Be inspired to book your house on the beach

There’s really nothing quite like a house on the beach. You’ll awake to salt-filled breezes and have sunbathing spots just feet from the door. There might be electrifying boardwalks nearby, or maybe secluded dune reserves filled with rare seabirds. In fact, there’s likely to be a destination with ocean-view rentals you’ll love, no matter what sort of traveler you are…

Destinations with houses on the beach for families

Get ready to build sandcastles and have family volleyball showdowns on some of the most celebrated shorelines in the USA. These are just a few of the top-rated places with houses on the beach that are perfect for those coming as a crew.

Glorious Galveston and its Texan charms

Vintage trams and 1900s fairground rides combine on the coast of Galveston. There are cotton-candy stalls and handsome Antebellum homes to wonder at, not to mention a whole historic district that’s laced with Victorian cafes and antiques shops. All that’s served by a range of houses on the beach that have multiple bedrooms, self-catering kitchens, and enough space for all.

Escape to Outer Banks

If you’re not the sort of family to get excited about twinkling arcades and buzzy boardwalks, perhaps the relative remoteness of the houses on the beaches of Outer Banks will be more up your alley. Spread out along 100s of miles of barrier island off the coast of North Carolina, they put prime shell-hunting, sandcastle-building, surf-lesson territory on the doorstep. And they’re steeped in character, with timber-built exteriors, large decks, and even swimming pools.

Destin is a doozy

Pristine, cotton-white sands and turquoise seas make Destin a desirable Panhandle getaway on the Gulf Coast. Add to that countless family-sized condos and it also becomes somewhere that’s perfect for larger groups. And that’s not even mentioning the adrenaline-pumping waterskiing opportunities, the dolphin cruises, and the Pleasure Island Waterpark with its bumping go karts and jet boats.

Panama City Beach for affordable houses on the beach

PCB, as it’s affectionately known, remains one of the most popular escapes for snowbird families, mainly because of the sheer wealth of oceanfront condos and villas that run the length of its shores. So many choices mean you can usually nab somewhere that’s easy on the bank account. Then, it’s all about planning your dolphin-watching trips and jaunts to Shipwreck Island water park.

Romantic spots for couples’ houses on the beach

A house on the beach can really tug at the heart strings, offering meditative mornings with the waves and unforgettable sunset shows. Here are some places to consider if you’re vacationing as a duo…

Maui – a Pacific paradise

From the picture-perfect sand stretches of Kaanapali to the black-rock coves of the east coast, the turtle-filled reefs of lonely Molokini island to the prestigious country clubs and spas of Wailea, there’s oodles for honeymooners to experience in Maui. There are also stacks of luxurious vacation homes to rent right by the Pacific.

A house on the beach in Northern California

There’s something undeniably enchanting about the timber-built lodges and salt-washed cottages of Northern California. Surrounded by towering redwoods and scented pine forests, they offer somewhere where you can be totally alone and secluded with your other half. What’s more, there are bucket-list busting drives by the Big Sur and Sonoma Coast, wine-tasting trips to Napa, and whale-watching walks to check off together in these parts.

Consider the Caribbean

If you’re looking to venture a little further afield from the USA, the Caribbean surely has to be considered. It’s the classic place to crank up the romance with a house on the beach, which could be a colorful little coconut shack in Grenada or a sleek apartment between the glitzy shopping quarters of Saint Barts.

A house on the beach for adventurous travelers

Houses on the beach aren’t only for family groups and couples looking to escape it all. They can also offer a pad right by roaring surf breaks and amazing hiking paths – you know, for those travelers whose idea of a great vacation is pulling on the wetsuit, the running shoes, or boots.

Energetic city life in Hermosa Beach

A house on the sands of Hermosa Beach is a doozy for anyone who likes to stay active. Volleyball courts mingle with surf rentals in this chilled-out corner of greater LA. You can welcome the sunrise with a Dawn Patrol on the Pacific waves, go cycling down to Redondo Beach and beyond, or jog the boulevards towards quirky Venice.

Meet the swells of the North Shore

Surfers have been flocking to houses on the beach of Oahu’s legendary North Shore ever since the Duke graced his first ever board. The reason? The waves here can get seriously massive and powerful, forming pipes that are reserved for only real pros. Of course, that doesn’t have to be you to make a vacation uber-fun – there are still snorkeling reefs, coastal walks, and scuba spots by the bucket load.