Cheap Beach Weekend Getaways

Southern California Beach Camping

• If you live out west and are interested in spending some time taking advantage of your close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, consider camping under the stars to satiate your desires. Numerous Southern California beaches, from San Diego to Los Angeles, offer sites for tents directly on the sandy shore as well as back away from the surf under the canopy of trees. Pack a portable grill and some food and spend time chatting with your friends while cooking up steak and vegetable kabobs for dinner. Many beaches in this area also allow bonfires and provide the pits free of charge. Bring flashlights and entertain the troops with an evening game of flashlight tag. Leo Carillo Beach also has tide pools, caves and reefs awaiting exploration.

  Leo Carillo State Park

  35000 Pacific Coast Highway

  (Highway One)

  Malibu, CA 90265

  818-880-0350

  parks.ca.gov

St. Petersburg, FL Beach Cabins

• Vacationing in the southeastern part of the country means easy access to both the warm, tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico as well as the turbulent grace of the Atlantic Ocean. Situated in central Florida along the west coast, St. Petersburg boasts white, sugary sand beaches ideal for long walks and shelling. Take a pail and collect items to return home with so you can glue shells to a mirror for future reflection. Rent a beach cottage at Beach Haven to cut down on costs. Most have kitchens so you can hit the local grocery and prepare meals at home. Rent a kayak or water bike for afternoon play and stroll through John's Pass to catch a glimpse of how locals spend their average day.

  Beach Haven

  4980 Gulf Blvd.

  St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

  727-367-8642

  beachhavenvillas.com

Ocean City, Maryland Motels

• When you're interested in hitting a centrally located East Coast beach community, Ocean City, MD offers an abundance of adult-only as well as fun family things to do and places to stay. At the Flamingo Motel, guests choose between a standard room and an efficiency where you cut down on food expenses by preparing meals in your room. Head to the local boardwalk and enjoy tasty inexpensive carnival-style treats. The boardwalk also offers free nightly concerts in the summer months and extensive shopping opportunities. Budget entertainment dollars for rides and games at the boardwalk or join a free nightly bonfire. Pier fishing is also popular in this area.

  Flamingo Motel

  31st Street, Ocean Block

  Ocean City, MD

  800-394-7465

  theflamingomotel.com