I would like to take a beach vacation.
March 24, 2015 8:35 AM Subscribe
But not just any beach vacation. I demand certain characteristics!
I'm not much of a sun-worshipper, and I'm DEFINITELY not looking to swim in the ocean. What I hope to find is an isolated, rocky, chilly beach that's conducive to meditation and mind-wandering. Ideally in the US for speed of travel, but I welcome international suggestions. Thoughts?
Thanks, y'all!
I'm not much of a sun-worshipper, and I'm DEFINITELY not looking to swim in the ocean. What I hope to find is an isolated, rocky, chilly beach that's conducive to meditation and mind-wandering. Ideally in the US for speed of travel, but I welcome international suggestions. Thoughts?
Thanks, y'all!
The North Shore of Lake Superior! Fly into Duluth, MN, and then drive up the North Shore on Hwy 61 (yes, that one) to Grand Marais which has exactly the kind of cold, rocky beach and gorgeous views.
posted by jillithd at 8:40 AM on March 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by jillithd at 8:40 AM on March 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
You don't mention where in the US you are, and how far you're willing to travel, but I would second of the suggestion of the Pacific Northwest.
Specifically some of the yurts at Desolation Point on the Olympic Peninsula. Or the Ocean Shores/Grays Harbor area. Very gray, very rocky, very natural.
posted by dotgirl at 8:42 AM on March 24, 2015
Specifically some of the yurts at Desolation Point on the Olympic Peninsula. Or the Ocean Shores/Grays Harbor area. Very gray, very rocky, very natural.
posted by dotgirl at 8:42 AM on March 24, 2015
Mendocino/Ft. Bragg
posted by snowymorninblues at 8:50 AM on March 24, 2015
posted by snowymorninblues at 8:50 AM on March 24, 2015
Best answer: With the caveat that I have never been to the Pacific Northwest, this is mostly why I enjoyed Maine. The shore was craggy and desolate and I was wearing a long sleeve shirt in July, and (having grown up in Georgia 15 minutes from the coast) it was the first time in my life I ever actually enjoyed the beach. "Beach." Really a collection of rocks along the shoreline.
posted by phunniemee at 8:51 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by phunniemee at 8:51 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Maine Maine Maine. You can find rocky and contemplative everywhere here. Fly in to Portland or Boston if that's cheaper. It's chilly here at night thru most of the summer, with daytime highs in the upper 70s. Or come in a couple weeks. 50s in the day and glorious.
posted by donnagirl at 9:04 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by donnagirl at 9:04 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Oregon. On an extended roadtrip, we made a random stop just north of Depoe Bay, OR (home of the word's smallest navigable harbor!), and I really enjoyed checking out the beaches north of there and searching for agates. We did see people (in July), but you'd never call it any of those a crowded beach.
In the same 36 hour stretch, we saw a whale mom & child in the harbor, a sea lion, got coffee at a pirate-themed coffee roasters, and had surprisingly great thai food for a town of under 2,000 people.
posted by deludingmyself at 9:08 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
In the same 36 hour stretch, we saw a whale mom & child in the harbor, a sea lion, got coffee at a pirate-themed coffee roasters, and had surprisingly great thai food for a town of under 2,000 people.
posted by deludingmyself at 9:08 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
The travel time may be too long for you, but the Aleutian islands and (from photographs, I haven't been there) many of the islands in the North Sea would be perfect.
posted by Dip Flash at 9:14 AM on March 24, 2015
posted by Dip Flash at 9:14 AM on March 24, 2015
You want to go to Schoodic Peninsula in Maine. It's part of Acadia National Park but it's north of Mt. Desert Island. Much, much, more isolated than the main part of the park.
You will find a rocky area to sit by yourself and contemplate. You'll also need a sweater.
It's perfect.
You can fly to Boston, Portland, or even Bar Harbor.
posted by bondcliff at 9:22 AM on March 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
You will find a rocky area to sit by yourself and contemplate. You'll also need a sweater.
It's perfect.
You can fly to Boston, Portland, or even Bar Harbor.
posted by bondcliff at 9:22 AM on March 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Gros Morne national park in Newfoundland or Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario.
posted by Poldo at 9:32 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Poldo at 9:32 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Most of the Alaskan coastline is like this, and it's easy to get away from the majority of people enjoying said coastline if you're willing to hike a little bit. Valdez, Seward, Homer, Seldovia, Juneau, Sitka.
posted by rhapsodie at 9:42 AM on March 24, 2015
posted by rhapsodie at 9:42 AM on March 24, 2015
Not close or cheap, but definitely cool: The black-sanded beaches near Vik, Iceland.
posted by Kabanos at 9:43 AM on March 24, 2015
posted by Kabanos at 9:43 AM on March 24, 2015
The Hebrides! Bonus: whisky galore.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 9:49 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by HandfulOfDust at 9:49 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
The North Shore of Lake Superior!
