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

Ocracoke, North Carolina

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Before it was permanently settled in the 1700s, this tiny island was a hideout for pirates, the infamous Blackbeard among them. Today, the same remoteness that once drew buccaneers lures tens of thousands of yearly visitors. Accessible only by boat or ferry — this is one of the most distant of North Carolina's Outer Banks — Ocracoke offers big sandy beaches coupled with wild nature. Around the harbor are slushy stands, surf shops, family-friendly barbecue restaurants and oyster bars, and old-fashioned hotels (cottage rentals and beach camping are popular alternatives).

Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington

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Catch the ferry or ride a seaplane into this sweet island village near Seattle. This isn't the kind of beach for arcade games on the boardwalk or rummy drinks under a palapa, but rather natural-feeling beaches, independent bookstores and restaurants, and even a lavender farm with views of the Olympic Mountains. Hike along the rocky coastline and look for whales and other wildlife (foxes, bald eagles, dolphins) at Lime Kiln Point State Park, where a 1919 lighthouse keeps watch. If seeing an orca pod in the wild inspires you, a trip to The Whale Museum will tell you all about the marine mammals who call San Juan Islands' waters home.