Sink Your Feet into These Sandy Beaches

Did you know that oceans hold 97% of Earth’s water? With a shoreline of around 95,471 miles, three-fifths of American states have access to beaches. 

So, finding a beach isn’t a big problem in the US. The problem is finding the right beach that can provide a blissful experience.

Southern beaches are some of the best beaches to explore. Regardless of whether you are looking for a laid-back beach, a sandy beach, a pebble beach, or a rocky beach, the South is your go-to destination.

In fact, sandy beaches are highly popular in the South.

Isn’t it pleasant to watch children building the sandcastle, teens playing in the waves, and middle-aged people relaxing on the shacks? These are all typical sights on Southern beaches.

The beaches of the South also offer a delightful, pleasurable, and adventurous experience to young people who want to participate in water sports. Moreover, one should not miss the inspirational, romantic, and captivating sunrises and sunsets on these white sand beaches.

This article provides an overview of the top nine beaches you should not miss in the Southern United States.

Things To Do at America’s Gorgeous South Beaches

You can do a lot of fun-filled, thrilling, and adventurous activities at America’s gorgeous south beaches. 

A few of these activities include:

• Paddleboarding

• Kayaking

• Amusement parks

• Boardwalk visits

• Hiking trails/nature trails

• Water sports

• Fishing

• Live music during beach nightlife 

Must-See Beaches in Southern USA

The Southern USA has some of the most pristine beaches in the world. These beaches are known for white sugary sand, clear waters, good weather, natural beauty, delicious food, and awesome accommodation facilities.  

The top nine must-see beaches in the Southern USA are:

1. Virginia Beach

2. Topsail Beach

3. Myrtle Beach

4. Folly Beach

5. Orange Beach

6. Jekyll Island

7. Tybee Island

8. South Beach

9. Bahia Honda.

Virginia Beach 

Virginia Beach is one of the best oceanfront places in the country. It lies exactly where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is popular for various activities, including hiking, parasailing, and indoor skydiving. With the 3-mile long boardwalk, Virginia Beach has been listed in the Guinness book of records.

Don’t miss Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center when you visit Virginia Beach because it exhibits animals representing hundreds of species.

Other attractions you shouldn’t miss at Virginia Beach are:

• Captain Jack’s Pirate Ship

• First Landing State Park

• Cape Henry Lighthouse

•  Military Aviation Museum

• ViBe Creative District

Topsail Beach

Topsail Beach, a small town in North Carolina, United States, is home to popular beaches and several mouth-watering restaurants. You should visit the Missiles and More Museum to learn about the unique history of Topsail Beach Island.

Known as family-friendly, Topsail is less crowded compared to other southern beaches in the country. It is a perfect laid-back beach where you can spend time listening to the sound of the waves and biting some of the best tacos. The best things you can do at Topsail Beach are fishing, boating, sunbathing, swimming, and surfing.

Major attractions you shouldn’t miss at Topsail Beach are:

• The Intracoastal Waterway

• Soundside Park

• Kenneth D. Batts Family Park 

• Jolly Roger Pier 

• Serenity Point

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is located at the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mine string of beaches in Northern South Carolina. Myrtle Beach offers one of the best sunrise views on the Atlantic Ocean. It is a perfect spot for outdoor activities because the weather is warm even in the winter. Tourists enjoy fishing, sunbathing, boating, surfing, and shopping at Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach is popular for:

•  Amusement parks where you can take thrilling roller coaster rides

•  Water parks where you can do activities such as banana rides, jet skiing, parasailing, and many more

Other attractions you should not miss at Myrtle Beach are:

• Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade

• Pavilion Park

• Myrtle Beach State Park

• Family Kingdom Amusement Park

• Ripley’s Aquarium

Folly Beach 

Folly Beach is a popular beach town located in South Carolina. It is considered a paradise for surfers and fishermen. Beach photography, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing are the main activities you can explore at the beach.

Locals refer to Folly island as “Edge of America.” The island is home to many endangered species that are being protected by the locals. Sunrise over the ocean and sunset over the Folly River are spectacular to watch with a cup of coffee in our hand.

