The U.S. is home to so many coastal gems where tranquility meets untouched beauty. The joy of these smaller, hidden havens is that they provide all the benefits of a pristine paradise without the crowds, offering a charming and much slower pace of life.
From the east coast to the west and on to the Hawaiian Islands, these are places that are less visited, out-of-the-way and still virtually undiscovered.
Kapa’a, Kauai
The truly final-remaining authentic spot left on Hawaii’s Garden Isle, Kapa’a has preserved its charm in its mom-and-pop style featuring an incredible collection of local businesses that dot the Royal Coconut Coast on Kauai’s more under-the-radar East End. Visitors will find small shops, local art galleries, Hawaiian craft stores and family-owned restaurants and food trucks, instead of big-name resorts.
Keālia Beach is a long, sandy beach popular for surfing and sunbathing, Lydgate Beach Park just south of town is great for families and snorkeling thanks to protected lagoons and the Kapaʻa Bike Path (Ke Ala Hele Makalae) offers a coastal multi-use path with scenic ocean views, great for biking or walking.
Mendocino, California
The wild, untamed paradise located on the northern California coast is known for its dramatic ocean views, artsy vibe and peaceful small-town charm. Though its only about 3-4 hours north of San Francisco, Mendocino feels a world away —quiet, foggy, and surrounded by rugged natural beauty.
The town sits on bluffs above the Pacific Ocean with spectacular cliffside scenery and the charming downtown historic district is filled with Victorian buildings, galleries and locally owned shops and restaurants. Nearby, visitors can explore waterfalls, hiking trails, dramatic coastal rock formations, redwoods, fern canyons and many more quiet nature and outdoor activities.
Bradenton, Florida
Dotted with pristine sugar-white beaches, turquoise waters, no high rises and smaller crowds, Bradenton flies below the usual radar in comparison to nearby Tampa or Sarasota. Visitors can experience the unspoiled beauty, rich history and easy pace of a real, authentic Florida beach town.
Anna Maria Island sits on the Gulf side with emerald green and azure waters offering toes-in-the-sand experiences. Historic Cortez Village is home to locally owned restaurants that blend traditional flavors from the Caribbean with the freshest of Florida ingredients. Bradenton is also home to the Village of the Arts, a whimsical community where local artists live and work.
Evergreen Coast, Washington
Washington state’s Long Beach Peninsula is a place where the uniquely quirky spirit and lush natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest blend in a delightful way. The virtually undiscovered beach town with 28 miles of Pacific coastline is just a 3.5-hour drive from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Portland.
The region is home to six state parks, including one of the best in Washington, Cape Disappointment. With two functioning lighthouses, hiking trails, a camping park and stunning beach views, Long Beach Peninsula is a true coastal treasure. Pacific County produces 25 percent of the nation’s oysters. Oysterville Sea Farms is the place to see the best oyster beds and watch the boats come in and out and Goose Point Family Farm and Oystery offers samplings and oysters for purchase.
Southport, North Carolina
You’ll find no high-rises here or big-box stores. Rather, Southport, located just 40 minutes from Wilmington or Myrtle Beach offers local flavor, layered history, historic homes, sunset views and salty air, a place where time slows and you remember how to breathe.
Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade. Though Hollywood found Southport’s storybook setting in films like Safe Haven, I Know What You Did Last Summer and A Walk to Remember, the town remains blissfully free of large tourist crowds. Visitors can stroll the historic waterfront, browse indie galleries and antique shops and linger over fresh caught-seafood dishes.
Port Townsend, Washington
Situated at the northeastern tip of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend was once a renowned port of entry and lumber shipping hub. Though all that has changed, the town has managed to preserve its Victorian architecture, and its downtown and waterfront were deemed National Historic Landmarks.
Water Street features turn-of-the-century facades that house art galleries, cafés, boutique shops and lovely views of Port Townsend Bay. With its historic charm, artistic flare and coastal beauty, visitors love strolling its timeless streets and taking in the Pacific waterfront ambience. With its quiet, serene pace and cultural richness, the town is a standout destination on the Puget Sound. Its proximity to Olympic National Park makes for a great base for day trips to explore rainforests, beaches, mountains and other backcountry treasures.
St. Simons Island, Georgia
One of Georgia’s Golden Isles, St. Simons Island blends Southern hospitality, scenic beauty, rich history and a relaxed beach town vibe. Located just off Georgia’s southeastern coast, the island is accessible by a causeway from the mainland.
The unspoiled beaches are a definite draw for beachcombers, shell collectors and sandcastle builders. Live oaks all throughout the island drip with Spanish moss and the picturesque, still working, iconic St. Simons Lighthouse offers stunning views from the top. Pier Village is a lively, walkable heart of the island packed with charming, locally owned businesses and the entire town offers the freshest seafood and coastal Southern cuisine.
Stuart, Florida
The quaint beach town of Stuart in southeastern Florida has garnished numerous awards as “Best Coastal Small Town,” “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” and more.
Historic downtown Stuart is speckled with grand fountains, colorful murals, the picturesque St. Lucie River with its “Riverfront” boardwalk just feet away with a collection of unique shops. The town sports a former silent movie theatre from the 1920s, a farmers’ market in Flagler Park, and lifeguard protected Stuart Beach offers dining, volleyball and basketball courts and free rolling beach wheelchairs for visitors with mobility needs.
Goleta, California
Just ten minutes north of Santa Barbara, Goleta is a lesser-known coastal escape on the Santa Barbara south coast that offers serene beaches, picturesque natural spaces the area is known for and a much quieter, laid-back atmosphere without the crowds.
A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Goleta is ideal for kayaking along the pristine Gaviota Coast to hiking through Ellwood Mesa Preserve, home to the famous Goleta Butterfly Grove. Goleta Beach remains one of the area’s best-kept secrets with a mix of sandy shorelines, a 1,500-foot fishing pier and miles of paved biking trails. The estuary that flows into the Pacific attracts diverse bird species, making it a prime spot for birdwatching.
Beaufort, South Carolina
From its charming historic streets to oak-shaded homes and waterfront scenes, Beaufort, the second-oldest city in South Carolina, is often referred to as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands.”
Nestled on Port Royal Island within the South Carolina Lowcountry, the entire downtown area is designated a National Historic Landmark District, celebrated for its antebellum architecture, moss-draped live oaks, cobbled streets and sweet Southern charm. The Gullah culture of Beaufort is one of the most historically rich and uniquely preserved African American cultures in the U.S.
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