Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with beaches

We can't stop here - this is jellyfish country!

TheNewWazoo — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:30:10 -0800

Have you ever been to the beaches in the Charleston, SC, area in May? Is the water warm enough to swim in, and how clear is it (jellyfish? seaweed? etc)? Should we instead go further down the Atlantic coast to Tybee Island? Is our attempt to find a new beach hopeless? Should we just go back to the Redneck Riviera (read: Gulf Coast)?

Rock Hunters Delight!

readery — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:18:34 -0800

Are there any good rock hunting beaches in the southern half of Lake Michigan? Or just pebbly beahces as compared to the sandy dune topography I'm familiar with? In anticipation of warmer weather, I'd like think about wading in water looking for cool rocks, but I don't want to go as far as Lake Superior. So anything within a day trip from Chicago - other lakes or river locations welcome as well.

Where can my family go to have a sandy, sunny, inexpensive Christmas?

timoni — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:37:05 -0800

Where's a warm, sunny, beach-y, relatively inexpensive place for my family to visit over Christmas? Having spent the last twenty-something years of my life celebrating Christmas with the family in cold, boring Nebraska, I've finally put my foot down this year: we are going somewhere warm and sunny!* with beaches! The only catch is that my family doesn't have a lot of money to spend on this--they can probably take care of their airfare, but I'll most likely be covering the hotel costs (for five days, I'd like to spend no more than $1500).

So where should we go? I'm assuming somewhere in the US or Latin America would be best. Renting a house or apartment makes perfect sense. We don't have to be right on the beach, just somewhere near one, but great weather is very important--we've visited frigid beaches together, but never a warm one.

Ideally, we should be able to buy tickets (now) for about $600 or so per person from South Dakota. I don't think San Diego will be warm enough, and Mexico is something of a mystery to me. Texas? Outer Banks? Florida? Some incredibly cheap country further south?

*"warm and sunny" = at least 75' F during the day.

Swimming in San Francisco

fourcheesemac — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:53:59 -0800

For a friend: where do people go swimming in San Francisco? Friend just moved there, asked me to post this. Nearest ocean beach that's safe for swimming? Does anyone swim in the Bay, and if so where? She thanks you, and I thank you, in advance.

rebel without a car.

suedehead — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:32:38 -0800

I want to go on vacation in March to a place with beaches. Problem: We can't drive! We're looking for a warm location with nice beaches, and we'd be staying there for two or three days. We'd be flying out of NYC. I don't have a license, and neither does my girlfriend.

We're in our 20s, and am interested in art/culture/music/food. We're also looking to avoid the partying spring-break atmosphere, 'cause we're both awkward and geeky. More than anything, we're just really looking for a nice area with beaches.

I've looked around, but everything I've looked for assumes that the traveler can drive. I've seen this question, but again, since we can't drive, so I can't tell if any of the thread's suggestions would work. We've ruled out an out-of-country vacation, for reasons concerning flight costs.

So: Do you have any suggestions for places that are doable without a car, or by renting bikes? Thanks!

Quiet NJ Beaches

amro — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:25:11 -0800

What are the quietest, least crowded public beaches within an hour and a half drive of Princeton, NJ? This is going to be a bustling weekend at the Jersey shore, and I am hoping to hit the beach but avoid the crowds.

Son Of A...

scrump — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:12:07 -0800

Has anyone used the Beaches all-inclusive resorts? I'm specifically looking for feedback from people with families as to the quality and whether it compared favorably or unfavorably to a self-planned/self-directed vacation. If you have experience with alternatives (vacation outfitters that specifically cater to people with sprogs along), please do speak up. I understand that it might be cathartic for some of you to editorialize here on the commoditization of everything and how resorts like this are the problem with the world today. If you're so inclined, at least try to understand first that even those of us who are hardcore granola-farming twig-eating DIYers who make our own snowshoes from reclaimed third world tires and recycle our own cars sometimes like to go to capitalistic exploitative class-war-fomenting Earth-raping environmental and societal catastrophes like Disneyland. Really.

