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8 Beautiful U.S. Beach Towns That Are Actually Affordable

Block Island, Rhode Island

Block Island, just a one-hour ferry ride from mainland Rhode Island, is a blend of quaint charm and natural beauty. Its downtown area features Victorian bed-and-breakfasts, quirky boutiques, and a few small grocery stores, with no chains in sight.

Ocracoke, North Carolina

Ocracoke Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, offers a unique combination of sandy beaches and wild nature. Once a pirate hideout for Blackbeard, it now attracts tens of thousands of visitors yearly, drawn by its remoteness

Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington

Friday Harbor, accessible by ferry or seaplane from Seattle, is a charming island village offering natural beaches, independent bookstores, and restaurants. The island's rugged coastline, hiking trails, and wildlife, including whales

Edisto, South Carolina

Edisto Island offers a back-to-basics beach vacation experience. Visitors can explore Botany Bay, a unique nature reserve covered in driftwood and seashells, hike or bike through live oak and palmetto forests to ancient Native American

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Carmel-by-the-Sea, known for its artistic heritage and small-town charm, has long been a preferred getaway for creative types. The walkable downtown features cobblestone streets lined with shops, galleries, and wine-driven restaurants.

Sanibel Island, Florida

Sanibel Island, located on Florida's Gulf of Mexico side, is a paradise for nature lovers. Its unique east-west orientation makes it a prime spot for collecting seashells, a popular activity known as the "Sanibel Stoop."

Port Aransas, Texas

Port Aransas, known as the "Fishing Capital of Texas," offers 18 miles of beach and opportunities for deep-sea fishing excursions. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, kayaking, parasailing, golfing, dolphin spotting, and bird-watching.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Cannon Beach is famous for its distinctive Haystack Rock, a basalt tower rising 235 feet from the water's edge. The beach offers a peaceful setting for swimming, walking, kayaking, and bird-watching.