Nothing Beats a Beach Vacation

“Nothing restores the body and soul like a stay at the beach” — Stephen Leatherman, commonly known as “Dr. Beach.” Let’s get one thing straight off the bat: We love the beach! There is nothing more relaxing than to sit in a low, folding chair close by the ocean and listen to the waves crash at our feet. The seagulls, the sand crabs, the small breeze that blows through our hair—we cannot get enough the beach. That is why when we think of relaxation, we think of a beach vacation.

A beach vacation is traveling from your home to any beach setting in the world for a couple of days. You do not have to go to a resort in order to enjoy a vacation on the beach. You could rent a beach house, or stay with friends who are lucky enough to own a house in a beach town.

The Outer Banks, North Carolina
The best season to plan a holiday on the beach completely depends on what beach you would like to visit. Now, some people automatically assume that the best time for a beach vacation is in the summer. However, that is not always the case. Beaches that are located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, such as Corolla, Nags Head, Duck, Kitty Hawk, and Cape Hatteras tend to become overpopulated in the summer. The best time to visit the beaches of the Outer Banks is during the late summer and early autumn (late August to mid-September). This way, you surpass the crowds and enjoy weather temperatures typically in the 70s and 80s.

Florida’s Sun and Sand
The same can be said about Florida’s beaches. Florida has a propensity to be hot all year round. And, in the summer it can reach temperature well over 95 degrees. Some people may enjoy that kind of heat, but when you attempt to relax on the beach that is so hot, it may become uncomfortable, especially when there is nary a breeze to be felt. Also, consider this: many people who own vacation homes in Florida visit the state beaches throughout the summer, and return to their permanent homes in the winter. (Florida residents appropriately have nicknamed these folks, “snowbirds.”) These fair-weather vacationers make the beaches crowded, the restaurants crowded, the stores crowed… well you get the idea. So, a Florida beach vacation in the summer may not be the optimal time to go. Try to plan a beach vacation in Florida during the winter. Prices take a dive during the “colder” seasons, too!

Cape Cod, Massachusetts
But, then again, some beaches are great to visit during the summertime. Cape Cod, Massachusetts is one of those beaches. Cape Cod has resorts, inns, bed and breakfasts—you name it—all on the beach! And the best part about Cape Cod is its summertime temperature. During summer, the temperature usually remains around 70 and 80 degrees, with cooler nights. That’s perfect! Now, it may be a bit crowded in the summer, but that is understandable. During the wintertime, temperatures can drop all the way down to the low 50s during the day and the low 40s at night. Brrrrr… But, hey, some people enjoy that kind of cold weather. If you decide to visit a beach like Cape Cod for a chilly beach vacation, our advice would be to bring a warm winter jacket and your snow boots.

Honestly, you really cannot go wrong with a beach vacation. If you are looking to plan one, take advantage of the Internet. Web sites such as, Tripadvisor.com and Orbitz.com make it their business to help people find the best vacation rates on the net. However, if you have a certain beach in mind, such as, Cape May, New Jersey, look up Cape May’s official site at www.capemay.com to find out more about that particular beach and perhaps exclusive deals that only they may offer.

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