Beach Weekend Getaways
Sand close to your bed, a good dinner and a plan for a gray day.
Plan My GetawayA beach weekend needs only three things: sand close to your bed, somewhere good for dinner, and a back-up plan for a gray day.
Three Beach Weekends Worth Taking
Cape May, New Jersey
At the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May pairs a proper beach with a historic district of Victorian houses that is designated a National Historic Landmark. That makes it a rare beach town that is just as good in the rain: porch-lined streets to wander, house tours, a lighthouse to climb and a pedestrian mall for browsing. Bed-and-breakfasts in old houses are part of the experience, and they book up early for summer weekends.
The Outer Banks, North Carolina
This chain of barrier islands is built for unplugging: wide beaches, dunes, lighthouses and long sunsets over the sound. History fans can visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the first powered flights took off. Distances along the islands are longer than they look on a map, so for a short trip choose one area and stay there rather than trying to see the whole coast.
Sarasota and Siesta Key, Florida
Sarasota offers a Gulf beach weekend with culture on the side. Siesta Key and Lido Key have soft pale sand and calm water on good days, and The Ringling museum complex fills a morning when you need shade. Our local guide, Best of Sarasota County, covers beaches, restaurants and annual events across Sarasota and Venice.
Beach Weekends Further Afield
If you live in Hawaii, a neighbor-island hop to Oahu turns into an easy city-and-beach weekend: Waikiki in the morning, Chinatown for dinner. Visitors from out of state should know that Diamond Head now needs an entry and parking reservation for non-residents; residents enter free with a Hawaii ID. Best of Honolulu has the details on things to do around the island.
Packing for a Beach Weekend
- Two swimsuits, so one can dry
- Reef-safe sunscreen in a container no larger than the airline limit if you are flying
- A light layer for breezy evenings — beach towns cool off fast after sunset
- A paperback and a deck of cards for the gray-day plan
- Sandals you can walk in and one pair of closed shoes for dinner
Driving? Pack the beach chairs and the cooler. Flying? Leave them home and ask the hotel or rental house whether it supplies them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time for a beach weekend?
Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots in much of the country: warm enough for the sand, with fewer crowds than midsummer. Along the Atlantic and Gulf, remember that hurricane season runs from June through November, so keep an eye on forecasts and consider travel insurance.
Should I stay on the beach or in town?
For two nights, stay where you will spend your evenings. In walkable towns like Cape May that is the historic center; on long barrier islands it is the stretch nearest the beach access you plan to use.
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