3 Best Coastal Towns To Visit During the Winter
Written by
Heather Taylor
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Where should you vacation if you want to escape the winter blahs? Why not explore a locale now that costs a lot more money to visit during the summer months?
GOBankingRates spoke to three travel professionals to get their expert takes on some of the best coastal towns and cities to visit during winter — and you might be surprised by their recommendations.
Laguna Beach, California
- Average hotel cost for one week: $4,550
As steep as this Laguna Beach week-long hotel stay estimate provided by Budget Your Trip sounds, the platform refers to the cost as being remarkably economical. In particular, it’s worth noting that in the busy season, a three-day hotel stay in Laguna Beach averages around $3,639 compared to $1,950 in the shoulder season.
LaDell Carter, founder and lead travel designer at Royal Expression Travels, recommended Laguna Beach to GOBankingRates as the quintessential California winter escape. Travelers get the chance to soak up the sun and the ocean breeze, enjoy a lively local culinary scene for every palette and revel in the abundance of coastal charm.
“The town hums with energy during winter — not crowded, but lively enough to make every moment feel special,” Carter said.
Sag Harbor, New York
- Average cost of one-week trip to The Hamptons: more than $1,500
Exhausting cost-cutting measures like riding the Jitney coach bus aren’t always enough if you want to visit The Hamptons on a budget. The savviest financial move is to travel to a town like Sag Harbor during winter.
Vanessa Gordon is the CEO and publisher of East End Taste, an online publication detailing refined food trends around the world and within the East End of Long Island, New York. Gordon said that while travelers can still experience the beauty of Sag Harbor during the summer season, the winter gives visitors the chance to truly enjoy restaurants, sights and scenery, like seal watching, without crowds.
And while the weather is colder compared to other popular hot spots, this town is just as lively as ever. Gordon recommends checking out the annual HarborFrost event, typically held in February, that features ice sculpture-making spectacles, food, live music and more.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Average one-week trip cost for two people: $2,072
Why visit Virginia Beach this winter? Just ask Erin Goldmeier, director of media relations for the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau.
As far as accommodations go, it’s possible visitors may pay much less than the above quoted estimate from Budget Your Trip. Goldmeier said monthly average rates at accommodations like Quality Inn & Suites Oceanfront cost around $80 to $120 per night. A stay at the Sandcastle Resort, on the other hand, averages $100 to $150 per night, but does provide guests with an indoor pool and ocean views for those who want to stay indoors when it’s cold out.
Winter stays in Virginia Beach also mean tourists are privy to the types of winter wildlife and outdoor activities they wouldn’t ordinarily be privy to in a busy summer season.
Some of Goldmeier’s recommendations include grabbing crab cakes at The Shack on 8th and bird watching migratory species at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. And don’t miss the return of Virginia Beach Restaurant Week either. From Jan. 20-26, Goldmeier said guests attending will be able to enjoy fixed-price menus at various local eateries for a taste of the coast and more accessibility to gourmet dining.
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