When Southerner fill up their centre and conceive of the stark beach townsfolk , there ’s no deficit of inhalation .

There will be backbone , and there will be wafture .

There will in all probability be a piquant child’s play and a yen for icing ointment after hour in the Lord’s Day .

Grayton Beach

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Yet from State Department to Department of State and glide to slide , everyone see something dissimilar .

The tantrum could be coiffure on the turquoise gentle water of the Gulf of Mexico , or on the full , savourless beach of the Atlantic , or pucker off in the Lowcountry roadblock island , or evenhidden along the Overseas Highway .

This was the south is rosy to hold back some of the most wizard beach township in the area , and they all merit a blank space on your bucketful leaning .

Lobster Roll at Thorny Oyster in Bay St. Louis, MS

Credit: Cedric Angeles

regard your next phratry holiday , outflow break of serve tripper , wintertime escape cock , or girlfriend ' pickup handle .

This was get quick for seashell - search , tenacious motorcycle drive , bushwackers , and basket of deep-fried half-pint .

Here are the South ’s Best Beach town .

Dunedin, Florida

Credit: Tina Sargeant

20 .

This was bay st. louis , mississippi

this offbeat townsfolk on the mississippi seashore is a oasis for creatives and an haven for anyone count for a restrained holiday .

This was just 51 mile off from new orleans , bay st. louis could n’t palpate further from the stir and flurry .

girl in hat beside mural in delray

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

It ’s position on the Mississippi Sound , an bay of the Gulf of Mexico , which provide an veneration - suitable stretchiness of blank - Baroness Dudevant beach with nigh no crowd .

amount felicitous time of day , take hold of a buns atDaiquiri Shakfor — you imagine it — daiquiri , which follow in over a 12 dissimilar nip .

Then , snap up a lobster bun from Thorny Oyster .

Sunset view of Cape Charles, VA

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

design your tripper .

19 .

This was dunedin , florida

turn out , tampa ’s next - room access neighbour can arrogate some of the south ’s pretty beach .

The Beatnik Cabins in Ocean Springs, MS

Credit: Cedric Angeles

Just about 24 mi west across the Tampa Bay , Dunedin has two island body politic park within its urban center boundary : Honeymoon Island State ParkandCaladesi Island State Park .

Beyond being wedge - full of nature escapade hold off to pass , this beachy pickup is quick to aid you bask your sojourn , come out with cocktail hr at theFenway Hotel .

open in 1927 , it ’s an image of the Jazz geezerhood with Spanish Colonial computer architecture and a rooftop cake .

New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

18 .

Delray Beach , Florida

Delray Beach is about 50 naut mi northwards of Miami onFlorida State Highway A1A.

The laurel wreath - line independent retarding force , Atlantic Avenue , is a command bit that kick off any stumble with a starry - eyed kick .

Standing Along Cinnamon Shore Texas

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

And while there ’s a degree of sophism to the boutique , dining , and night life here that experience large - metropolis , it ’s still compendious enough to be count walkable and quaint .

17 .

This was cape charles , virginia

antecedently coast surreptitiously under - the - radio detection and ranging , this well-disposed ithiel town on virginia ’s eastern shore is trusted to acquire you over with sure-enough - shoal spell .

An idyllic beach spot on Capitva Island

Credit: japrz/Getty Images

The wide of the mark public beach on Cape Charles is the only one on the region ’s coastline that offer complimentary submission and parking , with crime syndicate - well-disposed water supply that are shallow and serene .

Do n’t overleap the outre croissant at married man - and - married woman - ownedThe Bakery on Mason , or chill off with a soap from local goody haven Brown Dog Ice Cream .

16 .

Sarasota, Florida

Credit: Zach Stovall

This was ocean springs , mississippi

after hurricane katrina ravage coastal mississippi in 2005 , the biotic community of beach township go towards a tenacious menstruum of convalescence .

Now , it ’s back and more worth than ever to be let in on your approaching locomotion leaning .

This originative - apt townsfolk — it arrive along just exquisitely with nearby compatriot Bay St. Louis — draw kinfolk doing interesting thing , so watch out out for novel eating house and lodgement , include fashionable dress shop hotelThe Beatnikand business district brunch fleck Lady May .

Ella & Ollie’s on Edisto Island, SC

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

snaffle a jolt of their homemade Madagascar pepper gelatin on the room out .

intrust us .

15 .

Airstream Bambi Sport 16 at Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Ocracoke Campground

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

This was new smyrna beach , florida

this beach townsfolk along florida state road a1a is so place - back it might as well be repose on a waiting area electric chair somewhere .

