It’s been a long winter. Maybe it’s the single digit temperatures or the multiple bouts of winter weather, but for some reason winter feels especially long this year. Needless to say, I am thrilled that we are a mere 10 days away from the official start of spring. For me, and thousands of other people, warmer weather means one thing – the summer travel season will soon be here!

Before joining the Clairemont team, I worked for James Korenchen Public Relations (JKPR), a full-service PR agency based in Albuquerque, N.M., that handles media relations for TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website. During my time at JKPR, I worked with TripAdvisor on a variety of trend stories ranging from holiday travel plans to the quirkiest New Year’s Eve celebrations, but my favorite announcement was always Best Beaches.

TripAdvisor recently announced the winners of its 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards for Best Beaches as determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period. Topping the list of 25 U.S. destinations is Siesta Beach, Florida (which is a frequently recognized by travelers as a top destination) followed by eight other Florida beaches, seven in Hawaii, five in California, and one in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

I commend TripAdvisor’s timing of its Best Beaches announcement each year. It comes when many of us are ready to say good riddance to winter. This year residents in the Central and Eastern regions of the U.S. have endured a ferocious season with record snowfalls and the return of the dreaded polar vortex. The Best Beaches announcement is a glimmer of light at the end of a cold and dreary tunnel, and for those who cannot wait a few more weeks, it gives them an opportunity to turn their warm-weather dreams into a reality.

If you are looking for a warm-weather destination prior to late spring and early summer and are feeling adventurous, you might want to consider one of the destinations named Best Beaches in the World – including Siesta Beach at number 14.

While I would love to take a trip abroad and visit one of the fabulous beaches on this list, fortunately, in just a few short weeks a warm-weather destination will only be a quick drive from Raleigh. Growing up in North Carolina, I spent many summers at Holden Beach, and I also lived in Wilmington for seven years. I might be biased, but I think the North Carolina coast has some of the best beaches in the world – even if they didn’t make TripAdvisor’s list. Along with the hundreds of miles of pristine beaches, you will find a mix of fresh delicious seafood, friendly people, charming towns and even a bit of history along the North Carolina coast. And if you ask me, it doesn’t get much better than that.