Shaped continually by ocean currents, this windswept land of sandy beaches and dunes has an amazing natural beauty. Everyone comes for the seaside, yet Cape Cod's crimson cranberry bogs, birch and beech forests, grassy meadows, freshwater ponds, and marshlands are just as splendid. Local history is fascinating; whale-watching offers an exhilarating encounter with the natural world; bike trails lace the landscape; shops display everything from antiques to fashions to kitsch; and restaurants cook up seafood as fresh as it comes, as well as fine international cuisine.
Separated from the Massachusetts mainland by two heavily trafficked bridges over the Cape Cod Canal, the Cape is always likened in shape to an outstretched human arm bent at the elbow, its Provincetown fist turned back toward the mainland. The open Atlantic Ocean pounds the Cape's eastern coast, and Nantucket Sound washes the southern shore.
The Upper Cape -- think "upper arm" -- encompasses Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich. The Mid Cape includes Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Dennis. The Lower Cape covers Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. The Outer Cape, as in "outer reaches," is the end of the Lower Cape; technically it includes only Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown.
Station yourself in one town and take excursions from there, or stay in a string of towns as you make your way from one end of the Cape to the other. Be prepared for summer crowds, however, or come off-season, when many beaches are dream material for solitary walkers and life returns to a small-town hum.
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Showing posts with label Beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beach. Show all posts
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Far less developed than Cape Cod -- thanks to a few local conservation organizations -- yet more cosmopolitan than neighboring Nantucket Island, Martha's Vineyard is an island off the Massachusetts coast with a double life. From Memorial Day through Labor Day the quieter, some might say real, Vineyard quickens into a vibrant, star-studded place. Edgartown floods with people who come to wander the narrow streets flanked with elegant boutiques, stately whaling captains' homes, and charming inns. The busy main port, Vineyard Haven, welcomes day-trippers fresh off ferries and private yachts to browse in its own array of shops. Oak Bluffs, where pizza and ice cream emporiums reign supreme, attracts diverse crowds with its boardwalk-town air and nightspots that cater to high-spirited, carefree youth.
Summer regulars include a host of celebrities, among them William Styron, Art Buchwald, Walter Cronkite, Beverly Sills, Patricia Neal, Spike Lee, and Sharon Stone. President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, were frequent visitors during his terms in office. Concerts, theater, dance performances, and lecture series draw top talent to the island, while a county agricultural fair, weekly farmers' markets, and miles of walking trails provide earthier pleasures.
Most people know the Vineyard's summer persona, but in many ways its other self has even more appeal, for the off-season island is a place of peace and simple beauty. Drivers traversing country lanes through the agricultural center of the island find time to linger over pastoral and ocean vistas, without being pushed along by a throng of other cars, bicycles, and mopeds. In nature reserves, the voices of summer are gone, leaving only the sounds of birdsong and the crackle of leaves underfoot. Private beaches open to the public, and the water sparkles under crisp, blue skies.
Locals are at their convivial best off-season. After the craziness of their short moneymaking months, they reestablish contact with friends and take up pastimes temporarily crowded out by work. The result for visitors -- besides the extra dose of friendliness -- is that cultural, educational, and recreational events continue year-round. Read more...
Summer regulars include a host of celebrities, among them William Styron, Art Buchwald, Walter Cronkite, Beverly Sills, Patricia Neal, Spike Lee, and Sharon Stone. President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, were frequent visitors during his terms in office. Concerts, theater, dance performances, and lecture series draw top talent to the island, while a county agricultural fair, weekly farmers' markets, and miles of walking trails provide earthier pleasures.
Most people know the Vineyard's summer persona, but in many ways its other self has even more appeal, for the off-season island is a place of peace and simple beauty. Drivers traversing country lanes through the agricultural center of the island find time to linger over pastoral and ocean vistas, without being pushed along by a throng of other cars, bicycles, and mopeds. In nature reserves, the voices of summer are gone, leaving only the sounds of birdsong and the crackle of leaves underfoot. Private beaches open to the public, and the water sparkles under crisp, blue skies.
Locals are at their convivial best off-season. After the craziness of their short moneymaking months, they reestablish contact with friends and take up pastimes temporarily crowded out by work. The result for visitors -- besides the extra dose of friendliness -- is that cultural, educational, and recreational events continue year-round. Read more...
Atlantic City, New Jersey
The Jersey Shore is 127 miles of public beachfront stretching like a pointing finger along the Atlantic Ocean from the Sandy Hook Peninsula in the north to Cape May at the southern tip.There is no one description of what it's like "down the shore." Things change town by town and sometimes season by season -- winter storms have a habit of rearranging beaches and boardwalks.
Some shore towns, such as Wildwood, are party hot spots with all-out amusement piers; others, such as Ocean Grove, which was originally a Methodist camp meeting ground, Spring Lake, and Cape May, are more sedate Victorian enclaves. Atlantic City has its glitzy casinos.
