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 Sunset (Photo Credit: Noreen Kompanik)
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.
Ke¨¡lia 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 Kapa?a Bike Path (Ke Ala Hele Makalae) offers a coastal multi-use path with scenic ocean views, great
for biking or walking.
PHOTO: Point Arena Lighthouse. (Photo by Chelsea Davis)
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 ¡ªquiet, 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 Riverwalk on a Sunday afternoon (Photo Credit: Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau)
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 Lighthouse (Photo Credit: Visit Washington's Evergreen Coast)
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 (Photo Credit: NC's Brunswick Islands)
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, caf¨¦s, 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 Lighthouse (Photo via Noreen Kompanik)
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.
Sunset at the Dock, St. Lucie River, Stuart (Photo Credit: Marin County Office of Tourism & Marketing)
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.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
