This is just a thought at the moment but D2 graduates end of April and starts her professional grad school degree end of May. We have some thought of taking a few days somewhere where there is a good chance it will be warm enough for beach time (read 75+) . We are in northern Ohio so we are thinking something between Virginia and Savannah.
Our travel time will probably be somewhere early to mid May-ish. So before the Memorial Day crowd.
What we want:
Beach
Small walkable town nearby w/casual but good local dining options
Fantastic ice cream shops and bakeries 
Casual outside activities: walk, run, kayak, bike, park time.
We really don’t need more than that. We are not big on sightseeing. We would probably have a rental car but would like to not rely on much traveling from our destination. If we fly in we will want an main airport within an hour or so.
Cost is a factor. Because, GRAD SCHOOL. Probably looking for a 4-5 day opportunity, probably prefer an AirBNB type place, probably need accommodations for 3-4, POSSIBLY 6 people.
Just need some ideas where to start looking! H and I honeymooned in Hilton Head - def want something not so built up. Someplace we can pack our shorts, bathing suits and a sundress and be good to go. It’s how we roll!
Any suggestions appreciated!
If your going before Memorial Day I would recommend the beaches of the Outer Banks in NC (after Mem Day the crowds and prices are crazy). More specifically I would suggest the Duck or Corolla beaches vs Kitty Hawk & Nags Head which are way more commercial.
We have stayed at some places years ago. There is plenty of wind- one trip we quit walking the beach because of sand in our eyes (there is a reason the Wright brothers chose their location), not the temps. October? though.
Maybe Carolina Beach, NC. It’s a small town, and when we went 10-15 years ago, it seemed like it was stuck in the 1950s. But that only added to its charm. I think I heard that it’s since “been discovered”, and hence, the prices have increased. Others might know more if this is a viable option.
We really liked Wrightsville Beach.
Carolina Beach has a boardwalk:
https://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/carolina-beach/things-to-do/boardwalk/
Corolla has wild horses:
https://www.outerbanks.com/corolla.html
I notice that driving and parking on the beach is permitted in Corolla.
How does that affect the beach going experience?
I just went to Carolina Beach last summer on a whim. S19 had gone to his friend’s beach house on Bald Head Island but couldn’t stay the whole time so I offered to drive down and get him. I decided to go a few days early and take my younger kids on a getaway while dh was on a business trip. I needed a place not too far from Bald Head where I could use Marriott points. Carolina Beach was the only place reasonably close athat had a waterfront hotel. We actually stayed one night at a Marriott in in Wilmington just a couple miles from Wrightsville Beach. We loved both places - Wrightsville Beach was more upscale but Carolina Beach brought back the nostalgia of my youth when I spend summers at the beach. Only a couple of chain hotels, but mostly private homes. I parked my car and never used it for the three days we were there - walked to everything. We were there in early August, so I imagine it will be even sleepier in May.
I think either Wrightsville Beach (much more expensive) or Carolina Beach would fit what you are looking for and you could fly into Wilmington.
Alternatively, you could fly into Charleston and stay in Folly Beach or one of the other beachfront areas. However, I don’t know much about them as other than a day trip to Folly Beach while in Charleston on a college visit, I don’t know anything about whether there are walkable restaurants, etc. Perhaps someone here would chime in about the Charleston area.
I love Isle of Palms, just north of Charleston. There are casual beachfront restaurants, Ben and Jerry’s is there as well as some local ice cream, (I forget where we went but it was good), and there are bakeries. It’s an easy area to walk around and gorgeous.
The airport is very easy to navigate, small, and 30 minutes away, depending on time of day.
I love the Outer Banks but beach erosion and riptides have made it dangerous to even walk in the water.
I have been to South Topsail 50 or more times. You cannot find a better place to spend several days. North Topsail and Surf City are ok but if you go stay near the village at Southern end of island.
Recently I have been going to Pine Knoll Shores. If you have a pet stay at the Atlantis Lodge.
