Best East Coast Beaches

Myrtle Beach, SC

Nantucket, MA

Duck, NC

Kiawah Island, SC

Southampton, NY

Unspoiled beaches, a charming village center, exclusive shops and exquisite dining have made Southampton a perfect blend of sprawling beaches, private estates and just enough places to "be seen" to satisfy the upper crust. Seven-plus miles of unspoiled shoreline, windswept dunes and waving grasses beckon visitors to escape to the Atlantic. The beaches here are perfect and secluded, irresistible to seekers of solace and plenty of art and culture back in town.

Provincetown, MA

Martha's Vineyard, MA

As summer commences, crowds swarm Martha's Vineyard in droves, but respite can be found in the Vineyard's far eastern reaches -- up-island, as it's known locally -- at Moshup Beach. Tucked beneath the infamous Gay Head Cliffs, Moshup Beach is an unspoiled paradise of soft, white sand framed by red, brown and tan striated cliffs looming from above.

East Hampton, NY

Cape May, NJ

Hyannis, MA

Hyannis in Cape Cod is best-known as the presidential getaway for the Kennedy clan who spent any available downtime at the family compound in Hyannis Port. But you don’t need political family ties to appreciate what drew this iconic American family to the region. The town of Barnstable, and Hyannis in particular, is beloved by travelers for its laid-back atmosphere, friendly vibe and Kalmus Beach where windsurfers and swimmers enjoy the water.