We love visiting the seaside on trip, and fortuitously, there are such a lot of stunning East Coast seaside locations for households. Whereas many of those are inside simple driving distance for us to go to, there are some which might be extra of a household trip vacation spot.
Listed below are a few of the finest spots for East Coast seaside holidays. Did we miss your favourite finest East Coast seaside cities? In that case, depart us a remark under.
Disclosure: We now have visited a few of these locations for gratis for assessment. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by one in every of these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us at no extra value to you. All opinions are our personal.
Finest East Coast Seashores for Households
Massachusetts Seashores
My residence state of Massachusetts options various nice seashores for households. Most individuals instantly consider Cape Cod for Massachusetts seaside holidays and with good purpose.
Cape Cod options miles of shoreline stuffed with nice Atlantic Ocean seashores and the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore Park. These are among the many finest east coast seashores for households. As well as, there are many different enjoyable household actions on Cape Cod, together with the Cape Cod Rail Path, the Cape Cod Baseball League, and the Cape Cod inflatable park.
Whereas there are numerous choices, a few of our favorites are Outdated Silver Seashore in Falmouth, Smugglers Seashore in Yarmouth, and the seashores of Provincetown and the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore. These quintessential seaside cities provide scrumptious seafood eating places along with seashores and are a lot enjoyable.
There are additionally the islands – Nantucket and Martha’s Winery. These islands are extra of a trip spot and not likely a day journey, however they’re excellent summer season trip locations. Should you plan to go to one in every of these locations, I’d advocate that you simply plan an extended journey of three days or extra.
Nantucket and Martha’s Winery provide extra than simply seashores and get very busy in the summertime. You’ll wish to e-book your trip rental residence or lodge properly prematurely. The ferries additionally e-book up prematurely – particularly the automotive ferries.
In case you are occupied with extra of an island day journey, the Boston Harbor Islands are an incredible choice. These islands, that are a part of the Nationwide Park system, are accessible by way of public ferry. A few of them have seashores and are nice for a day journey if you’re visiting Boston for the day or dwell domestically.
North of Boston, you’ll discover Cape Ann. Cape Ann gives stunning seashores which might be nice for a day go to. Once we go to the seaside in the summertime, usually we’ll head north quite than south.
Seashores on Cape Ann embody Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Seashores in Gloucester. Parking tons for these seashores are likely to refill very early on the weekends and on scorching days, so go early.
The very best: Our decide in Massachusetts is Outdated Silver Seashore in Falmouth (keep on the Sea Crest Seashore Resort). It’s a lovely stretch of seaside that features a public seaside in addition to the half in entrance of the lodge. The Sea Crest gives chair service so that you’ll really feel pampered the entire time you might be there. It’s an off-the-cuff seaside resort that’s nice for households.
Our decide is the Sea Crest Seashore Resort
- Situated proper on the seaside
- Indoor and outside swimming pools
- Chair and umbrella service
- Seashore bar with meals
In case you are visiting the realm on trip, you possibly can see evaluations of Cape Cod resorts right here.
Maine and New Hampshire Seashores
Whereas many individuals consider the northern New England states of Maine and New Hampshire as ski locations, they’re additionally nice East Coast seaside locations.
Certainly one of my favourite seashores to go to is Ogunquit, situated in Maine proper by the New Hampshire border. Ogunquit is a vibrant seaside neighborhood with resorts (just like the Meadowmere, the place we stayed), an area summer season theater program, outlets, eating places, and extra.
Whilst you may go to Ogunquit for the day, I’d positively advocate staying there for a minimum of one evening. It’s a very enjoyable city, and there’s loads to do.
North of Ogunquit is another Maine seashores, together with Kennebunk and Acadia Nationwide Park. Simply remember that the water temps of those seashores by no means get excessive, even in August.
In New Hampshire, on the Massachusetts border, you’ll discover Hampton Seashore. This space contains resorts, eating places, and different household actions like mini golf and arcades. As a result of New Hampshire doesn’t have a lot Atlantic shoreline, this actually is your solely choice for a New Hampshire ocean seaside.
You’ll be able to mix visits to each Ogunquit and Hampton Seashore with different common household locations within the space, like Portland, Maine, Kittery, Maine, and Portsmouth, NH.
The very best: Our decide in Maine/New Hampshire is Ogunquit. The city gives a trolley, eating places, resorts, and outlets, and is so walkable. You gained’t wish to depart.
Our decide is the Meadowmere in Ogunquit
- Walkable to seaside, outlets, eating places
- Pool and thermal spa
- Household rooms
See resorts in Hampton Seashore right here.
Rhode Island Seashores
I grew up in Rhode Island, and I positively didn’t respect the beautiful seashores till I acquired older. Though Rhode Island is the smallest state in the USA, it boasts an spectacular 384 miles of shoreline.
