I'm dreaming of a white summer

I love sleepy beach towns. They are becoming harder and harder to find these days as real estate along the coast becomes overpopulated with big named hotels, fast food chains, and tourist traps. But these locations have held on to their small town charm. I picture Markus and I renting a beach house one day with our family at one of these beaches. Riding into town on beach combers, grabbing an ice cream after a day spent at the beach, eating seafood with our bare hands, and falling asleep to the ocean breeze.

Seaside, Florida is a beach community on the Florida panhandle in Walton County. I've never been but the pictures look nice. I also like their motto, learn to feel small again. This beach town was the inspiration for the town in The Truman Show.

Avalon, New Jersey isn't the sleepy beach town it used to be when my friend Erin was growing up there s but it hasn't lost all of it's charm. I've been going to Avalon for the Fourth of July since 2003 and I love it. It's got beautiful beaches, plenty of night life with live music almost every night of the week, and great food. You can walk or bike into town for a cone from Avalon Freeze, grab a slice late night from Circle Pizza, or hit up the Windrift on Tuesday for all you can eat wing night. I am going to miss Avalon this summer!

I've also never been to Charleston, South Carolina but I have a feeling we would get along well. There is nothing better for this southern gal than a beach town with old historic homes and palm trees. Add a Firefly iced tea and a wrap around porch and I wouldn't leave! Maybe that's why Markus and I have never visited, he is scared I'll want to move there. Not a half bad idea. Until I can actually visit this town, I'll picture myself strolling these streets, looking at beautiful southern architecture.

Where is your family headed this summer?