Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a winter beach destination close to the US with a similar vibe to some of the beach towns I have visited in Europe like Sitges, Valencia, and Cinque Terre. As in: Walkable, easy to get around, safe, nice and clean swimming beach, promenades, shops, restaurants, bars.
Most of my familiarity is with the typical tourist spots in Mexico and Hawaii where it’s mostly large resorts dominating the coastline. I would like to steer away from this and stay in a smaller hotel with a local vibe, where I can walk around and check out local cafes, shops, and beaches, but also want to avoid somewhere too crowded and commercialized like Waikiki.
Solo-traveler friendly would be a huge bonus
Thanks!