Recommendations for beaches in the Florida panhandle region over Christmas break

notcomputersavvy06 — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 07:00:15 -0800

We've made a last minute decision to head to Florida over Christmas break. We'd like to stay somewhere in the panhandle region since it would be a fairly short drive for us (currently living in Alabama). Any recommendations for a particular beach/city? We'd like a place that's laid back, family oriented, and has nice clean sandy beaches to walk on and pick up shells. None of us cares for night life or shopping, but a good running/bike trail would be a plus.

Three weeks on a shoestring flying out of NYC - where should we go?

Jujee — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:19:29 -0800

Three weeks on a shoestring flying out of NYC - where should we go? We originally thought we would go to Isla Mujeres (Mexico) and/or Rio Dulce (Guatemala) at the end of the year. But upon research, it just doesn't sound financially feasible and the only good sale is to Cancun. With Mexico's current situation, I don't think it would be too safe at this time to visit...or am I wrong? Puerto Angel sounds somewhat ideal but that's just based on a little bit of reading...

DH and I recently decided that each trip will be research for when we retire (we have time). We'd love to retire overseas and maybe run a small business.

Any suggestions? Feel free to email me as well at Travel.RJ@Gmail.com

Likes:
Warm/Hot climate
Low cost of living
Local culture
Local mom and pop type village/town
Safety (as safe can be)
Little or no commercialism
Swimming beaches
Jungles / mountains - sure why, not? :)
Laid back atmosphere

Islands we've visited and liked for different reasons are Carriacou (Grenada), Culebra (Puerto Rico), and West Bay - Roatan (Honduras).

Looking forward to suggestions or even just hearing about your favorite spot!

Satisfy three of us at once!

Framer — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 05:53:55 -0800

I'm looking for suggestions for an island (or other warm place) vacation (4-5 nights) for my family in January. The criteria:

-- Nonstop flight from Boston or NYC area.
-- Beaches, for my wife.
-- Not too overrun with crowds, for me.
-- Some kid-friendly stuff for the four-year old boy.

Bonus points for suggestions of hotel-type places with 2-bedroom units, so the wife and I don't have to tiptoe around after the kid goes to bed.

Beaches to camp on in Florida?

Tubes — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 14:00:02 -0800

Beaches to camp on in S.E. Florida? We're landing in Ft. Lauderdale on the 20th. We'll rent a car and set out for someplace warm and beachy to pitch a tent and unwind. I know where the action is in S. Fl, but not where the quiet solitude is, and we'd like real serenity for at least part of the visit. (Think Corona commercial.) As I'm poring over state park listings, does anyone have recommendations from experience? I'm not opposed to a "campground" if there's adequate elbow room, but am willing to hike to some isolated frontage in a park if that's what it takes. Driving a few hours (i.e. the Keys, West Palm, etc.) okay too.

Travel to NC Beaches

repoman — Wed, 28 Jul 2004 10:38:28 -0800

I have two days and two nights to spend on the beach along the N.C. coast. The optimal place would be no more than 2.5 hours from Raleigh. Not remote and not like Myrtle Beach. What city/beach would you choose? Any suggestions much appreciated.

Public beaches in Charleston, SC?

Scottk — Wed, 05 May 2004 12:26:23 -0800

Anyone know of any good public beaches in the Charleston, SC area? Volleyball and the like a plus.
Thanks.

Vacation to Warm Climate

troutfishing — Sat, 07 Feb 2004 17:54:44 -0800

A quick, cheap 3-5 day winter vacation - to somewhere warm. Any suggestions? It doesn't matter where, but beaches are a big plus.

Beach vacation (from Boston) with some particular qualifications.

alms — Wed, 28 Jan 2004 19:20:44 -0800

We're looking for a sun and beach vacation where the temperature is 75 degrees or more, and the water is that beautiful aqua color. We're starting from Boston, and want to stay in our timezone. We'll only have three or four days, so a direct flight is a must. Once there, we'll just be hanging on the beach and having some meals. Any suggestions for destinations and places to stay?