A sampling of Southern shores, these seaside regions are full of quaint inns and outstanding adventures. With beaches right outside the door, enjoy resort-style accommodations and year-round excitement.  

The Superb Atlantic Seascape 

Year after year, generation after generation, families return to the Atlantic escape of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Amazing outdoor adventures and attractions await guest all year round. Create lasting memories and fantastic experiences in the coastal heaven of the Outer Banks. 

A full-service boutique hotel offering world-class accommodations, the Inn on Pamlico Sound provides casually elegant lodging and culinary experience amid the natural beauty of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  The three-acre facility sits on a ridge between the banks of the Pamlico Sound, one of North America’s largest estuaries, and the Buxton Woods coastal preserve, one of North America’s largest maritime forests, the perfect backdrop for a secluded romantic retreat, a destination wedding or private event.
innonpamlicosound.com 

Located on the stunning Roanoke Sound, Oasis Suites Hotel is the only boutique hotel in Nags Head. The 17-suite hotel was designed and decorated to offer all the comforts and amenities of home, with the luxurious furnishings of a resort. Each suite offers waterfront views, a full-kitchen, spa-inspired jetted tubs and separate showers, and private balconies. Grab a cup of morning joe or an evening cocktail and enjoy the magnificent view across the water from the hotel’s gazebo. 
oasissuites.com  

Explore the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and climb the tallest brick lighthouse in America. The iconic black and white painted bricked spiral upwards has been warning maritimers since 1870. Bask in the 16 miles of pristine undeveloped beaches on this 426-acre park with largest natural living sand dune on the East Coast. At the nation’s first national seashore collect sea glass, take a yoga class, or ride a horse along the beautiful sandy shoreline. 
nps.gov/caha 

At the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, the waters of the Outer Banks are waiting to be discovered. Marvel at the largest group of sharks in the state. The aquarium is home to the conservation efforts of the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center. Touch a stingray and be amused by the antics of the Aquarium’s river otters.  
ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island 

Grab a seat and watch America’s longest running outdoor drama at The Lost Colony. Recounting the history of Roanoke and the first British attempt to settle America, the show is one of the Outer Banks top-attended attractions.  
thelostcolony.org 

The Roanoke Island Festival Park is an interactive family attraction that celebrates the first English settlement in America. Across from the Manteo, NC waterfront, is the centerpiece of the 25-acre island park, the Elizabeth II, a representation of one of the seven English ships from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585. Visitors can climb aboard, set the sails or swab the decks. Visit the Settlement Site and try a straw and feather beds, woodworking, and games. See the blacksmith fashion his 16th century wares. Explore 400 years of history in the Adventure Museum, fun for all ages. See the American Indian Town featuring opportunities for guests to learn about the vital and vibrant culture, heritage, and traditions of the American Indians in our region. Enjoy the Fossil Pit, the marsh-side boardwalks, and in the summer, listen to the music of the summer concerts in the Outdoor Pavilion. 
roanokeisland.com 

 

White Sands of Florida 

The warm crystal-clear Gulf waters. The sugar-white sands of the coast. The cool breeze floating over the lapping waves. Florida’s Gulf Coast is full of beauty, tranquil turquoise waters and splendid sunshine.  

Sun-drenched turrets, gracefully manicured terraces, punctuated by Old-World architecture, the Pearl Hotel provides an ultra-luxurious and restful retreat on the shores of Rosemary Beach. Located in the heart of one of the trendiest and most-exclusive beach front towns, this boutique 55-room hotel features beautifully appointed luxury accommodations, destination-worthy cuisine and an alluring spa just steps from a private Gulf of Mexico beach. The only full-service adult-oriented hotel in the South Walton, guests enjoy unparalleled services and complementary amenities. 
thepearlrb.com 

The Watercolor Inn and Resort offers a secluded and intimate setting, easily accessible to a wide array of exhilarating watersports and vacation adventures. Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the verdant green pine forests of Western Lake, the family-friendly resort is a treasured destination in the area for generations of vacationers.  
watercolorresort.com 

