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

Edisto, South Carolina

AVALON/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Edisto Island is perfect for a back-to-basics beach vacation. On the itinerary: exploring Botany Bay, the island's one-of-a-kind nature reserve covered in driftwood and seashells; hiking or biking through live oak and palmettos to a 4,000-year-old Native American shell mound; meeting turtles and gators at the serpentarium; and swinging by roadside farmers markets for fresh produce, local Marsh Hen Mill grits, and Key lime pie. (Have one meal at Whaley's, a former gas station serving fried oysters and crab cakes since the '40s.)

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

LAUREN BREEDLOVE/TRAVEL + LEISURE
By the early 1900s, charming Carmel-by-the-Sea was already the preferred getaway for creative types. Even through decades of tourism and celeb-induced limelight (Jack London was an early fan, and Clint Eastwood is just one of its former thespian mayors), Carmel-by-the-Sea has held fast to its small-town charm. The small, walkable downtown feels out of a fairy tale; its streets are cobbled and lined with shops, galleries, wine-driven restaurants, magical 1920s cottages, and tucked-away gardens and courtyards. To see Carmel's wind-chiseled cliffs and lovely white-sand coves, head to the town's Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel River State Beach, and Garrapata State Park.