Rustic relaxtion ...

May 21, 2009 1:48 PM

Looking for some U.S. rustic beach / hiking options for mid-July.

I'll have some time off 7/15-7/26, and am looking for a quiet, rustic, beautiful place where I can sit on a beach, swim, do some solo hiking, and enjoy the local food and beer. Where this can be done on the east coast, I've done it, so I'm looking for recommendations for branching out.

I'd like the trip to cost less than $2000, flight included, if possible (camping is a possibility.) I haven't spent much time in the South generally or in Southern California, so interesting options in those parts of will be especially appreciated.

Hot springs, mountains, used bookshops, old taverns, healthy(ish) food, and wild, craggy scenery would all be pluses for me. I'll be leaving from D.C.

posted by ryanshepard to travel & transportation (6 comments total)

The West Coast Trail on the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., is just magical. It's not the U.S., but it's close. That whole part of the world has everything -- great hiking, fantastic beaches with great surfing (meaning lots of eye candy of both sexes), beautiful little towns with B&Bs and brew pubs and old-style diners, higher end places to stay and eat, good bookshops, super nice and laid-back people, stunning craggy scenery, loads of secluded places to be, and excellent weather in July. Also no mosquitoes to speak of. You can see mountains and ocean and islands, forests and beaches, and enough wildlife to shake a stick at. (There are bears, though, so if you're camping, take bear precautions.)

Oh, getting all nostalgic now, and thinking I must plan a trip there really soon ...
posted by Capri at 2:07 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]

How about the Outer Banks?
posted by Flood at 2:26 PM on May 21

I feel like I'm always suggesting it, but northern California's Lost Coast is pretty damn amazing. It's seriously the last stretch of unspoiled coastline in California. You could you the Eureka / Arcata area as a jumping off point, which is chock full of bookstores, brewpubs, and... uh... herbal supplements if that's your sort of thing.
posted by dersins at 2:35 PM on May 21 [2 favorites]

(More on the Lost Coast)
posted by dersins at 2:44 PM on May 21 [1 favorite]

I'll 2nd the Lost Coast as awesome, but it may be a bit more expensive to reach. It's a long way from any major transportation hub (that's why it's still 'lost'), so figure in extra car rentals or airfare costs. Also, in July the coast is often socked in with fog, and the water's pretty cold year-round. So hanging on the beach in summer is different experience from the east coast version. Water's still cold, but you'll get better weather (and lots more people) at Big Sur.
Maybe you could explore the farther reaches of the Great Lakes? Great Sleeping Bear Dunes?
posted by TDIpod at 3:25 PM on May 21

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions so far - all new to me, and just what I needed to start thinking more seriously about planning this trip - please keep them coming!
posted by ryanshepard at 6:25 PM on May 21