Summer brings a craving for lazy, sunbaked days featuring ocean breezes and an inclined beach chair. Luckily, you don’t need to travel far to stake out your place in the sand: Travel + Leisure collected easy beach weekend getaways from major U.S. cities.
Romantic Rehoboth Beach, DEGetaway from: Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia
Rehoboth Beach is an old-fashioned beach resort town with a lively art gallery scene. Win a prize at the arcade games along the boardwalk and then celebrate with saltwater taffy and ice cream. The wide, sandy beach invites evening strolls. Leave your windows open and let the sound of the surf lull you to sleep.Matt CapriglioneSurfing on Long IslandGetaway from: New York City, Philadelphia
At the eastern tip of Long Island, the waves are surprisingly robust, but the living in Montauk and Amagansett is downright laid-back. Catch live bands on the patio of the Surf Lodge, and sign up for surfing lessons at the Sunset Surf Shack; ask for owner Craig Lieder, a quintessential hang-ten dude.Laura BegleyEasy Living in La Jolla, CAGetaway from: Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
This tony suburb north of San Diego offers both windswept nature and accessible luxury. Here, the beach meets green hills, and modern shops, restaurants, and galleries line the streets of its village. Explore the area’s gentle trails, have a cocktail overlooking the water, and head to La Jolla Cove for sunset over the clear water.iStockphotoAnna Maria Island’s Sandy SeclusionGetaway from: Miami
Past the industrial fruit juice-making town of Bradenton, you’ll find a clutch of beautiful hidden beaches and stoplight-free Anna Maria Island. Here, days are spent sunbathing on soft sand, sipping chilly cocktails on the boardwalk, and tucking into fresh seafood on the deck of a waterfront restaurant.
Robert Harding World Imagery / A—AlamySeaside Serenity in Port Townsend, WAGetaway from: Seattle, Portland
The entry point to the wilderness of Olympic National Park, this artsy enclave also has a lovely Victorian-era downtown. Dubbed the “City of Dreams,” the spread certainly is a bit dreamy: there are lots of chic boutiques, a cluster of seafood restaurants along the waterfront, and a yacht- and sailboat-dotted harbor.Continue the list here.
Courtesy of National Parks Service