In the warmer months, locals and visitors also enjoy nature walks at the ecologically protected Island Beach State Park; the beaches, rides, and attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park and Safari in Jackson; and performances at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Read more...
Some shore towns, such as Wildwood, are party hot spots with all-out amusement piers; others, such as Ocean Grove, which was originally a Methodist camp meeting ground, Spring Lake, and Cape May, are more sedate Victorian enclaves. Atlantic City has its glitzy casinos.
In the warmer months, locals and visitors also enjoy nature walks at the ecologically protected Island Beach State Park; the beaches, rides, and attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park and Safari in Jackson; and performances at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Read more...
Hilton Head, South Carolina
The lively, family-oriented Grand Strand, a booming resort area along the South Carolina coast, is one of the eastern seaboard's megavacation centers. Myrtle Beach alone accounts for about 40% of the state's tourism revenue. The main attraction, of course, is the broad, beckoning beach -- 60 miles of white sand, stretching from the North Carolina border south to Georgetown, with Myrtle Beach as the hub. All along the Strand you can enjoy shell hunting, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, sailing, surfing, jogging, or just strolling on the beach. And the Strand has something for everyone: more than 100 championship golf courses, designed by Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom and George Fazio, among others; excellent seafood restaurants; giant shopping malls and factory outlets; amusement parks, water slides, and arcades; a dozen shipwrecks for divers to explore; campgrounds, most of which are on the beach; plus antique-car and wax museums, the world's largest outdoor sculpture garden, an antique pipe organ and merry-go-round, and a museum dedicated entirely to rice. It has also emerged as a major center for country music, with an expanding number of theaters.
Myrtle Beach -- whose population of 26,000 explodes to about 350,000 in summer -- is the center of activity on the Grand Strand. It is here that you find the amusement parks and other children's activities that make the area so popular with families, as well as most of the nightlife that keeps parents and teenagers happy. On the North Strand, there is Little River, with a thriving fishing and charter industry, and the several communities that make up North Myrtle Beach. On the South Strand, the family retreats of Surfside Beach and Garden City offer more summer homes and condominiums. Farther south are towns as alluring to visit as are the sights along the way: Murrells Inlet, once a pirate's haven and now a scenic fishing village and port; and Pawleys Island, one of the East Coast's oldest resorts, which prides itself on being "arrogantly shabby." At the south end of the Grand Strand lies historic Georgetown, founded in 1729 and once the center of America's colonial rice empire.
South Carolina's Lowcountry extends from south of Charleston to the state's southern border, including the barrier islands of Edisto, Fripp, and Hilton Head, and the charming town of Beaufort. Edisto (pronounced ed-is-toh) Island, settled in 1690 and once noted for cotton, is midway between Charleston and Beaufort. Some of its elaborate mansions have been restored; others brood in disrepair. Fripp Island, a self-contained resort with controlled access, is farther south, and still farther south is Hilton Head Island.
Named after English sea captain William Hilton, who claimed its 42 square miles for England in 1663, Hilton Head was settled by planters in the 1700s. It flourished until the Civil War, after which it declined economically and languished until Charles E. Fraser, a visionary South Carolina attorney, began developing the Sea Pines resort in 1956. Other developments followed, and today Hilton Head's casual pace, broad beaches, myriad activities, and genteel good life make it one of the East Coast's most popular vacation getaways.
Beaufort, some 40 miles north of Hilton Head, is a graceful antebellum town with a compact historic district preserving lavish 18th- and 19th-century homes from an era of immense prosperity, based on its silky-textured Sea Island cotton. The beau in Beaufort is pronounced as in "beautiful," and Beaufort certainly is. Read more...
Myrtle Beach -- whose population of 26,000 explodes to about 350,000 in summer -- is the center of activity on the Grand Strand. It is here that you find the amusement parks and other children's activities that make the area so popular with families, as well as most of the nightlife that keeps parents and teenagers happy. On the North Strand, there is Little River, with a thriving fishing and charter industry, and the several communities that make up North Myrtle Beach. On the South Strand, the family retreats of Surfside Beach and Garden City offer more summer homes and condominiums. Farther south are towns as alluring to visit as are the sights along the way: Murrells Inlet, once a pirate's haven and now a scenic fishing village and port; and Pawleys Island, one of the East Coast's oldest resorts, which prides itself on being "arrogantly shabby." At the south end of the Grand Strand lies historic Georgetown, founded in 1729 and once the center of America's colonial rice empire.
South Carolina's Lowcountry extends from south of Charleston to the state's southern border, including the barrier islands of Edisto, Fripp, and Hilton Head, and the charming town of Beaufort. Edisto (pronounced ed-is-toh) Island, settled in 1690 and once noted for cotton, is midway between Charleston and Beaufort. Some of its elaborate mansions have been restored; others brood in disrepair. Fripp Island, a self-contained resort with controlled access, is farther south, and still farther south is Hilton Head Island.
