As spring enters its final leg and summer teases its warm return, you may find yourself thirsting for a beach escape. After all, who can resist its idyllic views, warm sands, refreshing air, and alluring sounds of lapping water that wash your worries away?
Apparently the answer is no one, at least judging by the throngs of people who converge on these sunny getaways each year, crowding every bit of sand with tropical-toned towels and stray sandals. Instead of squeezing through the masses and fighting for a spot to plant your umbrella, turn your attention away from the standard hot spots toward fresh possibilities. Among the best-kept secrets of our nation’s varied landscapes lie numerous lesser-crowded, lesser-known, and yet still-spectacular beaches—any of which could just become your new favorite summer escape.
When northeasterners plot beach vacations, they may think first of iconic locales like Atlantic City or Coney Island. But Barnegat Light on the northern tip of Long Beach Island presents a unique opportunity to unwind. Rather than the Jersey Shore’s notorious fairground rides, rowdy bars, or steaming concession stands, this beach boasts stunning views of the vast Atlantic Ocean stamped by historic nautical edifices like the emblematic Barnegat Lighthouse. Standing proud since 1859, this fixture is just one feature of the appropriately named Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, which offers a veritable tropical paradise with hiking trails through one of New Jersey’s only remaining maritime forests.
If you wish to head straight to the sand for a calm picnic with ample space to play, make your way to the Atlantic Ocean Beachfront access point, where striped bass and summer flounder dance in shallow waters and ospreys dart overhead. If you’re one for a little more activity, though, Barnegat has got you covered as well—you can go parasailing or boating on the water, browse the quaint shops in town, and indulge in fresh seafood and sweet treats at any of the local eateries galore.
The midwestern states may not bring to mind warm, sandy shores, but Sleeping Bear Dunes begs to differ. This thirty-five-mile expanse runs along Lake Michigan’s eastern shore, extending across the pinky nail of Michigan’s lower hand. Once voted the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America’s audience, this lake escape perfectly pairs beachy landscapes with midwestern flora, with towering dunes and pristine waters giving way to beech-and-maple forests.
Choose your own adventure in this national park, from secluded hideaways like Peterson Road Beach to refined waterfront resorts like the Homestead. If your ideal refuge is one immersed in summery scenery, glide across the lake to camp on North or South Manitou Island—practically uninhabited spaces known for their shrub-covered dunes and expansive views that could pass for endless ocean. Grab your kayak or fishing rod, join the piping plover birds scuttling along the beach, and revel in the serenity of a true escape into nature.
Two southern states tug at the rope to claim ownership of this pristine chain of sands, and it’s no great wonder why. Forming the keystone of the Gulf of Mexico’s beaches, the park’s white, almost snow-like dunes and verdant marshes constitute the longest stretch of federally protected beaches in America. Explore the jewel-toned gulf waters via a luxurious ferry ride tour launching from Pensacola, Florida, or dive straight in to snorkel alongside five species of sea turtles.
If your perfect vacation involves tranquil glimpses of unblemished ecosystems, then this is truly the destination for you. Gulf Islands promises solitary spots between sloping dunes and crashing waves for peaceful beach reading, bird-watching, or bonding time with your loved ones away from the hustle and bustle of crowded coastal cities.
Beaches aren’t just coastal delights; landlocked states far removed from the oceanside boast many worthwhile shores of their own. Case in point is Blue Mesa Reservoir, a lakefront luxury set in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. This vast, blue depository is the state’s largest body of water, spanning twenty miles between jagged hillsides and canyon walls that stand at attention.
Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities here, especially at the curiously named Bay of Chickens. However, leave room in your itinerary for the numerous other available diversions, including waterskiing, windsurfing, boat tours, hiking, and horseback riding. As the state’s tourism board advises, you’ll likely need several days to experience everything, so pitch a tent or reserve a room in the nearby town of Gunnison. The air up here may be thin, but your activity schedule will be thick with opportunities.
