For most people, the logical solution to the scorching summer heat is to go to the beach. But hear me out: once you’ve scored a parking spot after circling the lot for what feels like an eternity, and then lugged your chairs, coolers and what have you to a measly patch of sand on an umbrella-to-umbrella beach, the sea breeze almost doesn’t feel worth the trouble.
Now, I’m never one to turn down a beach trip, even to cooler destinations (hello, cozy sweater on the beach!). But I passionately believe that there’s no better time for a coastal getaway than fall – or any designated shoulder season. In fact, my family’s annual beach trip to the Florida panhandle was always smack in the middle of October, which has perfect, milder temps for swimming, sunning and cycling – summertime crowds not included.
Whether you’ve smartly punted your Mediterranean Europe trip to autumn or you never even made it to a beach this summer, we’ve got all the beachy recs you’ll need this coming season.
