Top 10 Memorial Day beach destinations
Nantucket's an ideal New England retreat
To celebrate the official start of summer, Cheapflights has searched coast to coast for the top beach destinations to check out this Memorial Day weekend. Whether you’re looking for a quiet seascape to catch up on the novel you’ve been dying to start, or a bustling coastal town to shop ‘til you drop, we’ve got the perfect shore spot for you. With just enough time remaining for you to book your flight and jet out of town, let’s get started.
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Renowned for its East Coast vibe, Hilton Head offers quintessential beach activities for couples and families alike. Spend your days biking the 100 miles of cycling trails throughout the Atlantic island – breaking only to catch waves, soak up the sun and savor the area’s fabulous restaurants. For cheap grub, head to the Sea Shack and roll up your sleeves for affordable shrimp, crab and blackened fresh fish. At night, check out The Salty Dog Café. A $5 admission is required to get in the restaurant, situated on a resort plantation, but the nightly live music and souvenir T-shirt you’re bound to buy make it well worth it.
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Hermosa Beach, California
The year-round beach destination pulls out all the stops every Memorial Day weekend for Fiesta Hermosa. Hundreds of vendors set up shop along Hermosa Avenue, Pier Avenue and Pier Plaza in downtown Hermosa for three days of great food, drinks and live music. Kids can switch between amusement park rides and sand castles until 6 p.m. nightly as parents peruse local shops and the ever-popular beer garden.
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The Gulf Coast, Mississippi
Sailboats, casinos and spectacular beaches await you on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast this Memorial Day weekend. The recovering seaside region has made wonderful strides in the past few years, and is burgeoning with festivities the whole family will enjoy. Mosey over to the Gulfport Dragway for the 29th Annual Gulfport Memorial Day Blowout, a four-day event of racing, flea markets and live music. After the awards ceremony, set sail on a chartered boat and play fisherman with one of the many charter companies in the area. By night you can check out one – or all – of the 11 casinos for a game of roulette or swanky dinner out.
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Nantucket, Massachusetts
For the ultimate in New England living, put your Nantucket Reds on and head to Figawi Race Weekend this Memorial Day to watch the finest sailors in the country race wondrous yachts from Cape Cod to the island of Nantucket. The preppy vacation spot, just a few hours south of Boston, offers some of the finest beaches in the nation. Simply hop a ferry, bring a good book and umbrella, and take in the intoxicating salt air for hours each day.
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New Jersey at its finest in Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Join vacationing crowds of Philadelphians for fireworks and festivities this holiday weekend in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Just two hours by car from the City of Brotherly Love, Stone Harbor is a quaint town situated between Atlantic City and Cape May. Wake up early to beat the crowds waiting in line for fluffy pancakes at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House and after, stroll the strip of shops in the seaside village’s downtown. After days of bike riding and body surfing, catch a proper small town parade on Sunday at noon along the town’s main drag.
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Chincoteague, Virginia
This charming hideout, renowned for its wild horses, is a regular on the country’s top beach lists and simply perfect for a long weekend escape from the nation’s hurried capital. Check out the Pony Centre, the beach trails, or take a day trip across the channel to explore Chincoteague’s uninhabited sister island, Assateague. On Sunday, head over to Robert Reed Park for the traditional Blessing of the Fleet to usher in the fishing and boating season, then make your way down to the dock for the free musical stylings of local Americana band Three Sheets.
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Chicago, Illinois
Blend the relaxation of the beach with the thrill of the big city. Chicago’s summer-long love affair with street festivals begins Memorial Day weekend, so check out the 27th annual Belmont/Sheffield Musical Festival the city’s hip Lakeview neighborhood. The Memorial Day Parade kicks off downtown Saturday at noon. If your interests are more active, check out the Fleet Feet Sports Soldier Field 10 Mile run on Saturday morning, or Bike the Drive on Lakeshore Drive on Sunday morning. If that all sounds a little exhausting, just head to the popular beachfront that spans the vertical length of the city, kick back and relax.
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Sanibel Island, Florida
To channel the wildlife lover in you, visit Sanibel Island this Memorial Day, located just west of Fort Myers on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The 12-mile island offers rustic beaches, unsullied by tourists and snowbirds. Collect shells and birdwatch along the coast before heading out to sea with a local snorkeling or scuba diving company. If you’ve got a license, charter your own boat for an afternoon of fishing, and catch dinner – or make like common folk and head to one of the many locally owned island eateries. To preserve its charm and authenticity, the island restricts chain restaurants and shops.
