Top Beach & Seashore Vacations Across America

San Diego, California

With its mild year-round climate, varied terrain, beautiful harbor, and abundance of outdoor activities, San Diego is consistently a major, popular destination for couples, and romance! Attractions such as Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, and the USS Midway draw visitors from around the world.

One of the most exciting and sophisticated metropolitan regions in the country, San Diego comprises more than 100 colorful and unique neighborhoods.

San Diego is located on Interstate Highways I-10, I-5 and I-15 in extreme southern California, adjacent to Tijuana, Mexico.

Popular destinations along the Pacific Ocean in the area include Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and LaJolla.

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Ocracoke on the Outer Banks of North Carolina

With a year-round population of just under 1,000, Ocracoke Village is a quiet respite for visitors seeking a quick getaway from the daily grind of mainland living.

Ocracoke Village is on the National Register of Historic Places, with houses and buildings dating from the 1880s, along with more recent additions under the canopy of live oaks, cedars, and yaupons.

At just a little over a square mile, and surrounded by water, everything within the Village of Ocracoke is conveniently located for walking or biking. Access is by private boat, small plane, or NCDOT ferry.

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Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine

A favorite travel destination of ours is Bar Harbor, highly ranked as one of the best places to visit in Maine and all of New England. Located on Mount Desert Island and close to the popular Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is the island's largest town. Other villages on the island include Southwest Harbor, Tremont and Northwest Harbor.

Bar Harbor has a year-round population of about 5,200 residents. The summer season has warm days and cool evenings, with an average daily high temperature above 66F. The colder winters don't stop the activity in Bar Harbor, and many cold weather activities abound in the area.

The entrance to Acadia National Park is less than one mile from downtown Bar Harbor; part of the park is actually in Bar Harbor proper.

The area is always popular with couples and families, with many varied lodging options, dining venues, shopping and outdoor activities.

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Olympic National Park in Washington

Olympic National Park is located in northwestern Washington in the north central part of the Olympic Peninsula.

The park spans nearly a million acres and features snow-covered mountains, lush rain forests and the dramatic Pacific Ocean coastline with incredible places like Ruby Beach.

The park offers a large variety of things to do, including boating, camping, hiking, fishing, tidepooling, backpacking, wildlife viewing, climbing and photography.

There are many locations in the rain forest, high in the mountains, or along the Pacific coast beaches for peace, quiet and solitude.

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Kennebunkport, Maine

The Town of Kennebunkport is located in York County, Maine, about 85 miles northeast of Boston, and 29 miles south of Portland. It lies on Maine Highway 9, east of I-95 and U.S. Highway 1.

The town center, the area in and around Dock Square, is located along the Kennebunk River, about one mile from the mouth of the river on the Atlantic Ocean.

Historically a shipbuilding and fishing village, for over a century the town has become a popular summer colony and seaside tourist destination.

Cape Porpoise, while retaining its identity as a fishing harbor, has a very small village area with several restaurants, a church, grocery store, coffee shop, small library, and art gallery.

Points of interest include Ocean Avenue, Gooch's Beach, Middle Beach, the Seashore Trolley Museum, the Brick Store Museum, the Eastern Trail, the Wedding Cake House, Blowing Cave, Saint Ann's Church, whale watching, sailing excursions, art galleries and eclectic shops.

Special events are held thru the year, such as the May Day Parade, the Kennebunkport Festival in early June, the Launch Maine Maritime Festival, fall Harvest Fest, Christmas Prelude, and more.

We have visited Kennebunkport and have enjoyed its many attractions, lodging options and restaurants.

Spend a day, or more, and enjoy and explore Kennebunkport!

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Destin, Florida

One of our favorite destinations is the Florida Panhandle, and over the years we have stayed on many area hotel and condo properties.

Today, there is lots to do in Destin, with its world famous deep-sea fishing fleet. The beaches are white, and the water is spectacular for swimming and other water activities. And a short drive to the east is historic Florida Highway 30-A, with developments such as Seaside and Watercolor.

And the shopping! Multiple shopping developments and major shopping destinations such as Bass Pro and Silver Sands Outlets provide hours of fun!

A number of annual events offer fun for residents and visitors alike, such as the Destin Seafood Festival and Gumbo Contest and Silent Auction.

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Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 37 miles southeast of Providence and 74 miles south of Boston.

Once the summer playground of America's wealthiest families, Newport remains a popular vacation destination at any time of year.

The area's historic sites, architecture, events, fishing, beaches, water recreation, shops and fine restaurants draw couples and familes seeking adventure, from around the world.

In Newport, the largest public beach, Easton's beach, or First Beach, has a view of the famed Cliff Walk. Sachuest Beach, or Second Beach, in Middletown is the second largest beach in the area.

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Sanibel Island, Florida

One of the top shelling beaches in the world is located just off the Gulf Coast of south Florida.

Sanibel Island is accessible via a causeway from nearly Fort Myers, and is connected via a short bridge to nearby Captiva. We have visited Sanibel multiple times over the decades, and always enjoy the beaches, shelling, wildlife, shopping and dining.

The island features 15 miles of unspoiled beaches, 25 miles of bike paths, 50 types of fish, 230 types of birds, 250 kinds of shells and ZERO stop lights.

Construction codes restrict building heights to no more than the height of trees ... thus visitors will not find towering, high-rise condos that typify so many Florida beaches.

The Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The refuge consists of over 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. Approximately 2,800 acres of the refuge are designated by Congress as a Federal Wilderness Area. A wildlife drive meanders through the refuge, offering stopping points to watch alligators, birds and other wildlife.