Want a sugar-sand beach that seems relatively uncrowded, even during the summer's peak weeks? South Beach (also called Katama Beach) on Martha's Vineyard is your best bet. Because the strip of beach is relatively narrow, the crowd gets spread out, so you can't see the hordes just beyond your nearest dune. The waves are the kind you dream about — swells big enough for bodysurfing — with a rhythmic crash and ebb that's sure to drown out nearly any other sound.
Between Herring Creek Road and Katama Road, Edgartown; parking is available on the side of the road and is free; mvy.com/islandinfo/beaches.php.