The greatest thing about the greatest of all seasons is that you don’t need money, planning, or talent to have a good time. But if you want more than a “good time,” apply some 45 sunblock and keep on reading.
Beaches | Road Trips | Activities | Accessories
ULTIMATE BEACHES
COSTA RICA
Get in the hot zone with Soaree Troup.
Favorite Beach: “I love to surf, so my favorite beach is Jacó in Costa Rica. I’m pretty good, but I’ve had my share of embarrassing moments. I once got up on a wave and didn’t realize that my top fell off, so I did the whole ride topless. That was some show!”
Favorite summer song: “Anything by Bob Marley.”
Pack Your Bags!
Hotel: While everyone else at Bahia Encantada is fawning over their room’s spectacular ocean view, go outside and bask in the glory that is the resort’s trilevel swimming pool.
800-784-4173Nightlife: Grab some cocktails at Beatle Bar. Just know that the dark-haired beauty who’s hitting on you is probably a prostitute. (The oldest profession is one of Jacó’s thriving industries.)
Adventure: Go gambling at Stellaris Casino in the Los Suenos Marriott. You can’t lose—the dollar is still worth 500 Costa Rican colones.
ST. JOHN
Melissa Baker's island dream.
Favorite beach: “St. John has Trunk Bay, absolutely the best beach I’ve ever been to. Beautiful palm trees, very tropical atmosphere. The water is crystal clear and the sand is white as snow. It was very calming and relaxing. It absolutely blew me away.”
Favorite summer food: “Hot dogs, the only meat I eat.”
Pack Your Bags!Hotel: You can cross “rent a tropical villa with its own private swimming pool” off your to-do
list at Westin St. John Resort & Villas, which also happens to have 1,200 snooty feet of private beach.
340-693-8000Nightlife: Party into the wee hours at the Front Yard, a Christmas-light-strewn dive bar that boasts pool tables, air hockey, and darts.
Adventure: Tee up at the Mahogany Run Golf Course, which overlooks the cliffs above the
Caribbean Sea, or charter a 40-foot boat from Mixed Bag Sport Fishing to haul in marlin, dorado, and tuna. Or just get wasted.
ISRAELSarai Givaty—Hottie in the Holy Land.
Favorite beach: “The beach at Tiberias. I had all my firsts there. Let’s leave it at that.”
Favorite summer sport: Windsurfing.
Pack Your Bags!Hotel: What the Rimonim Galei Kinnereth Hotel in Tiberias lacks in amenities (in-room safe, hair dryer), it makes up for in name length.
Nightlife: Order some mullard (a duck-goose hybrid) at The Decks, then stay for the shockingly happening scene when the sun goes down.
Adventure: Boil in the Tiberias Hot Springs.
SOUTH CAROLINALauren Michelle Hill gets her chill on.
Favorite beach: “In South Carolina, we have white sandy beaches and clear, warm water that you can swim way out in. Charleston is my favorite. The people are really friendly and you can go anywhere along the beach and find a bar or restaurant that’s really fun and relaxed. That’s why I love it.”
Favorite summer drink: Corona Light
Pack Your Bags!
Hotel: Drive right passed that Embassy Suites and head to the French Quarter Inn. Mere blocks from the beach, this place is so damn classy they give you champagne and ladyfingers when you check in. (Don’t be scared to request a room with a whirlpool tub.)
866-812-1900
Nightlife: Beer snobs—or just drunks—will be right at home at Charleston’s oldest bar, Gene’s Haufbrau, with its 150-plus varieties of beer—and cheese fries!
Adventure: While your girlfriend shops for sweetgrass baskets (whatever those are) at the City Market, you can hop in a kayak, paddle off to Kiawah Island, and gorge yourself on everything from shrimp and oysters to gumbo and grits at the Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ ($35).
Beaches | Road Trips | Activities | Accessories
