The promise of fun, sun, and surf has always held allure for Americans, and that is just as true today as it was in the era of your great-grandparents. On the other hand, some things do change—and we're not just talking about swimsuit styles. Over the course of the decades, we've seen the popularity of various beach resorts rise and fall (and, occasionally, rise again). We thought it would be fun to take a look back in time, at the hottest destinations through the decades, and compare the beaches that captured the minds hearts of our grandparents (and their parents) to the ones that are topping the charts today.

Here, some of the most notorious beach resorts of the past century, and where you can still go today to capture some of the previous glory.

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The Draw: The "Venice of America" was founded in 1905 and designed to evoke the decadence of its' Italian namesake with canals for gondola rides, a 1200 foot pleasure pier, a hot salt water plunge pool and a beachfront arcade. It worked. 50,000 to 150,000 visitors clamored to frolic here every weekend, but by 1925, the Disneyland of its time was crime-ridden and near collapse. Today you're more likely to see rollerbladers and muscle men than arial flyers performing along the three mile stretch of beachfront, but the same circus-like atmosphere endures.

When to go: Since southern California is almost always sunny and warm, weekends are crowded year-round, which makes them a better time for spectacle but much more challenging for finding parking.

Blast from the past: Abbot Kinney Boulevard (www.abbotkinneyonline.com), named after the founder of "Venice of America", is now a chic shopping and eating strip. Stroll here to feel the pulse of LA's wealthiest bohemia, and spy celebrity residents like Julia Roberts, Viggo Mortensen and Perry Farrell.

The Draw: Although wealthy vacationers from our original capitol, Philadelphia, began coming here as early as 1805, it wasn't until gambling casinos and horse-racing were established that the masses caught wind of America's first beach resort. Even a devastating fire in the late 1800's could not wipeout Cape May—it was rebuilt and reopened with a vengeance in the 1920's. It remains the most exclusive community on the Jersey Shore (head to Wildwoods if you prefer roller coasters to historic Victorian Mansions), with the same broad expanse of beach that's been a field of dreams for over two hundred years.

When to go: High season is May to September, but the Cape May Jazz Festival (www.capemayjazz.com) and New Jersey Film Festival (www.njstatefilmfestival.com) draw crowds in November.

Blast from the past: Five US presidents have slept at stately hotel Congress Hall (www.congresshall.com), which still offers elegant oceanfront accommodations. Plus, you can savor your modern day freedoms and indulge in the first post-prohibition cocktail bar, now called The Brown Room.

The Draw: The post-Depression years were actually good to Miami. It was in this decade that the now landmark art deco-style hotels in South Beach were built to accommodate escapees from gloomy northern cities. Today Miami is decidedly less southern than the rest of Florida, and is a major gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. Chic hotels renovated in the boom of the 1990's bring the glamour of the past into the present; the seemingly endless expanse of beach remains the prettiest in the US; and nightlife in South Beach is internationally renowned.

When to go: Snowbirds still rule from December to March, making that high season. Avoid the oppressive humidity of August and September.

Blast from the past: Designed by L. Murray Dixon in 1937, Hotel Victor (www.hotelvictorsouthbeach.com), located beachfront on Ocean Drive next door to the former Versace Mansion, was completely refurbished in 2003.

The Draw: Hugely popular with servicemen returning from WWII, this stunning coastline has miles of sandy beach and perfect surfing waves. The first hotel in the area was called "Surfers Paradise" (after Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to Australia in 1914, it practically became the national sport). Today, the original hotel is long gone but the name now refers to the gorgeous beach where it once stood, now a major tourist hub complete with malls, casinos, hi-rise hotels and theme parks.

When to go: Temps are balmy year-round, though its winter in Australia when its summer here. You might want to avoid "Schoolies Week", the Aussie equivalent of Spring Break, in November.

Blast from the past: Take a surf lesson at The Spit, the beginners' break that has inspired at least three generations of surfing addicts (www.surfinparadise.com.au).

The Draw: This gorgeous Mediterranean isle, a beach resort since the time of the Roman Empire, transformed in the 50's from a hub for writers, artists and freethinkers to the world capitol of Cafe Society. Jet-setters including European royalty and American celebrities still abound, which explains why the traditional-looking fishing village's central La Piazzetta is now lined with designer boutiques. Marina Piccola beach is still the see and be seen at stretch to throw down a blanket, perhaps curl up with a copy of Somerset Maugham's "The Lotus Eater" (about a Bostonian who comes to Capri and never leaves), and park for a glorious day of people watching.

When to go: High season is April through September, so beat the crowds and still get good weather in March or October.

