What’s better than a beach vacation? A beach vacation in close proximity to a brick and mortar (B&M) cigar shop, of course! While the convenience and pricing of your favorite online cigar retailer may initially trump your need for finding a cigar shop at the beach, consider a few important things.
For cigars to perform ideally, they need to be kept in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. Perhaps your travels will confine you to a hot vehicle. Bad news. Even worse, having to pack your cigars/accessories in your luggage for a flight. Do you put a travel humidor in your checked baggage, or do you stow in your carry-on? Do you take your favorite accessories and risk having them confiscated? Will the pressure and temperature changes effect the cigars in transit? Hopefully you’ll be able to find a local shop instead.
Let’s see how many cigar shops a quick Google search of “cigars + beach name” uncovers in proximity to some of the most popular beaches on the East Coast.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Approximately 15 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 5 are quality brick & mortar specialty cigar shops (33.3%)
- All are less than 2 miles from the beachfront
Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Approximately 9 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 3 appear to be quality brick & mortar specialty cigar shops (33.3%)
- All 3 of those are located within 2 miles of the main beach area
Hilton Head, South Carolina
- Approximately 5 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 4 appear to be quality brick & mortar specialty cigar shops (80%)
- That 80% is located within 1 mile of the beach
Ocean City, Maryland
- Approximately 5 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 2 appear to be quality B&M specialty cigar shops (40%)
- All are virtually next to the beach
Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Approximately 3 tobacco retailers
- Of those, all three appear to be quality B&M specialty cigar shops (100%)
- Close proximity to the beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
- Approximately 8 tobacco retailers
- Of those, there is one quality B&M (12.5%) and it’s a few miles from the beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
- Approximately 9 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 5 appear to be quality B&M (55.5%) shops
- Most are within 2 miles of the beach
Delray Beach, Florida
- Approximately 3 tobacco retailers, all quality B&M shop (100%)
- All are within 1 mile of the beach
Lauderdale Beach, Florida
- Approximately 10 tobacco retailers
- Of those, 7 appear to be quality B&M specialty cigar shops (70%)
- Only 4 are within a mile of the beach
Miami Beach, Florida
- Approximately 11 tobacco retailers
- Of those 8 appear to be quality B&M cigar shops (73%)
- Most land within 1/2 mile of the beach
Hopefully this short list will help point you to the best beach for the cigar-connoisseur in you! Sometimes the best place to find information regarding the “best” local cigar shop is an online cigar forum. They are current and provide more detailed information by locals. Enjoy!
Mike Dean is an aficianado of cigars and regularly reviews music and beer-stogie pairings while also helping wannabe musicians play their guitars much better.
