Summer Beach Getaway?

[wineenthusiast]

What are some good beach options for a weekend getaway this summer.  It will be 2-3 couples and we'd travel sometime between June and August, thinking 3-4 nights.  We are all foodies, like beer (breweries) and wine (wineries).  We'd like to mix in some good evening dining/shopping/walking around with day time lounging/drinking at the beach.  We are coming from Chicago and do Michigan beaches every summer already so that's out.  A few places I'm thinking based on airfare... Houston, Jersey Shore, Boston, Hamptons, Charleston.  I'm open to pretty much any place fun.  Cali might be a little too far for a short weekend and airfare is pretty steep there right now.  We've already done Savannah, which I loved but would like to try somewhere new.
*Bonus for places Southwest goes because I have a $150 credit I need to use before Oct!

[iammalcolmx]

Any interest in South Florida?

[wineenthusiast]

May 20, 2015 11:14:41 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Any interest in South Florida?

I am not totally opposed but I've been to Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano and then Ft Myers/Naples/Marco Island numerous times.  I think I'd be more interested in Miami, which I've never been to.  I had looked into that but Southwest fares to FLL are kind of high for non-stop flights this summer and I'd like to use up my credit so I'd need to fly into FLL.

[mdgirl]

I'd personally vote "not the Hamptons." We go there once a summer because we have family with a house there, and it's just lame. The traffic is horrendous, both on the highway out there and in the towns themselves. Like bumper to bumper on little 2 lane roads. The restaurants and grocery stores are outrageously overpriced (and the food isn't even that great), and while there are some local wineries the wine isn't good.

[orval]

I would do Charleston - Isle of Palms or Sullivan's Island are right across the river if you want the beach. The food is outstanding in Charleston!

[wineenthusiast]

May 20, 2015 12:51:41 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

I'd personally vote "not the Hamptons." We go there once a summer because we have family with a house there, and it's just lame. The traffic is horrendous, both on the highway out there and in the towns themselves. Like bumper to bumper on little 2 lane roads. The restaurants and grocery stores are outrageously overpriced (and the food isn't even that great), and while there are some local wineries the wine isn't good.

Good to know!  Its one of the places I feel like I MUST do at some point but I don't even really know why.  I don't know anything about it other than a few movies that have scenes there.  lol

[lb2006]

Charleston - food is AMAZING

[alleinesein]

California is not too far for a weekend. If you can swing a long weekend you will have enough time to enjoy and relax.

San Diego meets all of the requirements except for 1- you cant drink on the beach here. But we do have a ton of breweries, wineries and tasting rooms in the county plus Temecula wine country is just a short hop up the freeway (about 60 miles from downtown SD). Lots of beaches and enough beach communities that you could easily find one that fits your style. There are also non-stop flights on Southwest from Midway to SAN and there is an 8:55pm departure so you can work all day and then flight out after work and not have to use an extra day of vacation time.

[spankswife]

I know you said you weren't crazy about S FL, but check out Delray Beach. It's about 30 min north of FLL. I'd stay dowbtiwn in Atlantic Ave, awesome restaurants, great shops, perfect for walking around! There are also a few local breweries within a 10 min drive. The beaches are great!

There's a Marriott there that's popular.