At St. Andrews State Park, visitors enjoy five distinct ecological landscapes in one stunning location. With the Gulf on one side and St. Andrews Bay on the other, those craving activities like swimming, snorkeling or surfing will be more than satisfied. 
floridastateparks.org 

 

In Grayton Beach State Park, explore the four miles of trails traversing through a coastal forest of scrub oaks and magnolias, bent and twisted by harsh salt winds. Inside the park, Grayton Beach is a pristine and world class shoreline, attracting tourists and vacationers all-year and a wonderful spot for sun-bathing and swimming. 
floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach 

Visit the National Naval Aviation Museum and share in the excitement of Naval Aviation’s rich history.  As the world's largest Naval Aviation museum and one of the most-visited museums in the state of Florida, The National Naval Aviation Museum is home to more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation.  
nationanavalaviationmuseum.org 

 

Exhibiting artifacts from Native Americans in the area from over the past 12,000 years, the Indian Temple Mound Museum opened as the first municipally owned and operated museum in the state of Florida, in 1962. The museum is home to interpretive and interactive exbibits, with over 1,000 artifacts of stone, bone, clay, shell and prehistoric ceramics. Located in the heart of Fort Walton Beach’s historic downtown, the museum also features displays on early European settlers and local pirates.
fwb.org/parksrec/page/Indian-temple-mound-museum 

 

Sun-Loving Surf of Texas 

Located just south of Galveston, and conveniently located near the Houston metropolitan area, Brazosport is home to 5 distinct cities to create one unique and unforgettable vacation experience.  visitbrazosport.com 

Enjoy a quiet retreat with convenience and comfort found at Courtyard by Marriott Conference & Event Center Lake Jackson. A premier location for business and leisure travelers, the hotel’s high-end accommodations provide plush beds and ergonomic workspaces. With free high-speed Wi-Fi, premium cable channels in every room, and on-site dining options, the Marriot provides the comforts of home with the convenience of a hotel. 
marriott.com/hotels 

With twenty-seven miles of golden sand teeming marine life and more than 600 different species of seashells washing onto shore, Surfside is a coastal getaway waiting to be discovered. From the 300-yard long jetty at Jetty Park in Surfside north to the San Luis Pass Bridge, a wide range of fishing spots can be found, including bays and banks, and deep sea fishing trips are easily chartered.  
surfsidetx.org 

Quintana Beach in Quintana Park is a 52-acre beachfront park located on the upper Texas Gulf coast. The park features day-use amenities, overnight facilities. paved full-service RV campsites, self-contained cabins, restrooms, showers and a meeting house complete with kitchen. The Quintana Beach is a "natural beach", maintained by tides and weather, with driftwood, seaweed and other plant/marine life washing up on to the beach, creating the unadulterated splendor of an organic beach.
brazoriacountytx.gov/departments/parks-department/quintana-beach  

Visitors will love the 20-foot long touch pool at the Sea Center Texas. The marine development, fish hatchery, aquarium and education center lets visitors handle marine animals like hermit crabs, anemones, and sea urchins.  
tpwd.texas.gov/fishing/sea-center-texas 

Wilderness Golf Course challenges players of all skill levels while surrounded by the beauty of native wildlife and birds. This certified Audubon sanctuary golf course is one of Texas’ best kept secrets and guaranteed to excite the golfer in the group. 
thewildernessgc.com 

The Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, full of salt cedars, dunes, gulf frontage and brackish marshes, is the perfect stopover for migrating birds. Located in Quintana, the park’s large observation tower, trails and benches are perfect for spotting wildlife of all kinds. 
quintanatx.org/bird-sanctuary 

  

 The Southern coastline is brimming with opportunities and excitement. Whether along the Atlantic or along the Gulf of Mexico, these seaside escapes offer a world of discovery, right outside the door. With beaches steps away, enjoy the revitalizing effects of a beachy Southern voyage.