8 Affordable Summer Beach Destinations

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is one of Orange County’s best beach towns. This coastal town offers that iconic California beach feel. With surfing, volleyball, bike paths, 8+ miles of gorgeous beaches, summertime entertainment, and a beautiful pier, it’s everything you imagined California to be and more.

The highlight here is the gorgeous 8 mile paved path that runs along the coast. This path is perfect whether you are a walker, biker, or skater. It is wide enough to accommodate everyone. Huntington Beach is home to some of the best beach recreation in the state. Where else can you take a bike ride while watching a surfing competition?

In fact, Huntington is known as the “Surf Capital of the World.” Whether you choose to watch the surfers from the pier or engage in a lesson yourself, you will definitely never encounter a surf atmosphere quite like this.  The US Open of Surfing is held here each year, along with several volleyball tournaments. Plenty of surfing shops and even an International Surfing museum are found here.

Other recommended area attractions:

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve – This gorgeous bird watching haven offers peaceful nature trails and ample bird watching opportunities. It is the perfect place to escape for some peace and quiet. So close to the hectic crowds at the beach, yet so far away!

Other must-do area activities include: shopping on Main Street, a deep tissue massage at Cloudmover Day Spa (great after a day of biking and surfing!) and a visit to the International Surfing Museum.

Where to stay: There are hotels here to suit every budget, from glamorous oceanfront resorts to more budget friendly chain hotels further away from the coast. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is a great choice for those who want direct access to the beach and great on site amenities.

Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland is most famous for its’ iconic beach boardwalk, frequently rated amongst the best in the country. The lively boardwalk is home to numerous amenities including: a 2.5 mile walking/biking path, an amusement park, shops, and dozens of restaurants. Make sure to treat yourself to a serving of Ocean City’s trademark Thrasher’s French fries (multiple locations along the boardwalk). You can’t miss them!

Things to do…

Jolly Roger Amusement Park on the pier includes 10+ rides and attractions including a giant Ferris Wheel and roller-coaster. Enjoy all your favorite amusement rides while taking in great views of the Atlantic!

Be sure to visit Fenwick Island, Delaware, Ocean City’s next door neighbor, and home to beautiful, isolated beaches. The serene, peaceful beaches offer a quiet escape from the Ocean City crowds. Be sure to plan at least one morning on your itinerary to relax at a Fenwick Island beach. Also, Bethany Beach offers a quaint, peaceful beach and boardwalk with just a handful of shops and restaurants.

Other fun activities/attractions in the area: mini-golf courses, Splash Mountain Water Park, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and 48th Street Watersports (offering stand up paddle-board and kayak tours).

Ocean City offers no shortage of oceanfront dining choices. Shenanigans Irish Pub is a popular choice. This lively Irish pub offers a large menu of traditional pub favorites and an outdoor patio facing the beautiful beach and boardwalk.

Where to stay: Lodging ranges from basic motels to 4 star resorts such as the Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront. This all suite hotel features rooms with private balconies facing the gorgeous Atlantic coast. Additional amenities include a pool, fitness center, and 2 on-site restaurants. For a quieter experience away from the crowds, check out Sands Motel in Fenwick Island. This family-run motel features direct access to a gorgeous beach, an outdoor pool, and friendly staff.

Newport, Rhode Island

A trip to New England doesn’t typically come to mind first when thinking of a sunny summer vacation. However, a trip to Rhode Island’s beautiful, historic Newport should not be overlooked in favor of more tropical destinations. Although there is not a palm tree to be found, there are a handful of gorgeous beaches, beautiful parks, amazing restaurants, unique shops, and wonderful cruise opportunities.

As an added bonus, Rhode Island summers tend to stay a bit more moderate than the rest of the beach destinations on this list. Most of the time, summer temperatures stay in the comfortable upper 70’s-low 80’s range, which is the ideal temperature for the activities listed above.

While you may not be able to swim, you can enjoy relaxing at the beach much more in these temperatures rather than the hot, humid weather typical at other beaches in the South. Hiking, biking, taking a cruise, etc. are also much more enjoyable in the temperate climate.

Newport is home to beautiful First and Second Beach. Second Beach, pictured below, offers scenic views and smooth sand. The water is surprisingly warm, and occasionally the temps are high enough to take a quick dip. First Beach, is conveniently located next to the famous Newport Mansions.