If the anticipation of hot weather has you dreading the associated endless sweating and sluggishness, consider a pioneering beach trip into the heart of America’s icebox: the Alaskan wilderness. Glacier Bay National Park, situated in the enormous state’s southeast tail, is known for its three-mile-high mountains and dramatic ice formations, including some of the world’s greatest examples of tidewater glaciers. However, it’s the stone-spotted shores alongside turquoise Pacific waters and the bike-ready paths freshly cleared of winter’s snowy barriers that make this a surprisingly ideal summer beach destination.
Cruise ships may guide hundreds of thousands of visitors a year to these park grounds, but at 3.3 million acres, they are so vast that you’re more likely to encounter wildlife than hordes of human tourists. Glacier Bay is an animal paradise that’s home to several species of seals, whales, lynx, and mountain goats alongside over two hundred types of birds. Embrace your wild side and dip into the frigid tide, or hop on a watercraft like a kayak for intimate views of lush landscapes that seem almost too beautiful to be real. Surrounded by such natural luxury, you may find yourself struggling to return to civilization once your trip finally reaches its end.
While the careful selection of furniture and a color palette lays the foundation for a home’s aesthetic, it’s the finer details that truly bring it all together. Often undervalued, finishing touches serve as a simple yet potent means of finalizing your interior design and enhancing your personal style. To help you elevate the look of your home, reconsider these six features that prove a well-balanced space resides in the meticulous attention given to even the smallest details.
You may never have given much thought to your doorknobs and hinges, but these seemingly insignificant elements can immediately reveal a room’s age. For a quick upgrade, go beyond the standard builder-grade choices and invest in new ones that align with your tastes. Coordinated designs like matte black doorknobs and hinges would establish an understated, modern look, while gilded or crystal options, such as these crystal doorknobs or these vintage-style door hinges, can inject a touch of opulence into any space, effortlessly boosting its overall appeal.
Similarly, a simple method for harmonizing your design is to replace your light switches and outlets. Swap outdated, discolored ones with pristine, white alternatives, or consider paintable options if your walls are a color other than white to ensure a seamless look. You could also take a different approach entirely by turning these functional elements into art pieces. Add vinyl decals like designer Annika Hinds demonstrates in this video, cover them with wallpaper, or choose ornate ones like these from Anthropologie.
While standard light bulbs suit lamps with shades, they may lack the style needed for fixtures that leave them exposed. Vintage-style LED bulbs such as these Edison bulbs are a chic alternative to traditional fluorescent lights, injecting extra character into your space and offering aesthetic appeal even when the lights are switched off. For added versatility, consider investing in smart-lighting solutions, such as those from Philips Hue, which enable you to effortlessly create mood lighting in any room by controlling temperature and color range via your smartphone or even voice command.
Technology can undoubtedly enrich our daily routines, with smart assistants offering instant answers to our random questions and TVs providing us with endless entertainment. However, your devices might not always align with your style preferences, prompting the need to find innovative ways to integrate them into your decor. For instance, you can enhance the design of your living room by bordering your television with a gilded frame and displaying artwork on it, such as by playing a slideshow from the YouTube channel Vintage Art TV. As for a smart device with a screen and no base, like the Echo Show 15, you can elevate its presentation by placing it on a stylish metal easel like this one offered by McGee & Co., lending a harmonious complement to your interior design.
Basic dispensers, while practical, can quickly detract from the look of your kitchen or bathroom. Instead of continuously buying soap in plastic, labeled containers, make the switch to more interesting and refillable alternatives. Consider purchasing an amber glass or vintage-looking dispenser, which is a quick and easy way to bring a touch of luxury to an otherwise mundane object. You can even set it and other cleaning items on a wooden riser to complete the overall look.
