From cozy coastal towns to lively boardwalks, the East Coast has beaches for every occasion. Birthday celebration? Check. Quick day trip to re-connect with your girlfriends? Check. A summer family trip to the beach? Absolutely!
During my 10 years of living in NY, going to the beach was my favorite activity. Luckily, there are many great beach destinations on the East Coast. Here are some of my favorites.
Tybee felt like a warm exhale. The soft sand, the salty wind, the pace of life—it all slowed me down in the best way. I walked barefoot past pastel cottages and let the breeze carry away whatever I didn’t need to hold onto. I remember thinking, "This is what it feels like to be unrushed."
What I Loved Most: Watching dolphins in the surf near North Beach and climbing the Tybee Island Lighthouse for a wide-open view of the world.
My Highlights? The breezy porch lunch at The Crab Shack. I had the low country boil—shrimp, corn, sausage, and potatoes—served hot and messy and absolutely perfect. The marsh views and the sound of seagulls made it all feel like a coastal lullaby.
Travel Tips:
Where to Stay: Choose from beachfront cottages, family-friendly hotels, and charming B&Bs (check prices on Booking.com). Many accommodations are within walking distance of the shore and downtown restaurants.
Newport carries a kind of timeless grace. Walking along the Cliff Walk, with waves crashing against stone and Gilded Age mansions behind me, I felt like I had slipped into another era. I remember thinking, "So this is what it means to live beautifully." There’s charm in every salty breeze and history in every corner.
What I Loved Most: Taking in the view from the lawn at The Breakers and getting lost in old stories during a mansion tour.
My Highlights? A sun-drenched lunch at The Black Pearl on Bannister’s Wharf. I ordered the clam chowder (thick, rich, unforgettable) and a buttery lobster roll. Watching boats bob in the harbor while sipping iced tea, I felt entirely present.
Travel Tips:
Ocean City felt like stepping back into a kinder, slower world. Families rode bikes on the boardwalk, kids laughed over sticky cotton candy, and the Atlantic sparkled like it was proud of something. I remember thinking, "Maybe happiness really is this simple." There’s something beautiful in a beach town that doesn’t try too hard.
What I Loved Most: Watching sunrise from the sand, then wandering the boardwalk with nowhere to be and nothing to prove.
My Highlights? A boardwalk brunch at OC Surf Café. I had a Jersey Shore Benedict with crab cakes and Old Bay hollandaise, plus a peach smoothie. The open-air breeze made everything taste brighter.
Travel Tips:
Cape Cod has a way of making space for reflection. From dunes and lighthouses to small harbor towns, everything whispers, "Take your time." I remember thinking, "This is what it means to be still and grateful." Each village had its own rhythm, but the ocean tied it all together.
What I Loved Most: Riding bikes on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and standing barefoot in the tide at Race Point Beach.
My Highlights? A seafood dinner at The Lobster Pot in Provincetown. I ordered scallops broiled in lemon butter, with a warm roll and chilled rosé. With harbor views and a cool breeze, it felt like the whole day had led to that one bite.
Travel Tips:
Virginia Beach brought the kind of summer days that lingered in my memory. Surfers caught the early waves, the boardwalk buzzed with music and laughter, and the evenings felt endless. I remember thinking, "This is what childhood summers felt like." There was joy in the simple rhythm of sand, sea, and sun.
What I Loved Most: Walking barefoot by the water as the sky turned pink, then catching live music on the boardwalk with a cold lemonade in hand.
My Highlights? A casual seafood feast at Waterman’s Surfside Grille. I had their signature crab cakes with sweet potato fries and a fresh-squeezed Orange Crush. The ocean breeze and twinkle lights made everything glow.
Travel Tips:
Montauk felt like the last page of a long, lovely book. The wind off the ocean was stronger, the cliffs higher, and everything quieter. I remember thinking, "This is where the world ends and begins again." Whether on a sunrise beach or at the lighthouse overlook, I felt part of something bigger.
What I Loved Most: Watching the sunrise from Ditch Plains Beach and hiking to the Montauk Point Lighthouse for views that stretched into forever.
My Highlights? A sunset dinner at The Crow’s Nest. I had wood-grilled branzino with charred lemon and olive oil potatoes. Lanterns glowed, the sea was just steps away, and it felt like everything was in its right place.
Travel Tips:
Every beach on the East Coast tells its own quiet story. Some days brought salt on my skin and laughter in the air, others invited long walks and deep thoughts under wide skies. Whether I was chasing lighthouses in Montauk or eating shrimp with my fingers on Tybee, each place reminded me to be fully there—for the sounds, the silence, the sea. There’s something healing about these shores. I didn’t know I needed the reset until I had it.
Best East Coast Beaches:
Best in Georgia: Tybee Island - 20 minutes from Savannah
Best Beaches in Rhode Island: Newport - 1.5 hours from Boston
Best Beach in New Jersey: Ocean City - 1.5 hours from Philadelphia
Easiest Beaches to Get to in Massachusetts: Cape Cod
Most activities for the whole family: Virginia Beach - 3.5 hours from DC
Most secluded beach near New York City: Montauk - 3 hours from NYC
Reflections on Coastal Time
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