If you’ve ever dreamt of having your own beach home to escape the routine of everyday life, try looking in areas with just as much character and far less hype for your second home or vacation getaway.

Tucked among exclusive real estate, a family’s 18-foot-wide strip of land is not just an oceanside parking spot. It’s their legacy. Moriches Bay, left, is on one side of Dune Road in Westhampton Beach ...