Don’t let TV cables and lamp cords dangle unappealingly and distract from all the hard work you put into designing your home. Instead, run them along your baseboards or hide them with discreet cord covers you can paint to match your walls for a clean, streamlined appearance. Additionally, if you have an outlet behind a piece of furniture, invest in an extension cord with a flat plug that will allow you to push the furniture flush against your wall while still having a way to plug your items in.
The devil is in the details when it comes to home decor. By focusing on these small yet impactful changes, you can transform your living space into a cohesive and stylish haven.
Barbecue season is in full swing, and perhaps no food personifies this time of year more than grilled meat. These recipes from The BBQ Companion show how easy it can be to make two handheld favorites—ribs and chicken sandwiches.
A spicy dry rub of paprika, garlic, oregano, and chili flakes is layered with tangy barbecue sauce to make amazingly tasty and tender ribs.
Forgo beef burgers for this leaner version—they may have less fat, but with ample spices and herbs, they’re rich in flavor.
Recipes from The BBQ Companion: 50 Recipe Cards for Grilling Perfection by Oscar Smith. Smith Street Gift, 2023. Photography © Billy Law
Serves 4
Serves 4
Whether you enjoy your vacation to the fullest can hinge on finding a great place to stay. After all, your lodging essentially serves as your home away from home, giving you a place to recoup and unwind after the day’s excursions. Use this guide to help you locate the best possible accommodations for your next trip to ensure you have the adventure of your dreams.
Before you begin looking for a place, consider where you hope to visit, the kind of trip you’re taking, and your budget. The two main types of vacation stays you may come across are hotels and rental homes. If you want to enjoy conveniences like on-site food service, housekeeping, and a concierge, you might prefer the former. As a bonus, reserving a hotel room can offer a certain level of predictability and reliability, especially if you’re a frequent guest with a particular chain.
Conversely, if you’re traveling with a large group of family or friends, children, or pets, it could be more advantageous to rent a home. This option might be more affordable than reserving several hotel rooms, and it will allow everyone to enjoy time together while still having their own spaces. You’ll also typically have access to a full-sized kitchen, enabling you to slash food costs by cooking your own meals instead of always having to dine out.
Once you know the type of lodging you want, visit reputable booking sites to see what’s available in your travel area. For vacation rentals, opt for platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, which offer customer reviews, detailed property descriptions and photos, and essential consumer protections, including background checks on homes and hosts. For hotels, start on sites like Kayak and Hotels.com to find a room, then move over to your choice’s main site to reserve it. This will enable you to avoid paying a travel-site fee and make you eligible for benefits reserved for guests who book directly, like loyalty-program points and the option to select the specific room you want for your stay. Reserving through a hotel might also afford you better customer service and more flexibility, such as if you need to modify your reservation, since you can work with the hotel itself instead of having to go through a third party.
In addition to looking at the photos and perusing the basics, including the rates and number of bedrooms, dig deeper when considering places to book to find often overlooked information such as the deposit and cancellation policies. For home rentals in particular, be sure to check whether items like coffee, towels, shampoo, and other supplies are provided and if taxes and incidentals like housekeeping and trash disposal will be covered. And, of course, always read the comments past guests have left for more insight into an accommodation’s conditions and offerings. If you’re left with any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact the hotel or host directly.
What might seem perfect at first sight could turn out to be less than ideal after closer inspection of the hotel’s or host’s restrictions. For example, many places have stipulations about pets and number of guests, so if you bring your pooch against policy or invite more people than allowed, don’t be surprised if your reservation isn’t honored, you’re charged extra, or you lose your deposit. Also, if you break your rental house’s rules, your host can note this about you on the platform you used, possibly making it more difficult for you to secure another vacation property in the future.
The best time to find a good deal on a booking is about a month before your planned trip, according to NerdWallet. That said, there’s no guarantee you’ll find a discount or even an available place if you postpone making a reservation, so you might want to move quickly once you’ve found something you like to avoid losing it.
Determining where to stay during your travels can take time and effort. However, with some diligence, you can find the perfect spot for making your new vacation memories.
