Beach Bargains

Half of IT is headed to the beach for Memorial Day weekend—lucky for Emily, she's staying with friends in their timeshare. But for those of you paying your own way, we've located an article on Smarter Travel (thanks Gadling) with a list of five hidden, affordable beach destinations. They suggest:

Anna Maria Island, Florida The hidden beach destination Floridians escape to, Anna Maria Island has somehow managed to keep condo towers, all-fast-food chains, amusement parks, and glitzy mega-resorts off its shores. In fact, no construction on this seven-mile [11-kilometer] long barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast is more than three stories tall, Subway is the only franchise, and 60 percent of its land is open beach. And, it's affordable, especially in the summer. You can rent vacation homes with water views and pools for well under $1,000 per week and get seafood entrees at beachfront restaurants for under $15.

San Mateo County, California The majority of leisure travelers who fly into Bay Area airports head into San Francisco, out to the wine regions, or down the freeway towards Monterey to explore Big Sur. Most skip over San Mateo County, the region in between San Francisco and Monterey. And that's fine for those who do visit. Less crowding makes it easier to enjoy the region's dramatic coastline, its charming small towns like Half Moon Bay and Princeton by the Sea, and its bounty of locally produced vegetables, fruit, and flowers.

Points East Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island If the fictional Anne of Green Gables were to visit her hometown of Cavendish on Prince Edward Island (PEI), today, she might turn her freckled nose up at the mini amusement parks, go-kart tracks, and other typical roadside attractions that have sprouted up since the area became a tourist magnet for Anne-fans. She'd probably feel more at home on the underdeveloped eastern side of the island, Points East Coastal Drive, an area of rolling farmland, pine forests, tiny towns with white gabled country houses, and quiet red- and white-sand beaches.

Hilo and East Hawaii The Big Island's visitor's bureau has dubbed East Hawaii the 'Wild, Wild East'—the underexplored half of the island where Hawaii's volcanoes make the beaches black and the rain forest conceals delicate tropical flowers and towering waterfalls. Most Big Island visitors just pass through this part of the island on their way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but East Hawaii has charms not found elsewhere. 'It's a great destination for the traveler who wants to see the 'real' Hawaii, as opposed to another beautiful resort that could be in any warm climate,' says Hawaii-based writer Leslie Lang, whose book, Exploring Historic Hilo, was recently published. 'The type of people who'd enjoy it here are more adventurous; they like to meet local people, try local foods, and don't require room service or fancy drinks with umbrellas.'

Gulf Shore, Alabama Many forget that Alabama's heel nudges onto the Gulf of Mexico, its coastline a natural extension of the Florida Panhandle. In fact, this region, Gulf Shores, has 32 miles (51 kilometers) of enviable waterfront real estate...The area has tried to make itself into a laid-back beach destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts, without the flash of theme parks, swanky resorts, and college spring break action.

More beach on the cheap? IT asked two of our beachcombing colleagues for their suggestions. "My family rents a house during the off-season in Yachats, a small town on the Oregon Coast," says Krista Rossow, Traveler's assistant photo editor, "We cut down on dining expenses by making most meals at the house. On nights when we want to dine out, we have our pre-dinner cocktail at the house watching the waves crash along the rocky coastline before walking up to one of the local restaurants." Designer Stefan Caiafa suggests Playa Rincón, in the province of Samaná (Dominican Republic). "It's a little hard to get to," he says, "but it's one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. No hotels are on the actual beach, so your best (and cheapest) option is to camp. If you'd rather stay in a hotel, those in nearby Las Galeras are reasonably priced."

Comments

[Adonis]

Pretty interesting destinations, but i'm a lil bit confused which probably i'm gonna choose to go along and bring my family go through... hmmm all spots are perfect for this holiday season to spend with love ones. I think I've better consult my wife where to decide.. Thanks for the post! I've enjoy reading it..

adonis