Many guests to the realm like visiting the seashores of Newport and Newport County. These embody Goosewing Seashore in Little Compton, Easton’s Seashore (additionally referred to as First Seashore) in Newport, Second and Third Seashores in Middletown, and Fort Adams State Park (in Newport).
On the opposite aspect of the state, you’ll discover much more seashores and seaside cities. These embody Misquamicut State Seashore in Westerly, Scarborough Seashore in Narragansett, and Narragansett City Seashore in Narragansett.
This space of the state is a lovely trip vacation spot for a low-key seaside trip. There are a lot of trip leases within the space. Since Rhode Island is a small state, you possibly can simply go to the whole state throughout your trip.
Along with the mainland state, Block Island has develop into a well-liked summer season trip vacation spot. Block Island is a really small island, however it has some enjoyable actions for households.
The very best: As a local Rhode Islander, it’s robust to decide on only one. Easton’s Seashore (First Seashore) is centrally situated for a Newport household trip, and it additionally gives a small aquarium. However, if you’re in search of the perfect sand and water, I’d positively advocate Goosewing Seashore in Little Compton, RI. It’s extra of a drive, however is value it!
See Newport resorts right here.
Mid-Atlantic Seashores
The mid-Atlantic space of the USA additionally gives some seaside locations for households. Just like the seashores in New England, the mid-Atlantic seashores are extra common in the summertime months, as a result of climate.
In Maryland, you’ll discover Ocean Metropolis Seashore, which is free and gives a 3-mile boardwalk. Ocean Metropolis Maryland hosts occasions within the metropolis, together with fireworks, seaside Olympics, and extra.
Rehoboth Seashore is situated in Delaware. It gives a one-mile boardwalk that hosts actions all year long. Each Ocean Metropolis Seashore and Rehoboth Seashore are frequently listed on “better of” seaside lists for each the USA and the East Coast.
I lately returned from a trip to Bethany Seashore Delaware. This seaside city gives the Bethany Seashore Boardwalk, which borders the general public seaside. The boardwalk space is residence to many eating places and outlets, in addition to a bandstand that provides common summer season programming. It’s a enjoyable space, and an incredible place to spend a summer season trip.
A bit additional south is Virginia Seashore. This city, named for the seaside, is definitely residence to a number of completely different seashores. Virginia Seashore is a enjoyable seaside neighborhood providing many scrumptious eating places, in addition to an aquarium. You may positively have a enjoyable household trip right here.
The very best: We love Virginia Seashore as a result of there’s a lot to do within the space. Along with the seaside, I positively advocate visiting the incredible aquarium.
Our decide is the Bethany Seashore Ocean Suites
- Location proper alongside the boardwalk
- Suites with kitchenettes
- Indoor/outside pool
- Household actions
Southern Seashores
The southern states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia are residence to many common seashores. As you head south, seaside season is certainly longer. So, these spots can truly be nice seaside locations even within the late spring.
Barrier islands equivalent to Tybee Island, the Outer Banks, Kiawah Island, Daufuskie Island, Jekyll Island Georgia, and Hilton Head Island provide seashores in addition to household actions, eating places, golf, and extra.
The very best: We liked our go to to Tybee Island. It’s close to Savannah, so it’s excellent for a day journey. But, it has such a enjoyable environment with scrumptious eating places. If you wish to keep proper on the island, we advocate getting a trip rental as a result of there aren’t many resorts.
Florida Seashores
Sunshine state is thought for its seashores on each side of the state. On the East Coast of Florida, you’ll discover Atlantic Ocean seashores, whereas the West Coast options the white sand seashores of the Gulf of Mexico.
There are such a lot of stunning seashores in Florida, so you will have loads of choices. With various world-class theme parks, nature actions, and different issues to do in Florida, you possibly can positively mix a seaside journey with an extended Florida trip.
Seashores on the East Coast of Florida embody the barrier island Amelia Island, in addition to Daytona Seashore, Hollywood Seashore, and South Seashore. Amelia Island is a enjoyable household journey vacation spot as a result of there are a number of resorts (together with the Omni Amelia Island Plantation) that embody many actions that enchantment to youngsters.
On the Gulf Coast, the seashores have stunning white sand. We lately spent spring break on Clearwater Seashore and liked the attractive seaside. It’s been rated the highest seaside in the USA, and I can positively perceive why. Go to within the spring for the extremely enjoyable Sugar Sand Pageant.
Destin and Fort Walton are two different Florida seaside locations which might be common with households. Beloved by Southerners, these seashores are a little bit of a hidden gem with others.
With hotter climate than the remainder of the East Coast, Florida seashores are extra of a year-round vacation spot (though they are often chilly within the winter months and early spring/late fall).
The very best: In a state stuffed with beautiful seashores, Clearwater Seashore positively stands out. It gives sugar-white sand seashores, household festivals all year long, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, scrumptious eating places, and dozens of lodge choices.
