Cap Ferret, France

Visit one of the many oyster shacks that line the bay: indulge in one to two dozen oysters plucked straight from the bay and wash them down with a bottle of white wine from the surrounding Bordeaux region, which produces some really affordable and crisp / dry sauvignon blancs and blended varietals. A few notable spots for oysters - La Cabane d'Hortense, Chez Boulan and La Cabane.

Take the ferry to Arcachon: regular ferry service operates between Cap Ferret and Arcachon, located just 30 minutes across the bay. Wander the town and grab a bite, and then head down to Dune of Pilat, and climb your way up to the top of the largest sand dune in Europe offering sweeping views of Cap Ferret and the Atlantic beyond. 

Take a Surf Lesson: Those seeking an adrenaline rush can rent a board and take a lesson on the Atlantic side.

Date Night Out: Make a reservation for the town's more lively dinner spot, The Sail Fish. Expect well-dressed vacation goers of all ages looking to enjoy dinner and a night out.

Stay: Don't come expecting 5-star luxury - Cap Ferret's laid-back vibe is reflected in the handful of hotels in town - quaint, small hotels / motels with attractive furnishings at reasonable rates. If you book ahead, there is a wide array of Airbnb offerings, ranging from 1-bedroom apartments to single-family homes suitable for families and groups. La Maison Du Bassin (pictured left) is notable for its beachy vibes and vibrant bar and restaurant.

Forte Dei Marmi, Italy

Forte Dei Marmi is located on the Mediterranean in the Tuscany region, approximately 1.5 hours by car from Florence. Unlike some of the more well-known Italian coastal towns which feature dramatic cliffs and rocky beaches, Forte almost looks like it was plucked from Southern California with its wide sandy beaches and rugged mountains looming in the distance. 

Attracting prominent artists and writers in the late 19th century and later Milan fashion moguls and movies stars in the early 20th century, Forte has long history as a trendy summer retreat for locals—and it has not lost an ounce of its old-world glamour. Beach clubs featuring cabanas, pools and restaurants line the beach for miles, each with their own aesthetic, almost as if they are in friendly competition with one another. The clubs are private but a few hotels come with club access. 

Forte Dei Marmi, Italy

Leave Some Room in Your Suitcase: Aside from its natural beauty, we loved Forte for the shopping. The downtown lies just a few blocks from the beach and offers beautiful pedestrian-only streets lined with a seemingly endless selection of restaurants and boutiques. Unlike some other glitzy resort towns, in addition to all of the designer labels, you can find a host of small Italian brands some with their own stores and in several curated boutiques. Be sure to check out Montezemolo for refined Italian-made menswear staples.

Rent a bike: The heart of town is closed off to cars making bicycles the ideal means of getting around. Rent a beach cruiser and take a leisurely ride down the beach promenade that runs for miles into neighboring towns, and use it to get to and from dinner in town. 

Eat & drink: Anywhere (..it is Italy). Jokes aside, there are tons of restaurants and bars throughout the town covering the spectrum of Italian offerings - fresh seafood, pizza, pasta.. you get it. A few notables: Caffe Sambo  located in the heart of town is a stylish spot for an aperitivo - enjoy a negroni and give into the accompanying complimentary snacks. Riviera and Pesce Terrazza are two buzzy upscale (yet relaxed) seafood restaurants located right on the beach in the heart of town - Pesce has a great rooftop for taking in the sunset. La Capannina di Franceschi, just a few blocks down the beach, has long been the go-to nightlife option in town, so if you're feeling youthful head down after dinner for some dancing.

Where to stay: There is no shortage of hotels in town. Options range from elegant 5-star boutiques to charming mom-and-pop inns on the more affordable end of the spectrum. If you're in the mood to splurge, we would recommend Grand Hotel Imperiale which offers old-world elegance and beach club access. We stayed at Hotel Viscardo, a small but well-appointed hotel just a few blocks from town - highlights of the stay included complimentary bicycles and a great breakfast spread served on the roof terrace with views for miles.   

Tisvilde, Denmark

When you think of Denmark, its likely that the beach is not the first imagery to pop to mind. But we were blown away by the beauty and charm of the Danish coast on our visit to Tisvilde. The town is located about 1-1/2 hours north of Copenhagen and is accessible by commuter train. But if you are up for renting a car, we recommend it - the drive is a treat, winding through beautiful countryside and farmland before arriving to the sandy windswept coast. 

Once a quiet fishing village, Tisvilde has evolved into a stylish summer getaway for Copenhageners. Its neighborhoods are lined with charming, modest-sized houses with a uniquely Scandanivian feel. At the heart of the village a few blocks from the beach runs a main street with restaurants, boutiques and quintessential Danish bakeries. On the west side of town lies a vast stretch of protected coastal forestland which is great for a long walk / hike, jog, or off-road biking.

Tisvilde, Denmark

There are some places you discover throughout your travels where time seems to move a bit more slowly...and that's exactly what we loved about Tisvilde.

So our recommendation is don't worry about an itinerary for this trip. While there a few hotels and inns in town, Airbnb is the way to go here - the town is filled with charming, well-decorated homes channeling the much-imitated Scandanavian minimalist design aesthetic.

Hit the beach during the day, rent a bike and take in the scenery, and then unwind with a homecooked meal and a bottle of wine on the patio.

Palafrugell, Spain

Palafrugell is located along the Costa Brava, a beautiful stretch of coastline in northeast Spain in the Catalonia region. About an hour and a half from Barcelona by car, Palafrugell includes three coastal villages (Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu) - Callela and Llafranc sit adjacent to one another and function as one village, while Tamariu (pictured left) is a few minutes drive down the coast. We picked Calella as our home base due to its abundance of lodging options.

Calella and Llafranc are picturesque seaside villages with shops and restaurants running up against picturesque beaches. And better yet, they abut a protected nature preserve which is home to a botanical garden and hiking paths winding down to idyllic secluded (swimsuit optional) beaches. Unlike some of the larger towns in the Costa Brava, the villages of Palafrugell have eschewed dense development and retain their nostalgic charm. 

Palafrugell, Spain

What to do: beach, eat/drink, beach, sleep, repeat. We found this laid-back coastal town to be the perfect place to master the art of doing nothing. Take a morning jog along the coast, bring some good books and post up on the beach. If staying in Calella/Llafranc, definitely take a day trip to nearby Tamariu which has an incredibly picturesque beach nestled in a cove. You can also charter a boat (for a decent rate relative to some other places in the Med) and cruise along the coast, take a dip, and take in the sunset.

Where to stay: There are a few small hotels in Calella, including Hotel Sant Roc which sits on a bluff overlooking the beaches and village below, and has a beautiful outdoor bar and restaurant. Airbnb is also a great option here. If you are willing to splurge and book ahead, there are a handful of old fisherman homes with doors opening directly onto the sand...definitely one of the cooler setups we've come across.

Where to eat: We had a great dinner at Sol Lxent (pictured left), which is located right on the sand on the main beach in Calella - definitely order the palella. We also enjoyed a great lunch on the Llafranc strand at La Sirena, where we enjoyed Spanish tortilla and pan-seared calamari, and washed it down with an inexpensive bottle of tasty and crisp local white wine.