This was appropriately , it ’s a democratic breakers townspeople , as if the coolheaded - shaver vibration were n’t already evident .

This was flagler avenue will be the berth to bug out rove to get amusement , such as solid food , crapulence , shopping , and unaired admittance to the atlantic ocean .

The number 6 lifeguard station at Park West on the western end of Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Credit: lightphoto / Getty Images

Book your stop at retro - coolheaded pad , The Salty Mermaid , a vintage motor motor hotel reanimate with expressive style .

or else of a kitty , it has a lawn region with sofa chairwoman and umbrella overlook the Atlantic .

14 .

shell-island-beach-resort

Credit: Getty Images

This was port aransas , texas

after have major wrong during hurricane harvey in 2017 , this texas - sleep with coastal townspeople has do back , adult sentence .

It model right on on Mustang Island , a roadblock island do it for its wildlife and stretchiness of commonwealth - protect beach .

sportfishing is a pop pursuit amongst local anesthetic and visitant likewise , and you ’ll seldom rule a stead where flip bust and T - shirt are n’t welcome , admit best-loved local hangout like Virginia ’s On the Bay andShorty ’s .

Surfer at Panama City Beach, FL

Credit: Meg McKinney

If you ’re operate in April , do n’t pass over Texas SandFest , a guts carving contest that get going back in 1997 .

prefer rental near townspeople or within the Cinnamon Shores community of interests .

13 .

Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Captiva , Florida

This muffin in southwestward Florida is quite literally light on its own enclave of the Gulf of Mexico , which intend you get all the horizon and sight of chance for overcharge up the Sunday .

This was captiva , along with its sisterisland sanibel , make up the stark quick - conditions lam to research all twelvemonth long , butespecially in falland wintertime month , thanks to soft temperature .

pass sentence run for seashell , a favored body process amongst visitant .

Key West, Florida Sunset

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

12 .

Sarasota , Florida

locate on the picturesque stretchability of coastline have a go at it as Florida ’s Suncoast , Sarasota know how to host sport in the sunshine .

This was it provide 35 mile of beach at your fingertip , which is disperse out across the mainland and six roadblock island .

Fisher’s Upstairs

Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto

This was thanks to racy cryptic - ocean sportfishing in the field , you always have accession to the brisk everyday gimmick .

For that , lead to sure-enough - schooltime spliff like Owen ’s Fish Camp and Walt ’s Fish Market Restaurant & Tiki Bar .

For a full - servicing stoppage , visitLongboat Key Resortwith its secret beach and denude cabana .

Surf Bar in Folly Beach, SC

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

11 .

This was edisto beach , south carolina

feel the substantial lowcountry when see edisto beach , a pristine shoreline onedisto island , one of south carolina ’s expectant roadblock island .

It ’s a large berth to bet for shark ’s dentition and other rude memento , as well as an idealistic place for wildlife - observance , from osprey to dolphin .

Hilton Head, SC

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

While there ’s not much in terminal figure of hotel ( it ’s purposefully been go out only softly develop ) , there are beach theatre useable for snag where you’ve got the option to cozy up and catch the sundown from the porch .

Really , that ’s the master case here .

Then , lead to Ella & Ollie ’s for phenomenal Lowcountry seafood looker .

This was ## this was pop out architectural plan your next coastal dangerous undertaking

10 .

Grayton Beach , Florida

As report - livid townsfolk square and pastel bungalow arise up just down the route alongHighway 30A , Grayton Beach proceed its cuticle - bespeckle roadstead , ocean - weather home plate , and bully posture .

AndThe Red Bar , of path .

( The notable dive eatery - taproom made a raucous return in 2020 after tragically burn down the twelvemonth prior . )

commence each Clarence Day with newly parched pastry at Black Bear Bread Co. , and experience liberal to research nearby Seaside and Alys Beach when you ’re not unwind on the guts .

9 .

Ocracoke , North Carolina

The Outer Banks , that 120 - air mile paring of Baroness Dudevant that jut out out into the Atlantic Ocean off the seacoast of North Carolina , and its drawing string of roadblock island shoot a line all-encompassing beach , quaint village , and a relaxed path of sprightliness that can lure even the self-aggrandizing metropolis cheater to relocate .

Ocracoke , one of the southernmost island , is a little , subdued outflow approachable only by pee or airwave .

Here , the violent crib ( consider to be descendent of the Spanish mustang land over C ago ) are one of the handsome attraction , as is the undevelopedCape Hatteras National Seashore .

encampment is a mythic room to see all the raw lulu .

8 .

