5 min readSummer always takes forever to arrive and slips away too quickly. Just when you’ve finally settled into your summer routine, August arrives, and suddenly there’s a faint sense of panic. But there is a very particular glamour to late summer, too. The crowds thin out, the waters are still warm, and the best beach towns feel a little bit more like they belong to only you. From glamorous European hideaways to quietly luxurious seaside villages closer to home, these are the best beach towns for a late summer getaway, when you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer.
Watch Hill, Rhode Island
For “last great American dynasty” vibes
There are several great beach towns in Rhode Island, but something about Watch Hill feels especially right for late summer. It’s the sort of New England beach town that seems stuck in time in the best possible way: shingled houses, hydrangeas, a tiny downtown, and the almost total lack of a scene. (For context, Taylor Swift, who owns a house here, probably appreciates the low-key vibe.) Spend the morning at East Beach, wander the shops on Bay Street, then settle in for a lobster roll or cocktail as the sun goes down. Book yourself into Ocean House, the spectacular Victorian-style resort perched above the water, where you can check in, drop your bags, and be on the beach within seconds. Some things do not need improving.
East Hampton, New York
The quintessential East End escape
In some ways, the entire south coast of Long Island feels like one big, contiguous beach town, but the Hamptons remain the most elegant escape of the lot—and East Hampton, specifically, never disappoints. There is something deliciously old-fashioned about spending a weekend here: historic houses, flower-lined lanes, excellent shopping, and just enough culture to make the beach days feel earned. By September, the summer frenzy begins to soften, making it considerably more pleasant to browse Newtown Lane, grab an overpriced breakfast from Golden Pear, and make your way to the beach. Stay at The Hedges Inn, a historic, recently renovated hotel with a killer location and a fleet of house bikes for exploring. Come September, the Hamptons feel less like a party and more like an actual place again.
Comporta, Portugal
A weekend in Europe—why not?
Comporta is the unfussy-yet-elegant European beach escape everyone seems to be buzzing about right now—and, at about an hour and a half from Lisbon, it’s surprisingly easy to turn into a long weekend. This former fishing village has sandy roads, pine forests, excellent seafood, and the sort of barefoot-chic aesthetic that fashion people have been trying to manufacture for years. The hotel to book is Sublime Comporta, a design-forward retreat surrounded by pine forest and rice fields, with the beach just a short drive away. Many of its villas and rooms have their own outdoor spaces and private plunge pools, which makes the temptation to simply stay put very real. It’s the kind of place where you can wear linen for three days straight and nobody will so much as raise an eyebrow.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Shopping, beaching, and a detour into Big Sur
Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect California escape, especially if you’re coming from the Bay Area: a little eccentric, extremely pretty, and wonderfully unconcerned with whether you packed the right clothes. The storybook cottages and winding lanes are filled with independent galleries, artisan shops, and restaurants, while Carmel Beach is the kind of broad, windswept stretch of sand where a long walk is as much the attraction as lying down. Stay at the Stilwell Hotel, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, with a cozy courtyard complete with fire pits, or the nearby Carmel Valley Ranch if you want more of a luxe farmstay experience. And if you have a car, reserve a few hours to drive south along Highway 1 toward Big Sur for all the Big Little Lies scenery you can handle. On a rainy day, head north to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is California—even on an off day, there is always something to do.
Santa Barbara, California
For wine, polo, and SoCal at its most poised
Sleepy SoCal beach town Santa Barbara has been having something of a renaissance, but it has long been a discreet hideaway for Hollywood types—close enough to Los Angeles for an easy escape, yet far enough away to feel like you’ve actually gone somewhere. The Spanish Colonial architecture, palm-lined streets, and broad Pacific beaches make a pretty perfect backdrop for doing absolutely nothing. Stay at El Encanto, a secluded hillside retreat bathed in the soft-focus glow of a Nancy Meyers film, and a short distance downhill to the beach. For something more unexpected, catch a match at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, where you might just catch Prince Harry playing a few chukkers of polo.
Naples, Florida
A tropical escape, no passport required
Late summer into fall is technically hurricane season, yes, but if you time a trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast right, you can also be blessed with those improbable stretches of perfect tropical weather. Palm Beach gets plenty of attention these days—and plenty of crowds—so set your sights on quieter Naples, where the beaches are wide, the water is warm, and the general mood is considerably more relaxed. Stay at Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, the glamorous beachfront resort with a sprawling pool scene and direct access to the sand. Keep an eye on the forecast, obviously, but if the skies behave, this is one of the loveliest stretches of the year to be here—and unlike Palm Beach in peak season, you might even land a lounger or a dinner reservation without a fight.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Lobster rolls and hydrangeas, anyone?
Cape Cod is at its dreamiest in September, when the high-season traffic begins to disappear and the people who actually know the place start calling it “locals’ summer.” The ocean is still warm, the hydrangeas are hanging on, and the whole peninsula feels wonderfully uncrushed. There’s been a culinary renaissance on the Cape in recent years—check out The Pheasant and Love Farms for great, seasonal cuisine—and the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club feels less like a grand resort and more like an extraordinarily well-kept friend’s house—if your friend happened to have immaculate gardens, an excellent restaurant, and fantastic access to the Cape Cod National Seashore. Or, head all the way out to Provincetown, where you can browse the galleries and shops on Commercial Street and stay at AWOL Provincetown, an unfussy converted motor lodge with west-facing rooms overlooking the salt marsh. This time of year, the sunsets feel that much sweeter. Don’t forget the wine.