A few people fault St. Louis because we lack a body of water … an ocean, a lake. The Mississippi River and Creve Coeur Lake don’t quite cut it. As someone who can easily switch on her beach bum mode, I feel their pain. That said, I have friends who live on the left and right coasts and yet never have time to put their toes in the sand. And if I lived and worked near some of our country’s prime beaches, I am not sure I’d have enough money to travel further than just beyond the shore or my backyard. I would be financially landlocked.

So, what’s a water baby in the Lou to do?

Well, the great thing about our locale is that the cost of living and central location make it easy to be a traveling beach bum. That brings me to my list – High Fidelity style – of five fab beach getaways. Find a hammock, grab a corona with a lime, and enjoy.
 
Clearwater Beach, Florida
Sea – Gulf of Mexico
Scene – All-American beach vacay, white sand, mid-rise hotels
See – Florida souvenir shops, great seafood restaurants, kayaking and biking tours, Ybor City in Tampa for great nightlife and St. Petersburg for the arts and architecture
Screen – www.clearwaterbeach.com/

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Sea – Pacific Ocean 
Scene – Honolulu big city views, chic hotels and their pretty pools and Tiki bars, island culture
See – Shop and more shopping, dinner cruises, Maui Divers, Duke’s Waikiki restaurant and bar, the Swap Meet, island history and folklore, Diamond Head park
Screen – www.visit-oahu.com/waikiki/

North Avenue Beach, Illinois
Sea – Lake Michigan
Scene – Lincoln Park Trixies and Chads, random runners and bikers
See – Castaways, dozens of beach volleyball games, miles of Chicago lake shore by bike or foot
Screen – www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
 
Newport Beach, California
Sea – Pacific Ocean
Scene – Expansive blue skies and mountain views, Orange County kickback cool
See – Cute mid-century beach houses, downtown surf chic boutiques
Screen – www.visitnewportbeach.com

Manual Antonio, Costa Rica
Sea – Pacific Ocean
Scene – Unspoiled white sand beaches and jungle flora and fauna within the park, small beachside and jungle villas and cafes and bars along the beach outside the park and nearby lodging
See – Howling monkeys and jungle animals, the Hotel Parador resort, Euro tourists, and natives hawking wares
Screen – www.manuelantoniopark.com/