Want to Plan A Beach Trip this summer?

I count the days from one beach trip to the next—that’s how much I love to plan a beach trip! Of course, I’m from Jersey, so we call it “going down the shore…” but spending the past almost 30 years in my fabulous desert oasis of Las Vegas has changed more than my accent, that’s for sure!

So you’ve got some beach babies in your family, too, who are influencing the family vacation this year to somewhere with water? Sounds great! Your options are almost endless, so settle in and let’s talk about some of the greatest beaches I’ve been fortunate enough to visit.

Pick a Beach… Pick a coast…or Even Pick an island

This may sound like a fairly simple choice. Where do you live, and how far of a drive is it to the nearest beach? For many of us, many years the family trip will be whatever is driving distance and reasonably priced. That is a fantastic, economical plan, and will totally work for you. But maybe, just maybe, you can drive a little further, or jump on a cheap flight, and try somewhere new this year. Where will that be?

East Coast Beach Options: From Massachusetts To Florida

Connecticut

Sweet husband and I met on a small beach in Connecticut! While not the tourist destination you might be looking for, many small towns along the northeast coast have small inns or a bed and breakfast that might be great for a relaxing vacation.

The Jersey Shore

How can I not mention my perennial favorite Wildwood, NJ. A broad, clean beach backing up to a five-mile boardwalk filled with rides and games of chance! What is not to love in this fabulous location. It’s on our list for next year, to get back to our roots!

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Outer Banks, NC has to be mentioned as a beautiful, peaceful, serene location for a rejuvenating and relaxing vacation. Rent a house and enjoy the calm and quiet for a week!

Florida

Florida…just Florida! From the slow and easy Ormond Beach to bustling Miami, Florida has a huge number of towns that provide beachfront accommodations with tons of dining and entertainment options walking distance away. Check out more than one location during a week-long trip to get a better flavor for the state.

West Coast Beach Options: It’s More Than JUST Southern California!

The Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest has some wonderful, picturesque locations for a relaxed vacation that could focus as much on fine seafood dining as it does relaxing days on the beach.

Yes, California

California is a preeminent beach destination that is not to be missed! Every beach in California is a little different, and they are all fabulous! Consider breaking up your week-long vacation to experience the difference between Santa Barbara and Mission Beach, for example.

Island Beach Trips Are Always An Option

All of these destinations would require a flight, which makes them more cost prohibitive right from the state, but I absolutely have to mention some of the most beautiful beaches—and water—I’ve ever seen. Got a bigger refund this year from Uncle Sam? Consider flying to any one of these locations in Paradise!

Hawai’i

Nothing beats it in my opinion. On earth. It’s such perfection I will have to do a separate blog just about visiting these gorgeous islands. 

The Caribbean

The Caribbean boasts fantastic beaches, with Grand Cayman and St. Thomas being among my favorites. The crystal clear and clean blue water will wash away all of your cares and worries…while not making too much of a dent in the pocketbook! Look into beachfront accommodations where you will be able to enjoy the beach, and walk to dining and water sport options.

Mexican Destinations

Though not always an island, Mexican destinations are a favorite of mine! Cancun is our favorite destination in Mexico, particularly because of the number of reasonable all-inclusive resorts in the area. We like the option to prepay for meals and alcohol, and then just spend the week relaxing on the beach watching the sea turtles!

Benefits Of Planning a Beach Trip

We have done beach vacations from just Sweet Husband and I in Hawaii, to all 27 of my Pilat relatives in North Carolina, and every trip has been memorable. Every trip will be different, which is one of the best parts of a beach vacation—it’s never the same thing twice. Neither is the ocean. 

When we do a beach vacation, we truly lounge on the beach. We can spend up to eight hours on the beach, and then return two hours later to watch the sun set. We love it that much. It gives us a chance to unwind, a chance to walk and pick up shells, and, of course, a chance to play Smashball. And that whole entire day…cost next to nothing. We were in Cabo over Spring Break, and a beach day there cost $20 for an umbrella and three chairs, plus lunch and beer for three was $40. For an eight hour day. That’s a bargain. In Wildwood, NJ and the vast majority of California, the beach is free. All I need to do is bring lunch in a cooler for a full day of fun at a very limited price. 

Another benefit of visiting the beach is the minimization of technology. Yeah, my phone works, but I barely use it. The lighting is too bright and the salt and sand aren’t good for it, anyway. As a result, I’ve had long, wonderful conversations with friends, family, my kids, that would not have happened if we were anywhere else.

Don’t discount the quality time a beach vacation can afford you. 

Where should you Plan To stay On A Beach Trip?

Totally depends on where your beach is located!

You will probably always find a hotel, but in a small town with limited restaurants, how will you eat all week? If the town isn’t quite “tourist-y” enough to have restaurants and entertainment close by, consider renting a condo or a house instead. While I don’t particularly like to cook on vacation, having a full kitchen comes in very handy for breakfast, lunch, and the occasional quick meal.

Another consideration for renting a condo/house is laundry facilities. Nothing creates laundry like a beach vacation, and that is a chore I don’t mind doing on vacation! Particularly our towels get so sandy and dirty on the beach that I need to launder them throughout the week, so consider that when you make your reservations!

What else is around?

Another “depends where you go” section, that’s for sure!

In Cancun the last time, we never left the resort!!! In San Diego, however, we love having different cultural and tourist activities a short drive away. 

Consider this as you choose your location for vacation—how much do you really want to do? Sometimes we just want to relax and unwind on our vacation, and need very little in terms of entertainment. Other times, however, we are excited to walk the boardwalk or visit the “hippie fair” in Santa Barbara after a nice beach day. Renting bicycles is another great thing to do at many beach locations, and will get you out further than just walking will. We’ve found several great little cafes this way!

Comparing the experience

So we’ve talked about theme parks and cruising in the past blogs. I love those vacations, too, you know I do. But a nice beach vacation is on the not-to-be-missed list!

Returning from some vacations, as you know, just makes you need another vacation to recover, but that is never the case with a beach vacation. I return refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to take on all of my responsibilities at home and work. It feeds my soul to walk the beach in the early morning, or around dusk, and just listen. The sound of the waves both puts me to sleep and wakes me up, and it is the finest music I can imagine. 

Comparing A Cost Plan For Each Beach Trip

• Pacific Beach, San Diego, Dec 2021 – $99 beachfront hotel
• Wildwood, NJ, July 2022 – $259 hotel two blocks from the beach
• Daytona Beach, FL, June 2022 – $299 one bedroom condo on the beach
• Waikiki, HI, June 2021 – $329 hotel across the street from the beach
• Outer Banks, NC, July 2022 – $5000 for a week in a six bedroom home

Your costs will vary—widely—from my little list above. It is a very, very small sampling of what you might encounter when you go to book your dream beach vacation. I can tell you at each of those locations you can get a cheap, pizza and soda lunch under $10. You can also dine in exquisite fashion for several hundred dollars. All of the beaches in my little list are absolutely free, and you can bring a cooler with lunch if you want to make a day of it.

Is it worth it? I have no idea what your answer might be. 

All I can tell you is this: I’ve done everything on my little list, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. 

As a matter of fact, I’ve got to run…we are heading to San Diego for the weekend!

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR

Thank you for reading all about how to plan a beach trip!!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out some other tips, like how to get on a cruise this summer, here, or how to get to Disney this summer, here! Or, check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

Please leave a COMMENT about any tips you may have!! Or comment with YOUR story! Where’re your next trip going to be? Let me know!

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