HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Bouts of warm weather - in February - may not be enough to convince you to hit the coast just yet. But, if a warm breeze has you thinking about a summer getaway, Tripadvisor suggests you may not have to go far for a top-notch beach vacation.
One South Carolina beach made the top list for beach destinations in America. Consisting of 25 locales around the country, the travel website's lists obviously favored states with the most coastline like Florida and Hawaii which make up most of the list. But the Palmetto State's inclusion among them will definitely be a positive for residents who want to get away without getting too far away.
Tripadvisor suggests beach day-trippers in South Carolina head down to Hilton Head and Coligny Beach's "beautiful miles of sandy beach."
It also described the beach as great for long walks along with decks to gather on and amenities such as bathrooms, showers, and changing areas. The beach took the 16th spot on the list - ahead of several Florida beaches, a couple in Hawaii, one in Texas, and another in Maine.
And for those wanting to make more than a day of their excursion, Tripadvisor reports they have the option of 32 hotels, 2 bed-and-breakfasts or inns, and 738 vacation rentals.
But if you feel like staying in the state isn't enough of a getaway - but many of the beaches are still too far - the list also includes one other destination that's a relatively short distance down the coast.
For this one, Tripadvisor is recommending Jekyll Island in Georgia, which actually ranked an impressive sixth place on the list. Specifically, the list points to the island's famed Driftwood Beach, which is described as great for photographers due to its namesake driftwood and "enormous" oak trees.
Tripadvisor shows a few places to stay on the island as well, including 11 hotels, one bed-and-breakfast, and 76 vacation rentals.
Ultimately, travelers have plenty of choices, but for those who want to stay close this summer, you've got a couple of locations to think about as you battle through the last few cold snaps of winter and early spring.