U.S. Beach Travel
When it comes to vacations, beaches are timeless. But with all of the beach choices in the United States, planning the perfect beach getaway can be overwhelming. The Web resources in this guide break down U.S. beaches by region, presenting the best dunes and boardwalks from South Carolina to San Diego. You’ll learn where to find beaches on the East Coast, the Southeast, the West Coast and of course Hawaii, and get the best online tools for finding beach hotels and cheap flights to the beach.
Expand All Guide SectionsBest of the Beach
This section spotlights some of the best beaches in the U.S. with top 10 lists compiled by prolific online travel channels and magazines. You’ll also get innovative beach search engines to help you find the best beach vacation packages specifically suited to your interests.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many beach vacationers book their trips far in advance, so if you can’t get a booking this summer at any trendy spots, consider booking now for next summer.
- If you’re concerned about harmful UV rays, you don’t necessarily have to rule out a beach vacation, according to the Los Angeles Times. Just take extra precautions with umbrellas and wide-brimmed hats made of special fabric.
Dulcinea's Picks
For best-beach lists …
Dr. Beach
is a scientist and beach travel expert who publishes a list of America’s Best Beaches (with photos) each year. Discover this year’s favorites, and scan his previous years’ picks.
TripAdvisor
released a list of its top 10 U.S. beaches in February 2008, featuring a range of states, including South Carolina, Hawaii and Georgia. Read brief descriptions of the beaches, many of which are off the beaten path and still under the radar, according to TripAdvisor. Beaches were chosen for their sand and water quality, and for having relaxing environments.
ShermansTravel.com
presents a list of the “Top 10 American Boardwalks” from coast to coast, including a pick or two that may surprise you. Each wooden wonderland is briefly described and backed up by Sherman’s experienced staff of travel experts.
Sandkidz
outlines the top 10 beaches for sandcastle contests, from Imperial Beach, California to South Padre Island, Texas. Most contests are open to both professionals and amateurs, so everyone is welcome to dig in, and live entertainment keeps non-carvers busy all day.
To search for beaches …
Travel Channel
provides an overview of U.S. beaches organized by region, a great starting point for beach trip inspiration if you’re flexible regarding where to go. Beaches are rated for child-friendliness, swimming, sand and other factors, and dining and accommodation options are listed for each beach.
My Ideal Beach
is a new interactive site created by Orbitz that finds beaches and beach resorts that meet your criteria. Identify who (if anyone) you’ll be traveling with (friends, family or spouse), select activities you’d like to have available at your beach destination (dining, golf or shopping), and hotel amenities (private beach, spa or all-inclusive). You can limit your choices to U.S. beaches, and sort results by location, price and star rating.
For beaches to avoid …
The Dangerous Beaches Mapping Project
of the Geography Department at the University of California, Berkeley is a shockingly uncensored look at the reality of beach landscapes around the world. Get maps of unsafe coastal beaches, based on a variety of factors including cliffs, sharks, dangerous currents and pollution.
Regional Beach Travel
From coast to coast, the United States is practically a beach wonderland. This section helps you find your ideal beach, whether you want warm Carolina waters, wild dunes on the Oregon coast or a lively New Jersey boardwalk.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you’re a seasoned beach traveler who’s seen it all, or if you want to find a unique, little-known beach, try looking in regional newspapers online (for example, the travel section of MaineToday.com, a sister publication of the Portland Press Herald. Get links to U.S. newspapers from the U.S. Newspaper List.
- Combining your beach travel with a separate interest or hobby can make it unique: visit waterfront wineries, or plan to go to the coast during a sandcastle contest. These and other ideas are outlined by Coastal Living magazine.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview of New England beaches …
National Geographic Traveler
lists favorite East Coast beaches in several states. Get a rundown of the major selling points for beaches in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Driving directions and contact phone numbers for each beach are also provided.
Sandkidz
highlights some of the summer's best beach festivals, from the Hyannis Pops by the Sea concert to Charlestown's Annual Seafood Festival. Whether you're looking for food, live music or kid-friendly activities, you'll find a celebration that suits your taste.
For an overview of Southeast beaches …
Southern Living
magazine’s beach guide features an interactive map of beaches all along the East Coast, including southern states like Georgia, Mississippi and Texas. Choose a beach to find practical advice on where to eat and shop, feature articles and an events calendar.
For New York beaches …
New York Magazine
presents a list of beaches that are accessible from Manhattan via subway. Get descriptions of the scene at each beach, as well as a few small photos and practical information for your visit.
For the Jersey Shore …
The Washington Post
guide to the New Jersey Shore has an interactive map that links to guides on staff-favorite beaches. Look for insider tips on unique events (such as movies on the beach) and contact information with links to specialty beach attractions (like yoga on the beach). Scroll down past the map for feature articles on Jersey Shore locales.
