- previous
- 1
- 2
- | single page
HB firepit: City-maintained firepits add to the festive atmosphere as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach, California (Huntington Beach Marketing & Visitors Bureau / May 15, 2012) |
-
Photo: Gulf sunset: Spectacular shades of pink color the evening sky as the sun sets along the Gulf Coast beaches in Alabama.
-
Photo: On Alabama's Gulf Coast, there's a lot of history to go with the cottages and sand. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
-
Photo: HB surfers: Surfing is a year-round activity along the long strand in Huntington Beach, California
-
Photo: Saugatuck gulls: Seagulls frolic along the sand dunes in Saugatuck, Michigan
-
Photo: With 24 miles between the North Carolina mainland and Ocracoke Island, the sand won't be mobbed.
-
Photo: The streets of Saugatuck, Mich., harbor a wealth of shops and galleries.
-
Photo: Beach scene
- Restaurants
- Dining and Drinking
- Beaches
-
See more topics »
-
-
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
-
Gulf Shores, AL, USA
-
Orange Beach, AL, USA
-
Ocracoke, NC, USA
-
Saugatuck, MI, USA
Visitor info: 800-745-7263, gulfshores.com; Lulu's at Homeport: 251-967-5858, lulubuffett.com
Ocracoke Island
At the southern tip of North Carolina's Outer Banks, intrepid families will discover Ocracoke Island.
Home to only a few hundred folks and some of the country's finest beaches, the island's remote location 24 miles offshore makes getting there part of the vacation adventure, because it's accessible only by ferry or private boat or plane.
Kicking back on the miles of isolated, unpopulated white beaches is the big draw to Ocracoke. But the village still has its share of shops and restaurants. When it comes to lodging, everything from camping to B&Bs to hotels is available.
Ocracoke is home to the nation's second-oldest lighthouse still in use, and it's an often-photographed attraction. Sport fishing and scuba diving among the many shipwrecks also are popular.
Don't worry about getting lost. One two-lane road stretches the length of the island.
Visitor info: 252-928-6711, ocracokevillage.com
Saugatuck, Mich.
Known as Michigan's Art Coast, the sister towns of Saugatuck and Douglas snuggle along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, where soaring sand dunes invite exploration.
Long popular with Midwesterners, Saugatuck now draws crowds from much farther afield, thanks to a growing community of artists. Galleries and studios dot the downtown, and outdoor sculptures can be seen seemingly on every corner.
For those who've soaked in enough sun or culture, a lengthy boardwalk beckons with ice cream parlors and cafes.
A popular, convenient way to get from downtown to Oval Beach, across the Kalamazoo River, is aboard the Saugatuck Chain Ferry. Using their own muscle-power, crew members using pulleys move the vessel back and forth across the waterway. The trip costs a dollar.
Since 1954, families have been enjoying dune rides in oversized Jeeps that climb and then, sometimes harrowingly, descend the mountains of sand. It's the local alternative to a roller coaster, and the setting's far more special than an amusement park.
Visitor info: 269-857-1701, saugatuck.com
ctc-travel@tribune.com
Ocracoke Island
At the southern tip of North Carolina's Outer Banks, intrepid families will discover Ocracoke Island.
Home to only a few hundred folks and some of the country's finest beaches, the island's remote location 24 miles offshore makes getting there part of the vacation adventure, because it's accessible only by ferry or private boat or plane.
Kicking back on the miles of isolated, unpopulated white beaches is the big draw to Ocracoke. But the village still has its share of shops and restaurants. When it comes to lodging, everything from camping to B&Bs to hotels is available.
Ocracoke is home to the nation's second-oldest lighthouse still in use, and it's an often-photographed attraction. Sport fishing and scuba diving among the many shipwrecks also are popular.
Don't worry about getting lost. One two-lane road stretches the length of the island.
Visitor info: 252-928-6711, ocracokevillage.com
Saugatuck, Mich.
Known as Michigan's Art Coast, the sister towns of Saugatuck and Douglas snuggle along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, where soaring sand dunes invite exploration.
Long popular with Midwesterners, Saugatuck now draws crowds from much farther afield, thanks to a growing community of artists. Galleries and studios dot the downtown, and outdoor sculptures can be seen seemingly on every corner.
For those who've soaked in enough sun or culture, a lengthy boardwalk beckons with ice cream parlors and cafes.
A popular, convenient way to get from downtown to Oval Beach, across the Kalamazoo River, is aboard the Saugatuck Chain Ferry. Using their own muscle-power, crew members using pulleys move the vessel back and forth across the waterway. The trip costs a dollar.
Since 1954, families have been enjoying dune rides in oversized Jeeps that climb and then, sometimes harrowingly, descend the mountains of sand. It's the local alternative to a roller coaster, and the setting's far more special than an amusement park.
Visitor info: 269-857-1701, saugatuck.com
ctc-travel@tribune.com