Peak-season crowds and inflated prices have more travelers rethinking the traditional summer coastal getaway in favor of shoulder-season trips.
Several popular coastal towns see meaningfully lower accommodation prices just weeks before or after peak season, often with comparable weather.
Local businesses in these towns say the shift has helped smooth out the extreme seasonal swings in revenue they've historically dealt with.
Travel planners recommend checking regional weather patterns closely, since "off-season" varies significantly by destination.
