7 Best Beach TOWNS IN UNITED STATES for Black Family Vacations

The best beach towns in United States for a black family vacation are special places. It is a place where you can let your guard done and just enjoy your surrounding knowing it is safe space for you and your family. Well, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best beach towns that cater to black families so you can have that experience. From California to Florida, these beach towns offer something for everyone. So pack your sunscreen and sandals and get ready for some fun in the sun!

#7 – Daytona Beach

Located in sunny Florida, Daytona Beach is a great beach town in the United States that is a great place to take the family for a vacation. This vibrant town became home to thousands of Black families in the early 20th century, who were among Daytona Beach’s first settlers.

The community offers plenty of things to do, including fishing, swimming, and sunbathing. Want to brush up on your Black history? Follow the Share the Heritage Trail to visit museums and cultural sites and learn about influential Black leaders. Or visit the hundred-year-old Jackie Robinson Ballpark that celebrates the first Black player in Major League Baseball and his accomplishments.

There are also several restaurants and shops in the area that celebrates the legacies and explores the culture of Black Americans. This family-friendly beach town is filled with activities that will keep everyone entertained.

#6 – Highland Beach

Highland Beach is located in Maryland near Annapolis on the Chesapeake Bay. This area was originally founded in 1893 by Major Charles Remond Douglass (son of Frederick Douglass) and his wife Laura, after the Civil War, as a summer resort community for Black families. It was incorporated in 1922, making it the first Black municipality (local government) in Maryland.

Highland Beach became a well-known summer haven destination for Black Americans in the early 1900s. Highland Beach has around 500 feet of beachfront land with a small community of approximately 100 residents. This exclusive coastal town is one of the smallest with the highest income per capita in the United States. Many residents and guests who travel to the area will spend hours dishing, swimming, or simply relaxing on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

The community is also home to several Black-owned businesses, including restaurants, shops, and more. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy the sun and sand with your family, Highland Beach is the perfect spot.

#5 – American Beach

American Beach is located on Amelia Island in Florida. This community was founded in 1935 by African American businessman and educator Abraham Lincoln Lewis. He developed the beach as a place where Black people could enjoy the Florida sun and surf without facing racial discrimination.

The American Beach became a popular destination for both tourists and locals, attracting plenty of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues to keep up with travelers. Some of America’s most popular celebrities, athletes, and politicians moved in, enjoying all that the beach had to offer.

In 1964, Hurricane Dora caused extensive damage to the area, with many in the community moving to other locations. Today, it is still one of the best beach towns in the United States as it has a thriving community that still attracts visitors from all over the world.

The community offers a wide variety of activities, including swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and more. If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Florida sun, American Beach is the perfect spot for you.

#4 – Fort Walton Beach

Located in the Florida Panhandle, Fort Walton Beach is famous for its fine sugar-white sand beaches and emerald green waters. This community was once a sleepy fishing village but has since become a popular destination for families and tourists.

Located nearby is Okaloosa Island, which is home to a number of restaurants, shops, and activities. The island also has several public beaches, making it the perfect place to spend a day in the sun.

The island’s Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park has dolphins, penguins, and alligators, and is a great place to learn about the local wildlife. There are also several charter companies that offer fishing, sailing, and dolphin-watching tours. The prehistoric Temple Mound and Native American artifacts are among the exhibits at the Indian Temple Mound Museum. The Air Force Armament Museum, located near the National Atomic Museum, displays weapons and aircraft dating from World War I to the present.

From amusement parks to Gulfarium’s exotic sea animals, there is plenty to see and do in Fort Walton Beach. So, if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the Florida sunshine, Fort Walton Beach is the most beautiful spot around.

#3 – Best Beach Town in the United States: Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor is located along the north shore of Long Island in New York. During the 1800s, Black families began moving to the area to work in the whaling industry. The community soon became a haven for free Blacks, with many of the residents working as whalers, sailors, and merchants. The whaling industry declined in the mid-1800s, but Sag Harbor continued to be a thriving community for Black Americans.

Following World War II, many Black Americans moved to the area seeking refuge. Today, this Black beach town has exploded in popularity, making it one of the best places for the young and wealthy.

The community is home to several Black-owned businesses and has an incredibly beautiful beach, wonderful for sunbathing and taking strolls in the sand.

#2 Best Beach Town in the United States: Bruce’s Beach

If you’re looking for one of the best beach towns in the United States for a black family on the West coast, then Bruce’s Beach near Los Angeles California is the place to go. This beach was one of the only beaches in Southern California that catered to Black Americas during the era of segregation.

The beach provided Black families the opportunity to experience the California sun and surf without facing the racism they would find at other beaches. The only resort to allow Blacks was founded in the early 1900s by African American couple, Will and Mary Bruce.

In the 1920s and 30s, the city of Manhattan Beach forced the Black population out, stealing the property that the Bruce’s had worked so hard to build. However, in recent years, the city has made an effort to make amends, with a number of events being held at the beach in honor of the Bruce’s.

Today, Bruce’s Beach is a thriving community that offers a wide range of activities, from swimming and sunbathing to picnicking and basketball. The beach is also a great place to take a walk and enjoy the stunning California coastline. So, if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the sun and surf, Bruce’s Beach is the perfect spot.

#1 Best Beach Town in the United States: The Inkwell, Martha’s Vineyard

The Inkwell is a beach on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts that has a long history of being a safe haven for Black Americans, with even the former president Barack Obama owning a mansion near the area and rumored to have celebrated his birthday there.

For generations, the Inkwell has been a place where Black Americans can relax and enjoy the beach without fear of racism or discrimination. The area is also home to several Black-owned businesses, making it a great place to support the community.

Indentured servants, whalers, and housekeepers were the first Blacks to arrive on Martha’s Vineyard. Over time, families who could afford it eventually bought property in the area.

The properties in the area include all sorts of architectural styles, from historic colorful gingerbread cottages, which were first owned by Black families, to Victorian-style mansions, to more modern homes.

You can find over 35 historic homes and sites throughout the island included on the Marth’s Vineyard African American Heritage Trail. Started in 1998 by Dr. Elaine Weintraub and Carrie Camillo Tankard, their goal was to educate the public about the island’s African American history and culture.

As each year went by, more and more Black Americans began coming to the island during the holidays for a place where they could relax and let their guard down. The welcoming community and beautiful scenery make the Inkwell one of the best places for Black Americans to enjoy the beach.

The beach is also a great place to take a walk, go for a swim, or just relax and enjoy the stunning views. So, if you’re looking for a beautiful and historic beach to visit, the Inkwell is the perfect spot. For all these reasons and more is why the Inkwell is ranked #1 on our list for being one of the best beach towns in the United States for black family vacations.

Conclusion

All these Black beach towns have beautiful water, sandy beaches, and important history. There is something for everyone, making it the perfect place to vacation. So if you’re looking for a place to enjoy the sun and sand with your family, be sure to check out one of these great Black beach towns.