I love the beach! I love sitting with my feet in the sand, watching the water and listening to the waves in the background of my audiobook. I love the smell of the salt water and watching for manatees and dolphins. I love the camaraderie of the people on the beach, who are all there for one reason—to relax. Here is my guide to beach vacations (scroll below for beach read suggestions):
Florida Beaches
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater is my absolute favorite place for a beach vacation. There is no need for a car. You can walk to the beach, restaurants, shops, mini golf and more within just a few minutes. You can hop on the trolley if you don't feel like walking a few blocks.
Accommodations:
We stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott. Each suite includes a full-size refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, dishwasher, kitchen essentials and a comfortable living area to unwind. A complimentary hot breakfast is served daily, and the property features a pool, on-site restaurant, bar and Starbucks.
While the amenities are impressive, the location is what we truly love. Just steps from the boardwalk and beach, it’s perfectly positioned for soaking up the sun. You’ll find a beach store right across the street, the iconic Pier 60 nearby and a Walgreens just a short walk away. With countless restaurants within walking distance, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
There are tons of conveniently located hotels to choose from.
Favorite Restaurants:
Favorite Things to Do:
We spend most of our time on the beach and walking the boardwalk but there are a few other activities we enjoy.
Pier 60 is one of the area’s top attractions, featuring a 1,080-foot fishing pier and a recreational park with telescopes and shaded pavilions. The pier’s bright lights make it a favorite spot for night fishing, and kids will love the shaded playground nearby. Each evening, Sunsets at Pier 60 brings the area to life with street performers and entertainment beginning two hours before sunset and continuing until two hours after. Local artists often set up booths, offering handmade goods and unique souvenirs.
Several companies offer dolphin cruises, but we love Little Toot Dolphin Adventure.
Anna Maria Island
Both Anna Maria and Clearwater are on the Gulf and have clear blue water with white sandy beaches. The island, which is only 7 miles, also offers a free trolley, but it won't take you into Cortez or other spots off the Island. You need a car, car service or will have to walk to explore beyond AMI. There are plenty of restaurants and shops on AMI, but they are much more spread out than at Clearwater, so we were relieved to have a car. Although we've heard parking can be difficult on the island, we didn't have any issues.
Accommodations:
We stayed at Mangrove View, which is a short walk to the beach, a few restaurants, Publix, Walgreens and CVS. This three-bedroom, three-bathroom condo features multiple balconies with a view of the mangroves, a huge master suite with a large bathroom and a pool on property. There are tons of rental properties on the island. Most require a seven-night stay.
Favorite Restaurants:
Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina in Cortez
Starfish Company in Cortez
Favorite Things to Do:
We spent most of our time on the beach and eating seafood. There are plenty of boat tours to choose from, but we really enjoyed the sunset dolphin cruise with Paradise Boat Tours. Our favorite activity though was watching the manatees in their natural habitat at Portosueno Park, which is a short drive from the island.
Fort Lauderdale
We went to Fort Lauderdale when it was unseasonably cool and windy, so we didn't spend as much time on the beach. This did encourage us to explore the area more than we normally would. Fort Lauderdale offers a free trolley, water taxi and circuit car (tips). There is also a paid water taxi. You will need to use one of these services or have a car to explore the area.
Accommodations:
We stayed at the Oceanview Waterfront. The resort offered a salon, beach access, restaurant, cafe, tiki bar and pool. There were a few places we were able to walk to but if you want easy access to restaurants and shops, I'd suggest staying in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale by the Sea or Hollywood, Florida.
Favorite Restaurants:
The tiki bar at the resort also had good food.
Favorite Things to Do:
The narrated Hop on and off Water Taxi was a fun way to explore Florida from Hollywood to Las Olas Boulevard and learn about the area. We also enjoyed the boat ride at the Everglades Holiday Park. The company picked us up from our hotel and transported us to the park where we had a 60-minute boat ride followed by a live alligator show.
The Keys
I loved our trip to the Keys, but it was a different kind of beach vacation. You'll definitely need a car since most hotels don’t have direct beach access, and you’ll have to drive to a public beach to swim. This trip was several years ago so I don't remember the names of the restaurants but do remember we didn't have a bad meal anywhere and loved eating on the water.
Accommodations:
We stayed at the Fischer Inn Resort on Islamorada. It provided bikes, kayaks, outdoor games and a pool.