Be sure to plan a trip to the Newport Mansions. If you only have time for one, stick to The Breakers, an amazing 137,000 square feet property once the summer home of the Vanderbilts. Also be sure to take a stroll along the Oceanfront path known as CliffWalk. This relaxing journey will offer you the best photographic opportunities of the coast and mansions in the city.

10 Mile Drive is also worthy of a visit. Here you will be treated to more mansion views, scenic coastal views, and pretty views of the New England countryside. Be sure to plan a break at Gooseberry Beach – a private, yet open to the public beach. Amazing views here from every angle! And much quieter than the other beaches!

A walk around Newport’s historic Thames Street is a must. There are so many fantastic restaurants to choose from, with everything you can think of, ranging from seafood to pubs to Italian. Mamma Luisa’s is the top authentic Italian restaurant in town.

Other fun attractions in the area include:

Gansett cruises – Great cruise company offering morning, afternoon, or evening voyages with a special local treat. You will learn a lot about the area, in addition to relaxing and taking in the gorgeous views.

Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge – Amazing nature trails, most featuring great views of the coast! Ample opportunities for bird watching. Overall, a gorgeous and quiet place to enjoy a walk, birdwatch, and take in lovely views of the water.

Bowen’s Wharf – Beautiful marina area with brick walkways, waterfront restaurants, and plenty of unique shops. Aquidneck Lobster Bar is an excellent seafood restaurant overlooking the harbor.

Sarasota

Sarasota is one of the most attractive cities on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Not only is it home to miles of gorgeous white sand beaches, but it also offers much more, namely a vibrant arts scene, top notch golfing, beautiful parks, and plenty of fun attractions.

Sarasota is home to beautiful Siesta Key Beach, which features gorgeous white sands and clear waters. The sand is 99% quartz. Sarasota is known to being home to some of the most beautiful beaches comprised of the whitest sand in the world.

Siesta Key is a beautiful, wide beach with the smoothest sand you will ever touch. It also tends to be much less congested than the Tampa area beaches with a wider stretch of sand to enjoy the day. Volleyball courts and a restaurant are also found on site.

Caspersen Beach is known as the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.” Turtle Beach is less crowded, although the sand is a bit more rough. However, the beach combing opportunities are great. One of the most popular beaches is Lido Beach, located adjacent to St. Armands Circle, an upscale dining and shopping area.

Although there are many great choices for lunch in St. Armands Circle, one of the best is Columbia, Florida’s oldest restaurant. The Sarasota location is beautiful and features both indoor and covered outdoor seating. Make sure to try the Cuban Black Bean soup – it’s the best!

A few recommended attractions in the area…

Myakka River State Park – Myakka is one of the biggest and oldest state parks in Florida. The scenery here is beautiful and peaceful- a stark contrast to the many chain businesses and apartment complexes taking over Florida.

There are endless activities to keep you occupied at Myakka – biking and hiking trails, a scenic drive (or bike ride) around the park, a canopy walk, an observation tower, pontoon boat rides, tram rides, and more! The beautiful combination of moss covered oak, pine, and palm trees offers both shade and endless photography opportunities.

Big Cat Habitat – This nonprofit rescue saves lions, tigers, bears, turtles, camels, and exotic birds. Being able to see the animals up so close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  The bears were walking around, enjoying the pool, and seemed happy. They even had a Liger on site! A Liger, the result of tiger/lion breeding, is not found in nature. They can weight over 1000 lbs!

The Animal Encounter show featured tiger and chimpanzee performances. The trainers use positive reinforcement and seem to take great care of the animals!

Sarasota Jungle Gardens – This historic park features many rescued exotic animals such as alligators and flamingos in a lush tropical setting. Daily shows featuring exotic birds and reptiles offer both entertainment and educational opportunities.

The Cat Depot – The place to stop if you are a cat lover! This is the nicest, largest cat refuge I have ever come across. The no-kill shelter offers plenty of space, unique design schemes in each room, and plenty of luxury amenities for the cats. So much care and design is placed into each living space for the cats.

The cats have their own TVs with nature videos, screened outdoor patios, plenty of beds and toys, and individual rooms each with their own unique color theme (leopard room, purple room, etc.).

Where to stay: Sarasota offers everything from budget hotels (Best Western Plus Siesta Key Getaway, La Quinta Inn and Suites Sarasota) to upscale options (Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota and Hyatt Regency Sarasota).

Have you visited any of these beach destinations? What are your favorite beach towns?