Named after English sea captain William Hilton, who claimed its 42 square miles for England in 1663, Hilton Head was settled by planters in the 1700s. It flourished until the Civil War, after which it declined economically and languished until Charles E. Fraser, a visionary South Carolina attorney, began developing the Sea Pines resort in 1956. Other developments followed, and today Hilton Head's casual pace, broad beaches, myriad activities, and genteel good life make it one of the East Coast's most popular vacation getaways.
Beaufort, some 40 miles north of Hilton Head, is a graceful antebellum town with a compact historic district preserving lavish 18th- and 19th-century homes from an era of immense prosperity, based on its silky-textured Sea Island cotton. The beau in Beaufort is pronounced as in "beautiful," and Beaufort certainly is. Read more...
Palm Beach, Florida
This golden stretch of Atlantic coast resists categorization for good reason. The territory from Palm Beach south to Boca Raton defines old-world glamour and new-age sophistication. North of Palm Beach you'll uncover the comparatively undeveloped Treasure Coast -- liberally sprinkled with coastal gems -- where towns and wide-open spaces along the road await your discovery. Altogether, there's a delightful disparity, from Palm Beach, pulsing fast with plenty of old-money wealth, to low-key Hutchinson Island and Manalapan. Seductive as the beach scene interspersed with eclectic dining options can be, you should also take advantage of flourishing commitments to historic preservation and the arts as town after town yields intriguing museums, galleries, theaters, and gardens.
Long reigning as the epicenter of where the crème de la crème go to shake off winter's chill, Palm Beach continues to be a seasonal hotbed of platinum-grade consumption. Rare is the visitor to this region who can resist popping over to the island for a peek. Yes, other Florida favorites such as Jupiter Island actually rank higher on the per-capita-wealth meters of financial intelligence sources such as Worth magazine. But there's no competing with the historic social supremacy of Palm Beach, long a winter address for heirs of icons named Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Colgate, Post, Kellogg, and Kennedy. Yet even newer power brokers, with names like Kravis, Peltz, and Trump, are made to understand that strict laws govern everything from building to landscaping, and not so much as a pool awning gets added without a town council nod. If Palm Beach were to fly a flag, it's been observed, there might be three interlocking Cs, standing not only for Cartier, Chanel, and Christian Dior but also for clean, civil, and capricious. Only three bridges allow access to the island, and huge tour buses are a no-no. Yet when a freighter ran aground near a Palm Beach socialite's pool, she was quick to lament not having "enough Bloody Mary mix for all these sailors."
To learn who's who in Palm Beach, it helps to pick up a copy of the Palm Beach Daily News -- locals call it the Shiny Sheet because its high-quality paper avoids smudging society hands or Pratesi linens -- for, as it is said, to be mentioned in the Shiny Sheet is to be Palm Beach. All this fabled ambience started with Henry Morrison Flagler, Florida's premier developer, and cofounder, along with John D. Rockefeller, of Standard Oil. No sooner did Flagler bring the railroad to Florida in the 1890s than he erected the famed Royal Poinciana and Breakers hotels. Rail access sent real-estate prices soaring, and ever since, princely sums have been forked over for personal stationery engraved with the 33480 zip code of Palm Beach. To service Palm Beach with servants and other workers, Flagler also developed an off-island community a mile or so west. West Palm Beach now bustles with its own affluent identity, even if there's still no competing with one of the world's toniest island resorts.
With Palm Beach proper representing only 1% of Palm Beach County's land, remaining territory is given over to West Palm and other classic Florida coastal towns, along with -- to the west -- citrus farms, the Arthur R. Marshall-Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Okeechobee, a bass-fishing hot spot and Florida's largest lake. Well worth exploring is the Treasure Coast territory, covering northernmost Palm Beach County, plus Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. Despite a growing number of malls and beachfront condominiums, much of the Treasure Coast's shoreline remains blissfully undeveloped. Along the coast, the broad tidal lagoon called the Indian River separates barrier islands from the mainland. Inland there's cattle ranching in tracts of pine and palmetto scrub, along with sugar and citrus production. Shrimp farming utilizes techniques for acclimatizing shrimp from saltwater -- land near seawater is costly -- to fresh water, all the better to serve demand from restaurants popping up all over the region. Read more...
Long reigning as the epicenter of where the crème de la crème go to shake off winter's chill, Palm Beach continues to be a seasonal hotbed of platinum-grade consumption. Rare is the visitor to this region who can resist popping over to the island for a peek. Yes, other Florida favorites such as Jupiter Island actually rank higher on the per-capita-wealth meters of financial intelligence sources such as Worth magazine. But there's no competing with the historic social supremacy of Palm Beach, long a winter address for heirs of icons named Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Colgate, Post, Kellogg, and Kennedy. Yet even newer power brokers, with names like Kravis, Peltz, and Trump, are made to understand that strict laws govern everything from building to landscaping, and not so much as a pool awning gets added without a town council nod. If Palm Beach were to fly a flag, it's been observed, there might be three interlocking Cs, standing not only for Cartier, Chanel, and Christian Dior but also for clean, civil, and capricious. Only three bridges allow access to the island, and huge tour buses are a no-no. Yet when a freighter ran aground near a Palm Beach socialite's pool, she was quick to lament not having "enough Bloody Mary mix for all these sailors."
