Image via Complex Original
Intro
If you're starting to feel like it's slightly less miserable out, don't worry, you're not going crazy. Spring is upon us, and now is the time to get out of town (wherever your town may be), and hit a great beach spot before the summer rush is in full effect. Sperry, makers of iconic shore-friendly footwear, suggest the following destinations. Have your cooler and your duffel ready.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Seattle, Washington
Most of us are familiar with the great Seattle clichés: rain, coffee, indie rock music. And while those are all alive and well, the area outside the city offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America. Try hopping a ferry from downtown and heading out to the San Juan Islands, where killer hikes and killer whales (orcas, sorry) abound. Round out your San Juan experience with a stop at the Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro in nearby Bellingham.
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
Santa Barbara, California
This city north of Los Angeles County is known as one of Southern California’s (and, let’s face it, America’s) toniest locales. But before you call SB stuffy, swing through the Enterprise Fish Co. for happy hour, or take a tasting tour downtown on the Urban Wine Trail. Outside of the city, Santa Barbara County is filled with sumptuous vineyards, so definitely schedule some time to roam.
THE OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA
The Outer Banks, North Carolina
If it’s serenity you’re after, you can’t beat the Outer Banks of North Carolina. These barrier islands boast some of the East Coast’s most beautiful beaches, and the peace and quiet of a place like Ocracoke Island is hard to beat for getting your head right. Then again, this being the South, there are still spots to have a noisier good time, like The Pit/Boardriders Grill, a surf shop and bar all in one, or the Outer Banks Brewing Station, the country’s first wind-powered brewery (both in Kill Devil Hills).
MONTAUK, NEW YORK
Montauk, New York
If you start in New York City and head east, the very last spot you’ll hit before barreling into the Atlantic Ocean is Montauk, NY. With all the breezy style of the Hamptons, Montauk also happens to be one of the premiere surfing spots on the Eastern Seaboard. The best breaks are on Ditch Plains Beach, and if you’re thinking you might need a refresher on your surfing skills (or a first lesson), call up the East End Surf School. After hanging ten, head to Gosman’s Dock for a cup of chowder and a lobster roll.
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Whether or not you’re into American history, you can enjoy the sun and surf on Cape Cod, the same place the Pilgrims decided to drop anchors in 1620 (sorry, Plymouth Rock). You can have your own sailing adventure by placing a call to the Cape Cod Sailing School in Cataumet, or if you’d rather hit the waves solo, you could swing through Cape Cod Windsurfing in North Falmouth. No trip to the Cape is complete without some fried clams, and we hear the best are at Marathon Seafood in West Dennis.
