Beach Hunters

Two schoolteachers grew up dreaming of starting a family in a small town on the water, and they see Long Island's fabled South Shore as the perfect place to make their vision a reality.

With their sons heading off to college, a pair of empty nesters search the sugar sand beaches of Fairhope, Ala., for a Gulf Coast getaway; she wants a living room and kitchen with an open floor plan, but he looks for a home with a dock.

A globetrotting British couple search the sunny shores of Gulf Breeze, Fla., for their dream beach home; she wants a house with lots of trees and a large gathering space for guests, while he wants a fixer-upper to make their own.

A Louisiana couple who've always loved the beach looks for a beach house on the sands of Gulf Shores, Ala.

A Boston-based realtor leaves the hustle and bustle of Beantown to find the perfect beach home with plenty of space for entertaining on Massachusetts' South Shore.

A couple leaves landlocked Montana hoping to find a home along the beaches of Ferndale, Wash.; she wants panoramic views of the ocean, but he looks for a move-in-ready home with plenty of entertaining space outdoors.

A couple searches for the perfect beach home on Camano Island, Wash., for an active family of four; he wants a low-maintenance home with a short commute from Seattle, while she wants a private getaway with views of Puget Sound.

Sisters Maddie and Eloise are in Broadkill Beach, Del. searching for a destination beach home their whole family can enjoy.

A Destin, Fla. couple is ready to start a new chapter of life on the beach after working and saving for years; he wants views of the beach and at least four bedrooms, while she has always dreamed of a home with a pool.

With their four children in college or on the way, a couple gets ready to downsize and relocate to a shoreline home overlooking Lake Michigan.

A father and two daughters search Poulsbo, Wash., for a forever home on the beach of Liberty Bay.

After living inland in a small house, a family of seven searches the beaches of Navarre, Fla., for the perfect seaside home; she wants a nice private lot with a playroom for the kids, but he wants a dock and a location near work.

A couple currently living inland hope to give their children the experience of growing up on Destin's sunny shores; she wants a large yard and at least four bedrooms, while he wants a dock with a boat lift.

A Midwestern couple gets excited to trade in cold Minnesota winters for endless summer fun in the Florida Keys; she wants a modern home with a pool, but he looks for a home with plenty of room for their kids.

A couple comb the beaches of Oahu hoping to find their own piece of Hawaiian paradise; she looks for a private property with plenty of space to grow their family, but he hopes the home has ocean views and a patio for hosting barbecues.

A Wisconsin family searches for the perfect beachfront home on the shores of Lake Michigan; she wants a move-in ready retreat with an open concept, and he hopes for at least three bedrooms and plenty of privacy.