To learn who's who in Palm Beach, it helps to pick up a copy of the Palm Beach Daily News -- locals call it the Shiny Sheet because its high-quality paper avoids smudging society hands or Pratesi linens -- for, as it is said, to be mentioned in the Shiny Sheet is to be Palm Beach. All this fabled ambience started with Henry Morrison Flagler, Florida's premier developer, and cofounder, along with John D. Rockefeller, of Standard Oil. No sooner did Flagler bring the railroad to Florida in the 1890s than he erected the famed Royal Poinciana and Breakers hotels. Rail access sent real-estate prices soaring, and ever since, princely sums have been forked over for personal stationery engraved with the 33480 zip code of Palm Beach. To service Palm Beach with servants and other workers, Flagler also developed an off-island community a mile or so west. West Palm Beach now bustles with its own affluent identity, even if there's still no competing with one of the world's toniest island resorts.
With Palm Beach proper representing only 1% of Palm Beach County's land, remaining territory is given over to West Palm and other classic Florida coastal towns, along with -- to the west -- citrus farms, the Arthur R. Marshall-Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Okeechobee, a bass-fishing hot spot and Florida's largest lake. Well worth exploring is the Treasure Coast territory, covering northernmost Palm Beach County, plus Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. Despite a growing number of malls and beachfront condominiums, much of the Treasure Coast's shoreline remains blissfully undeveloped. Along the coast, the broad tidal lagoon called the Indian River separates barrier islands from the mainland. Inland there's cattle ranching in tracts of pine and palmetto scrub, along with sugar and citrus production. Shrimp farming utilizes techniques for acclimatizing shrimp from saltwater -- land near seawater is costly -- to fresh water, all the better to serve demand from restaurants popping up all over the region. Read more...
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
From the thin band of barrier islands known as the Outer Banks, along the northern coastline, to the area around Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast, North Carolina's beaches are a year-round destination. You can visit national seashores or wildlife refuges, go surfing, diving, fishing, hiking, bird-watching, hang gliding -- or just watch the waves. North Carolinians are proud that the nation's first national seashore, Cape Hatteras, is in their state, as is Roanoke Island, where the country's first European settlers landed more than 400 years ago.
For many years the Outer Banks remained isolated, home only to a few families who made their living by fishing. Today the islands, linked by bridges and ferries, have become popular tourist destinations. Much of the area is included in the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout national seashores. The largest towns are Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Manteo.
These islands are steeped in history, mystery, and myth. The first settlers, remembered today as the Lost Colony, landed here in 1587, only to disappear without a trace shortly thereafter. Those who endured made their living from the sea, fishing and whaling, and frequently setting out in small boats to rescue sailors whose ships had foundered. They stayed for the same reason people flock here today: for the unparalleled beauty of the ever-changing coastal landscape.
In its gentler moods the ocean casts pearly shells on the wide, flat beaches and laps at the sand. In moments of fury, it lashes and churns at the dunes, gouging out channels and reshaping the shoreline. The ocean is forever resculpting these banks; Bodie Island and Pea Island (for example) are islands no more.
Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout offer two very different beach experiences. Cape Hatteras is a 70-mile strand of narrow islands connected to the mainland by a series of bridges and ferries, and bisected by a modern road that allows easy access to the shoreline. When the National Seashore was established in 1953, the small towns along the island were permitted to remain, so accommodations, supplies, and recreational opportunities are always close at hand.
Cape Lookout, a 55-mile span of three unconnected islands, is essentially a beach wilderness-as close as you can get to experiencing the coast as the original colonists. Because no bridge ever connected it with the mainland, it has remained undeveloped and relatively pristine. The only access is by boat, and the only accommodations are tents and primitive cabins.
Carteret County, with nearly 80 miles of ocean coastline, is known as the Central or "Crystal" Coast. It is composed of the south-facing beaches along the barrier island Bogue Banks (Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path, and Emerald Isle), three mainland townships (Morehead City, Beaufort, and Newport), and a series of small, unincorporated "Down East" communities traversed by a portion of U.S. 70 that acts as a Scenic Byway.
Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast area, between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean near the south end of the North Carolina coast, are simultaneously a beach resort and a shipping and trading center. Artists, golfers, history buffs, naturalists, and shoppers will all find something of interest here.
In 1524 explorer Giovanni da Verrazano landed on what is now North Carolina's shore and wrote in his log that the land was "as pleasant and delectable to behold as is possible to imagine." His observation remains true five centuries later. Read more...
