Favorite US beaches, other than SoWal

[BeachbumAggie]

Me and my girlfriends will all by 40 by the summer of 2013 so we're starting to plan our bday trip. We all agree on the beach, one is afraid to leave the country (her redneck hubby has clearly brainwashed her). I'm looking for feedback on your favorite US beaches. We've all been to Destin and SoWal and we all love the area but we're wanting to try a new location for this big bday trip (and we'll all be coming to Destin or SoWal with our families some other time that same summer )

I hated South Beach-not my crowd. Hubby and I love Key West but their beaches are only so so, although I wouldn't rule out some other keys. Sanibel was pretty but was a bit on the elderly side with very little to do. Some friends really like Anna Maria and that seems to have possibilities. I'd love to go to Hawaii with the girls but not sure that everyone can swing a week away or the money for Hawaii.

 

[Minnie]

We love Hilton Head Island, one of the most visited beach areas in America. You can also take a great day trip to Savannah, Ga from HHI and Beaufort, SC which are both really great areas to visit.

If you want something less developed then Kiawah is great.

 

[beachmouse]

Don't know if you've ever spent much time in the Midwest, but I dearly love the Michigan side of Lake Michigan. You can find sand dunes second to only the Sahara desert in size, charming beach towns (Saugatuck is seriously the XL version of Grayton Beach) winery tours, any number of beach choices from urban to essentially deserted, a day trip to Mackinac Island if you find yourself in the Traverse City area (awesome place and the Grand Hotel is a must-see but not terribly beachy IMO) and weather that's generally like a SoWal October.

 

[GoodWitch58]

There is no other place like Sowal IMO, but if you can't get to Hawaii (Maui in particular), I would recommend the coast of Oregon--Cannon Beach is especially nice. Completely different from Sowal, but beautiful in its own way.

Or the coast of Maine--again, completely different from here; I also love exploring the coasts of South Carolina--Sullivan's Island is a favorite of mine, but for completely different reasons than I like Sowal.

So, if you are looking for different, I think you can find it in many places--but if you are looking to replicate Sowal--that's not possible IMO.

 

[BeachbumAggie]

I'd love to go back to Maui and none of the other girls have been to Maui, some have been to whichever island Honolulu is on-is that the Big Island? but that's it.

We all agree that we want warm and weather and water so I think the NW and far NE is out.

We're gonna try to talk redneck girl into going out of the country so I guess I need to expand my search to outside of the US.

I went to Savannah and Hilton Head years ago and thought the area was really pretty so I think that's in the running. My folks went to Kiawah but found it rather boring and ended up spending a lot of time in Charleston which they loved.

I see a trip to the bookstore for some research on my horizon!

 

[GoodWitch58]

I'd love to go back to Maui and none of the other girls have been to Maui, some have been to whichever island Honolulu is on-is that the Big Island? but that's it.

We all agree that we want warm and weather and water so I think the NW and far NE is out.

We're gonna try to talk redneck girl into going out of the country so I guess I need to expand my search to outside of the US.

I went to Savannah and Hilton Head years ago and thought the area was really pretty so I think that's in the running. My folks went to Kiawah but found it rather boring and ended up spending a lot of time in Charleston which they loved.

I see a trip to the bookstore for some research on my horizon!

It's Oahu

You might consider the British Virgin Islands then...especially if you also like to sail. You can sail into some beautiful coves and have the beach all to yourself...or there are great resorts and villas to rent.
Belize is another fun place; but, also a bit more in the natural eco-tourism mode -- they have Mayan ruins that are fun to explore and not so commercial.

Greek Islands, Portugal, South of France....actually in August I think you would find both Maine and Oregon coasts pretty warm...water might not be warm enough for you though.
Good luck! There are lots of places to choose from.

 

[happy2Bme]

Me and my girlfriends will all by 40 by the summer of 2013 so we're starting to plan our bday trip. We all agree on the beach, one is afraid to leave the country (her redneck hubby has clearly brainwashed her). I'm looking for feedback on your favorite US beaches. We've all been to Destin and SoWal and we all love the area but we're wanting to try a new location for this big bday trip (and we'll all be coming to Destin or SoWal with our families some other time that same summer )

I hated South Beach-not my crowd. Hubby and I love Key West but their beaches are only so so, although I wouldn't rule out some other keys. Sanibel was pretty but was a bit on the elderly side with very little to do. Some friends really like Anna Maria and that seems to have possibilities. I'd love to go to Hawaii with the girls but not sure that everyone can swing a week away or the money for Hawaii.

Longboat Key or Anna Maria Island, near Sarasota, are both good choices.....good age mix, great shopping opportunities (St. Armands Circle at Lido Beach in Sarasota), great restaurants (like Colombia!--primo Colombian food--lunch or dinner at St. Armands Circle), usually-pleasant locals, and pristine beaches (for now). There will be lots of other visitors as well, so you'll "blend in".

 

[Beach Runner]

The beaches on the east coast that we've frequented many times are like parking lots -- hard-packed sand and ugly water. I'm talking about many visits to Myrtle Beach, Isle of Palms, Fripp, Hilton Head, Kiawah, The Cloister, Jekyll Island, Amelia Island, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedre, West Palm, Hollywood, and Miami Beach. Don't get me wrong -- we've had many great times at these places, but the experience doesn't compare to 30A beaches.

I frankly haven't been to any of the beaches on the west coast of the lower peninsula of Florida since I was a child (went there every spring break), so I can't judge them properly.

Panhandle of Florida -- .

I like the beach areas in Southern California, but the beaches themselves don't compare to SoWal.

I love the Maui beach experience, but again it doesn't compare to SoWal beaches. That being said, if the flight weren't so damn long, I'd go back to The Four Seasons in Wailea in a flash.

I can also give my opinions about beaches outside the U.S., but that's off topic.

 

[Arkiehawg]

California Coast Vacation Packages, The Ritz-Carlton, Northern California Coast Hotel

Half Moon Bay, California is beautiful.

Beaches are not fantastic compared to our paradise, but it is a different type of coastal beauty. The cliffs are amazing and in the fall the fog rolls in making it a great place to snuggle by a firepit while drinking wine..... Great Golf courses and terrific walking paths. If you are really adventurous, they have some of the toughest surfing waves on coast.

The Ritz is top notch and ideal for a very romantic vacation. San Francisco is nearby and the Wine Country is down the road. That entire area has a lot to offer.


Arkiehawg gives it 4 1/2 Snouts out of 5........;-)

 

[Minnie]

I'd love to go back to Maui and none of the other girls have been to Maui, some have been to whichever island Honolulu is on-is that the Big Island? but that's it.

We all agree that we want warm and weather and water so I think the NW and far NE is out.

We're gonna try to talk redneck girl into going out of the country so I guess I need to expand my search to outside of the US.

I went to Savannah and Hilton Head years ago and thought the area was really pretty so I think that's in the running. My folks went to Kiawah but found it rather boring and ended up spending a lot of time in Charleston which they loved.

I see a trip to the bookstore for some research on my horizon!

If you can talk to the one about going out of the country then that opens all kinds of possibilities. I agree about Kiawah, my brother loved it but we prefered HHI where there is more to see and do. Love being able to ride your bike easily on the beach and go horse back riding.

You can take a boat excursion from HHI to Savannah which is fun.