While the cities remain hot and sticky, many East Coasters are dreaming of surfing, sand castles, and salty air. If you’re looking to take a break from the million-degree weather, grab some flip-flops and a towel and head to one of these underrated gems.
Driftwood Beach
Jekyll Island, Georgia
This state park, on a barrier island off the southern coast of Georgia, is a great place to spot sea turtles, read a book in a hammock, and ride 20 miles of bike paths. For an ideal day, head to , on the island’s north shore, which is covered with massive hunks of driftwood and mangled preserved trees. Score a wooded campsite at the , where you can walk to the beach from your tent.
Cooper’s Beach
Southampton, New York
, on the east end of Long Island, is only about 500 feet long, but it makes up for its small size with perfect white-sand solitude. You’ll have to pay $40 to park (free if you show up on bike), but it’s the only public beach in Southampton, a town filled with multimillion-dollar summer homes. Grab picnic supplies from the , and stay at (from $340), a five-room inn with two-course breakfasts.
Cape Charles Beach
Cape Charles, Virginia
is the kind of place where old-timey locals sit in rocking chairs in front of the hardware store and toddlers wade in the shallow waters of Chesapeake Bay. Go for a , and don’t miss the live music and clam chowder at . Stay at (from $165) for outdoor showers, cruiser bikes for rent, and sunset views from your loft.
Reid State Park Beach
Georgetown, Maine
You don’t often find golden sandy beaches in Maine, except at places like . At this state-owned beach, located on Georgetown, an island accessed via bridge from the town of Bath, you’ll find grassy dunes, buried sand dollars, cold-water surfing, and views of the lighthouses on Seguin Island. After the beach, grab a lobster roll at the end of the road at , and spend the night at (from $150), a 13-room bed and breakfast with ocean views.
Folly Beach County Park
Folly Beach, South Carolina
You can surf, kayak, and paddleboard at Folly Beach, a quaint beach town ten miles from Charleston, set between the Atlantic Ocean and Folly River. When conditions are good, you can surf waist-high waves at the Washout. has everything you need, including reliable surf reports. Afterward, fill up on mahi tacos at , and pitch a tent at the 643-acre , or get an oceanfront room at (from $255), just steps from the pier.
Wingaersheek Beach
Gloucester, Massachusetts
In an hour from Boston, you can romp around in tide pools, climb boulders, and swim in calm, clear water. At low tide, you can walk on a sandbar a half-mile into Ipswich Bay. When in Gloucester, wait in line for brunch at Sugar Magnolia’s, dig into a lobster at a cove-side picnic table at the Lobster Pool in nearby Rockport, and spend the night in a nautical-themed room at the (from $279).