For many years the Outer Banks remained isolated, home only to a few families who made their living by fishing. Today the islands, linked by bridges and ferries, have become popular tourist destinations. Much of the area is included in the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout national seashores. The largest towns are Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Manteo.
These islands are steeped in history, mystery, and myth. The first settlers, remembered today as the Lost Colony, landed here in 1587, only to disappear without a trace shortly thereafter. Those who endured made their living from the sea, fishing and whaling, and frequently setting out in small boats to rescue sailors whose ships had foundered. They stayed for the same reason people flock here today: for the unparalleled beauty of the ever-changing coastal landscape.
In its gentler moods the ocean casts pearly shells on the wide, flat beaches and laps at the sand. In moments of fury, it lashes and churns at the dunes, gouging out channels and reshaping the shoreline. The ocean is forever resculpting these banks; Bodie Island and Pea Island (for example) are islands no more.
Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout offer two very different beach experiences. Cape Hatteras is a 70-mile strand of narrow islands connected to the mainland by a series of bridges and ferries, and bisected by a modern road that allows easy access to the shoreline. When the National Seashore was established in 1953, the small towns along the island were permitted to remain, so accommodations, supplies, and recreational opportunities are always close at hand.
Cape Lookout, a 55-mile span of three unconnected islands, is essentially a beach wilderness-as close as you can get to experiencing the coast as the original colonists. Because no bridge ever connected it with the mainland, it has remained undeveloped and relatively pristine. The only access is by boat, and the only accommodations are tents and primitive cabins.
Carteret County, with nearly 80 miles of ocean coastline, is known as the Central or "Crystal" Coast. It is composed of the south-facing beaches along the barrier island Bogue Banks (Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach, Salter Path, and Emerald Isle), three mainland townships (Morehead City, Beaufort, and Newport), and a series of small, unincorporated "Down East" communities traversed by a portion of U.S. 70 that acts as a Scenic Byway.
Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast area, between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean near the south end of the North Carolina coast, are simultaneously a beach resort and a shipping and trading center. Artists, golfers, history buffs, naturalists, and shoppers will all find something of interest here.
In 1524 explorer Giovanni da Verrazano landed on what is now North Carolina's shore and wrote in his log that the land was "as pleasant and delectable to behold as is possible to imagine." His observation remains true five centuries later. Read more...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Mississippi Gulf Coast
The Mississippi Gulf Coast extends for about 80 mi from Alabama to Louisiana. Restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, and souvenir shops jostle for space along its busy four lanes, and the riverboat casinos permanently docked at the water's edge welcome anyone seeking a good time. But don't let the clamor of this neon strip hide the coast's quieter treasures: the ancient land, sculpted by wind and water, continually changing; serene beachfront houses set on green and shady lawns; the teeming wildlife of Mississippi Sound and its adjacent bayous and marshes; the unspoiled natural beauty of the seven barrier islands that separate the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi Sound.
On a clear day, if you have good eyesight or a good imagination, you can see these islands. Their names (from east to west) are Petit Bois (anglicized as "Petty Boy"), Horn, East and West Ship, and Cat. Two others, Round and Deer, lie within Mississippi Sound.
Three hundred years ago, France, England, and Spain ruled the area, according to their fortunes in international wars. Street names, family names, and traditions still reflect this colorful heritage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the coast became a fashionable vacation spot for wealthy New Orleanians and Delta planters eager to escape yellow fever epidemics. Elegant hotels, imposing beachfront mansions, and smaller summer homes sprang up. Today the homes that have endured the vagaries of time and hurricanes stand along the beach -- brave and beautiful survivors. Read more...
On a clear day, if you have good eyesight or a good imagination, you can see these islands. Their names (from east to west) are Petit Bois (anglicized as "Petty Boy"), Horn, East and West Ship, and Cat. Two others, Round and Deer, lie within Mississippi Sound.
Three hundred years ago, France, England, and Spain ruled the area, according to their fortunes in international wars. Street names, family names, and traditions still reflect this colorful heritage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the coast became a fashionable vacation spot for wealthy New Orleanians and Delta planters eager to escape yellow fever epidemics. Elegant hotels, imposing beachfront mansions, and smaller summer homes sprang up. Today the homes that have endured the vagaries of time and hurricanes stand along the beach -- brave and beautiful survivors. Read more...
Monterey Peninsula, California
Famed for its scenic beauty, the Monterey Peninsula is also steeped in history. The town of Monterey was California's first capital, the Carmel Mission headquarters for California's mission system. John Steinbeck's novels immortalized the area in Cannery Row, and Robert Louis Stevenson strolled its streets, gathering inspiration for Treasure Island. The present is equally illustrious. Blessed with maritime bounty and cultural diversity, Monterey Bay is the setting for both high-tech marine habitats and luxurious resorts. Set along a 90-mi crescent of coastline like jewels in a tiara, the towns of Monterey Bay combine the somewhat funky, beachcomber aspects of California's culture with the state's more refined tendencies. Past and present merge gracefully here.
