1800 S Ocean Boulevard, 604 Lauderdale By The Sea, FL 33062

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea more than earns its name, wedged between two massive bodies of water on its western and eastern flanks — the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, respectively. As such, a single day here isn’t complete without indulging in aquatic activities like kayaking, swimming, or paddleboarding. There’s also an underwater archaeological preserve in the form of the SS Copenhagen shipwreck awaiting divers right off the Atlantic shore. This is the kind of town where flip-flops are the preferred footwear, and you’ll never want to go anywhere without a spare bathing suit — presuming you’re not already wearing a t-shirt or shorts over one. Locally-owned jewelry and clothing boutiques, ice cream shops, bakeries, and sit-down eateries line the appropriately named Commercial Boulevard between LBTS’ twin coasts. Local laws keep downtown buildings at low-rise levels, while local architectural taste built them in a mainly mid-century modern style.