DEL.ICIO.USPEOPLES' CHOICE
Readers share their favorite beachesFor the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/27/08
Everyone has a favorite beach, all you have to do is ask. We heard from many readers who shared their memories of fun times, and we're sharing some of them with you:
JEKYLL ISLAND
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| The extended Dudek family on the beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. |
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| George and Barbara Baker of Atlanta at Boynton Beach, Fla., with grandchildren George and Jessica Baker, both age 10. |
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| Steve Crabb and his dog, Xuma, like the Florida town of Cape San Blas, with its dog-friendly beach. |
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| Herschell Geeder of Decatur and Carla Alencar of Hollywood, Calif., catch some sun in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
Who: Arthur and Alisa Haber and sons, Harry and Lee, Atlanta
Why: "We first visited the island in 1995 for a conference. We were hooked. ... We just loved the natural beauty and the laid-back atmosphere, Alisa Haber says. "With the arrival of our sons, Lee and Harry, we began renting a very affordable house for one week each summer. This will be the 10th year with the boys. Every year, there is something new to discover. One of the first years we took a dolphin tour. ... Two years ago, the boys got a chance to see an excavation of a turtle nest and watch two straggler hatchlings make their way into the Atlantic Ocean. This past year, we signed up for a children's program and very lively tour of the historic district, for the first time seeing inside the beautiful millionaire cottages. We also recently discovered a new part of the bike path that winds its way across the marsh to the fishing pier and beautiful Driftwood Beach."
Why you'll like it: The "undisturbed, natural beauty" of the island. "We keep going back because we love ... that first glimpse of the ocean as we pull onto the island, finding shells at the south end, taking a picture by the same twisted live oak in the historic district, spotting an alligator on the golf course."
CAPE SAN BLAS, FLA.
Who: Steve and Janet Crabb of Smyrna
Why: Their dog Xuma loves it. "It was voted best dog beach in America, and glorious for people too," Janet Crabb says.
Why you'll like it: "White sands, warm crystal-clear green water, no crowds. It's part of the Forgotten Coast of Florida."
WATERCOLOR BEACH, FLA.
Who: The Barnes family: Todd, Lanier, Haley, Erin and Caroline of Atlanta
Why: "We ride bikes everywhere, build great sand castles and get ice cream from the ice cream truck that comes around," Lanier Barnes says. Todd builds super sand castles, and Lanier and the girls hunt for seaweed, feathers and shells for decoration.
Why you'll like it: "The pretty green ocean and the white, white sand — it's beautiful, and everyone gets to be a mermaid."
MATANZAS INLET, FLA., near St. Augustine
Who: Steve and Jenifer Truitt and daughters Emma and Abby of Loganville
Why: "To my family, this beach vacation is the ultimate in family togetherness, relaxation and a step out of our crazy, busy, hectic daily lives!" Jenifer Truitt says. "We plan to retire here someday."
Why you'll like it: It's great for shell hunting and relaxing. And "you can't drive on the beach, so we don't have to worry about the children and traffic. It's never crowded."
HUNTING ISLAND, S.C.
Who: Pat and Pamela Terry, Smyrna, with dogs Edward (white) and Apple (black)
Why: "It was the dogs' first trip to the beach and we were all delighted," Pamela Terry says. "It has a romantic, almost primeval, quality with old gnarled trees hanging across a winding road leading to this quiet and fairly secluded beach. The dogs were in heaven."
Why you'll like it: "I would think anyone looking for a beautiful, atmospheric beach would find this one particularly inviting."
MANASOTA KEY, FLA.
Who: Barry and Lynda Spofford and daughters Mallary and Ansley of Lanett, Ala.
Why: "We travel to this quiet and undiscovered part of southwest Florida as often as possible [about six times a year]," Lynda Spofford says. Often, they meet up with family.
Why you'll like it: "The area is world-renowned for its tarpon fishing, year-round snorkeling and great shelling. The native Florida hardwood hammock and mangroves make strolling the groomed beach trails feel like worlds away from Florida's commercialized beaches."
PUNALU'U BEACH PARK, on Hawaii's Big Island
Who: Bill and Allison Craig, East Ellijay
Why: The beach "is the most famous black sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii," Bill Craig says, and one of the reasons the couple goes to Hawaii every couple of years.
Why you'll like it: "This is a perfect place to enjoy the scenery, explore the black sand beach, watch the sea turtles and swim or snorkel. You can also spread out a blanket under a towering coconut tree for a midday picnic or afternoon siesta."
GULF SHORES, ALA.
Who: Frank and Anna Arnold, McDonough (and extended family)
Why: "An easy six-hour drive from Atlanta — all but the last 50 miles are on interstate — Gulf Shores has everything families want in a beach," Frank Arnold says. "Importantly, there are few of the things they would just as soon do without. This is no 'boys and girls gone wild' [city] or is it the traffic congested 'condos on steroids' destination. ... Despite post-Ivan redevelopment (and by the way, Ivan is quickly becoming a fading memory), Gulf Shores manages to provide the comfort and amenities without encroaching too much on the main attraction: miles of wide white sandy beaches."
Why you'll like it: "Gulf Shores is the last really beautiful American beach east of San Diego. This part of the Gulf Coast has quietly evolved from the 'Redneck Rivera' ... into a classic family beach resort. There's huge outlet mall shopping in Foley, and on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, Fairhope is an artist mecca. ... The seafood is fresh and the other cuisine offerings are limitless. While the beach remains the main drawing card, there are also concerts featuring national artists at the wharf, fairs and festivals year-round."
BOYNTON BEACH, FLA., near West Palm Beach
Who: George and Barbara Baker of Atlanta
Why: "My family spent 10 Christmas seasons visiting my parents," Barbara Baker says. "Now we are taking our grandchildren to Boynton Beach, 35 years later. Our children used to dig holes and bury each other; now the grandchildren are doing the same thing. We go to Boynton Beach every winter for January, February and March."
Why you'll like it: "It is well-kept and beautiful. It especially welcomes the retired and their grandchildren, but all ages love this beach."
COROLLA, N.C., on the Outer Banks
Who: Dennis Dudek, Swedesboro, N.J., and extended family, including sister Pat Dudek of Atlanta
Why: Five of 10 siblings and their families enjoyed a week at the Outer Banks in July 2007. The family members came from Georgia, Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey. "We have always been a close-knit family, but when our mother passed away last year ... we knew we needed to sustain the effort to keep in close touch — outside of the occasional holiday and, obviously, funerals and weddings," Dennis Dudek says. They met for "a relatively inexpensive" week at the beach. "The house we rented allowed everyone to have their own master bedroom. It featured a wrap-around porch, swimming pool, volleyball court, game room, home theater, hot tub, private access to the beach, two huge dining room tables so we could all eat together. ... It was truly a wonderful and bonding experience — one we hope to repeat with even more of the family present."
Why you'll like it: "The availability of large multifamily beach homes makes this an ideal shore resort." Plus, "the area itself offers a diverse array of shopping, sightseeing, boating sports and of course, beautiful beaches."
COPACABANA BEACH, BRAZIL in Rio de Janeiro
Who: Herschell Geeder of Decatur and friend Carla Alencar of Hollywood, Calif.
Why: "I like it because there is much for my lady friend Carla and me to do along the beach front from sunup to sundown. ... I have a five-year visa and I plan to go to Copacabana Beach for the next four years," Herschell Geeder says.
Why you'll like it: "There are massages, pedicures, mango juice and fruit, music, restaurants and shopping along the oceanfront at the beach market."
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