North Carolina is famous for mountains, rivers, the Wright brothers, and beaches! The best beaches are on the Outer Banks, sandy islands with the Atlantic on one side and a river on the other. Cape Fear is renowned for the movie of the same name, and is an extremely popular destination, but if you’d rather relax it may be too popular. Drive across Snow’s Cut Bridge to Pleasure Island, and down to its southern tip. There you’ll find Kure (pronounced CUR-ee) Beach, this week’s best beach.

Kure Beach is both a town and a beach, and if you decide you want to stay longer than a day (and you probably will) you’ll have no problem finding a beach cottage or ocean-front condo to rent, or a motel for a shorter stay. There are plenty of shops and great restaurants that range from 5 star to inexpensive, but always tasty, in this town of about 1,800. If they’re not enough for you, it’s a short trip back to Wilmington. But if you’re a beach-lover, you’ll just want to spread out your towel and stay.

The sands of Kure Beach are open and unspoiled, and you can sunbathe, amble along looking for shells, or just admire the ocean without constantly tripping over people. There are hiking trails and some fascinating vegetation, including the Venus flytrap. Kure Beach is also a great place for surfing or sailboarding, and it’s one of the best spots along the Outer Banks for fishing. The town has a 700+ foot pier, one of the best on the east coast, and you’re guaranteed to catch something. If you’d rather look at fish than catch them, visit the North Carolina Aquarium, also on Kure.

Carry all your beach needs in this spacious and stylish tote from JanSport. Keep your feet happy on sand, trail or water in these Sun Chill Thongs from Columbia. Catch everybody’s eyes while you’re catching rays in the shirred tubini with matching twist front hipster in Holly Berry from Tommy Bahama’s Sunkissed collection. Pack water, sunscreen, and shades and you’re ready to hit Kure Beach.

When you think South Carolina beaches, you probably think of Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head. But those don’t qualify as this week’s best beach; head for Folly Beach instead; despite the name, it’s neither foolish nor a mistake!

Folly Beach, only 8 miles from Charleston, is the closest beach to that city. It’s a 7 mile long barrier reef. You can relax in the sand, collect shells, go fishing off the pier that extends over 1000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, or explore the Civil War history of this gorgeous island, including Morris Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse, rebuilt after its destruction in the Civil War, originally on land, but due to erosion and rising water levels the lighthouse is now completely surrounded by water.

If you want to surf, this is the beach for you. If you’d rather study nature, you’ll find loggerhead turtles nesting in the sand, dolphins playing in the ocean, and a variety of seabirds. There are plenty of places to stay on the island, and some great restaurants practically on the beach. In town, you can shop for swimming and surfing gear, souvenirs, and local art.

Head for Folly Beach with your shades, iPod, and sunscreen in this adorable Fruit Tote from Betseyville Handbags; it comes in several colors, each with a different fruit! Match the pink and teal watermelon design with a cute TYR One Piece in a bright pink, blue, and yellow plaid. Don’t forget to pack a cover-up like this washable cotton-silk blend from UGG.

The beach does have a few rules. Drive slowly because there are walkers, joggers, bikers and dog walkers, and in the summer months Folly Beach is crowded. Dogs are allowed on the beach, but they must be on a leash, and they aren’t allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between May 1 and September 30th because the heat is too intense for them. You can find parking on city streets or the beach access lots on every city block, so it’s easy to get to the beach and just have fun.

It may be possible to live in San Diego and never visit the beach, but why on earth would anyone want to? And the very best beach, at least according to residents and the Travel Channel, is on Coronado Island.

The beaches of Coronado Island (technically a peninsula; a narrow isthmus connects it to the mainland) can be reached by ferry, or a car trip across the Bay Bridge from downtown San Diego. The first thing you’ll notice is the Hotel Del Coronado, known to locals as the Del. This legendary hotel, built in 1888, is a National Historic Landmark, and is the only hotel in San Diego that’s truly a beachfront hotel.

When you’re getting ready to go, pack a tote like this large, stylish, green plaid number from Oakley. Choose a new two piece, like this one from Hurley with a sweetheart top and a boyshort bottom, both in black with a blue trim and edging. Match them up with these jelly, and jellyfish patterned, flip-flops by Kate Spade , to keep your feet from burning on that white sand! If you’re visiting Coronado, it’s time for a new beach towel, so why not go all out and get this palm tree towel from Tommy Bahama?