You will enjoy going to Morehead City and Beaufort.
My 3rd choice would be Emerald Isle. Rent a house near town and you can walk or ride bike to several places.
Appreciate the suggestions.
I promise even though our priorities are beach, water, ice cream and baked goods we are very active people!
I am going to look some of these up. I will admit this morning I woke up thinking though that my original idea - a Southern California trip is still in my head as well. The coastline is just SO different there and beautiful. D2 has never been to CA. We actually have a cottage on a beach (Lake Huron, Canada) but May can still be pretty chilly - so I DO want a different experience.
The fun part of traveling is all the possibilities! If we did Southern CA we would focus on the area San Diego to Orange County probably - we have relatives in San Diego, Redondo and Irvine we could pop in on (though we would stay on our own).
I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina. If you want a beach location with less wind, then consider Alabama beaches.
San Diego is not going to have warm beach weather in May. We normally have “May Gray” with the beaches foggy most days. Water temps will only be in the 60’s. With that said we have a lot to do in San Diego and many great restaurants. You can kayak or paddleboard or ride bikes along our beaches, boardwalk or bay. We have lots of great hiking around the beach especially Torrey Pines. Our zoo is world class and there are lots of museums in Balboa Park.
Since OP has indicated that the initial geographic parameters no longer apply, consider the Panhandle of Florida which has some of the best beaches in the US. Navarre Beach & Pensacola Beach are two examples. Nearby Alabama offers Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.
In Southwest Florida, Siesta Key off of Sarasota is gorgeous.
If you prefer a rough surf, then the Atlantic Ocean side of Florida (St. Augustine Beach, for example) or the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
P.S. If unfamiliar with Atlantic Ocean beaches, you need to be prepared for riptides when swimming. I am & always have been a very strong swimmer. I have been caught in two serious riptides many years ago. Swim parallel to the beach until you escape the riptide or you will just be pulled farther out into the ocean.
Also, I love to swim at dawn & dusk. Unfortunately, this is shark feeding time. Enjoy !
San Diego won’t have “sit at the beach” weather probably…but there is plenty else to do there. If your daughter hasn’t been there…that would get my vote.
Florida is out for us.
Beach weather for us is anything 65 degrees or above. We are hearty. Swimming in the water not a necessity. As I said, we have a cottage on the beach - but we LOVE beach, so I was so of looking for an beach vacation with a twist. That’s why I think CA fits the bill. But east coast beaches could potentially be more economical and easier to get to.
But early stages thinking about this all so everything is game but prefer NOT Florida.
Martha’s Vineyard.
If you are serious about San Diego, you might find that Mexican beach resorts are less costly while offering a foreign adventure.
Martha’s Vineyard is very expensive, as is Nantucket.
@abasket One recommendation is to visit Duck, NC and stay at the Sanderling Resort. I’ve not been there, but my D and son-in-law went last year to celebrate their anniversary and loved it! https://www.sanderling-resort.com
I have been to The Cloister at Sea Island in Georgia and really enjoyed it. Great food at the resort and lots to do. We spent lots of time on the beach and H also golfed.
https://www.seaisland.com/vacation-packages/breakfast-at-sea-island/?nck=8774315695&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk-7jBRD9ARIsAEy8mh6ivrgMAUhODqSBrXkJ1i2QM5mbDifcTzAVTtFdhKDXWa_vE41DDloaApC6EALw_wcB
Folks mentioned Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard upthread–I’m partial to Nantucket (have been going there for 25 years). May (before Memorial Day/Figawi Weekend) is still the low season and rentals are still fairly reasonable. If you decide on Nantucket, I’d be happy to give you a whole list of suggestions on things to do and places to eat well (including ice cream). Lots of bike paths on the island, places to walk, etc.
@fendrock: So is travel to California from Northern Ohio. OP has seemingly done away with his or her initial parameters.
What about Okracoke? Less built up (overall) than most of the OBX and much, much more walkable/bikeable.