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Jump off cliffs at Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay, Hawaii
Situated on Oahu’s North Shore, Waimea Bay is home to some of the gnarliest waves in the whole Pacific. But by Memorial Day weekend, those swells chill out a bit, paving way for a serene summer spot for swimming and frolicking. Jump off cliffs as high as 18 feet if you’ve got the courage, or simply admire the turquoise seas and magnificent horizon. You won’t find hot dogs and fireworks at Waimea Bay this holiday weekend, so go only if dazzling sunsets and natural wonders spark your interest.
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Del Mar, California
Before you partake in San Diego’s boatload of holiday weekend activities, visit Del Mar, a spectacular beach just 30 minutes north of the city. Paddle board the day away, and then give your arms a rest by strolling along the white-sand beaches of California’s coastline. Once you’ve basked in the sunlight long enough, U-turn back to the city for parties and restaurant specials in the Gaslamp Quarter, a bustling district in downtown San Diego.
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(Images: Eric Hokanson, Barry Peters, Shayan)
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My family has had a home in stone harbor for decades. The town and beaches are terrific all summer long, and well into the “off” season… the end of September is among my favorite times to go – the water is at its warmest, the weather is still beautiful and the crowds are mostly thinned out. Also, Uncle Bill’s is fine, but about a block away on 3rd avenue is another small breakfast joint called “Polly’s Place.” Its not much to look at, but the food is marginally better than Uncle Bill’s (the breakfast sandwiches are probably the best hangover cure ever), and if you can score a seat on the outdoor patio overlooking the bay, so much the better. Eating eggs and watching the boats come and go is awesome. Stone Harbor is definitely worth a visit, and is a great alternative to more popular nearby destinations like Sea Isle City or Wildwood. Its quieter, the beaches are nicer and less crowded, and the ambience is more upscale. A word to the wise if youre plannign a Stone Harbor trip – dont speed on the island!! The police are notorious for catching speeders, and will not let you get away with it. Otherwise, enjoy your trip!!
[...] to CheapFlights.com, San Diego County is in the Top 10 of this years Memorial Day Destinations. And with over 70 miles [...]
[...] to CheapFlights.com, San Diego County is in the Top 10 of this years Memorial Day Destinations. And with over 70 miles [...]
[...] Mainz/Getty Images) Best Memorial Day Beaches In San Diego: Tanningview galleryAccording to CheapFlights.com, San Diego County is in the Top 10 of this years Memorial Day Destinations. And with over 70 miles [...]
Hi, I have visited many beaches throughout the US. and my favorite are Fort Desoto/North beach in Florida, and Assateague Maryland. Excuse the spellings. Both are family friendly and with a lot of naturalist feeling. I don’t feel that either beach is crowded and we can relax and walk without worry of stones, etc. They are both beautiful beaches with different types of waves and debrea coming in. I have gone to many beaches on the East coast and a few on the West. As a family person we, my husband and I still prefer Assateague. My children have grown up and are no longer part of our vacation but the places that they remember and want to take their children, are those two beaches. Assateague has the bay and ocean side with so much to do and then about 15 minutes away is Ocean City with the nite life and fun activities for all ages. We stayed there also and enjoyed the comforts of home but still prefer the ponies, wildlife, calm, relaxed atmosphere, and opportunity to cook our own meals, along with the great restaurants. Fort Desota in Florida, near St. Petersburg, is the same only with a very warm water temperature of approximately 86 degrees. We stay in the campgrounds at both places. This particular campground is like a tropical island, surrounded by water, You can see many types of birds, dolphins, a other types of ocean fish right from your campsite. The water temp. is great – no shock value or waves wiping us off of our feet. My children loved the shells and other things they could see on beach. My only hope is that it would be easier to get a camp site at either place. We do not know our schedule a year in advance and that makes it harder for us to get a site at Assateague but Fort Desota keeps several sites free for walk ins (you have to be in line at 5:30 in the morning. Fort Desota does have a friendlier way of letting people into the part if you should come earlier. The let us set up in a vacant site for the nite, and we have also been allowed to set up in the parking area till morning.
I personally prefer any of the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the majority on this list. I have been to Fiesta Hermosa, and had a blast, but there is nothing like the laid back feel of the OBX. Surf in the morning, hang out at the beach the rest of the day, or fish a bit. Either way, you cant beat the OBX from the Northern Beaches to Hatteras and Ocracoke. I promise any who havent been will love it if you enjoy being at the beach