You don't have to go far for a beach vacation. These five great resort areas offer sun, sand, and fun, no passport or long-hail flights required.
Miami, Florida
Miami's hot South Beach has its own personality. With sun bathers in teeny tiny bikinis and roller bladers in hot pants, you'll want to bring your coolest duds or, you know, plan to shop when you get here.
Don't Leave Without: You must try a Cuban sandwich, and the very sweet high-octane Cuban coffee called a cortadito.
The Hamptons, New York
This elegant beach escape, just a few hours' drive from Manhattan, offers a luxurious celeb-filled take on a sandy honeymoon. We especially like Southampton and East Hampton if you've never been out to the South Fork before.
Don't Leave Without: Walking the streets of town with your eyes open; in peak season, these shopping districts are ripe for celeb spotting.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
What the Hamptons are for New Yorkers, Cape Cod is for the Boston crowd: a convenient sunny, summery getaway when you want a dose of sand.
Don't Leave Without: Celebrate your childhood summers with a date night of miniature golf followed by ice cream cones.
Santa Monica, California
There's plenty of people-watching in Los Angeles' beach retreat, where the pier has amusement park rides and the avocado and seafood-spikes dishes are a way of life.
Don't Leave Without: Get into the California way of life, and set aside a day to relax on the beach until the sun starts to set.
San Diego, California
If the beaches in Southern California fly under the radar a bit, it's only because the locals take them for granted as a birthright. Still, you'll be amazed by just how many big, wide stretches of sand you'll find here.
Don't Leave Without: The Baja-style fried fish tacos will be something you dream of for years to come.
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