5 Summer Escapes I Love
Beach days, great food, a little shopping, and plenty of people-watching—five places that capture the spirit of summer.
There are certain places that just feel like summer.
For me, the formula is pretty simple: a beautiful setting, great food, good shopping, plenty to do and somewhere fabulous to sit and watch the world go by.
These five destinations all deliver that in very different ways.
Malibu, California
Malibu feels wonderfully removed from Los Angeles even though it's just up the coast.
The Pacific on one side, the Santa Monica Mountains on the other, beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and great places to stop for lunch make it an easy summer escape.
This is the kind of place where I don't need much of an itinerary. Beach. Lunch. A drive along PCH. Maybe a hike.
The setting does most of the work.
Malibu, California
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna combines two things I particularly enjoy: beach and art.
It's small enough to wander, with galleries, boutiques, and restaurants mixed into a gorgeous stretch of Southern California coastline. Summer also brings the town's wonderful arts festivals, giving you something to do when you've had enough beach time.
It works equally well for a romantic weekend or a few easy days by the ocean.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod is summer with an entirely different personality.
Seaside cottages, long beaches, little fishing villages, bike rides, boats and wonderfully fresh seafood—it has that quintessential East Coast summer feeling.
Part of the pleasure is exploring the different towns rather than staying in one place the entire time.
Go hungry. The seafood is reason enough.
The Hamptons, New York
The Hamptons deliver that classic summer combination of beautiful beaches and a great social scene.
I love the contrast: long stretches of sand and relaxed days followed by wonderful restaurants, shopping, and plenty of people-watching.
It's polished without requiring you to do very much at all.
And sometimes that's exactly what a summer weekend should be.
The Hamptons, New York
Miami, Florida
Miami is the outlier on this list—and that's precisely why it belongs.
It's colorful, energetic and glamorous, with incredible food, Art Deco architecture, shopping, nightlife, and some of the best people-watching anywhere.
You can spend the day on the beach and then have a completely different experience once the sun goes down.
Miami doesn't really do quiet summer. It does fun summer.
Miami, Florida
MBellished Tips
Don't over-plan summer travel. Leave room for the beach, a long lunch or an afternoon that turns into something else entirely.
Book the important things early. Summer weekends fill quickly, particularly in places like Malibu and the Hamptons.
Mix activity with absolutely nothing. A hike or bike ride in the morning makes an afternoon by the water feel even better.
Pack simply. A few great dresses, sandals, swimsuit, hat and something for dinner will get you surprisingly far.
What I Brought Home
More than anything, these are the kinds of trips that remind me how much I love the ease of summer.
Long days. Meals outside. Salt in your hair. Somewhere beautiful to wander. And considerably less pressure to accomplish anything.
Sometimes the best thing you bring home is the desire to make everyday life feel a little more like vacation.
MBellished Passport
Destinations: Malibu · Laguna Beach · Cape Cod · The Hamptons · Miami
Perfect For: Beach weekends · Couples · Friends · Family trips
Vibe: Coastal · Relaxed · Social · Sun-soaked
Best For: Beach · Food · Shopping · People-watching
Ideal Stay: Long weekend to one week
MBellished Summer Rule:Leave room for nothing.