 Lovely Small Beach Towns of USA
Considering just the perfect smaller beachtown to visit this year?
Here’s your go-to listicle.
Upper East Coast Love…
Cape Elizabeth, Maine - (pictured above) Go lighthouse hopping!
Cape May, New Jersey - the so-called oldest American resort with a diversity of architectural points of interest
Rockville Centre, New York - Long Island lovely to stop for ice cream and scenery
Fab Florida Coastline
Anna Maria Island, Florida - Where to go to see dolphins a plenty in FL!
Sanibel Island, Florida - GOREGEOUS! Best beach spot for shelling!
VA Towns that Make a Splash (I’ll get to know these especially this year)
Chincoteague, Virginia - Yes, ponies ride along the coastline! Cuuuute!! (pictured)
Yorktown, Virginia - Soon will be getting a port stop with Princess Cruise Line!
Southern Charm & the Sea
Tybee Island, Georgia - Homey, family-friendly just off romantic Savannah
Ocean Springs , Mississippi - lesser known Gulf of Mexico find with Mardi Gras events
Orange Beach, Alabama - Pretty white quartz sand and blue-green waters!
Nags Island (Outer Banks), North Carolina - Experience the real non-Netflix version of Outer Banks. Very rugged, natural elegance to the place.
Isle of Palms, South Carolina - Long shore and excellent for golf, tennis, fishing and wading
Port Aransas, Texas - Wide beach shore big on parasailing, birding, dolphins and deep-sea fishing
Mid America Standouts
Saugatuck, Michigan - A ski-and-sand beach, very local charm feel
Clinch Park Beach (Traverse City) Michigan - Enjoy Beach & Bears at Sleeping Bear Dunes mountain area
Park Point Beach (Duluth) - Feel Minnesota summertime fun for volleyball and BBQ
West Coast Best on Shore
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California - STUNNING! Golf luxe spot (pictured)
Avalon, Catalina Island, California - Off the beaten path, down-to-earth southern Cali. Do the submarine or official moto town tour
Sunset Beach, California - My ol’ fave to visit for plain sand and lesser crowds.
Bandon, Oregon - Let’s go Bandon! Birkenstock walk on the beach, golf and cycle mecca on the southern coast
Port Townsend, Washington - Splashes with waves and an interesting combination of Native American and Victorian influence
Hanapepe, Hawaii - Can’t-miss part of Kauai with lots of local art featured, fun to pronounce its name, which means “crushed bay”!
Hidden Gem Haunts of Hampton Roads
Here are 5 spots I’ve identified thus far:
Huntington Park & Beach- Newport News. Okay, this is not the beach for swimming. More enjoyable in the summer for gathering and river views
Noland Trail- Newport News. A medium level of walking/hiking difficulty. Close to Mariner’s Museum. Lover lake views.
Ghent (Norfolk)- Attractive, affluent and touristic part of Norfolk.
Pungo (Virginia Beach)- a farming community within Virginia Beach. Relish the rural beyond the waves.
Poquoson (town)- if you like some seaside away from the crowds. Promise not to talk about it too much- else you’ll ruin the town.
Describing Carmel-by-the-Sea is understating it, dramatically - its proof that God was busy the day he/she created the oceans!