A Beach-lover's Guide
Best bets for seaside snacks, shore dinners, and last-minute shopping
Secret Sands
Horseshoe Beach
La Jolla, California
Last-Minute Shopping Three blocks away from the beach, JEP boutique (7501 La Jolla Blvd., LaJolla; 858/551-0600) carries a small but chic collection of beachwear, from punky-preppy designs by Trovata to hipster shades by Initium.
Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach
Maui, Hawaii
Beach Eats The half-pound burgers at Hana Ranch Restaurant (5031 Hana Hwy., Maui; 808/248-825; lunch for two $40) are both substantial and delicious.
Ladies Beach
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Beach Eats On the way, stock your picnic basket with made-to-order sandwiches and side salads from Bartlett’s Farm (33 Bartlett Farm Rd., Nantucket; 508/228-9403, lunch for two $20) and Whale’s Tale Pale Ale from Cisco Brewers (5 Bartlett Farm Rd., 508/325-5929).
Napeague State Park
Long Island, New York
Beach Eats Lobster rolls are a local favorite at the roadside Lobster Roll Restaurant, a.k.a. Lunch (1980 Montauk Hwy.; 631/267-3740, lunch for two $70).
People-Watching
Butterfly Beach
Montecito, California
Cool Down Sip a chilled local white wine at the Montecito Inn’s quaint Montecito Cafe (1295 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; 805/969-3392; www.montecitoinn.com, lunch for two $40).
North Avenue Beach
Chicago’s North Shore
Beach Eats Try the meaty, charred burgers at R. J. Grunts (2056 North Lincoln Park W.; 773/929-5363; lunch for two $30), a restaurant with a 1970's hippie shtick. (It's where über-chef Grant Achatz takes his kids when he's not at his restaurant Alinea.)
Fort Lauderdale City Beach
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Beach Eats American cuisine gets a tropical and Asian makeover at Casablanca Cafe (3049 Alhambra St, Fort Lauderdale; 954/764-3500; lunch for two $35).
Swimming Spots
Zuma Beach
Malibu, California
Beach Eats Sit down to a plate of grilled salmon and sourdough bread at the casual, terraced Malibu Seafood (25653 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; 310/456-3430; lunch for two $30).
Rosemary Beach
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Cool Down Sip a glass of limeade from old-timey purveyor Sugar Shak, a five-minute stroll from the beach (5 Main St. Rosemary Beach; 850/231-3655; ice cream for two $7).
North Beach
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Beach Eats For the best lobster rolls around, visit Nickerson's Fish and Lobster (45 Barcliff Ave., Chatham Fish Pier; 508/945-0145; lunch for two $30).
Gooseberry Beach
Newport, Rhode Island
Beach Eats The grilled hot dogs and homemade lemonade at the Gooseberry Concession & Cafe (Ocean Ave., Newport; 401/855-0268; lunch for two $8) are perfect picnic snacks.
Long Branch Beach
New Jersey Shore
Beach Eats South Beach chic has come to the Jersey Shore, with the opening of the David Collins–designed Avenue brasserie (23 Ocean Ave., Long Branch; 732/759-2900; leclubavenue.com; dinner for two $60).
Nature Escapes
Hanakapiai Beach
Kauai, Hawaii
Beach Eats One of the last stops on the way to the trailhead, the Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant and Fish Market has just the perfect fish dish: ahi poke, a yellowfin tuna salad with wasabi and pickled ginger (5–5016 Kuhio Hwy., Hanalei; 808/826-6113; lunch for two $30).
Pfeiffer State Beach
Big Sur, California
Pack a Snack Pick up coffee and freshly made jelly doughnuts three miles away at Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant (Hwy. 1, Big Sur; 831/667-0520, lunch for two $30).
Meyers Beach
Meyers Beach, Oregon
Beach Eats, In the nearby town of Gold Beach, Harborfront Porthole Café (29975 Harbor Way, Gold Beach; 541/247-7411; lunch for two $20) is famous for its just-crisp-enough fish-and-chips.
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island, Georgia
Picnic Lunch The only place to eat and sleep on the island is the Greyfield Inn (on the Cumberland Island shore), and it's closed to non-guests on weekends. Before boarding the ferry for the 20-minute ride to the island, day-trippers should swing by the St. Marys Market on the Square grocery. (100 Osborne St., St. Marys; 912/882-2215; sandwiches from $5).
Fun for Everyone
Crandon Park Beach
Key Biscayne, Florida
Beach Eats At the Donut Gallery (83 Harbor Dr., Key Biscayne; 305/361-9985; breakfast for two $15), families snuggle into the black vinyl booths and order hearty brunches of pancakes and French toast, but they arrive early because the restaurant closes at 1:30 p.m.
Popham Beach State Park
Phippsburg, Maine
Beach Eats Twenty minutes away from the beach, Henry & Marty's (61 Maine St., Brunswick; 207/721-9141; dinner for two $75) serves locally sourced lobster and Bang Island mussels.
Kiawah Island
Coast of South Carolina
Pack a Lunch Specializing in creamy she-crab soup (lump crabmeat, crab roe, and mirepoix), The Market at Town Center (5480 Sea Forest Dr., Kiawah Island; 843/768-2775; lunch for two from $20), prepares everything to go.
Whitefish Dunes State Park
Door County, Wisconsin
Beach Eats Head to Door County's The White Gull Inn (4225 Main St., Fish Creek; 800/624-1987; whitegullinn.com; dinner for two $75) for a classic fish boil: freshly caught whitefish cooked outdoors in a big black cauldron.
—Jennifer Welbel