Favorite Things to Do:
We drove to different keys for different activities. Key West made for great shopping and people watching. This is definitely the place to go if you enjoy a robust nightlife.
We went snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. This was an amazing experience in itself but to top it off, we saw a manatee right at the dock. This was also my favorite beach in the Keys for swimming.
Fort Myers
I enjoyed Fort Myers but wish we would have stayed closer to the "downtown" area. This was also quite some time ago, so I do not have restaurant recommendations.
Accommodations:
We stayed at the Outrigger Beach Resort, which was unfortunately destroyed by the hurricanes and is permanently closed. I suggest staying near the Times Square district. This is where you will find shops and restaurants in walking distance. Fort Myers also offers a trolley.
Favorite Things to Do:
We spent our time on the beach, at the pool or shopping and eating in Times Square.
South Carolina
Myrtle Beach
Unless you plan to spend all of your time at your resort, I suggest having a car.
Accommodations:
We stayed at The Caravelle Resort. It was affordable, on the beach and near restaurants. The Resort had a pool, restaurant, gift shop and ice cream shop. There were a few restaurants in walking distance.
Favorite Restaurants:
The Inlet Crab House & Raw Bar
Favorite Things to do:
Again, we spent most of our time on the beach. Myrtle Beach is lovely, but it isn't the clear blue water and white sandy beaches you get in the Gulf. We drove to Murrells Inlet a couple of times. The fishing village of Murrells Inlet was once the lair of the infamous pirate Blackbeard. The best seafood restaurants are located in this area. We enjoyed a stroll along the water while checking out shops, restaurants and live music. We also took a sunset dolphin cruise with Uncharted Waters.
Northeast
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Accommodations:
We stayed at this gorgeous beach house. It's about a three-minute walk to Plum Cove Beach. If you want warm ocean water, you will want to plan for July or August. But this trip was about much more than laying on the beach because of its location.
Favorite Restaurants:
BitBar in Salem
Favorite Things to Do:
I don't know where to start. This trip was amazing. We loved just walking around Gloucester enjoying the shops, the ocean and the history. We watched the gorgeous sunset from Plum Cove Beach. I think my favorite thing was the Seven Seas Whale Tour. Watching the whales show off for us in their natural habitat was something I will never forget.
It was a short drive to Rockport. This was breathtaking. We sat out on the large rocks and enjoyed the sounds of the ocean. We also checked out the unique shops and watched people fish.
Salem was an easy drive from Gloucester. We took in the history while shopping and being entertained by street performers.
We spent one day in Boston, which is just under an hour from Gloucester. There are so many things to see and do in Boston. Our kids, who were teens at the time, enjoyed shopping and ice cream from Ben and Jerry's. My husband and I focused more on the history. But of course, we all went to Cheers!
We had a car, but you can take a train from Gloucester to Boston, Salem and Rockport.
Beach Trip Tips
Equipment:
Relaxing at the beach means having chairs, umbrellas, etc. Most beaches have a service that will set that up for you for a daily fee. However, if you want to save some money, try booking at an Airbnb that provides those items at no cost. The houses in Gloucester, Fort Lauderdale and Anna Maria provided chairs, umbrellas, towels, etc. We have also purchased cheap chairs and umbrellas from a nearby store and just leave them for the next person at the end of our trip.
Groceries:
I typically schedule a grocery delivery for about an hour after we arrive. This allows us time to get settled and not have to worry about shopping. I have a Kroger Membership, so I always look to see if Kroger delivery is available. To my surprise, it was at Anna Maria Island. We have also used Door Dash and other delivery services.
Talk to the Locals:
I join Facebook groups for the area before I go. This allows me to learn more, including the best places to eat. I also talk to locals while we are there. I ask them for all the inside tips for enjoying the area. People are usually friendly and more than willing to share.
Stock up on Entertainment for the Plane or Car:
When flying, I make sure to download books from Libby so I can listen on the plane, the beach, the room, etc. When driving, I load up on physical books as well as shows and audiobooks from Libby, Hoopla and Kanopy. The great thing about Hoopla is there is no wait! Don't forget about the kids! They can access books, ABC Mouse and more with a library card.
Note:
Several beach towns are still recovering from the hurricanes. I suggest verifying that everything you plan to do is up and running before booking the trip.
Where is your favorite beach? What tips would you add.
Written by: Gina Stegner, public relations and social media coordinator for the Kenton County Public Library. Gina loves to travel, especially to the beach.
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