Direct Flight: Atlantic Beach, FL

There are only two reasons one would visit Atlantic Beach FL, the smaller, quieter beach town compared to its more raucous older brother, Jacksonville Beach located 15 minutes north. The first reason being, your most likely visiting friends and family and the second reason - Hotel Palms. Built in 1947, this 11 guest room retro inspired hotel is one of the most inviting and authentic spots we have discovered and is worth the weekend trip all by itself. Located just 3 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean (that’s a 4 min walk if you’re a New Yorker), Hotel Palms offers a tranquil community courtyard that often hosts yoga in the morning and live music in the evenings, and an on site Café called Show Pigeon Coffee. Show Pigeon was hands down the best coffee to be found in the Atlantic Beach area and a must visit for any coffee or matcha lover. Overall, Hotel Palms receives an easy 5/5 stars for its vibes, sense of community, design, and of course, its coffee.

As for the beach experience itself, if you like semi-uncrowded, dog friendly beaches with soft sand and warm water (80F/26C in summer), then Atlantic beach is for you. A direct Flight from New York City will set you back about $250 round trip and 2hrs of flight time. If you are looking for a weekend escape and are over the Miami hype, Atlantic Beach might just be your hidden spot to unwind and connect.