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Ogunquit, ME
Dramatic drops from seaside walks and isolated coves are only a few things that make Ogunquit exceptional. It is an old fashioned vacation town, dotted with inns, cafes, and lobster shacks. It is low key, and understated. There are no high rises blocking the beach, no corporate chains, no franchises. It is a tolerant town, with a thriving artistic community. It truly lives up to its name, which translates to “beautiful place by the sea.” Although long home to native people, drawn to the area’s abundant natural resources, the first record of a permanent English settlement dates to 1641. Following the construction of a sawmill by Edmund Littlefield, settlement expanded at…
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Haystack Rock- Cannon Beach, OR
Switching from one coast to the other, here is yet another beautiful beach in anticipation of Memorial Day. With written accounts dating back to the days of Lewis and Clark, Cannon Beach and its landmark rocks have inspired all that laid eyes and flip flopped feet on its sandy shore. Including the Goonies, who used a doubloon and Haystack Rock to locate One Eyed Willie’s treasure.
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Driftwood Beach- Jekyll Island, GA
The United States has one impressive collection of beaches. From the craggy cliffs of Maine, to the white powder sand of Florida’s Gulf Coast, East Coast beaches alone vary widely based on local geology. One of the most unique beaches without a doubt is Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach. Ongoing erosion has created a ghostly gray graveyard, with fallen scrub soldiers littering the beach.
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Ponte Vedra Inn & Club- Ponte Vedra, FL
Ponte Vendra Inn & Club harkens back to an era of big bands, shuffleboard, and elite snowbirds seeking sun. Founded first as a golf and social club nestled in a beachfront community, it quickly evolved into a popular exclusive seaside resort. Drawing upscale clientele from near and far, it was a sportsman paradise, where people blissfully mixed and mingled. At the turn of the last century, Ponte Vedra was a pristine expanse of sand dunes and palmetto trees, populated by more alligators than people. That would all change in 1912 when a large mineral vein was discovered under the dunes: vast amounts of rutile and ilmenite, titanium ores necessary for…
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Oak Bluffs- Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Seven miles off the coast of Cape Cod sits Martha’s Vineyard, an idyllic island known for its natural beauty and exclusivity. While its reputation as a affluent summer retreat certainly precedes it, it should not define it. That would be a disservice. While certainly true, the island offers so much more, including a rich history and a Victorian enclave so wonderfully preserved, you will question time travel. While it is possible to fly to Martha’s Vineyard, taking a ferry is THE way to go from the Cape; an hour on the water beats a TSA screening all day long. You can bring your car along, but it is not necessary…
