Andrea Sachs uncovered the differences. In the summer, the population soars to 100,000. The towns have stoplights, gridlock and a smattering of fast-food restaurants.
Planes leave regularly from Washington and other big-city hubs.
There's a wide range of accommodations, from single guest rooms to private home rentals. Chicama Vineyard produces the local wine, and Mad Martha's ice cream place is a sweet retreat. Four major wildlife sanctuaries offer thousands of acres of protected woods and dunes and miles of hiking and biking trails. The majority of beaches are private, require a residential or parking permit or are inaccessible due to sharp brambles, steep drops or dog-guarded private lawns. The Possible Dreams Auction, a community fund-raiser, puts celebrity wares on the auction block, such as a serenade by Carly Simon and a sail with Walter Cronkite.