Professional Camera View of America's 17 Best Beach Towns, Laid-back Vibes And Stunning Coastal Views

From coast to coast, these are the best beach towns in the U.S.

Come summertime, the longing for sea breezes and salt water rushing over your toes is powerful stuff. When the pull of the beach is strong, you may just adopt an "any beach will do" mentality. But there's a big case to be made for seeking out the best beach towns in the U.S., where an easygoing vibe and beautiful coastal views make for an intoxicating combination. For beach lovers who prefer quaint cottages, custard stands, and historic wharves over beachfront go-karts and megaresorts, these are some of the best beach towns the American shoreline has to offer.

Block Island, Rhode Island

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A one-hour ferry ride from mainland Rhode Island, Block Island combines a quaint downtown area, breathtaking coastal scenery, and a rolling green interior crisscrossed with low fieldstone walls, reminiscent of a remote British Isle. The village-like Old Harbor has Victorian bed-and-breakfasts, quirky boutiques, and the island's few grocery stores (there's not a chain to be found). It's all about the simple pleasures here: misty mornings, beach walks, ice cream on the front porch, bicycle rides, and afternoon hikes to mighty bluffs overlooking the Atlantic.