Yes, and in fact there are many places along the Great Lakes that meet your description, but especially all around Lake Superior, and the Canadian side of Lake Huron. You might also look into Misery Bay Provincial Park on Manitoulin Island. (Note, do not confuse with Misery Bay within Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie, which is also a nice place but doesn't fit the parameters of your question so well.)
I don't know how chilly "chilly" is to you, but you should be able to get whatever you're after by picking the right time of year.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:55 AM on March 24, 2015
Yes, and in fact there are many places along the Great Lakes that meet your description, but especially all around Lake Superior, and the Canadian side of Lake Huron. You might also look into Misery Bay Provincial Park on Manitoulin Island. (Note, do not confuse with Misery Bay within Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie, which is also a nice place but doesn't fit the parameters of your question so well.)
I don't know how chilly "chilly" is to you, but you should be able to get whatever you're after by picking the right time of year.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:55 AM on March 24, 2015
Another vote for the Oregon coast. It's beautiful and it's not too chilly (but it's not by any means a sunny sort of place). Lots of misty, foggy mornings, amazing tide pools, beautiful rocks, great waves, caves to explore, a lot of natural beauty, plenty of wildlife, and a lot of accessibility (without being too crowded).
You could fly into Portland or Eugene. My favorite stretch of the coast is in between Coos Bay and Brookings, down on the southern end of things. You'd also not be far from the Redwoods, too. The other parts of the coast are beautiful too, as the 101 runs right along the coast the whole way.
posted by Old Man McKay at 10:22 AM on March 24, 2015
You could fly into Portland or Eugene. My favorite stretch of the coast is in between Coos Bay and Brookings, down on the southern end of things. You'd also not be far from the Redwoods, too. The other parts of the coast are beautiful too, as the 101 runs right along the coast the whole way.
posted by Old Man McKay at 10:22 AM on March 24, 2015
You are describing the Maine coast, outside of tourist season which is July and August.
posted by J. Wilson at 10:40 AM on March 24, 2015
posted by J. Wilson at 10:40 AM on March 24, 2015
Door County, Wisconsin -- specifically, Washington Island. Quiet and peaceful as hell. You're probably looking for Schoolhouse Beach or Rock Island State Park.
posted by St. Hubbins at 11:08 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Hubbins at 11:08 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Almost anywhere along the Oregon Coast, darling, even in mid-summer. It was made for this.
Even if you start at one of those more populous areas by a big city (which are empty compared to a warm beach), walk a little bit from the entry - then all you'll encounter, at most, is another soul or two doing the same thing as you. (By "big city", I'm talking the main beaches right at Seaside, Lincoln City, maybe Florence.)
Wear a sweatshirt or jacket, and pants you can roll up, and if you don't want to haul along a bucket, stuff a ziplock in a pocket for the inevitable random discovery.
posted by stormyteal at 11:41 AM on March 24, 2015
Even if you start at one of those more populous areas by a big city (which are empty compared to a warm beach), walk a little bit from the entry - then all you'll encounter, at most, is another soul or two doing the same thing as you. (By "big city", I'm talking the main beaches right at Seaside, Lincoln City, maybe Florence.)
Wear a sweatshirt or jacket, and pants you can roll up, and if you don't want to haul along a bucket, stuff a ziplock in a pocket for the inevitable random discovery.
posted by stormyteal at 11:41 AM on March 24, 2015
The beaches near Tofino, B.C. are pretty much what you're describing -- the hike-in ones in particular are very quiet. Steep slopes, huge trees, sometimes heavy surf. There are cabins available for rent near several of the beaches. Getting there is a bit of work -- I'd fly to Victoria and take a rental car, avoiding BC Ferries -- but it's a great part of the world.
posted by irrelephant at 12:09 PM on March 24, 2015
posted by irrelephant at 12:09 PM on March 24, 2015
Came in to say Maine. Go to Maine.
posted by trip and a half at 4:18 PM on March 24, 2015
posted by trip and a half at 4:18 PM on March 24, 2015
Monterey, California (or more specifically Seaside/Sand City). Easy to get to, nearly empty beaches (and a few busier ones depending on where you go). Cliffs, tide-pools, beach glass, dolphins, otters, whales....great local food, farmers markets, history, culture (Steinbeck did lots of his writing and lived in the area...). Also it can be chilly, but it's not usually truly cold (60-70* during the day, colder at night) most people go father north or south to swim at the warm beaches.
posted by AnneShirley at 9:16 PM on March 24, 2015
posted by AnneShirley at 9:16 PM on March 24, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by PercussivePaul at 8:37 AM on March 24, 2015 [5 favorites]