A stretch of golden sand lies against a backdrop of colorful art deco architecture. Farther north, people stroll, jog, and pedal bicycles along a boardwalk that parallels an oceanfront beach and passes amusement parks, fast-food eateries, and gambling casinos. On the other U.S. coast, sun worshipers alternate working on their tan with checking out their surroundings for sightings of seals and sea lions, elk and deer, and migrating whales.
When people think of a beach vacation, they often picture relaxing on soft sand, soaking up the sun, and cooling off in salty surf. As inviting as these scenes are, they only scratch the surface of what awaits those who would like to exchange the winter cold for the welcome warmth of a beach destination.
