East Coast Beaches Make a Great Year-Round Vacation Destination

There are many great East Coast beaches that make for a perfect vacation destination. We have a whole page devoted to it so let's check it out!

Virginia Beaches

Virginia has some wonderful East coast beaches. Some of the best destinations for the whole family are located here, if you want to know more please check our Virginia beaches page

Maryland Beaches

Maryland boasts some of the best beaches on the East. Apart from Ocean City, one of the premier destinations in the area, there are lots of less known spots that make for an ideal vacation. If you want to know more, please check our Maryland beaches page

New Jersey Beaches

The Garden State offers some of the best beaches in the Eastern seaboard. For more information, please check our New Jersey beaches page

New Hampshire Beaches

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire - has to be one of the top East Coast beaches. Whether you want to go into the water (watch out – it’s always chilly here), play on the sandy beach or hit the arcade there is plenty for everyone at this East Coast classic.

Located within easy driving distance from Portsmouth, NH, Portland, ME and Boston, MA this is one East coast beach that draws thousands of returning visitors every year. It has also been named one of America’s 3 cleanest beaches by MSNBC.

This is one of the greatest East coast beaches if you're into surfing. The surf is normally gentle but there is a substantial local surfing community. Join in or just watch from the shore. Head to the Smith and Gilmore Pier to watch the anglers or to catch a tour out on the water. Pick a sightseeing tour that includes local lighthouses or head off for whale watching.

The Hampton Beach pier has free nightly concerts all summer long in the Seashell amphitheater. The arcade has all the classic games of ski ball and miniature golf along with a variety of artists and fortune tellers to keep you amused. There is also a boardwalk that is available for strolling or skating for about a mile down the beach.

Hampton Beach has a number of annual events along with the ever changing mix of daily activities. The largest is the annual Seafood Festival in early September. The festival draws over 150,000 people and has plenty of music, arts and crafts and other vendors to keep everyone busy. During the year there are also Children’s Festivals, Fireworks, Beach Volleyball tournaments and even a Hampton Beach Idol contest. Go to www.hamptonbeach.org for plenty of information. View Map

Rhode Island Beaches

Block Island, Rhode Island - For a truly unique vacation spot, visit Block Island, Rhode Island. Described by the Nature Conservancy as one of the last twelve great places in the western hemisphere! Located about twelve miles off the coast of Rhode Island this island hideaway is dog friendly and laden with beaches.

To find out everything possible about Block Island visit Block Island Family Vacation

This is a great place to know more about Rhode Island tourism. Read about Rhode Island tourism: Find RI hotels, beaches, parks, camping, outdoor adventure, historic sites and other tourist attractions.

Georgia Beaches

Sea Island, Georgia - The Cloister At Sea Island is a private five milelong coastal vacation spot in Georgia. Sea Islandis well known for its championship golf course, a wonderful spa and possibilities for a wide variety of activities.

The Cloister at Sea Island offers you well over 250 guest rooms and suites that are situated in various houses on Sea Island. The Retreat House, Hamilton House, and Harrington House are all located on the beach, while the newer guest houses and Terrace Houses are all located between the beach and the tennis center.

If you plan to visit some East coast beaches with your family, the kids will have plenty of activities to keep them busy. Afternoon tennis is free for children and there are often complimentary golf and tennis clinics. During the peak times of summer and spring break the resort provides programs targeted for ages 3 – 11. Consider renting one of the Beach Cottages instead of multiple rooms in the main Resort.

Nearby to the Sea Island resort you can also arrange for horseback riding, sunset cruises, swimming, scuba lessons, boating, fishing, kayaking or attend a shooting school.

Another great spot for East coach beaches is the Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club. This facility offers guests 40 luxurious rooms and suites that are situated above the clubhouse with golf course and even ocean views.

Late spring, summer, and early fall are by far the best times to check out the Cloister at Sea Island. Sea Island is an hour drive by car from Savannah Georgia and one hour away from Jacksonville Florida. Private aircraft can also land at the McKinnon Airport on St. Simons Island, which is four miles away from the Cloister. No matter how you get here - you'll be glad you did!

Sea Island has won many awards by publications such as Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure. The latter named this number 2 in the Top 50 Family Resorts in North America in the Fall, 2007 issue. View Map

Brunswick, Georgia - This charming city is home to a scenic waterfront and a bustling port. Known as the ”Gateway to the Golden Isles” its close proximity to St. Simons and Jekyll Islands help make Brunswick a popular getaway.

In 1771, General James Oglethorpe laid out the city of Brunswick in the same grid pattern as its sister city Savannah, Georgia. The city has aged well and has the second largest concentration of documented historic structures in Georgia.

With its coastal beauty and southern charm, Brunswick is a great spot to visit beautiful beaches, enjoy shopping or the varied dining and cultural activities. Some of the my favorite East coast beaches are near Brunswick, including:

Simons Island - 7 miles from Brunswick

Head to East Beach which is just south of the old Coast Guard Station. For the website that can tell you everything you want to know, go to www.explorestsimonsisland.com.

Amelia Island - 34 miles from Brunswick

Florida, of course, has some of the beast East coast beaches in the country. This Florida island offers spectacular beaches with a wide variety of activities. Head to Fernandina Beach where the hard packed sand makes it an ideal location for horseback riding. For information on riding a horse on the beach go to Kelly Ranch Inc

Cumberland Island National Seashore - 14 miles from Brunswick

As a National Seashore, Cumberland Island is preserved to show its natural beauty. It contains some of the most beautiful and unspoiled East coast beaches. White sand stretches for miles and with only 300 people per day allowed on the island it remains calm and peaceful. Click Here for the National Park Service website for this area.

North Carolina Beaches

Some of the most beautiful destinations for a vacation in the East Coast can be found in North Carolina. If you want to know more, please check our North Carolina beaches page

South Carolina Beaches

Kiawah Island Beachwalker Park, SC - This area has superfine white sand, boardwalks and wonderful picnic areas. The water is to calm for surfing but wonderful for paddling. The sand tends to be hard packed so is excellent for riding a bike along the shore. There are also places to rent beach chairs and umbrellas.

Myrtle Beach, SC - Some of the best east coast beaches, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach offer excellent beach vacation spots with seemingly endless stretches of powdery white sand and the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean. As part of the Grand Strand there are over 60 miles of beach for your enjoyment.

The area is a wonderful destination for a nice relaxing break or an action packed vacation. Chose from over 80 pro golf courses or take the family to a water park or miniature golfing.

Myrtle Beach is home to a number of excellent restaurants and nightclubs for people who keep going when the sun goes down. You’ll have your choice of venues offering comedy, country music, rock ‘n’ roll and of course the beach and shag music that the area is so well known for. www.beachshag.com

Located just eight miles north of the Myrtle Beach area, North Myrtle Beach offers beaches that are less crowded, the pace is much slower, and fewer high rise hotels help to maintain a family oriented atmosphere. Here, you can take early morning strolls along the ocean and discover the endless treasures that nature has left for you and your family to enjoy.

Myrtle Beach is a very active community with almost constant events and festivals on the calendar. Go to www.myrtlebeachinfo.com for a great online calendar of events.

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