For Delaware beaches …
Frommer’s
guide to Delaware beaches gives thorough descriptions of beach towns in Delaware with additional information for specific interests, including active pursuits and beach events. There’s also a beach message board where you can post questions related to Delaware beaches.
For Virginia beaches …
The Official Tourism Website of Virginia
overviews beaches in the state and has links to further information, including state parks and official beach Web sites. Start here for descriptions and photos of Virginia’s most coveted beach destinations.
For Florida beaches …
Visit Florida
is the official tourism site of Florida and offers a range of colorful, fun-to-browse information on beaches. Plan your trip from start to finish with tips for where to play and dine, and photos of attractions. Click on tags in the tag cloud for guides to each beach.
For Carolina beaches …
The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Web site is full of suitable resources for beach travel planning. Find descriptions of Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Lowcountry/Resort Islands beaches, and link to additional insider tips and features courtesy of Southern Living magazine.
VisitNC.com
is the Web site of the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. Use the map of the state’s coastal area to see clearly outlined sections of the Outer Banks, Crystal Coast, Topsail, Cape Fear and Brunswick. Learn what each coastal getaway has to offer, and find links to attractions, photos and maps.
For Texas beaches …
TravelTex.com
the official site of Texas tourism, offers travel information on the Gulf Coast with the goods on South Padre Island, Galveston and Port Arthur. Look for thorough tips and advice covering what to do in each Texas coastal area, along with suggestions for nearby attractions.
For Oregon beaches …
Visit the Oregon Coast
lists the best things to see and do in the area, and describes Oregon coastal cities in words and photos. The “General Info” section fills you in on beach safety, transportation, weather and travel tips. Links to chamber of commerce sites for each beach town lead to additional information.
Travel Oregon
provides listings of Oregon coast events, attractions, recreation, arts and culture activities, and dining opportunities. Use this site to supplement and individualize your travel plans.
For Washington beaches …
The Official Site of Washington State Tourism
has a handy guide to the Washington coast. The “List Locations” tab lists the beaches and state parks in Washington State, along with places to stay. Click the “Map Locations” tab to view the beaches on a map. There’s also a section on traveling the Washington portion of the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway with points of interest and maps.
For Hawaii …
The New York Times
Travel section guide to Hawaii enlists feature articles, photography, budget travel tips and practical information from Frommer’s. Get inspiration and ideas for your Hawaiian beach vacation and take care of technical aspects of your travel planning at the same time.
Getting to the Beach
Before you can dip your toes in the sea and settle into your beach holiday, you’ll need to find a flight—and finding a cheap flight can make the trip that much sweeter. This section has online flight search tools and discount airfare carriers to make finding a deal on a flight easy.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Find cheap flights easily with help from the findingDulcinea Travel Web Guide, which has a section full of flight search tools and booking advice.
- Bundles are travel packages that include flights and accommodations, and are often cheaper than purchasing everything separately. Visit Budget Travel for “The Real Deals,” a feature on budget bundles in the United States, some of which are for beach destinations.
Dulcinea's Picks
For a flight search tool …
Farecast
predicts the fluctuation of airline ticket prices by consulting a database of airfares. Look for the best deals on flights to beach destinations in the near future, including last-minute fares and special fares for families. Each listing includes a note as to whether the fare is holding steady or rising, so you'll know how fast to act on a purchase. Note that predicted prices are only available for major U.S. and Canadian cities for certain dates.
For airlines …
JetBlue
offers cheap fares within the United States and makes it easy to find, book and track flights. Consult the “Where we fly” section for a clearly displayed map of destination and departure cities, many of which are close to beach destinations in Florida and California.
Spirit Airlines
is a discount U.S. carrier that recently expanded its service to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to begin in late May 2008. The airline also services numerous Florida destinations, and offers all-inclusive beach vacations.
Hotels at the Beach
After a long day of salt water, sand and sun, a comfortable place to rest can make all the difference. The sites in this section show you a range of beach accommodations, including hotels and vacation rentals.
Dulcinea's Insight
- To find a cozy inn at the beach, consult the findingDulcinea Bed-and-Breakfasts Travel Web Guide for search engines and advice to help you locate and book a room at a bed and breakfast.
- To save money and truly enjoy the great outdoors during your beach vacation, you could try camping. The U.S. National Park Service is a good starting point for finding beach campgrounds. Click on a state to view parks and find out whether campsites are available.
Dulcinea's Picks
For a hotel search …
TripAdvisor
is a hotel search and review site in one. Find hotels by the beach, read traveler reviews, get TripAdvisor ratings and a popularity index, and view photos of each property.
For beach vacation rentals …
HomeAway
features vacation rental listings from several other rental sites, including VacationRentals.com and TripHomes. Enter a location in the search box or click on the interactive map to get property listings with numerous photos and detailed descriptions. Reviews, contact information and prices are all provided.
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