Read more...
Naples, Florida
With its subtropical climate and beckoning family-friendly beaches, the Lower Gulf Coast, also referred to as the state's southwestern region, is a favorite vacation spot of Florida residents as well as visitors. There's lots to do in addition to the sun and surf scene throughout its several distinct travel destinations. Small and pretty downtown Fort Myers rises inland along the Caloosahatchee River, while the rest of the town sprawls in all directions. It got its nickname, the City of Palms, from the hundreds of towering royal palms that inventor Thomas Edison planted between 1900 and 1917 along McGregor Boulevard, a historic residential street and site of his winter estate. Edison's idea caught on, and more than 2,000 royal palms now line McGregor Boulevard alone. Museums and educational attractions are the draw here, as downtown diligently tries to shape itself as an entertainment district and makes slow but sure headway. Off the coast west of Fort Myers are more than 100 coastal islands in all shapes and sizes -- among them Sanibel and Captiva, two thoughtfully developed resort islands. Connected to the mainland by a 3-mi causeway, Sanibel is known for its superb shelling, fine fishing, beachfront resorts, and wildlife refuge. Here and on Captiva, to which it is connected by a short bridge, multimillion-dollar homes line both waterfronts, but the gulf beaches are readily accessible. Just southwest of Fort Myers is Estero Island, home of busy Fort Myers Beach, and farther south, Lovers Key State Park and the growing area north of Naples, Bonita Springs. North of Fort Myers, Punta Gorda is the center of a fishing-frenzied vacationland that remains a well-kept secret.
Farther down the coast lies Naples, once a small fishing village and now a thriving and sophisticated town, a smaller, more understated version of Palm Beach with fine restaurants, chichi shopping areas, and -- locals will tell you -- more golf holes per capita than anywhere else in the world. There's a lovely small art museum in the 1,473-seat Naples Philharmonic Center, which is the west-coast home of the Miami City Ballet. The beaches are soft and white, and access is relatively easy. East of Naples stretch the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park, and a half hour south basks Marco Island, which people visit mostly for beaches and fishing. See a maze of pristine miniature mangrove islands when you take a boat tour departing from the island's marinas into Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Although high-rises line much of Marco's waterfront, natural areas have been preserved, including the tiny fishing village of Goodland, an outpost of Old Florida that is starting to sprout condos at its fringes. Read more...
Farther down the coast lies Naples, once a small fishing village and now a thriving and sophisticated town, a smaller, more understated version of Palm Beach with fine restaurants, chichi shopping areas, and -- locals will tell you -- more golf holes per capita than anywhere else in the world. There's a lovely small art museum in the 1,473-seat Naples Philharmonic Center, which is the west-coast home of the Miami City Ballet. The beaches are soft and white, and access is relatively easy. East of Naples stretch the Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park, and a half hour south basks Marco Island, which people visit mostly for beaches and fishing. See a maze of pristine miniature mangrove islands when you take a boat tour departing from the island's marinas into Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Although high-rises line much of Marco's waterfront, natural areas have been preserved, including the tiny fishing village of Goodland, an outpost of Old Florida that is starting to sprout condos at its fringes. Read more...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
La Jolla, California
Sunshine year-round, miles of white-sand beaches, laid-back friendliness, history and Hispanic culture, and family-oriented outdoor entertainment at SeaWorld and the world-famous San Diego Zoo are enough to draw 14 million visitors annually to "America's finest city." But there's more than meets the eye here. If you look beyond the obvious, you'll discover why many longtime vacationers eventually become residents, and why residents have a hard time ever moving.
San Diego, occupying the southwest corner of California, boasts an almost perfect year-round climate. Most days are sunny, averaging 70°F and humidity is low. The cool coastal climate is ideal for the area's most colorful industry -- flower growing. Summer temperatures frequently reach 100°F inland, particularly at the Wild Animal Park near Escondido; even so, nights are cool enough to make it a good idea to have a sweater or jacket handy.
San Diego is a big city, where locals take pride in its small-town feel. With more than 1 million people living within the city limits, San Diego is second only to Los Angeles in population among California cities and ranks as the seventh-largest municipality in the United States. It also covers a lot of territory, roughly 400 square mi of land and sea.
Central San Diego is delightfully urban and accessible. You can walk the entire downtown area -- explore the exciting and trendy Gaslamp Quarter, stop and shop at whimsical Horton Plaza, dine Italian, hear a rock band, attend a play, take a sunset harbor stroll, picnic in the park, or visit a historic building. Downtown you can catch the trolley or take the bus to the Balboa Park museums and the zoo, Old Town historic sites, Mission Bay marine park, Qualcomm Stadium, diverse urban neighborhoods, and Tijuana.
To the north and south of the city are 70 mi of beaches. Hiking and camping territory lie inland, where a succession of long, low, chaparral-covered mesas are punctuated with deep-cut canyons that step up to savanna-like hills, separating the verdant coast from the arid Anza-Borrego Desert. Unusually clear skies make the inland countryside ideal for stargazing.
