There’s nothing more quintessentially New England than breathing in the sea air in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Take in historical lighthouses and houses in the picturesque city, step back in time at the open-air Strawbery Banke Museum or take a short drive to Rye where you can walk the seawall and then treat yourself to a lobster roll and an ice cream at The Beach Plum.

The Oregon coast is known for its natural beauty, so it’s a perfect beach getaway for the nature lover. Cannon Beach is famous for the iconic Haystack Rock that you may remember from The Goonies. The wide sandy beach is the place to go for sun soaking and swimming. It’s located within minutes of Ecola State Park where you can find wilder, more untouched beaches full of ocean life, plants and hiking opportunities.

If you have time for a couple of road trips, in less than two hours you will find yourself in Portland, and in three hours you’ll be at the Columbia River Gorge where you can take in breathtaking river views and hike through the lush Pacific Northwest fauna.

Staying right on Cannon Beach can cost you, but The Waves offers reasonable prices without sacrificing impressive ocean views. It can get chilly in the Pacific Northwest, so the in-room fireplaces and the hot tub will keep you cozy on the coast.

It’s all about the views at the Surfsand Resort. Lounge on the balcony at this beach-front hotel and look over Haystack Rock and far beyond the horizon where the mountains meet the beach.