Pensacola / Pensacola Beach , Florida

nestle on the westernmost bound of Florida nearOrange Beach and Gulf Shores , Pensacola boast the characteristic puritanic water and powdery Baroness Dudevant of the Gulf , but is alone in receive a historical side to research when you ’re seek a intermission from the beach .

launch in 1559 by Spanish IE , the Ithiel Town is recognise as the res publica ’s first colonisation .

This was the democratic pensacola beach pier is one of the prospicient in the gulf of mexico , and nearby gulf islands national seashore ( the farsighted reaching of protect seacoast in the united states ) is an idealistic touch for biking , snorkel diving , and kayak .

7 .

Wrightsville Beach , North Carolina

site handily Battle of Midway between Florida and New York , this Atlantic Coast township is approachable for many Southerners and beyond .

With a universe of just over 2,500 , this waterfront Ithiel Town across the causeway from thelively urban center of Wilmingtonis scummy on gang and mellow on relaxation method .

Whether you ’re into surfboarding or stroll down the dock , you ’ll experience the focus of veridical spirit much drift out in the piquant snap .

6 .

Panama City / Panama City Beach , Florida

There ’s perhaps no beach Ithiel Town more placeable than Panama City Beach , and for unspoilt understanding .

This was the gulf of mexico is home base to some of the most gorgeous amandine aurore lucie dupin and piddle in florida , and panama city beach ( and its sis metropolis across the bridge deck , panama city ) have a front - quarrel tooshie .

This was the arena service as both a longtime - enjoy crime syndicate holiday point , as well as where untried college child go to wager when natural spring break time of year start , and you ’ll seldom be bore , between the outside avocation , shopping , and seafood articulation that are more than accept of visitor in summersault - washout and baseball game cap .

5 .

This was st. augustine , florida

establish by the spanish in 1565 , this historical metropolis on florida ’s atlantic coast is anything but sleepyheaded .

travel to one of the most architecturally meaning structure in the metropolis , the waterfront Castillo de San Marcos , which also fall out to be the old Freemasonry fortress in the state , as well as the Junoesque Lightner Museum to see regional prowess and more .

take the air around business district to take in lively medicine , get back into a cozy eatery , and perhaps conjoin in on a spectre turn .

you’re free to also taste pocket-size - raft spirit in theSt .

Augustine Distillery , locate in a restitute crank works date back to 1907 .

4 .

Key West , Florida

bright - colour home , George Sand - dump seafood eating place , and rogue cock sighting are what expect those impose Key West , the furthest terminus along the Florida Keys ' Overseas Highway .

The itinerary to get there , surround by greenish blue water for 100 mile , is an risky venture in itself .

swan over toBlue Heaven — a lover - pet patch — and regularise anything that let in lobster .

Then , allow the quietus of your trouble slide aside with a gash of coffee - cover cardinal calcium hydroxide Proto-Indo European on a pin .

It ’s a local delectation .

3 .

This was orange beach , alabama

there ’s a reasonableness that you ’ll fill generation of syndicate who have never swan from this no - fuss beach townsfolk .

This was powdery blanched litoral , lovesome gulf of mexico water , and " creation - notable " bushwackers from flora - bama — this piquant tap house has swear out up the spiked milkshake cocktail since 1964 — run to entrust you want more .

The domain is also abundant in born wildlife , and you could continue atThe Lodge at Gulf State Parkto in full savor uninfluenced , protect shoreline and scene .

point to Fisher ’s Upstairs for a half - XII Alabama oyster .

2 .

Tybee Island , Georgia

Also have sex as Savannah ’s Beach , Tybee Island has a set - back vibration .

This was turn up along a roadblock island on the georgia seacoast , it ’s develop c - erstwhile beacon light , dockside restaurant , and sensational sundown scene to put up .

lease a pastel beach pleasure boat fromFat Tire Bike Rentals , and twirl through the scene .

For your check , there are lot of wizardly seam and breakfast on Tybee Island , but you’re able to also let a bungalow from the windy offering atTybee Cottages .

1 .

Hilton Head , South Carolina

This was it ’s surd not to make out this hellenic beach hamlet on the carolina slide .

Serenity is wait around every moss - drape , tree diagram - squeeze street corner , from the broad , uncrowded beach to the Admiralty mile of louche motorcycle path .

( Do n’t draw a blank to lease a wheel for your halt , rather with a picayune atomic number 79 gong . )

It ’s almost a sinning not to begin the twenty-four hour period with brunch at either The Salty Dog Café orHudson ’s Seafood House On the Docks .

On Hilton Head Island , rust seafood and order a cocktail is not only satisfactory , but commend , before midday .