You'll find reminders of San Diego's Spanish and Mexican heritage throughout the region -- in architecture and place-names, in distinctive Mexican cuisine, and in a handful of historic buildings in Old Town. The San Diego area, the birthplace of California, was claimed for Spain by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. The first European community, Mission Alta California, was established here in 1769, when a small group of settlers and soldiers set up camp on what is now called Presidio Hill. Franciscan Father Junípero Serra, leader of the settlers, celebrated the first Mass here in July of that year, establishing the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the 21 missions built by Spanish friars in California. San Diego, along with the rest of California, ultimately came under Mexican rule before entering the United States as the 31st state in 1850.
In 1867 developer Alonzo Horton, who called the town's bay-front "the prettiest place for a city I ever saw," began building a hotel, a plaza, and prefab homes on 960 downtown acres. The city's fate was sealed in 1908 when the U.S. Navy's battleship fleet sailed into San Diego Bay. The military continues to contribute to the local economy, operating many bases and installations throughout the county; San Diego is home to the largest military complex in the world.
San Diego has taken an orderly approach to inevitable development with the adoption of a general plan to run through the year 2020. More than 50 projects are under way or on the drawing board for downtown, including a new ballpark for the Padres, several hotels, and the creation of plazas, parks, and promenades along the waterfront.
Links between the south-of-the-border communities of Tijuana and Ensenada continue to strengthen. More than 50 million people cross the border at San Ysidro annually, indicative of the two-nation nature of San Diego. In recent years Tijuana has grown into one of the biggest, most exciting cities in Mexico. You'll discover a sophisticated, pulsating city marked with excellent restaurants, trendy bars and discos, chic boutiques, discount malls, sports-betting parlors, broad boulevards congested with traffic, and new high-rise hotels.
Without question, San Diego is one of the warmest and most appealing destinations in the United States. As you explore, you'll make your own discoveries that will lead you to agree with most locals that this corner of California is just this side of paradise. Read more...
San Diego, occupying the southwest corner of California, boasts an almost perfect year-round climate. Most days are sunny, averaging 70°F and humidity is low. The cool coastal climate is ideal for the area's most colorful industry -- flower growing. Summer temperatures frequently reach 100°F inland, particularly at the Wild Animal Park near Escondido; even so, nights are cool enough to make it a good idea to have a sweater or jacket handy.
San Diego is a big city, where locals take pride in its small-town feel. With more than 1 million people living within the city limits, San Diego is second only to Los Angeles in population among California cities and ranks as the seventh-largest municipality in the United States. It also covers a lot of territory, roughly 400 square mi of land and sea.
Central San Diego is delightfully urban and accessible. You can walk the entire downtown area -- explore the exciting and trendy Gaslamp Quarter, stop and shop at whimsical Horton Plaza, dine Italian, hear a rock band, attend a play, take a sunset harbor stroll, picnic in the park, or visit a historic building. Downtown you can catch the trolley or take the bus to the Balboa Park museums and the zoo, Old Town historic sites, Mission Bay marine park, Qualcomm Stadium, diverse urban neighborhoods, and Tijuana.
To the north and south of the city are 70 mi of beaches. Hiking and camping territory lie inland, where a succession of long, low, chaparral-covered mesas are punctuated with deep-cut canyons that step up to savanna-like hills, separating the verdant coast from the arid Anza-Borrego Desert. Unusually clear skies make the inland countryside ideal for stargazing.
You'll find reminders of San Diego's Spanish and Mexican heritage throughout the region -- in architecture and place-names, in distinctive Mexican cuisine, and in a handful of historic buildings in Old Town. The San Diego area, the birthplace of California, was claimed for Spain by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. The first European community, Mission Alta California, was established here in 1769, when a small group of settlers and soldiers set up camp on what is now called Presidio Hill. Franciscan Father Junípero Serra, leader of the settlers, celebrated the first Mass here in July of that year, establishing the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of the 21 missions built by Spanish friars in California. San Diego, along with the rest of California, ultimately came under Mexican rule before entering the United States as the 31st state in 1850.
In 1867 developer Alonzo Horton, who called the town's bay-front "the prettiest place for a city I ever saw," began building a hotel, a plaza, and prefab homes on 960 downtown acres. The city's fate was sealed in 1908 when the U.S. Navy's battleship fleet sailed into San Diego Bay. The military continues to contribute to the local economy, operating many bases and installations throughout the county; San Diego is home to the largest military complex in the world.
San Diego has taken an orderly approach to inevitable development with the adoption of a general plan to run through the year 2020. More than 50 projects are under way or on the drawing board for downtown, including a new ballpark for the Padres, several hotels, and the creation of plazas, parks, and promenades along the waterfront.
