Looking for great beach plus something for my husband
 

My husband and I are planning our first getaway without kids in years and we have four days to spend somewhere in late July or August. We are in DFW and plan on flying but want to keep costs down where we can.

I want a nice beach and would love to just go to Mexico and stay at an all-inclusive but we've done that and he's bored with just a beach. I'm 7-months pregnant so water sports aren't a big draw. What domestic beaches do you like that would also give us some options for good history, sight-seeing or something else besides the usual water-front bars and activities? Thanks!

St. Augustine, Fl. area comes to mind. Oldest city in US. Lots of history, great restaurants, just minutes away from a beautiful Anastasia Island beaches. It's on the Atlantic side of Florida. You probably would have to fly to Jacksonville and get transportation to the town, about 15-30 minutes away.

http://staugustine.com/visitors-guide

Another possibility is Sartasota, Fl. area. Siesta Key voted the best beach in US. Sarasota has some wonderful museums, excellent restaurants, art galleries, great shopping, etc. You can fly to Sarasota or if cheaper to Tampa and get transportation for the 1 hour drive.

http://www.visitsarasota.org/

Charleston, hands down. Lots to do, great food, "near" a beach if you really want to do that but you really say that isn't the first thing, in spite of the title.
But you could stay at Wild Dunes and go into Charleston for dinners if you wanted.

Right away I thought of St. Augustine. Loads of history, beach, cute little town.

Given your location, I would suggest San Diego; Coranado or La Jolla specifically.

I won't knock any of your east coast choices but if you want to come to the west coast, Santa Barbara would be a good choice.
The Mission up on the hill has plenty of history. It has self guided tours.
The Oregon beaches include Seaside which has a long Prommenade along the sandy beach. Just off the Prom, is a tiny park that shows the spot where members of the "Corps of Discovery" boiled seawater to make salt to preserve the elk meat for the long trip back to St. Louis.

Perhaps a wee bit prejudice because I live here - but San Diego. Plenty of beaches/history, and so forth.

I think the weather is worth mentioning.
Picture places like St. Augustine in late July or August, then picture the weather in places like San Diego or Santa Barbara or Oregon. If you love being wet from the major heat and humidity then go for Florida. If not, you might want to think California or somewhere else. Frankly I think if you're looking for beach in August, Florida would not be my first choice -- nor the Caribbean or Mexico.

Funny how so many of us thought immediately of St. Augustine, but I agree that San Diego is a better choice, especially seven months pregnant!

Just a concern...Are you sure you want to be flying in your late eighth or ninth month, which would be late July or August?
Maybe there's somewhere closer to home where you could drive to instead? Somewhere on the gulf coast?

This is very helpful, thanks!

I love your post title, but it looks like your husband got a little "something" seven months ago...

You need a self contained resort with a spa... no walking on hot streets in Florida... good luck

There's lots more to do in Mexico than just the beach. Summer isn't really the best time to go, so I'm not suggesting it for this trip. But for the future you can hit the beaches in Mexico, but also have loads of other things to do (various ruins, colonial towns, museums, etc.). Just depends where you go and what you do once you get there.

San Diego's great, but you need to check into airline policies about flying when you're 8 months gone. If you're seven months in now (which is how your post reads), little junior or juniorette may be knocking on the oven door and telling you he/she is fully baked come late July or August . . .

Some of the male responses to this thread are quite gross and intrusive! This is not her first child, but even if it were, can we not trust a grown woman to decide for herself when she can travel while pregnant? Or discuss her request for travel destinations advice without sexual innuendo? And creepy baking metaphors?

I know, I know, public forum, you get what you didn't ask for. Still, the Internet is so annoying at times.

I was going to suggest the West Coast because of Florida weather, too--and hurricanes, don't forget those! If lounging on the beach is a desire, Southern California. Oregon's coast is gorgeous, but not really that kind of beach.

How do you know I'm a man?

and are you projecting some sort of manhate towards BigRuss based on her screen name... shame on you NewbE

Rimshot! He'll be here all week, folks!

It's tough dealing with judgemental posters...

A Lounge thread in the making.

Oh, turn it off, NewbE. Good gosh.

I agree with NewbE. Garyt22's comment was out of line.

You probably already know this but some airline's do require doctor's letters when you're close to your due date. A friend of mine was almost denied boarding until her doctor faxed a letter at the last minute.

I agree the heat factor is important. Pregnancy made me really hate the hot weather. What about Martha's Vineyard?

Thanks, MichelleY. Honestly, the howls of protest tell you all you need to know about those two.

Why is it I suspect you know all about heat and humidity given where you live? I also thought of St. Augustine and although I also agree with the possibility of San Diego (where we all know it is never humid being right on the ocean and all) I think the Oregon or even the Vineyard idea might work.

Costs down? that might somewhat depend on the flight markets out of DFW.

I prefer the west coast beaches in Florida. Anna Maria/Bradenton Beach area is really lovely. Billowy waves, beautiful color water, lots of sea shells and always a breeze.

I am going to the St. Augustine Beach this August, but that is because I am also visiting relatives there.

Love Florida - in the winter. :) No humidity or bugs then to speak of.

But it is a beautiful drive along the West Coast - and the Gulf side ain't too shabby at all - and liked driving down the Keys.

Still - here in San Diego - many more options than anywhere in Florida - except around Miami.

Oops - got that backwards. The Atlantic is on the East side - and Gulf on the West. Drove both - at least part way down on the Atlantic side to Venice (from Orlando and then Tampa/St Pete) - on the gulf side - all the way south to Miami on the Atlantic side - the highlight of my drive from the Orlando area - east - aand then from Cape Caneverval/Kennedy south was stopping at the Dodger Spring Training camp in Vero Beach.

Have wanted to do that since I followed the Dodgers back in the early 50's.

Also loved going through Palm Beach, etc.

And while I grew up in Oregon - and love the rugged Oregon coast - and am part Polar Bear - not many other people venture into the water from say - north of Carmel/Monterrey in California.

Just doesn't warm up - but you can hang on the beach.

Actually Cape Cod is a great idea. Have you been before? Cooler and less humid than the Florida beaches but lots to see and do that is non-beach.