Chincoteague Island, VirginiaMade immortal in the children's classic Misty of Chincoteague, this barrier island is best known for its feral horses and its annual Pony Swim with neighboring Assateague Island. But Chincoteague, a Native American term for "beautiful land across the water," is also a picturesque town boasting sandy beaches, great restaurants and all the abundance of nature. It's home to the Assateague Lighthouse.

great restaurants and all the abundance of nature

Holden Beach has been commended by the National Healthy Beaches Campaign

and Chocolate Festival

Hermosa Beach is well known for its entertainment and is a popular spot for surfing

Topsail is known for its beaches and is a sanctuary for sea turtles

putting it into world history books as the location of the first powered airplane flight

and is consistently voted among “America’s Favorite Architecture

Recently recognized as the nation's top convention and meetings destination

Fire Island's roots go back to its history as a whaling station in the mid-1600s

They definitely appreciated the vast sand dunes of this tiny Outer Banks town

While Nags Head is still a playground for the privileged

" by The Travel Channel