One of the most justifiably popular strips of beach is the North, Central, and South Beach. North Beach begins at Sunset Park next to North Island, and stretches from there to the intersection of G Street and Ocean Boulevard. There it becomes Central Beach, all the way to a line of palm trees that marks South Beach, right in front of the Del. There are lifeguards on duty, and on North Beach you can bring your dog. There are plenty of opportunities for surfing, windsailing, or boating from this beautiful strip of white sand, or you can choose to just soak up the sun and listen to the waves and the seagulls.

When the sun is ready to go down, throw on a cover-up and go up to the Del to have a drink on the boardwalk and watch the sunset.

Anyone living in New York or New Jersey will probably tell you that THE best beach is Cape May on the Jersey Cape. Visit, and you’ll swear you’re in beach heaven.

Cape May is on a peninsula at the southern tip of New Jersey, between the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It has more than just great beaches: it has an historic lighthouse, gorgeous Victorian Bed and Breakfasts (most of them on the National Register of Historic Places), an assortment of different museums, a free zoo, wildlife sanctuaries, whale-watching trips, and restaurants for every budget. So grab a tote, throw in your sunscreen, a towel, some glamorous sunglasses , water, magazines or books, and a snack, and head to the beach. Choose a swimsuit like this pineapple print one-piece halter from Tommy Bahama, and protect your toes from hot sand with flip-flops by Simple Green Toe. They look great, and with organic cotton and a piece of recycled tire for the outer edge, you’re saving the environment too.

The city beaches of Cape May require a beach badge; the 2009 prices are $25 for the season, $13 for a week, $5 for a day, and $10 for a weekend, but the beach at Cape May State Park is absolutely free, so take your pick. The city beaches do have beach umbrellas and chairs to rent, if that’s an issue, and both city and park beaches are wheelchair accessible.

One of the most famous landmarks of Cape May is the Cape May Point Lighthouse, inside the park. For a small fee, you can climb 199 steps to the top and see a phenomenal view of the entire peninsula and 30 miles of white beaches. If you decide to climb up, trade the flip-flops for a sturdier shoe like these darlings from Snipe, and throw on some comfy crop pants and a cool light top.

The park and the beaches close at night, so be ready to throw your gear in your bag and head for home or a B&B when the sun starts to set.

You may have heard of Pass-a-Grille when reading about St. Pete’s beach in Florida. But perhaps against my better judgment, I’m going to let you know more about this little-known Florida beach secret. It’s truly a little piece of paradise not far from some of Florida’s most popular Gulf Coast beaches.

What makes Pass-A-Grille so special? Simple. Authenticity. For starters, it’s a National Historic District, not something many beach communities can claim. In Pass-A-Grille, towering beach condos are traded for cozy beach bungalows. Walk the streets of Pass-A-Grille, and no matter where you are, the Gulf and the Intercoastal are a block away. You can’t help but imagine you are back in Florida’s Resort boom of the ’20s, and when you look across the street at the sea oats on the sand dunes, you’ll be sure you’ve been transported to a simpler time.

A vacation, or just an afternoon, at Pass-A-Grille really is simple. With ample parking right by the sand, it’s easy to grab your gear and go spend some quality time with the dolphins and the seagulls. Several restaurants and a beach café are within walking distance, so you can easily spend your whole day here.

Day turns to night rather slowly at Pass-A-Grille, but you don’t want to miss a minute of the breathtaking sunset. Many beachgoers climb up the stairs of the Hurricane Restaurant to watch the sunset from the rooftop bar. Slip on some beach sandals and a cover-up that doubles as a dress and you’re ready to go for beach-style nightlife.

If you’re heading to St. Pete’s Beach in Florida, it’s not far to get to Pass-A-Grille instead and the dividing line is the historic Don Cesar Hotel. Standing like a pink castle against the white sand of the Gulf Coast, you really can’t miss it. In front of the Don, don’t make that right turn for St. Pete’s Beach; instead, turn left and go somewhere beautiful and unique. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re ready for a vacation that combines history with great beaches and restaurants, renew your passport, make reservations, and head for Cyprus. Specifically, head for Paphos, a small town on the west coast of Cyprus.

Paphos has so many antiquities that UNESCO puts the entire town on its world Cultural Heritage List. Some of the most amazing are the incredibly preserved mosaics in the houses of Dionyssos, Theseus, and Aion. Mysterious vaults and caves, tombs, and the Baths of Aphrodite are just a few of the things you can see. Legend says that Aphrodite herself, goddess of beauty and love, emerged from the sea just off the coast of Paphos. If you don’t believe it, just look at the bathing beauties on the beaches!

