A cooler packed to the brim with refreshments. Shareable snacks on deck. A tote crammed with towels. Come summer, it’s a familiar sight—and all signs point to a trip to the beach. This year, ...

Last summer, we piled into the car—two boogie boards, a cooler of snacks, and enough sunscreen to coat an army—and headed to the Outer Banks. We didn’t have plane tickets or a luxury hotel booked, but ...