Blast from the past: Get a custom-made pair of Capri pants, made popular in the 50's by fashion icons including Audrey Hepburn, Jean Seberg, Jackie O and Mary Tyler Moore, at La Parisienne boutique (www.laparisiennecapri.it), or pickup one or a dozen ready-made pairs in stock.

The Draw: With the advent of affordable airline travel in the 60's, tourism to Hawaii grew exponentially (prior to that time, wealthy visitors primarily came from California via a 5-day trip on a Matson line cruise ship). Perhaps your grandparents even honeymooned here during that golden era of Hawaiian music, mai tais and beach boys. In recent years, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island had become more popular spots for a dream Hawaiian vacation, but with the cleanup of seedy Lewers Street and the renovation of the Waikiki Beach Walk, Waikiki's got a new attitude to go with its seductive golden sand beach, swaying palm trees and luminous moon.

When to go: Find deals in shoulder season in September or May, but a trip in February is ideal for a romantic winter escape.

Blast from the past: Stay in the newly renovated "Pink Palace of the Pacific", originally built in 1927, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel (www.royal-hawaiian.com), or at least stop into the beachfront Mai Tai Bar at sunset for an organic twist on the classic cocktail.

The Draw: Once French siren Brigitte Bardot made this sleepy seaside town (named after a Saint) her full-time residence, it became the epicenter of rich bohemian glamour. Bardot still lives here today, though she's rumored to be a bit of an eccentric recluse, but the town thrives in summer with its enduring outdoor market and little cafes in the harbor.

When to go: The population increases tenfold in the madness of July and August (it's a totally different and more charming town in May or September), but be warned that most of it totally shuts down October through April.

Blast from the past: Mick Jagger proposed to his first wife Bianca in room 401 at the Hotel Byblos (www.byblos.com), and then partied on property at the most infamous disco on the French Riviera, the Caves du Roy. Still going strong and newly renovated in 2008, people stand in line for hours hoping to get into the club during the summer.

The Draw: Although one of the smallest in Cyclades chain and not so easy to access, Mykonos garnered a reputation in the 80's as THE free-spirited hot spot to be dancing on the beach under the stars on (sort of the Ibiza before Ibiza). The sexy 1982 film Summer Lovers, only fanned the flames. Today the island has everything you'd find in a major city with prices to match (there's even a Nobu inside the Belvedere Hotel), and perhaps a few too many cruise ships in port, but the beauty of the beaches and the turquoise of the Aegean sea (where according to Greek mythology, Hercules conquered the Giants and cast them into the deep where they solidified to form these rocky pinnacles), remains pristine.

When to go: April may still be a bit chilly, but you'll beat the hoards that arrive June to August.

Blast from the past: Mykonos' had a very colorful pirating past in the 80's—the 1680's that is. A series of curious buildings constructed right at the edge of the island, over the ocean are known as "Little Venice" and are rumored to have been used to quickly load and unload stolen treasures.

The Draw: Even before the discovery of Brazilian supermodels, Rio had a reputation as a place where people went to become more glamorous. Bikini waxing and plastic surgery are as common as coconuts here given that "Cariocas" (Rio locals) spend most of their time strolling the pedestrian path that connects the city's three main beaches — Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, in skimpy bathing suits. In the 90's, Rio became a vacation obsession, lured by the melodic beats of popular Brazilian music and the promise of beautiful multicultural people.

When to go: Given that temps can spike above 100 degrees in the city from November to March, you'll definitely want to stay near or on the beach where sea breezes keep it 10 degrees cooler.

Blast from the past: Though Carnival in Rio (www.rio-carnival.net) is a centuries old religious-based holiday, its also barely organized chaos. If you give yourself over to the spectacle of brazenly dressed characters, colors and spirit, it's an experience you'll likely never forget.

The Draw: Miles of classic Caribbean beaches – white sugar sand and crystal-clear water – would be enough, but here in Punta Cana, the beaches are fringed by brand new hotels that range from exclusive and expensive, to budget-friendly and all-inclusive. There is literally something for everyone, and that, combined with easy, often cheap direct flights from Miami and New York, have helped make the Dominican Republic the most visited island in the Caribbean. Even with almost a million visitors a year and continued development, the beaches here are somehow never crowded.

When to go: winter is high season and carnival in February is intense, but mid-October to mid-December is lovely. Avoid hurricane season in August to the beginning of October.

Blast from the past: Before there was any development here, the humpback whales were using Samana Bay as their own mating season ocean resort. From January to March, competitive males trumpet blow and breach, jumping completely out of the water to impress females. Whale watching tours (www.whalesamana.com) are also available with sightings pretty much guaranteed in season.

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