Editor-in-chief Sid Evans has been making yearly pilgrimages to this quiet South Carolina island every summer since he was 5 or 6. Though the island, whose tagline is “arrogantly shabby” has seen some development over the years, it maintains its simple, lowkey Lowcountry vibe. “The best thing about it is that you have the ocean on one side and the creek/marsh on the other,” Evans says. “If you rent a place with a dock on the creek you can fish, crab, or just hang out and watch the sun set over the marsh. You can also get a raft and float the whole creek as the tide is going out.” Top recommendations from Evans include Chive Blossom, Rustic Table, and Bistro 217 for dinner; Island Art to see and buy locally made art; Pawleys Island Bakery for breakfast sandwiches; and the Point at the Southern tip of the island to search for shark teeth.  

Digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes doesn’t just take a yearly visit to her preferred Southern beach. “We’ve been coming to Destin several times a year my entire life, and it’s such a special place to me,” she says of the popular Gulf Coast town. Affectionately known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” the area is well-known for its white-quartz sand and signature shade of emerald water. If you follow Hodes’s lead and plan a trip to Destin this year, be sure to also take her advice on where to eat. “Bijoux is one of our favorite hidden gem restaurants with incredible food and service,” she says.

The 24-mile stretch of Florida panhandle coastline along Scenic Highway 30A has been picking up steam as a top vacation destination for travelers from the South and beyond. Despite their growing popularity, the area’s quaint beach communities have retained all of their under-the-radar charm and continue to draw repeat visitors. Editorial director Katie Rousso’s family is a perfect example. “My husband’s extended family has vacationed in Seagrove, Florida for more than 30 years, back when 30A was still a hidden gem,” she says. “I joined the tradition about 15 years ago, and while the area seems to keep growing in popularity, its powdery-white sand and turquoise water still make it feel like paradise—especially in the offseason.”

Don’t sleep on Alabama’s portion of the Gulf Coast. Senior digital editor Jenna Sims says her family has been vacationing in Gulf Shores, Alabama for years and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. Her pro tip as the area has gotten more popular? Find a spot on the quieter west end of the beach. “We enjoy staying at condos that are situated between the white sands of the Gulf and Little Lagoon, so you have water views on both sides,” she says. “We grill out several nights so we can enjoy each and every sunset.” When her family does leave the comfort of their home away from home, she says LuLu’s on the Intracoastal Waterway for dinner and Sunliner Diner for breakfast are must-visit spots. “And of course no trip is complete without stepping through the iconic shark’s mouth that greets customers at Souvenir City,” she says.

Our senior homes editor Betsy Cribb Watson is partial to the charms of Sullivan’s Island, a tiny beach town situated on 2.5 miles of the Atlantic coast that’s located just 20 minutes from her hometown of Charleston. “Not only is the beach beautiful, the little town is a far cry from the more commercialized destinations in the area,” she says. “It’s peppered with locally owned restaurants and shops.” Her favorite thing to do on the island? “Pick up a pizza from the Obstinate Daughter for a sunset beach picnic.”

Anyone who’s got a family member who loves to complain about crowds might consider this recommendation from digital editor Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik. “My family loves Cape San Blas because it is tucked into one of the quietest stretches of the Florida Panhandle, which means you get the same powdery sand as bustling places like 30A—but with zero crowds or fanfare!” Her formula for the perfect vacation involves renting an old rickety beach house, spending lazy days in the waves, and going scalloping when the season allows. “We always grab fried shrimp at Indian Pass Raw Bar (show up early), and even do a day trip into Apalachicola when we are all getting a little stir-crazy,” she says. “It’s the kind of place where you don’t need any fancy dinner outfits, or anything other than flip-flops, and the sunsets are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen!”

Another great Florida panhandle spot to consider, Santa Rosa Beach has lots to offer in terms of great dining, gorgeous beaches, and easy access to other nearby hotspots. “My family has had stints visiting places like Orange Beach, Alabama and Destin, Florida, but we’ve finally settled on Santa Rosa Beach as our yearly spot,” says senior travel editor Tara Massouleh McCay. “My mom and I love to visit in fall when the beaches are a bit quieter and the temperatures hover around the high 70s and low 80s. It’s the perfect weather for spending very long days on the beach doing nothing but diving into the waves or into a good book.”

Our No. 1 Best Beach Town has a special place in the heart of associate homes editor Cameron Beall, despite the fact that she didn’t grow up visiting to the destination. “I didn’t discover the magic of Saint Simons until I was in college,” she says. “But on my first trip there in 2016, I immediately fell in love with it and have been lucky enough to return year after year to visit friends.” What she loves most about the understated beach town is how easy it is to feel like a local and how much there is to do between the marsh creeks and the deep beach. “No matter how long a trip it is, I always try to make stop at Southern Soul for some barbecue (and even better sides), Porch for fried chicken and frosé, and Wake Up Coffee Company for a No Bake [sweet treat] and coffee.”