Links between the south-of-the-border communities of Tijuana and Ensenada continue to strengthen. More than 50 million people cross the border at San Ysidro annually, indicative of the two-nation nature of San Diego. In recent years Tijuana has grown into one of the biggest, most exciting cities in Mexico. You'll discover a sophisticated, pulsating city marked with excellent restaurants, trendy bars and discos, chic boutiques, discount malls, sports-betting parlors, broad boulevards congested with traffic, and new high-rise hotels.
Without question, San Diego is one of the warmest and most appealing destinations in the United States. As you explore, you'll make your own discoveries that will lead you to agree with most locals that this corner of California is just this side of paradise. Read more...
Huntington Beach, California
No place in Southern California evokes the stereotype of California's good life quite the way Orange County does: Million-dollar mansions dot the coastline, lush golf courses line beaches and meander through inland hills, and residents in late-model convertibles glide down Pacific Coast Highway. But, while visitors and locals are adept at relaxing under swaying palm trees while lounging beachfront, the inland cities are alive with amusement parks, professional sporting events, and dozens of hotels and restaurants, all within minutes of each other.
Few of the citrus groves that gave Orange County its name remain. This region south and east of Los Angeles is now a high-tech business hub where tourism is the number-one industry. The theme parks of Anaheim lure hordes of visitors; numerous festivals celebrate the county's culture and relatively brief history; and the area supports fine dining, upscale shopping, and several outstanding visual and performing-arts facilities. The Nixon presidential library and the Crystal Cathedral are two major inland draws, along with several shopping-and-entertainment complexes. As for the coast, exclusive Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach, and the up-and-coming surf town of Huntington Beach are the stars, but lesser-known gems on the glistening coast -- such as Corona del Mar -- are also worth visiting.
The snowcapped Matterhorn, the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom, dominates Anaheim's skyline, serving, along with the city's landscaped streets, as an enduring reminder of the role Disneyland has played in the urbanization and growth of Orange County. Read more...
Few of the citrus groves that gave Orange County its name remain. This region south and east of Los Angeles is now a high-tech business hub where tourism is the number-one industry. The theme parks of Anaheim lure hordes of visitors; numerous festivals celebrate the county's culture and relatively brief history; and the area supports fine dining, upscale shopping, and several outstanding visual and performing-arts facilities. The Nixon presidential library and the Crystal Cathedral are two major inland draws, along with several shopping-and-entertainment complexes. As for the coast, exclusive Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach, and the up-and-coming surf town of Huntington Beach are the stars, but lesser-known gems on the glistening coast -- such as Corona del Mar -- are also worth visiting.
The snowcapped Matterhorn, the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom, dominates Anaheim's skyline, serving, along with the city's landscaped streets, as an enduring reminder of the role Disneyland has played in the urbanization and growth of Orange County. Read more...
Newport Beach, California
No place in Southern California evokes the stereotype of California's good life quite the way Orange County does: Million-dollar mansions dot the coastline, lush golf courses line beaches and meander through inland hills, and residents in late-model convertibles glide down Pacific Coast Highway. But, while visitors and locals are adept at relaxing under swaying palm trees while lounging beachfront, the inland cities are alive with amusement parks, professional sporting events, and dozens of hotels and restaurants, all within minutes of each other.
Few of the citrus groves that gave Orange County its name remain. This region south and east of Los Angeles is now a high-tech business hub where tourism is the number-one industry. The theme parks of Anaheim lure hordes of visitors; numerous festivals celebrate the county's culture and relatively brief history; and the area supports fine dining, upscale shopping, and several outstanding visual and performing-arts facilities. The Nixon presidential library and the Crystal Cathedral are two major inland draws, along with several shopping-and-entertainment complexes. As for the coast, exclusive Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach, and the up-and-coming surf town of Huntington Beach are the stars, but lesser-known gems on the glistening coast -- such as Corona del Mar -- are also worth visiting.
The snowcapped Matterhorn, the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom, dominates Anaheim's skyline, serving, along with the city's landscaped streets, as an enduring reminder of the role Disneyland has played in the urbanization and growth of Orange County. Read more...
Few of the citrus groves that gave Orange County its name remain. This region south and east of Los Angeles is now a high-tech business hub where tourism is the number-one industry. The theme parks of Anaheim lure hordes of visitors; numerous festivals celebrate the county's culture and relatively brief history; and the area supports fine dining, upscale shopping, and several outstanding visual and performing-arts facilities. The Nixon presidential library and the Crystal Cathedral are two major inland draws, along with several shopping-and-entertainment complexes. As for the coast, exclusive Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach, and the up-and-coming surf town of Huntington Beach are the stars, but lesser-known gems on the glistening coast -- such as Corona del Mar -- are also worth visiting.
The snowcapped Matterhorn, the centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom, dominates Anaheim's skyline, serving, along with the city's landscaped streets, as an enduring reminder of the role Disneyland has played in the urbanization and growth of Orange County. Read more...
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