Major attractions you should not miss at Folly Beach are:

•  Folly Beach Fishing Pier

• Morris Island Lighthouse

• Folly River Park

• Folly Beach County Park

Orange Beach 

Orange Beach is located on Alamaba’s Gulf Coast. With sugary white sand and vibrantly blue water, Orange Beach is known for boating, fishing, biking, water sports, and swimming.  Tourists love spending time at Orange Beach during the evening to experience breathtaking sunset.

If you are an animal lover, you should not miss visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo which is just 11-miles away from Orange Beach. The zoo is home to wolves, kangaroos, sloths, tigers, and some reptiles.

Other attractions you shouldn’t miss at Orange Beach are:

•  Gulf State Park

• Alligator Alley

• The Wharf

• Adventure Island

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is located off the coast of Georgia. Activities such as golf, mini-golf, and tennis are most popular at Jekyll Island. It has flat beaches on its east shore with sand packed hard enough for biking and walking.

With over 22-miles of bicycle paths and trails, the island offers the best scenic way to see several tourist spots. You can view bottlenose dolphins everywhere around Jekyll. However, the observation deck at St. Andrew's Beach Park is the best spot to view these dolphins.

Major attractions you shouldn’t miss at Jekyll Island are:

• Georgia Sea Turtle Center

• Garatology

• Mosaics

• Golf Courses

Tybee Island

Tybee Island is a small coastal city located just 18 miles (a 20-minute drive) away from downtown Savannah, Georgia. It is home to clean, warm, wide beaches with gentle waves. The island is an ideal destination for those looking for organic sand, sunlight, and the breeze of the sea. Kayaking, surfing, shelling, and fishing are some of the popular activities you can do on Tybee Island.

Major attractions you shouldn’t miss at Tybee Island are:

• Tybee Lighthouse (it provides a spectacular view of Tybee island from its top)

•  Fort Pulaski National Monument

• The North Beach Birding Trail

South Beach

Nicknamed SoBe, the South Beach is located to the east of Miami City. With hundreds of nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and boutiques, South Beach is one of the most fun-filled beaches in Florida.

Shopping is the most popular activity at South Beach. The Lincoln Road Mall, with a pedestrian stretch of outlets, is your destination if you want to immerse in the best shopping experience at South Beach.  

Major attractions you shouldn’t miss at South Beach are:

•  Haulover Park

• Collins Park

• Ocean Drive

• The Bass Museum

• Art Deco Welcome Center

Bahia Honda

Bahia Honda is an island located in the lower Florida Keys. A virtually uninhabited place, the island is home to a 524-acre Bahia Honda State Park. There are two beautiful beaches in Bahia Honda. They are Loggerhead Beach and Calusa Beach.

Since the waves are very settled at the beaches, children feel very comfortable venturing into the waters. Kayaking, biking, snorkeling, and fishing are some of the popular activities on this island.

Major attractions you should not miss at Bahia Honda are:

• The National Key Deer Refuge

• The Seven-mile Bridge

• Turtle Hospital

Visit Every Southern Beach in Your AVR Rental 

Southern beaches are some of the most popular beaches in the United States. They have something to offer for all age groups, including retired groups, middle-aged groups, teens, and children. They make sure tourists have a wonderful and memorable holiday that can be cherished and remembered for a long time.

Other popular beach getaways in the Southern USA are Barrier Island, Kiawah Island, Edisto Beach, Hilton Head Island, Isle of Palms, and Sarasota.

Airport Van Rental (AVR) is a van rental company with over 12 years of experience in the vehicle rental business. We have over a dozen rental locations across the United States. No matter where you live in the country, one of our nearby rental locations will be available to cater to your travel needs. We offer flexible pick-up and drop-off options for customers.

Our customers love to associate with us again and again for the following reasons:

• A premium fleet of vehicles

•  24x7 customer support

• The best rental prices in the industry

• Industry-leading cleaning practices

• Chauffeur services at reasonable rates

Book a rental van at the best price from AVR for your next trip to any beach destination in the Southern United States.