The most popular beach of Paphos is Coral Bay, a 600 meter (about ½ mile) curve of white sand just north of Paphos, between two headlands. If you want to soak up the sun here, be sure to arrive early in the morning, as it’s often crowded. Prefer privacy? Rent a boat and go a little further north along the coast; you’ll find several beaches with the same soft sand, and a lot fewer people. Or stay in Paphos proper and rent jet skis, or go diving with any one of half a dozen or more diving companies.

Although Paphos is cooler than much of Cyprus in the summer, and warmer in the winter, that sand can get hot, so bring sandals for him and her, and water mocs if you intend to leave the beach. Cyprus is more liberal than most American beaches, so this two piece Rebel from Roxy, with a tiki tri top and a Brazilian string bottom is perfect for that toned body. Bring your own sunscreen, and apply it often, and bring a cover because evenings can be cool.

For dinner, try one of the shoreline restaurants in Paphos. Most will let you pick your own fish, then cook it to order; they also offer traditional Cypriot and Greek dishes, and ouzo, retsina, or Cypriot brandy to wash the great food down.

If your vision of a perfect day relaxing at a pristine, beautiful beach listening to the sounds of the waves and seagulls has been marred by the reality of towering condos and the sounds of cars honking, don’t give up hope yet. You need to check out Caladesi Island, recently voted America’s Number 1 beach by Dr. Beach. The island is just off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Dunedin, Florida. Fill a small, bag with a cooler with some water and grab a beach bag filled with a good read, plenty of sun block, and a beach towel . If you do forget something, there’s a small café/gift shop, and yes, restrooms/shower facilities.

There’s no chance of traffic noise on Caladesi Island. It’s accessible only by water. But don’t worry, you don’t have to have your own boat to get there. You can hop on the ferry ($10 per person, call 727-734-1501 for the latest schedule) that leaves from Honeymoon Island State Park (located at the extreme west end of SR 586, north of Dunedin) every hour. Watch for dolphins, manatee, and a variety of wading birds during the short trip to the island.

Pack wisely because there are few man-made amenities at this state park.

As your cross the boardwalk, the wide, unspoiled beach will truly take your breath away. After settling in, beach lovers can take a dip in the warm Gulf waters, stroll along the quiet sand, or just soak up the Florida sun. Nature lovers can venture further into the island on the three-mile hiking trail to watch for an osprey, a gopher tortoise or other native Florida wildlife.

As your toes settle into the cool sand, don’t forget to check the clock every now and again. You don’t want to miss the boat back home.

In the Tampa area? If you haven’t been to Honeymoon Island State Park, you’re in the minority; it was Florida’s most visited beach in 2007. A barrier island, it’s connected to the mainland by the Dunedin Causeway, and boasts four miles of tempting beaches.

Honeymoon Island also has a virgin slash pine forest, seagrass beds, sand dunes, mangrove swamps, and tidal flats. It’s home to 62 species of birds, and a variety of wildlife. In May of 2007, a Nature Center opened, with exhibits, hands-on displays and a viewing deck to view the entire island.

Another temptation is the only dog beach in the state of Florida, a dog-lover’s paradise. Just keep your dog leashed the whole time, and clean up after him so that others can enjoy the beach too! On Honeymoon Island, there are several nature trails, and the north end of the island has the one of the best shelling areas in the region. It’s a great fishing spot; fish include tarpon, snook, flounder, trout and more.

If it’s sun and fun you want, head for the beaches. Most are rather narrow except for one at the southern end. That area is popular for weddings and parties. You can reserve areas in advance at the park entry point. Know before you go: the admission is $5 for up to 8 people per car, and $3 for a single occupant. There’s a sunset fee of $3.00 per vehicle starting one hour before sunset. If you’re planning an event there, the pavilion rental fee is $32.10. The state park and three parking areas are open year round, with hours varying by season and some beaches are closed part of the year to protect nesting shore birds.

Beach gear is a must. Whether you wear flip-flops on the sand, or sturdier sandals for hiking the trails, keep your feet cool. Ladies, sport a new swimsuit in this popular, and populated, park. Bring the rest of your gear in a waterproof bag like this one by SealLines that comes in three sizes, or use a pack with an insulated cooler pocket. Hungry? Honeymoon Island offers a concession area where you can find drinks and snacks, as well as restrooms, showers and picnic areas. Bring your own sunscreen.

Whether you want a solitary day of bird-watching or fishing, or a family beach day, you’ll find the perfect beach this week at Honeymoon Island.